Publishing & Distribution of Indie RPGs

[Gold Rush Games]

We're developing a prgram whereby we will publish and distribute selected indie RPGs. The contract is still in draft but we hope to have it finished soon.

  Through the program, designers will send us ready-to-print files (to our specs; we're aiming for hi-res PDFs) and we will put the books into production using our POD printer. If we do design work on a project that would incur an extra fee for that work.

  The program will require an up front fee plus a percentage of net sales of each copy of the book(s). Right now we're looking at charging 60% of net receipts, though that number's not firm yet. Here's an overview of what the program will provide the designers:

  * file setup costs (charged by our printer)
  * ISBN and barcode
  * publishing/POD printing of books to order
  * distribution of the books to game/hobby stores and book retailers
  * listing/availability on Amazon.com and BN.com

  As for the percentage of sales, bear in mind the following: Distributors receive an average 60% discount on all purchases. That means that for a book that has a suggested retail price (SRP) of $20, distributors pay only 40% or $8.

  From that $8.00 comes the production cost (about $2.75 for a 96-page book), the sales commission for our contract fulfillment house (10% or $.80), shipping costs (about 5% or $.40). Add to that a bit of marketing from us, catalog listing, etc. Our costs just for handling the orinting, distribution and sales of each book is about $4, which is 50% of the net sale to a distributor. So even if we charge 60% of that $8, we're making a less than a dollar on each sale, while the designer gets about $3.

  As you can see, we're not making much profit on that book, are we? So what are we getting out of it? Industry good will, an increased line of available products, and potentially some big hits that we will need to publish through a traditional press (meaning more profits for everyone involved).

  Comments or thoughts are welcomed.

[Mike Holmes]

Hi Mark, good to see you here on The Forge,

You left out the most important part. Rights. Who retains them, the author, or GRG? Is there a period where only GRG can publish the game? What about future editions, etc?

When will the details of the contract be available to see?

Is selection completely on a case by case basis, or do you have some criteria you can let us in on?

Mike

[Ron Edwards]

Hi there,

Please direct all thoughts and comments to this thread in the Publishing forum.

Mike, if you could duplicate your post to that thread, that'd be appreciated. I am interested in the answers to those questions.

Best,
Ron

[Gold Rush Games]

Hi Mark, good to see you here on The Forge,

  Hola and thanks. :)

You left out the most important part. Rights. Who retains them, the author, or GRG? Is there a period where only GRG can publish the game?

  Designers keep the rights, including the copyright. GRG is only licensing the publishing rights from the designer. Period.

What about future editions, etc?

  Separate project; not covered under the agreement.

When will the details of the contract be available to see?

  Right now if you like.

  http://www.goldrushgames.com/files/GRGPub&Distr.PDF

  Bear in mind that this is a DRAFT and is not yet finished. We're adding a few additional clauses, such as a deadline for the designer to get the files to us, verbage about when the up-front fee is non-refundable and when it is refundable, etc.

Is selection completely on a case by case basis, or do you have some criteria you can let us in on?

  The project can't suck, make GRG look bad, or be pornographic. it also must not infringe on any other party's rights (e.g., if it's a D20 product it MUST comply with the OGL and D20STL), and it has to be something we think will move in terms of sales.

[Gold Rush Games]

Hi there,

Please direct all thoughts and comments to this thread in the Publishing forum.

  Oops. I'll repost my reply there, too. Sorry about that.