#5 Board Game and Card Game Art

Artwork Setup Guide

Posted on December 16, 2022July 25, 2023 by Hero Time Limited

Graphic Design for Print – 16 Steps to Make Sure it Looks Great

Graphic design for print is the last stage of your artwork creation and is the point of time where you want to set up your artwork so that it prints as well as possible. Many board game and card game creators though they might know about the design and artwork creation, have little knowledge and information as to how printing works and, consequently, the best practices to make sure their artwork and graphics come out perfect. At Hero Time, we created a whole series that explains graphic design for printing in detail, and here we will go over the fundamentals to make sure you get the best results.

Graphic design for print VS Graphic design for the web

Graphic design that is viewed digitally is extremely far from printed work. It boils down to the fact that graphic design for the web can simply be exported as a jpeg or png, and the viewers of this image will see it as it looks. On the other hand, in printing, the printing engineer needs to actively control the color output in the machine and the alignment of printing areas to make sure it will come out looking great. Therefore, graphic design for print cannot be handled in the same way. It has to be handled and controlled properly.

How to make sure your graphic design for print is printed well?

There are four areas that make the most significant difference when making a graphic design for print, and you should pay attention to them:

Setting up the specifications of your files

Managing your colors perfectly well

Make sure your text will be crispy sharp and not missing details

The file is kept and handled well

It is important to note that this extensive list is necessary if you want your artwork and game to come out perfect. Though most manufacturers, publishers, and players may not notice these issues, we want to make sure you are happy with the outcome. You can also choose not to follow this list, but we will not be able to guarantee the quality of print in such a case.

If you need any assistance please Feel free to book a call or contact your creator assistance by email.

You can also view all this information on our Youtube playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCS1rWvDVjF44CLfYSvnn4kwmdWQstoD7

Setting up the specification of your file

Make sure the size of your file is the same as the actual printed file. Otherwise, it might get pixelated and lose its ratio as we set it up for print. You can use our Board Game Templates Generator to generate the exact files you need with bleed.

Make sure you add bleed and margins to your files so that no important content will be lost.

We always recommend using gridlines to ensure the content is centered correctly. We will not be able to fix misaligned assets.

The best software to use is Adobe Illustrator as it uses Vector Graphics instead of Pixel Graphics. However, if you must use Pixel Graphics make sure the DPI is at least 300DPI; for text-heavy artwork, it is better to have 450DPI

Managing your colors perfectly well

From the artwork stage, make sure all the assets you create are in CMYK, not RGB.

Use swatches in your file to ensure all the colors you use are identical throughout your components.

To reach the best color effect on large surface areas, do not mix colors too much. Use only two colors( + black if needed) out of the CMYK color pallet. For example, C+Y+K, C+M+K, M+Y+K do not have all four colors in your mixture.

Try your best to make sure the total percentage of colors on large surfaces does not exceed 180%. Over 180%, the ink will start becoming muddy.

If you have gradients, make them in PSD and flatten them to a PNG.

Simple CMYK colors for graphic design for print

Make sure your text comes out crisp

Text is mainly thin strokes of ink; as such, we run the risk of registration Printing registration – Wikipedia. To avoid this risk, you must do the following three things.

All text should be in a separate layer, so we can add an additional layer to protect against registration.

All black text should be 100%K, or if it is a different color, try to have a maximum of only two colors in it (C+Y, M+Y, M+K, etc.)

It is best if the text is also outlined to avoid any mishaps.

File handling and sending to Hero Time

Any assets imported from different software should be smart objects to avoid pixelation during resizing if needed.

It is best to keep all files dynamic and not flattened so we can control colors and assets if needed.

To make sure we can adjust colors and maximize the printing effects, the files’ assets should be layered in 3 or four layers: Background, Images & icons, text, and any templates of cutting lines.

It is best to send all the files in adobe illustrator. However, an editable PDF or PSD file will also be good. (Only use PNG/Jpeg/flattened files if you are 100% sure your artwork is flawless.

Throughout this process, you will always be able to use the Creator Assistant to help you understand any of these points or even check your files and give you feedback.

If you need any help or clarification you can always reach out

Book a call

Send us an email

Once your artwork is completed, we will open a cloud folder for you, where you will be able to upload your files.

How to upload your files.

Once the cloud folder is open, you can simply drag and drop files into it. Please note that once you upload, you will not be able to change the files’ names or delete them. So, make sure everything you upload is accurate before you do.

For each file type, you should create a separate folder: e.g., Box, Cards, Rulebook, Token sheets, etc.

* If your cards have different back designs, you can add one folder for each backside – this way, we will know all cards in that specific folder have the same back.

* if some of your cards need to be in the game multiple times, add the number of cards to the name. For example x8_Gator card

* You can upload the back of the cards only once to the matching folder. You do not need to upload the same back multiple times.

*As for token sheets, it is best if you already lay the tokens on the sheet yourself and upload the whole sheet as one piece of art. You can check here our standard token sheet sizes Token and Map tile sheets – Hero Time Board Game Manufacturer (herotime1.com)

#1 Designing A Board Game

Board Game Testing

Posted on December 16, 2022December 20, 2022 by Hero Time Limited

Board Game Testing

Playtesting your game is crucial to making a product that can stand the test of time. Members of the Board Game Design Lab recommend testing your game at least 30 times.

Before you proceed with development and manufacturing. And though you can use friends and family to test your game. There is nothing like getting an objective opinion from someone you do not know.

To make the process easier, we have teamed up with Player Lair Playtesting to make sure your game gets an objective opinion and becomes the best it can be!

“Player Lair Board Game Testing”

The Player Lair Playtesting team has performed hundreds of tests. with games at various stages- from early prototypes that need direction to games with the final artwork.

They have worked with publishers like Garphill Games, Jacob’s Brick Games, NiNi Games, plenty of independent game designers, and many more.

Because, Their team consists of several published game designers, a graphic designer, board game convention organizers, prototype contest judges, and a gaming journalist. They choose playtesters who will fit your game’s style and needs.

So, Player Lair is run by Ivan Alexiev. He also hosts the Player Lair Podcast and has talked to dozens of world-renowned game designers and has a lot of experience in making and developing games.

How Does Player Lair Work?

At first, they read the draft rulebook to ensure it is clear and easily understood by a party unfamiliar with the game and that has no one to explain the game. If your game is at an earlier stage or the rulebook isn’t quite up to date with the latest additions to the rules, you may also have a test where you teach the rules, the mechanics, and the main focus of the gameplay.

After reading the rulebook and understanding the game, they start to play. The whole session is recorded so you can see real-play-time emotions and play through. After completing the playing session, they write up a detailed report of the game’s strengths and weaknesses and add an actionable plan with improvement suggestions.

Board Game Testing:

The playtests are usually carried out through Tabletop Simulator. If you need help with getting your game on the platform, the Player Lair team may also help you with that as well. There is also the possibility of making a prototype or sending a print and play version.

What Do You Get?

“Price for Playtesting”

Mention Hero Time, and get a 20% discount on any of their services!

Only $25 per playtester per session (1.5 hrs)
20% off on Tabletop Simulator asset creation (ranges from $20 to $120)

You may contact them by email at admin@playerlair.net or fill out their contact form at Player Lair Playtesting

#1 Designing A Board Game

Design Patent

Posted on December 16, 2022April 23, 2024 by Hero Time Limited

Talk to Our Team About Creating Your Board Game

From design to manufacturing, we can help you with every aspect of turning your game concept into reality. Contact us to talk to our team and get expert, insider help on the game design and manufacturing process.

Once you’ve settled on a firm design concept, you may think about the idea of patenting your game. Below, we’ve explained the process of patenting a game, as well as when it is (and isn’t) a good idea.

1. Do I need to Patent a Board game?

First, you want to ask yourself if you need or want to patent a board game. If you are a small indie board game creator who is looking to give the game to his friends family and the surrounding area. Then to patent a board game might not be the right idea. You can maybe copy right some of your artwork instead. However, if you are a large board game publishers, or even a small publisher with a vision and desire to one day become a big-time player, then patenting the board game you are working on is essential.

2. Price of Patent & Counterfeited Board Game:

In our days there are fake copies of most of the best selling games out there. These counterfeit board games are sold online and in other channels to people all over the world. While an original copy can cost $50-150, the fake board games are selling for $5-40.

3. Second, what patent do I need for my board game?

Well, this is again specific for each board game. But, by and large, there are two types of patents, a utility patent that for a novice utility that has yet to come into the market, and the second type is a design patent which protects the way the unique design of an object/item. In board games, aside from new things like the dice in “Dice Forge,”. There aren’t too many new mechanisms and tools that are being invented, and that can be under a utility patent. Therefore the best option for protecting a board game is a design patent that patents the combination of mechanisms, cards, components, and pictures used in the game

4. Shall I also trademark and copy right a board game?

Aside from a Design Patent, a company can also Trademark its logo and name, and copyright the artwork. However, these two methods will not completely protect your board game. In both cases, it is enough to change a small part of the work or words to avoid infringement. For example, if a factory wants to counterfeit a card game lets say “7 wonders” all they need to do is change it to “8 wonders”. In copyright as well, they should only change a small part of the picture to avoid infringement.

Board Game Copy Rights:

A trademark or copyright will help only if the counterfeiter makes or sells the same exact game one to one, or if he is selling damaged goods that you didn’t authorize.

However, with a design patent, even if the counterfeiter changed the art or name, the mechanics of the game and the overall gameplay stay the same, so your game is protected.

5. Where should I take IP Protection for my board game?

You can patent your board game in any country in the world, and starting from the country of your primary market will be a good start, However, if you are looking to protect against counterfeiters, you should really consider patenting your game in the counterfeit capital of the world. While, in developed countries, people, in general, avoid counterfeiting of making a one to one copy of your game, in China and some other less-developed countries, this concept is still not fully absorbed and practiced.

Benefits of IP Protection:

Therefore if your budget is low, the first place for you to patent your board game will be none other than China itself. Once the Chinese government is backing your IP, no factory and no store will ever dare touch a fake game of any sort. Plus, the cost of a design patent in China is extremely low, and the process is quite fast.

The same goes for a trademark or copyright; once it is registered in China, you can shut down any factory or any store that sells it, whether brick and mortar or online, whether selling in China or other countries.

6. What is the process of Patenting a board game?

In all countries, the process is similar. First, there is a need to search in the government database to see if anyone already registered a similar patent or trademark for a board game. Once the search is complete and there is an authorization that no one previously used the specific game or trademark, then we can apply for a design patent or trademark. After applying, it takes time for the official body to examine the application, and then some time to register it.

7. How long does it take to Patent and trademark a board game?

That aspect depends on each country. In the USA a design patent and trademark can take anywhere between 10-12 months, in Europe it is between 8-12 months, but in China a trademark is up to 8 months, and a design patent takes only 4-5 months.

8. Can Hero Time help me Patent my board game?

Yes. Hero Time has an exclusive cooperation with DeWei, one of the largest corporate law firms in China, and offers board game creators and publishers help with protecting their games.

We wish to protect creators and publishers from losing their IP. Also, we help sign OEM agreements between large publishers and factories to ensure full coverage of IP and to stop the factory from ever revealing or sharing any of the sensitive information they got about the company.

P.S – if your work has already been counterfeited and sold in various stores, call us to discuss a course of action.

9. How Much does it cost to patent a board game?

Every board game has a different number of mechanisms, components, and game play so it largely depends on the game and the country / region you apply to. But for a general estimate, the prices are as follows:

Cost for Patent a Board Game in China:

Initial Search: $100
Design Patent: $500-1200
Utility Patent: $2500-6000
Trademark: $400-700
OEM agreement signed in the presence of a lawyer: $450
Copy Right: $400 per piece.

Cost for Patent for Rest of the World:

Initial Search: $100
Trademark: $800-1400
Design Patent: $2000-3500

*Prices are in USD

#5 Board Game and Card Game Art

Most Common Mistakes for Game Artwork

Posted on December 16, 2022July 25, 2023 by Hero Time Limited

When working on your board game artwork and graphic design, it is not enough to just find artists — you also need to make sure your graphic design is clean and will be printed well and beautifully. This is where we at Hero Time come in.

Most Common Mistakes in board game graphic design

Graphic Design for board games is one thing you don’t want to miss when putting together your project. A good Graphic Designer will keep your project cohesive and allow your story to be told over the course of the printing, production, webpages, and advertising.

The most common mistakes game creators make are:

1. Mistake artwork and graphic design as interchangeable terms (these two things are completely different. One creates artwork and the other places it on the files)

1. Try to do it themselves with zero experience and zero guidance

1. Not aligning all the artwork and icons properly

1. The artwork isn’t the right size and is then is cut out improperly

1. The colors are not balanced and do not come out with a good effect

1. The use of too many layers and effects combined with an incorrect use of programs

How to avoid these mistakes

1. Watch our YouTube series that explain 20 common mistakes and how to avoid them. This series is both for first time and experienced graphic designers. You can watch the playlist at the Hero Time Youtube Channel

1. As you work on your game, you should have someone to check your board game graphic design and give you some pointers. You can book a free session here https://calendly.com/hero-time-creator-assistance

1. If you are too busy and are not interested in the above solutions you can use our inhouse Graphic Design team, who can help with your project and will work with you through every step to ensure your project is ready to print and go live.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCS1rWvDVjF44CLfYSvnn4kwmdWQstoD7

Graphic Designs Needed for your Game

Although they might all overlap in some ways, graphic design services can be divided into three categories: Games, Advertising, Crowdfunding.

Print Design

Anything from Icons to logos, art placement, and set up for print ready file, the graphic designer can help create cohesive work across the various parts of the project. They work with the artist(s) to keep the balance between theme and usability intact.

Advertising Design

Using the work done for your project a suite of banners and images can be created to help you get the word out about your project. Professional graphics, whether posted on social media, or included in an email blast show that you take it seriously and want to keep people excited along the way.

Kickstarter Design

There are many design needs on Kickstarter like header images, title images and more. Be sure they match your game by hiring a professional to do the layouts and images for everything from the header to the stretch goals. It is often overlooked, or left until the last minute, but the graphics and presentation of the crowdfunded project is as important as the actual information on the page, and without good, clear design people may not be able to find the information they need to make a good decision.

Be sure to contact us with the scope of the project for a quote. Package pricing helps keep all of the costs known at the time of quoting so you don’t have any surprises.

#9 Marketing Board Games

Kickstarter Consultants

Posted on December 16, 2022February 15, 2023 by Hero Time Limited

How to Kickstart a Board game?

So you have an idea for a board game, and you decided to fund it through board game Kickstarer. Now you need to know how to kickstart a board game. It is not an easy task and requires a lot of work. You need to gain followers and subscribers, update them constantly, and eventually when you are ready for your launch, you need to convert them into backers. We at Hero Time want to help you with your venture and so we have brought to you a list of board game industry leaders who will be willing to help you.

Feel free to contact them personally and speak to them. Please prepare as much details about your project as you can prior to talking with them so they can help you achieve your target.

Mention Hero Time when you contact them to get a free half an hour consultancy and overview.

“KickStarter Consultants”

GABE BARRETT

Founder of board game design lab community, & author of “Board Game Kickstarter Advice”

Worked on projects such as:

Legacies – a light and fun strategy game.
PlunderBund – Deck building, worker placement, and strategy area control
Pedigree – The animal breeding board game.

Gabe uses the first session to set milestones for the project. As the creator progresses through the campaign Gabe provides one hour support call to advise on a course of action to reach the milestones, ensuring the project will be fully funded.

Average No. of hours: 5 Hourly fee: 75$

Contact at:

Nalin Chuapetcharasopon

Head of meeplemarketing.com/group. and author of “Game Designer Marketing toolkit”

Worked on projects such as:

Endless Winter – a worker placement and deck-building game set up in the Ice Age.

Reckless Sloths – A fun card game about saving sloths from dangers.

Nalin is a professional Board Game KickStarter marketer who worked on numerous projects. She will take you one step at a time and provide you detailed advice about everything you will need to do. From creating a landing page, getting an email list, increasing traffic conversion and all the way to getting fully funded.

Average No. of hours: Support throughout the project.

Project fee: Mention Hero Time and get each session for only 75USD.

Contact at:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/nchuapetcharasopon

Get her book at:

https://meeplemarketing.com/game-designer-marketing-toolkit

Dina Ramse

Worked for 15 years as a play tester and community manager.

Worked on projects such as:

Nompty: Strategic card game
Top Tale: A fun party game
Tale of Sampo: Deception + hidden movement game

Dina brings the skills she has learned from being a social media and community manager to the table. She provides one hour support call to advise on how to best use platforms and how to gain better reach and visibility for your project. Once a week she will monitor accounts and progress, and give advise.

Average No. of hours: Minimum an hour a week Hourly Fee: 20$ an hour.

Contact at:

Twitter: Twitter.com/Dinasaidso1

Instagram: Instagram.com/gamervalkyrie

#9 Marketing Board Games

Video Production for Board Game Marketing

Posted on December 16, 2022February 15, 2023 by Hero Time Limited

Video Production for Board Game Marketing (Especially KS)

1. Video Production for Board Games:

One of the critical factors which can set your Kickstarter apart from the many board game Kickstarter around is the video. The first thing most people click when they arrive at a project page before they scroll to see the project’s description is the page’s video.

2. Hero Time Discount Offer:

That’s why we can recommend some of the industry’s best videographers to help you create a fantastic video, which will help your Kickstarter succeed!

Mention, Hero Time to get a discount.

“Our Partners – Order is by Price”

1. Oniro Creative

1. Oniro Agency:

Oniro is a creative agency that crafts immersive visuals and cinematic experiences for board games and is currently working with some of the industry’s top publishers and game designers.

2. Milestones of Oniro:

They have worked on games like Santorini, Gorilla Marketing, Dice Throne: Season Two. Get in touch with them at www.onirocreative.com!

3. Price:

The Price is 4000USD for Kickstarter.

2. Kagan Productions

1. Kagan Intro:

Video production for Kickstarter, Kagan Productions is a leading video production studio based in Israel. They specialize in creating media content for board games and crowdfunding promotional videos. They can create 2D and 3D animation, live-action, or a combination of both.

2. Services By Kagan:

They provide a full-service from creative, scripting, voice-overs, and even animated GIFs for your campaign. If you like what you see, you can get a quote for your game at www.kaganproductions.com

3. Price:

Price – Quote per project.

3. Mesa Game Lab

1. Mesa Game Intro:

Video production for Kickstarter, Mesa Game Lab specializes in animation and visual effects. The company creator is David Diaz, animator, and designer of the game Fossilis.

2. Contact Us:

You can get in touch with them by filling out their contact form at www.mesagamelab.com, and remember to mention Hero Time when you do!

3. Price:

Price – anywhere from 1000-3000USD

4. The Cardboard Stacker:

1. Card Board Stacker Intro:

Ferdinand Capitulo (The Cardboard Stacker) is a freelancer specializing in video and animation creation since 2016 and working exclusively in the board gaming industry.

2. Services By Card Board Stacker:

The list of services includes Kickstarter Video, GIFs, and Tutorial Video. Notable past clients include Level 99 Games, 25th Century, Thunderworks Games, & Steeped Games.

3. Price:

Price – 500-800USD

5. LVC games

1. LVC Games Intro:

LVC Games specializes in simple but highly thematic videos for first time Kickstarters and low budget projects. Concentrating on your story and your game’s theme, they will ensure that even brand new indie games get the start they deserve.

2. Price:

Price 150-300USD

#1 Designing A Board Game

Rulebook Editing

Posted on December 16, 2022April 23, 2024 by Hero Time Limited

Talk to Our Team About Creating Your Board Game

You’re making great progress with your game’s design and have a few test sessions behind your back. Now it’s time to put all your ideas on paper and define the final mechanics in a snappy, comprehensive, and engaging manner, so players can take a quick gander at the rules and jump straight into the action! Easy-peasy!

Let’s go through the checklist. Did you detail all the rules and those few but tricky exceptions? Is your wording consistent across all mentions of the same concept? How about the particular game terms? Did you provide clear examples? And be honest now, did you do it all in style?

Uh-oh.

“Don’t Fall Into The Trap”

The rulebook for board games is an essential piece of any board game – without it, your players can’t even begin playing, let alone enjoy what you’ve carefully designed! However, it’s alarmingly easy to take the written rules for granted or leave them for the last minute. Sadly, this common pitfall has plagued countless (otherwise excellent!) games, preventing them from reaching the audience they truly deserve. But not yours!

Our editors are here to take care of things for you. They’ll tighten up your rules, sprinkle just a little flair in your prose, and advise you how best to present your vision to the world.

With professional editing by experienced industry veterans, your rules will grab and hold the attention of happy gamers across the globe. See, it is easy after all!

“Meet Our Wordsmiths”

Nikola R. Petrov

Nikola R. Petrov is an award-winning board game designer with a background in creative writing and games journalism. Before making games full-time, He graduated from Law School, so handling rules and complicated text is second nature to him. Nik’s writing has been published in prominent gaming publications, the rulebooks and tutorials of many board and video games, and even taught to a Digital Media and Video Games class at Sofia University.

What Do You Get from our Wordsmiths?

Your work-in-progress rulebook will receive the full proofreading and editing treatment it deserves! Naturally, the creative process will be slightly different for every book, but the steps usually go like this:

The editor will read through your rules and fix any spelling and grammar mistakes first;
The Proofreader will clear up your phrasing and unify your keywords & terms across the text;
The reviser will work with you on providing clear and useful examples;
The Copy-reader will put just a touch of creative writing in your text, fully complying with the tone and mood you’ve set with your core design and the game’s theme.

Words are hard, and it’s okay to ask for help! You focus on creating the best possible gameplay experience, and our professionals iron out the details!

“Rulebook for Board Games Editing Price”

1. The cost of editing is $0.10 per word, based on the text you send out. For best results, please include all information (component list, etc.) and pictures where possible.

2. The editor will go through the entire text and provide an initial draft, usually with a few comments and questions.

3. Based on your feedback, the editor will create up to two revisions of the initial draft before considering the text final. Any further revisions will be billed as a new edit at $0.10 per word.

#7 Safety Tests for Games

Safety Testing

Posted on December 16, 2022July 31, 2023 by Hero Time Limited

Safety Tests for Board Games

All in all there are five regulatory bodies that require safety tests and they are dependent on your target market.

CPC –USA (ASTM F963)

CE – EU

UKCA – UK

AS/NZ 8124 – Australia and New Zealand

ISO 8124 –Rest of the world

You can also contact us directly to talk to a member of our board game manufacturing team about the safety testing process and how you can make sure your game is compliant.

Why Are Safety Tests Important?

There are three main logic points behind the idea of safety testing and labeling of board and card games.

Making sure the products are safe and can be used by kids.
parents who buy the game need to be aware of the risks involved when buying the game
To ensure there is a responsible body which will take responsibility for this game and anything that may happen.

Since the middle of 2020, most countries require the responsible body to have contact details within the specified zone so they can be contacted and reached at any time. The responsible body can be the seller, distributor, importer, creator, or publisher. As such, the responsible body should also have the certificates roving his game is actually safe for the use of games, and that the labeling isn’t misguiding.

There are some detailed tests that are done on the products to check their chemical construction and the tests vary between countries. You can check the EU CE requirements for board games, and the US CPC requirements for board game

How to make sure my game can pass all safety tests

To make sure your game can sell later on on Amazon and at retailers as well as clearing customs with no issue you need to make sure that:

A. Your board game manufacturer is using safe raw materials that pass worldwide safety standards. Some manufacturers might be using ink with a high concentration of petrol. Some paper and coating uses high levels of heavy metals and led.

B. The labeling and marking on your board game comply with point 2 and 3, of showcasing a responsible body, and for parents to be aware of the risks if any.

How Does it Work?

Once mass production was completed, we send a few of the game from the current batch to the testing lab to do all the required tests. Once they were done, they will issue safety tests for your specific game, with your specific company name. This way you stay protected no matter what. This is a vague topic, so feel free to reach out and contact us with any questions.

#6 Manfacturing a Board Game

Working With Hero Time

Posted on December 16, 2022December 20, 2022 by Hero Time Limited

Working with Hero Time

Before you start working on your project and choose a partner/supplier, you should first check How we work, and what we can do for you.

Download here an infographic of “How to work with Hero Time” and “What Does Hero Time Do”

Initial quotation and support

When you have a great idea for a board game, Hero Time is here to help you every step of the way. During the quotation phase, our customers can receive Creator Assistance while choosing the best materials to meet their game needs while also sticking to a budget.

Once an initial quote is agreed upon, we will move your game forward to the Artwork Process. Art requirements can be technical at times making them difficult to understand and potentially causing delays in game development. Hero Time’s Designer Assistant can ease this process and ensure your art is ready for pre-production.

Sampling

Now that the creative process is complete, Hero Time will manufacture a sample of your board game with the completed pieces and art. At this stage of development, this Sample Production can be viewed in video form for client approval OR we can send a direct copy to your home/business address for inspection, testing, and approval.

Manufacturing

Hero Time will then discuss with you Time Frames after you feel your game is ready for mass production. Initially, the first three steps (Quotation, Art, and Pre-production Sample) could take an estimated 60-90 days depending on the complexity of your board game. Hero Time will do its very best to provide approximate manufacturing and shipping times so that your game is table ready and on shelves as soon as possible.

Shipping

After manufacturing is complete, Hero Time’s Shipping and Fulfilment options allow delivery of your game direct to backers or to warehouse storage. Our pricing agents will help find the best option for your budget and time frame.

Summary

Making your own board game can seem like a daunting task, but with the help of Hero Time we will walk you step-by-step to make your dream a reality!

From beginning to end, Hero Time will set clear expectations so that our customers know what the future holds throughout their game’s development.

Payment Policy

Our Payment Policy is simple: The Sample Stage requires payment for any incurred costs during sample development; 50% of the game production fee is due as a deposit before manufacturing begins; the final balance along with shipping costs are due prior to shipments.

You can also learn our terms and conditions that explain in depth the nuts and bolts or the manufacturing agreement as well as the limitations

Download Our Free Board Game Artwork Setup Guide

Graphic Design for Print – 16 Steps to Make Sure it Looks Great

Graphic design for print VS Graphic design for the web

How to make sure your graphic design for print is printed well?

Setting up the specification of your file

Managing your colors perfectly well

Make sure your text comes out crisp

File handling and sending to Hero Time

How to upload your files.

Board Game Testing

“Player Lair Board Game Testing”

How Does Player Lair Work?

Board Game Testing:​

What Do You Get?

“Price for Playtesting”

Talk to Our Team About Creating Your Board Game

1. Do I need to Patent a Board game?

2. Price of Patent & Counterfeited Board Game:

3. Second, what patent do I need for my board game?

4. Shall I also trademark and copy right a board game?

Board Game Copy Rights:

5. Where should I take IP Protection for my board game?

Benefits of IP Protection:

6. What is the process of Patenting a board game?

7. How long does it take to Patent and trademark a board game?

8. Can Hero Time help me Patent my board game?

9. How Much does it cost to patent a board game?

Cost for Patent a Board Game in China:

Cost for Patent for Rest of the World:

Download Our Free Board Game Artwork Setup Guide

Most Common Mistakes in board game graphic design

How to avoid these mistakes

Graphic Designs Needed for your Game

Print Design

Advertising Design

Kickstarter Design

How to Kickstart a Board game?

Mention Hero Time when you contact them to get a free half an hour consultancy and overview.

“KickStarter Consultants”

GABE BARRETT

Worked on projects such as:

Nalin Chuapetcharasopon

Worked on projects such as:

Dina Ramse

Worked on projects such as:

Video Production for Board Game Marketing (Especially KS)

1. Video Production for Board Games:

2. Hero Time Discount Offer:

“Our Partners – Order is by Price”

1. Oniro Creative

1. Oniro Agency:

2. Milestones of Oniro:

3. Price:

2. Kagan Productions

1. Kagan Intro:

2. Services By Kagan:

3. Price:

3. Mesa Game Lab

1. Mesa Game Intro:

2. Contact Us:

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4. The Cardboard Stacker:

1. Card Board Stacker Intro:

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1. LVC Games Intro:

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Talk to Our Team About Creating Your Board Game

“Don’t Fall Into The Trap”

Nikola R. Petrov

What Do You Get from our Wordsmiths?

“Rulebook for Board Games Editing Price”

Download Our Free Board Game Safety Labeling Checklist

Safety Tests for Board Games

Why Are Safety Tests Important?

How to make sure my game can pass all safety tests

How Does it Work?

Working with Hero Time

Initial quotation and support

Board Game Testing: