Hi all,

This is actually a publisher question:
I am wondering what time is normally between the submission of a game at a publisher, and the selling (and marketing) of the game (assuming it is a good game).
I know that this will differ from publisher to publisher, and other factors, but what would be normal/average?

And what if the release of a game is very time critical?
For example, when someone makes a game which is
strongly associated with a movie which comes out within some months. Then the game should be released (just) before the movie will come out in the cinema.
If the publisher says, 'we can only bring it out within x months, and we can't do that in time', then it's too late for that game, since it missed 'the hype' of the movie.
Would it be possible in such a case to bring it out more quickly, like within 1 month or so?


Martin
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Not to hijack your topic, but I also have a similar question.

Those who have used a publisher before, when do you recommend submitting your game for review by a publisher? When your game is in alpha or beta form? Or when your game is pretty much complete?

I see advantages and disadvantages in both scenarios. If you submit your game while it's still in alpha/beta form, there's probably a greater likelihood a publisher will just brush you off if your game looks pretty rough and you're a startup company. However, if you manage to impress them, then an advance payment could really help ensure the game is completed and you have some money in your pocket early on. And even if they don't offer an advance right away, it might help you from a motivational standpoint to know that there's a publisher already interested in your game once it’s complete.

Though if you submit your game once it's pretty much already finished, then I imagine you have a much better bargaining position with the publisher. This could possibly mean slightly higher royalty rates and probably a better chance of a decent advance payment.

In a sense, I guess I almost answered my question, but what are your thoughts and is what I said somewhat accurate?

PS.
Again, I don't want to hijack the topic from Martin Flegel, so feel free comment on my question after his question is answered. :) But I do feel they're somewhat similar questions....

I'd advise you to sell the game online as sharewrae, get a few sales, and lots of feedback, then fix any bugs, THEN approach a publisher.
This also lets you know how popular your game is before you negotiate with them.

Originally posted by Martin Flegel
I am wondering what time is normally between the submission of a game at a publisher, and the selling (and marketing) of the game (assuming it is a good game). Several points
1. Depends if you are talking online or offline publishers.
2. Submission to publication time depends on how finished the game is. The actual times to focus on are submission to signing and then completion to publication - because you might spend six months after signing a game developing it.

Offline publishers often take from three to six months to decide on if they will sign up a submission.

If a publisher signs a contract for a completed (PC) game they can get it to market in one month but that would be without any worthwhile marketing. If the game was good and worth supporting it takes about three months (mainly due to the long lead times for game magazines). Online is usually much quicker for obvious reasons.

As for games related to films they are a different situation. Publishers plan the development time for these titles quite carefully. They buy the license, find a developer and start the development as far in advance of release as possible. If a game wont be ready for film release then the usually aim to go with the video/DVD rental/retail release as there is often a second round of marketing from the film company at that time.

That's a complicated question, and depends on the situation. I can only answer from a retail publisher situation:

If you already have a "green-light" from your publisher on the game, they will tell YOU when they want to release it. The marketing engine usually kicks into high gear 2-3 months before the street date. That's when the ads, previews, and interviews start appearing in the magazines, etc - the demos get released (which of course you've sweated to build long before), beta builds get sent to magazine editors, and other promotions.

Working backwards from the street date, the publisher will need a MINIMUM of about 2 weeks from when you submit your final, fully tested "gold master" CDs (thus the expression "going gold"). This gives them time to send the master discs to duplication, from duplication to packaging, then to distribution, then to the stores. In PRACTICE it's closer to 3-4 weeks for this process.

Prior to that, your "finished" game is going to be going through the beta test process, and when beta is done you'll be doing testing on your release candidates. Each publisher has different requirements for this process.

At least this is kinda sorta how things used to be --- I've been out of it for a few years so things may have changed some since then. If you are talking a smaller publishing house, or an on-line publisher, you may be talking a completely different process.

Now, if you are just submitting a game and hoping a publisher will accept it and publish it - that can vary substantially. If they are a bigger publisher, even after they've had time to evaluate your game, they have to fit it into their release schedule. It depends upon their ability to handle the load, and on if your game is might end up competing with another product they are publishing (if so, they might stagger releases by a quarter or two), and if they want to release it during a specific season (like Christmas).

Wish I had better information for you. An even worse question is, "How soon do I start getting my royalty checks after the game is published?"