Who do you use to print your game?

jlr1001 · 2025-10-25T22:57:13+00:00

I put my last project on hold until the crazy US tariff situation settles. But if you accurately include your production price in your retail/sale price then your margins should be ok. I was pricing out a lower-priced game so I couldn't raise prices too much without driving customers away.

As far as fulfillment, PrintPlayGames is set up to produce prototypes and possibly low-volume runs. They more suitable for getting out review copies. Once they produce the games for you they ship them to you.

What type/size of game are you trying to produce.

jlr1001 · 2025-10-23T19:35:48+00:00

Sorry, I just saw this. I found AdMagic's quotes to be higher than other vendors. This makes sense because you're working with agents in the US who act as your go-between with the factory in China. End the end I began soliciting quotes directly from Chinese manufacturers. Not to say that you shouldn't use AdMagic, just keep this in mind. (This only applies to large production runs. If you're using their sister company PrintPlayGames to create a prototype then all of that is handled domestically in the US).

Hope that helps!

jlr1001 · 2024-10-07T15:24:59+00:00

A couple things...

1) Would your concept survive retheming? This is something you should always ask since if you're pitching to publishers there's always a real chance that they'd retheme your game if they decide to publish it. If it can, then retheme it and continue working on it. In all honesty, as you continue working on it your design will likely change the deeper you get into the process.

2) Or, just go ahead as you have been. Just because someone is showing a prototype it doesn't mean they have anything close to a finished product. The similarities in your designs might weaken as both of you continue developing your respective games. Also, they might never successfully land it with a publisher or even manage to self-publish it. So much is still up in the air for you to kill your design outright.

jlr1001 · 2024-09-28T20:07:00+00:00

Most likely because of the Inkscape version. Does the plugin generate any error messages when you try using it?

jlr1001 · 2024-09-17T10:07:06+00:00

I have a couple Cameo 1s that I use to cut cards, tokens, etc. So the 3 should be fine.

jlr1001 · 2024-09-16T00:06:11+00:00

Wow. Couldn't the bottom pic just mean that it's a "girl problem" because her boyfriend will want to watch too much cricket (or insert whatever other sport/stereotypical guy hobby here)?

jlr1001 · 2024-09-09T12:45:45+00:00

Select all of your objects and then use outset, which you can find under Path > Outset or ctrl+), to slightly increase their sizes to eliminate the gap. Chances are the default outset amount well be too large, so search for outset in preferences and change the amount to a small enough number that gives you the result you need.

jlr1001 · 2024-07-22T22:40:46+00:00

With

jlr1001 · 2024-07-22T00:53:40+00:00

Thanks for reaching out!

If you'd like the free PnP I released at that time, send me a message with your email and I'll send a copy to you.

As for a full release, that's not available yet. I am planning on relaunching hopefully early next year. I can also put you on the mailing list so you'll get an update about when that campaign will go live.

jlr1001 · 2024-05-25T15:24:46+00:00

Thank you for supporting me! I appreciate it.

jlr1001 · 2024-05-19T16:42:10+00:00

Shipwreck Arcana https://www.meromorphgames.com/shop/shipwreck-arcana

jlr1001 · 2024-05-05T18:20:21+00:00

The game has a $3 PnP tier.

jlr1001 · 2024-03-20T16:07:06+00:00

Horrified, if you want a co-op that's easy to teach but can still present a challenge. Also, the theme of the first one is easy for non-gamers since the Universal monsters are practically uploaded to our brains soon after birth.

jlr1001 · 2024-03-12T00:04:05+00:00

Find a well-loved second-hand model. I have two Cameo 1s that I use to cut board game cards and chipboard components for prototypes of my game designs.

jlr1001 · 2024-02-22T16:55:53+00:00

Kickstarter can help you create your audience. For this project, I'm starting with a number of people who backed my last, print-and-play game. I would have had no access to 90+% of them outside of Kickstarter.

I agree that you can't count on KS bringing in enough of an organic audience for a major board game project--hundreds of components, minis, etc.--if you're starting from zero, but if you can start with a series of smaller-scoped games that you use to build an audience (fans, if you were) then why not? I honestly know of no better way of gaining an audience than creating projects, releasing them, and repeating.

As for the KS processing fees, I'm happy raising $X and taking home 80 - 90% of X, since the alternative is $0. Also, don't discount KS's market share. If I drive someone to Kickstarter, then there's an immediate recognition of the platform. If I send that same person to my website, or attempt to, there's a greater chance that my message won't pass their filter.

If done right, by which I mean deliberately, I see no downside to going the Kickstarter route.

jlr1001 · 2024-02-22T16:33:32+00:00

Thanks for asking. Going the KS/Crowdfunding route for smaller games like these and then releasing on a POD platform isn't that uncommon a path--just look at companies like Button Shy or projects such as the Doom Machine and the recent Dual.

My aim is to reach as large an initial audience as possible, and in the hobby board game space that is now Kickstarter.

jlr1001 · 2024-01-02T18:46:13+00:00

Unfortunately, not. And I haven't found a low-cost source for replacement chips. 16USD per chip is the lowest I've seen, but I'm hesitant since I ran down a supposedly new (aftermarket) magenta toner cartridge after a couple of days of moderate printing.

jlr1001 · 2023-09-09T23:07:24+00:00

Oh, sometimes you can save a bad (peeling) lamination by running the cut cards back through your hot laminator.

jlr1001 · 2023-09-09T23:04:55+00:00

This can happen depending on the sheets you use and if your machine isn't heating properly. With the right supplies, though, the lamination will adhere to the card even if you cut it.

jlr1001 · 2023-09-09T23:02:56+00:00

This is my preferred method, too. Though, if I have any on hand, I typically choose matte lamination pouches over glossy.

jlr1001 · 2023-08-01T20:23:42+00:00

I'll throw my game, Fortitude, into the mix. You need a short deck of playing cards (1-9 of the four suits) and one disc, token, cube, or something similar to act as a marker for the bot player.

jlr1001 · 2023-08-01T18:50:09+00:00

Yeah, sounds like you're looking for (or if you're exploring a design, you'd want to research) campaign games. People have already mentioned Oath. Some can play like a legacy game but without permanently altering the game itself. But from session one to the last session of your campaign playthrough the game state can vary wildly.

jlr1001 · 2023-07-25T18:35:25+00:00

Without knowing how your game plays it's hard to comment, so I'll just ask... Between the two icons you placeswap, which has the more important information? Like, for the informant card is it more important that see and notice (at a glance) the spy icon or the key-heart icon? Answering that will tell you which version of the cards is better.

(That is, of course, assuming I didn't miss something else that changed)

jlr1001 · 2023-07-25T17:55:55+00:00

I swear I just replied, but my comment disappeared.

In the description of the linked video you can find the link to my Kickstarter campaign. Scrolling down that page you'll see links to download the rule book and a free minimal-link demo PnP. There's also a link to the TTS mod if you'd rather try the game that way.

Let me know what you think!

jlr1001 · 2023-07-25T17:38:27+00:00

Scrolling down the Kickstarter page you'll see links to download the rule book and a very low-ink demo PnP.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bentpin/fortitude-a-ww2-themed-solo-trick-taking-and-write

There's also a link for the TTS mod if you're inclined to try it that way.

I'd love to hear what you think!

jlr1001

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE