Recently UPDATED on 03/26/06 - Checkout the last posting!


Hello Everyone,

The following are just a few sources to locate parts, components, printers, licensing publishers and distributors for anyone looking for these things. This is just the short list of companies that I have either dealt with in the past or located, but haven't dealt with personally.

I hope this information helps my fellow game designers.......

GAME COMPONENTS and PIECES:

DICE & GAMES, LIMITED / GERMANY
www.dice.co.uk
Dice, pawns, misc. game parts and promo items

General Box Company
www.generalbox.com
Game Boards, Setup Boxes, Inserts, ect.

MrChips Inc.
www.mrchips.com
Transparent and solid counters, custom counters, pawns, ect.

PRINTERS:

Arjo Wiggins USA
www.awusa.com
Playing cards, Board games, CCG, ect

Carta Mundi USA
www.cartamundiusa.com
Card games, CCG, ect.

Central Plains Book Manufacturing
www.centralplainsbook.com

Dallas Offset Inc.
www.dallasoffset.com
Specializing in print runs of 3000 or more

DeHarts Printing
www.deharts.com
On demand digital printing

C.J. Krebiel Company
www.cjkrebiel.com
Specializing in economical runs 500 to 5000 books

DeLano Service
www.delanoservices.com
Domestic Game Printer

Eureka! Printing & Distribution
http://eureka.goldrushgames.com
Specializes in POD printing, book & hobby trade distribution small press publishers

FRV Group
www.frvgroup.com
Complete game manufacturer

Gemaco Playing Card Company
www.gemococards.com
Printer for card games

Portal East
Anthony Valterra
206-713-9710
valterra@portaleast.com
Print and manufactureing for all of your RPG, TCG, cards, board games, and minuture needs.

Thomas-Shore,Inc.
www.tshore.com
Small to medium run printer, binder, book manufacturer 200 to 20,000, casebound and softbound in-house.

Yaquinto Printing Company
Gina R. Williams
800-234-4809
www.yaquinto.com
Board games, accessories, family games, RPG and card games.

SVH Printing Company
http://www.svhgroup.com/who.html
Commercial Printing, including game boards and rule sheets.

PROTOTYPES AND PRODUCTION:

Wommy Toys LLC
www.wommytoys.com
Marketing, design & prototypes

Good Marketing,Inc.
www.thekidexperts.com
Marketing, production and Prototypes

INSURANCE:

RP Wessel CO.
www.rpwessel.com
Insurance programs, Member of ASTRA

NON-USA Distributors:

999 Games
www.999games.nl
The Netherlands

Lion Rampant Imports
lion@lionrampantimports.com
Canada

Ventura International Pty Ltd.
farago@bigpond.com
Australia

Fantasiapelit
www.fantasiapelit.fi
Finland

Midgaard Distribution AS
Thomas Kirknel
+45-3296-6932
Denmark

El Viejo Tercio SL
quijanotercio@eresmas.net
Spain

Everest Wholesale
Bob@everestwholesale.com
Canada

Tradition Svensula AB
www.tradition.se
Sweden

Hobbygames Ltd
44-190-373-0998
John Maitland
UK

Gargoyle Games Ltd
44-1234-306655
UK

USA Distributors:

Aladdin Distribution
800-377-4627
Ken Storm Jr.
MN

Alliance East
Terry Mahoney, Sales Manager
800-669-4263 ext 1002
MD

Alliance Midwest
Danny O'Neill, Sales Manager
800-444-3552 ext 248
IN

Alliance Southwest
Neil Moore, Sales Manager
800-424-3773 ext 1000
TX

Alliance West
Rod Proctor, Sales Manager
800-366-5456
CA

Black Hawk Hobby Dist
Dan Matheson
877-747-4263
IL

Centurion Hobby Distribution Inc
888-657-1802 (toll Free)
NJ

Gameboard Distributors
Tim Avers
800-914-2597
GA

Hobbies Hawaii Distributors
808-423-0265
www.hobbieshawaii.com
HI

COMPANIES THAT LICENSE GAMES:

Aristoplay
800-643-7738
MI

Decipher Games
800-654-3939
www.decipher.com
VA

Endless Games
201-386-9465
www.endlessgames.com
NJ

Fundex Games
www.fundexgames.com
IN

Gamewright
617-924-6006
www.gamewright.com
MA

Great America Puzzle Factory
203-838-4240
CT

LinguaPlay Games
260-338-0745
John Kaufeld
john@linguaplay.com
IN

Patch Products Inc
800-524-4263
www.patchproducts.com
WI

Steve Jackson Games
512-447-7866
www.sjgames.com
TX

Talicor
800-433-GAME
www.talicor.com

I hope this list of sources will help anyone who can use this information. This is only a small part of the sources that I have collected over the past 20+ years. Way too much to publish on this site.

Attention: To the BGG staff: If this is the wrong forum to publish this information in, then please move it to the correct forum.

Thank you all for helping me in the past month and I hope that this information will help some of you.

Please, spread the word to other BGG'ers that may need the information listed here, so that they may get the help that they need.

Nventit


(UPDATE):

Recently, I started to seek out new venues for budding game designers who have successfully published a game to sell them. To create new markets and reach more people who maybe interested in purchasing these new games.

So, I figured one of the best ways to reach or build a new market is to sell via auctions. I know many millions of sellers use Ebay Auction the biggest and most expensive to use, but there are many others now that is cheaper to sell on than this one. Not saying that sellers should not sell on ebay, but to expand out to other smaller less expensive auctions.

You know ebay was once to a small auction site...one time a long time ago. And, I believe that the smaller auctions available today makes it possible to make sellers more money and assist buyers who are interested in finding bargains much more in their favor.

www.tiptopwebsite.com/freezone

Thank you and drop-by later for a whole new batch of industry sources that I have been working on offline.


New Addition: www.nationalgamesweek.net

(The National Games Week is the brainchild of Matthew Simmons Marketing Group - the publisher of Games Quarterly Catalog and Games Quarterly Magazine). If you really love games, then visit their website to learn more about National Games Week activies happening in your neck of the woods.

GAME COMPONENTS and PIECES:

http://www.muecke-hotelberatung.de/shop/

(Germany)

This list is very useful. Thanks!

(...and no amount would be too much to publish on this site. Keep up the good work.)

Recently UPDATED on 11/26/05 - Checkout the last posting!

Hello Again Everyone,

I am glad to see that the list that I published earlier has had such a positive effect on some of you, so I am adding a few others that I had not had time to add the first time around.

(Disclaimer): I do not receive any type of payment or profit from these sources. Nor, do I have any affilation with any of these companies other than that my company may or not have worked with or hired some of these companies in our past. We do not receive any payments whatsoever of anykind. I cannot recommend or promise the same results in pricing as I have received in the past due to the quanities of parts and pieces that we purchase.

Always ask any dealer, wholesaler, manufacturer or distributor where do their price breaks start and end. Its part of good negotiations.


GAME and TOY LICENSING AGENTS:

Excel Development Group
Andrew Burton
www.exceld.com
He is widely known throughout the toy and game industry.


NOTE TO ALL INVENTORS: Avoid doing business with those TV Invention Companies. Most are scams that prey on unknowledgable inventors. Do a google search to see just how many of these invention companies are being sued and for what. There's a lot of them being sued. Don't let greed blind you from making good common sense choices. Always checkout any company that you intend to do business with - with the BBB and the Chamber of Commerence in the state in which the company is doing business out of.

OTHER COMPANIES SEEKING INVENTIONS (TOYS, GAMES, ECT):

The Shaper Image
www.sharperimage.com
Go to their contacts or opportunity page link to find Inventor's Info.

WalMart Stores
www.walmart.com
Click on the links locate at the bottom of the home page. Don't remember just what link it is, but Walmart in consently seeking new ideas.

Toys R' US
www.toysrus.com
Go to their contacts and opportunities page for inventor's info.

USEFUL WEBSITES FOR INVENTOR'S AND DESIGNERS:

www.patentcafe.com
More companies seeking products/ideas, plus tons of useful info.

Playthings Magazine
www.playthings.com
Industry Trade Magazine - lots of part and component sources are found in this magazine.

www.toydirectory.com
Not just toys. Excellent resource to use to find or sell what you want.

NOTE: Google type "Inventions Wanted" to find other companies seeking new products of all kinds.

I'll be back with additional information later.

Much of my information is as much about how-to negotiate, network, write business plans, strike deals, negotiate royalties, sell your products, find wholesalers, distributors and retailers, the do's and don't of tradeshows, and much, much more. Currently, writing a book that covers 20+ years of experience doing business in the game and toy industry and other industries as an inventor, writer and designer. Not trying to sell a book here or now.

Thanks to everyone who have added to this list, because your information is deemed valuable to us all.

Thanks to all who have blessed my GeekGold account, but really payment isn't required. All I want to see is that everyone who seeks success - get what you seek. Looking forward to playing your game creations in the future.

Nventit


Recently UPDATED on 11/26/05 - Checkout the last posting!

I also recommend the lists at:

http://www.bgdf.com/modules.php?name=Web_Links

and

http://spotlightongames.com/list/design.html

Hello Everyone -

I was recently asked "If Hasbro licenses games directly from inventors"?

Although, I have a long relationship with Hasbro as an inventor, I must say that in general Hasbro Games usually will not deal directly with inventors who wish to submit their game ideas/concepts. They prefer to deal with agents who have the understanding of the industry and already understands how the licensing process works. Who have experience with negotiating licensing deals and who have a proven track-record in the industry.

It took me almost 10 years actually manufacturing the games that I design to get Hasbro's attention and later an invite into a very small lot of inventors and/or game designers that Hasbro will deal with directly (without an agent).

In all fairness, it has taken years of actually working in the industry to learn what I know now. I agreed to take all of the risks, put my money where my mouth is and learn the industry from bottom to the top. It takes a whole lot of research, networking and time to fully understand how thing really work in this industry and any industry. We must pay our dues if we're new in the industry and we must always be willing to step-up our game if we are industry vets.

Most mega-game companies like: Hasbro Games, Mattel and MB prefers to deal with agents that they have dealt with in the past. Checkout: Andrew Burton with Excel Development Group at: www.exceld.com , because he will be one of the agents that these game companies will direct you to.

Thanks again.

Nventit

Hello Again Everyone -

I would like to first of all thank Aldie and Derk for Pinning this thread to their forum. I really believe that this information will help many of us in the BGG Community move our projects forward in the future.

I would like to thank Mike DeSanto (Targetboy) for posting a link to www.enter.net/~mdesanto in another one of my threads. This site is quite interesting and includes a link page with valuable research material for game designers.

The following link which was found at the above site is a valuable resource for RPG Designers and PDF Game Developers: www.rpgnow.com

Nventit (James Nelson)

(EDIT ONCE: To correct spelling error)

FYI.

I used Paragon Packaging (IL) to do my game as they were able to do the tiles and trays as well as the paper elements. It probably ends up a bit more expensive, but, all in all, I was happy with the result.

I did not see their name mentioned, so I thought I would pass it on.

Peter Roizen
WildWords

Peter -

I am familar with Paragon Packaging and I will be sure to add them to the list once I collect all of the mailing and web site information.

As for having tiles and such produced there are companies that will do it cheaper, then them. However, you will in most cases have to manufacture 10000 to 25000 pieces to receive any price-breaks.

If you have the website address or mailing address for Paragon Packaging, please by all means include it in your next post.

Thank you for sharing this information with the rest of us.

Nventit

The following infomation is for anyone who is interested in learning about the game and toy industry a bit further.

http://www.toy-tia.org/template.cfm
Toy Manufacturers Association is a member based community for toy and game companies.

http://www.toy-tia.org/
Toy Manufacturers Association website for toy and game inventors.

http://www.astratoy.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1
American Specialty Toy Retailing Association

http://www.thestorefinder.com/fm/library/fmtrade.html
Military and Hobby Game Trade Organizations

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=toy+manufacturers+assoc...
This link on google will take you to pages of information on just about every trade organization there is worldwide.

Nventit (James Nelson)

On 07/14/05, I spoke to a reporter representing Toy Directory Monthly ( www.tdmonthly.com ) about the BGG website and community. Originally, I was giving an interview on behalf of "GameStar Designs Inc" (My Company) and I soon commented how I really like BGG and what Aldie and Derk has done in developing this online community.

The reporter asked many questions about the BGG, but I referred him to contact Aldie and Derk at the BGG to get the answers that the reporter was looking to answer. He said that he would be visiting the site within days and checking the site out. This would be a real good marketing/PR opportunity for the BGG (Aldie and Derk) since the Toy Directory Monthly is distributed to 24,500 monthly subscribers and 142,500 online readers.

Good work Aldie and Derk.... I hope that the opportunity will serve you well.

James Nelson (Nventit)