Skip to product information
1 of 2

Guildmaster Games

Phase 1 Tabletop Game Production Service - Design and Initial Prototyping

Regular price $5,000.00 AUD
Regular price Sale price $5,000.00 AUD
Sale Sold out
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
No reviews
This phase includes all of the steps of designing, costing, playtesting, sampling, prototyping, and so on that goes into the creation of a boardgame. It can take from 1-3 months, depending on your timeline and availability. My personal preference is to do weekly embedded days with payment split fortnightly.
Note: larger and more complex games may take longer. 
Stage 1 (of 5): Development
  • Initial Design and Prototyping 
  • Research of Topic and Materials 
  • Conducting Stakeholder Interviews (we did a bit of this today, but would be with more advanced demos and prototypes)
  • Identifying Mechanics
  • Defining a Budget Document
  • Choosing Mechanics
  • Basic Prototyping
  • Rapid Iteration
  • Commissioning and Managing Artwork/Written Copy (bonus here because you guys do internal!) 
  • Closing the Gameplay Loop
  • Gathering Feedback from Players (Playtesting)
  • Gathering Feedback from Stakeholders (Business Testing) 
  • Analysis and Integration of Feedback 
Any Phase of the service can be bought and used separately. A rough timeline for a full project would be: 

Month 1 - Initial playable rough draft complete and ready for Internal testing

Month 2 - Finalisation of prototype ready for Alpha testing, ePrint sample commissioned, manufacturing cost and crowdfunding cost (fulfilment, regions, tiers, etc) completed, and final scale/scope/complexity agreed. Discord server introduction, chatting, and playtest sessions through Tabletopia (ongoing throughout entire process. Focus: recruit and inspire evangelists by involving enthusiastic fans in design process, and rapidly showing reaction to their feedback) 
 
Month 3 - Advanced Prototype completed, ready for Beta testing. Crowdfunding Rough Page Build Begins. Option: Attend PAX Convention for email signups and feedback, and retailer/distributor awareness raising. Duration: 3 Days. Audience: 100,000+ Target: 1000 signups.

Month 4 - General custom artwork creation begins. Kickstarter draft page submitted for review and approval for launch: launch still months away, but onboarding of community for Notify on Launch begins 

Month 5 - General custom artwork creation ends, review copies go out: Christmas delivery if possible. Break weeks for holidays (I would keep working, but independently, if the rest of the team is on break) 

Month 6 - China Manufacturer sample arrives for comparison with ePrint one. Reviews collated for Kickstarter page. Video completed (if needed). Page build complete. 

Month 7 - Prelaunch Onboarding Target: 1000 signups. Crowdfunding Campaign Launch at end of month, or early March, hopefully on a relevant annual celebration day (International Steampunk Day or something akin!)
Month 8 - Manufacturing, Shipment and Fulfilment of the Game
Month 9 - Arrival of game in regional shipping centres
Month 10+ - ongoing sales to retailers and customers, plus Expansion development if desired, and planning for second editions/reprints