How To Find a Mobile Games Publisher?

n01 writes "In the last few months of my spare time, I've been implementing an abstract strategy board game (that I invented) along with a decent AI. The game resembles TwixT in that it is also a connection game, and could be played without the need for a cellphone or computer. The implementation on the Java 2 Mobile Edition platform will soon be finished, with only some minor usability and sound issues to fix. While I enjoyed working on the game (actually more than on my day job as a programmer) I would still like to earn some money from selling the game, so I can work more on such projects in the future. What experiences have Slashdot readers had with selling their applications/games for mobile phones? With which publisher will I have the broadest audience and achieve the highest earnings? Would you try to publish the game both as a mobile game and a traditional board game?"

Comments

this being slashdot

[siddesu]

the obvious answer is, of course, opensource it and make money from related services, you insensitive clod!

Re:this being slashdot

[ushering05401]

On the open source note...

If it is popular then it will get knocked off on other platforms - or maybe even on your chosen platform.

The only way to make money then would be a lawsuit against the purveyors of said knock-off. Seeing as game rules have special designation under the law you would need to sue like the Scrabble folk did, focus on the actual board design etc.. and then you will just look like a prick to all the people who discovered 'your' game through the knock off you have now hounded in court.

Make a couple variations on game-play, open source the code, have a contest for free (donated?) stuff awarded to the best alternative implementation of game rules etc.., and then get an online game consortium to give you an interview based not on a CV, but the conversation their reps had with you at the game expo where you were hobnobbing with your new open source gaming friends.

Don't advertise on other game designer's comment threads without consent - hopefully you knew that already.

Have fun most of all, though, cause your idea is probably not going anywhere - most don't and it usually isn't cause they are bad ideas. Implementation is everything.

Re:GPL it and sell it

[PylonHead]

Nobody here is saying you can't sell GPL games. I believe he said that you can't make money doing it.

The team working on "Yo Frankie!" are donating their time.

The team members will get a great studio facility and housing in Amsterdam, all travel costs reimbursed, and a fee sufficient to cover all expenses during the period.

Blender Institute is funding the project to improve their software, specifically to

improve and validate the open source 3D game creation pipeline, with industry-standard conditions

It's a great idea, but it's disingenuous to hold it up as an example of a business model.