tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.comments2022-06-16T03:19:59.809-04:00Plankton Games JournalDave Dobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12013987221733927394noreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-36594499924226514392020-01-28T19:59:49.382-05:002020-01-28T19:59:49.382-05:00Thanks for your interest.I sell them through Amazo...Thanks for your interest.I sell them through Amazon (they pack and ship the orders) and directly from my website. I've also sold a small number to a distributor in Canada, and I've sold a few in person. Amazon sales are about 90% of my sales.Dave Dobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07705445571990321659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-69260375101918110482020-01-28T18:43:47.492-05:002020-01-28T18:43:47.492-05:00Sorry for the first comment, I accidentally pasted...Sorry for the first comment, I accidentally pasted it in Polish. I came across your board game blog completely by accident, but I was interested in your publications. I am a huge fan of board games and I also hobbyist reviewing board games in my country. How do you sell your games? over internet?Gry Planszowehttp://recenzjegierplanszowych.plnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-16314466665466343262020-01-28T18:42:29.017-05:002020-01-28T18:42:29.017-05:00I came across your board game blog completely by a...I came across your board game blog completely by accident, but I was interested in your publications. I am a huge fan of board games and I also hobbyist reviewing board games in my country. How do you sell your games? over internet?Gry Planszowehttp://recenzjegierplanszowych.plnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-72920937011298894222019-12-25T00:45:43.885-05:002019-12-25T00:45:43.885-05:00Hi, John - I forgot to put a comment here, but Son...Hi, John - I forgot to put a comment here, but Son of Esker is now available via Amazon and on my site. Dave Dobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12013987221733927394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-66103215087471824572019-09-13T18:14:45.184-04:002019-09-13T18:14:45.184-04:00That's great, John! I'll pust here again w...That's great, John! I'll pust here again when it's ready to buy.Dave Dobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07705445571990321659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-87000611354833081212019-09-13T09:13:18.092-04:002019-09-13T09:13:18.092-04:00This is wonderful news! My group, having enjoyed t...This is wonderful news! My group, having enjoyed the original so well, is looking forward to this sequel.John Chttps://www.flatlandgames.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-39311546385100107282019-08-27T08:31:51.745-04:002019-08-27T08:31:51.745-04:00That’s great! I have a mailing list if you’d like ...That’s great! I have a mailing list if you’d like to know when it gets here. Let me know at dave@planktongames.com.Dave Dobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07705445571990321659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-43106918549528633472019-08-26T23:35:56.237-04:002019-08-26T23:35:56.237-04:00I'm super excited to play son of doctor esker&...I'm super excited to play son of doctor esker's notebook. The first one was awesome.shayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09146638374775759191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-41476873133142444222019-08-25T21:08:45.602-04:002019-08-25T21:08:45.602-04:00I'm glad you enjoyed it!I'm glad you enjoyed it!Dave Dobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07705445571990321659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-47158894719961659862019-08-25T21:08:26.476-04:002019-08-25T21:08:26.476-04:00Should be by early October, but they haven't g...Should be by early October, but they haven't given me a firm date yet.Dave Dobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07705445571990321659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-1777777630647704102019-08-25T16:21:15.114-04:002019-08-25T16:21:15.114-04:00Just played through Eskers and can’t wait for the ...Just played through Eskers and can’t wait for the sequel. Any thought on when it will be available?<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08323416196388747579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-1659372332189583852019-06-06T01:54:46.917-04:002019-06-06T01:54:46.917-04:00Thanks! Nearly there.Thanks! Nearly there.Dave Dobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07705445571990321659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-72050492819235796472019-06-05T23:22:23.952-04:002019-06-05T23:22:23.952-04:00Awesome! Congrats on getting close to breaking eve...Awesome! Congrats on getting close to breaking even.Jorgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06107767530010858285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-43857416016494489202019-03-30T17:03:14.588-04:002019-03-30T17:03:14.588-04:00This is really cool! Thanks for sharing.This is really cool! Thanks for sharing.Jorgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06107767530010858285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-14068054261622706492019-02-11T09:49:49.591-05:002019-02-11T09:49:49.591-05:00Hi John, thanks for trying it out! I remembered yo...Hi John, thanks for trying it out! I remembered you from Guilford, so I counted you along folks who had a connection. The mystery person is a Texan. I hope you enjoy the game!Dave Dobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07705445571990321659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-5466138124603635242019-02-11T09:26:12.467-05:002019-02-11T09:26:12.467-05:00Hi! Since you're curious: I purchased on Amazo...Hi! Since you're curious: I purchased on Amazon because I misread your check-out page as charging shipping. I found out about the game because I follow the RSS feed of this blog. I first knew you through Snood, then through your teaching at Guilford College in the late 90s.<br /><br />I bought this game in particular because I have a friend who enjoys puzzle games, and I wanted to have this to hand for his next visit. John Chttps://www.flatlandgames.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-24047234696938804972018-08-14T23:19:03.159-04:002018-08-14T23:19:03.159-04:00Thanks, John - I've been pretty happy with The...Thanks, John - I've been pretty happy with TheGameCrafter.com for print on demand. They can do a single game with box for $10.35. I'll check out DriveThru and compare prices. For a larger print run from a manufacturer, I can get it down to $2-4 per copy for the same thing, which is a cost-of-goods that I can work with much better.Dave Dobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12013987221733927394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-53015803740455571662018-08-13T09:54:09.722-04:002018-08-13T09:54:09.722-04:00DriveThruRPG (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/) provid...DriveThruRPG (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/) provides print on demand services, including for cards. They've been very easy to work with for me so far.John Chttps://www.flatlandgames.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-89393339631140118562013-09-04T12:39:15.620-04:002013-09-04T12:39:15.620-04:00HI dave,
I agree with you and for this reason I...HI dave,<br />I agree with you and for this reason I'm trying to make a crowdfunding website...not as usually website of crowdfunding but a place where you can post your idea, develop a project, collect a fund, test the game, produce the game and also sell it online...<br />ony with a simply registration to the website.<br />I hope my project will run asap<br />StefanoAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03559894708400194233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-58088387884533916402013-07-31T07:34:03.736-04:002013-07-31T07:34:03.736-04:00I second crowd-funding, I taught a few classes abo...I second crowd-funding, I taught a few classes about crowd-funding analyzing the market, a few 'funded' card games, had downloadable pdf versions with 'ok' art but great game play, when they got 5,000 registered players, they offered the game with nice card-stock, great art, shipping, online rules errata updates, and the kickstarted the project. the 5,000 already playing the pdf printed at home version turned into 7,000 'funded' customers, as their orders increased, their profitability increased and they were able to hire guest artists, I think from memory, they tripled their requirement. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-54526442873743818032013-07-30T04:19:05.467-04:002013-07-30T04:19:05.467-04:00Great post!
I second your analysis and possible s...Great post! <br />I second your analysis and possible solutions. I think the price (retail) of indie games will go up, by about 20% in the coming year as we all face the same issues.<br />Crowdfunding also helps, especially as it allows you to better gauge the market size beforehand.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07378787315127991901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-14382225459949915192013-07-30T01:03:14.295-04:002013-07-30T01:03:14.295-04:00Great summary of the issues facing the small marke...Great summary of the issues facing the small market press Dave! <br /><br />We went through the same agonizing calculations at Tactical Assault Games and decided to go the DIY-Download/POD route - in part to relieve some of the stress derived from the time vs. sales portion of the equation. <br /><br />With the lower initial investment, there isn't quite the same pressure to generate sales, and thus return on investment, as quickly. It has worked OK so far for us, with the added benefit of allowing us to grow organically along the lines of our original plan rather than being driven solely by the anticipated profitability of any given project.<br /><br />It sure seems like there are a lot of hard choices to be made for the hobby we love...Danhttp://www.tacticalassaultgames.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-61643732413603657792013-07-29T18:12:04.073-04:002013-07-29T18:12:04.073-04:00Standing ovation, man. Thanks for this. Now I can ...Standing ovation, man. Thanks for this. Now I can link folks here whenever they start asking me questions about the same stuff. :)Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08362641974657304051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-91849789908916094872013-07-29T16:16:27.760-04:002013-07-29T16:16:27.760-04:00This is a very insightful article and I definitely...This is a very insightful article and I definitely appreciated the effort you put into analyzing your business as well as sharing it with us. <br /><br />My only question is on your graph with a total investment line(green). The numbers don't match up? It seems to be about $500 off. For example, at 2000 copies for $4 each, your investment would be $8000. The graph seems to be showing $8500. For 9000 copies at $2 a pop, you'd be looking at an $18k investment. This is where the green line should go off the chart instead of at 8500 copies.Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684503776746751461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815365161259800939.post-68586898701146926612013-07-11T15:15:49.334-04:002013-07-11T15:15:49.334-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05331339866299974387noreply@blogger.com