Chapter 010 - 2001.05.25
On this day,
I signed the contract,
for my very first game license.
A deal secured by my third agent group,
a general merchandise licensing representative.
I just Googled on them -
to see if they are still around.
Though I found the basic name -
I do not recognize a single team member,
so maybe they sold their brand to others -
not sure.
I'm not going to identify them -
because I do not want two different groups confused.
As you will learn,
in subsequent chapters,
this first game license was not the last thing we did together.
Though it was the one and only analog game we licensed together.
Let's spice up my boring storytelling -
with an image of my first game -
as produced for market.
I don't do artwork.
I only figure out basic concepts, themes, processes and rules.
For this game, the puzzle pieces are specially engineered -
so they only 'snap' together a certain way -
if they do snap -
then it's a legal move.
If they do not snap together -
then the player knows it immediately -
after trying.
It's a game for young and old kids -
to learn a little something from playing.
It's both a multiplayer game -
as well as a solitaire challenge game.
There was a manufacturing problem with the game.
The pieces were not die cut precisely,
so certain puzzle-piece combinations -
appeared visually as errors -
even though they were NOT errors -
because the body parts were not smooth.
I provided a manufacturing solution,
but it was ignored.
Many reviewers complained about the problem.
Years ago the company informed us that the game was no longer going to be produced and sold.
It still can be found on the internet.
Here are some links:
It took me nearly a decade to land my first successful deal.
SNAP made it easier to find even more success with future games.
The last sales quarter was Q116.
My agent and my company earned equal shares of royalties paid.
Nearly 84,000 units were reported sold over the fifteen (15) years of sales.
My company's gross revenue was a little less than $12,500 USD.
This is evidence that game inventors -
do NOT get rich unless -
their creations sell millions of units.