Want to create a Squash game for the Wii

You'll need to contact Nintendo (www.warioware.com) and apply to be an official Nintendo Wii developer. Generally applicants are game companies with proven experience OR have a publisher to back them financially as it can cost hundreds of thousands and into the millions to develop a game once you pay for development costs, marketing, licensing, etc...

I am curious, have you made any games before? Do you have any experience making games for the Wii specifically? Working with the Wii-Mote/Nunchuck can be a pain at times and can be frustrating when trying to detect proper motion.

Unfortunately getting official developer status is very difficult (to downright impossible at times) for start-ups. You may want to talk with a publisher to help you out, though without development experience chances are they'll pass too. Good luck with everything.

I guess I'm looking for a contact at a game publisher such as TakeTwo Interactive. I think TakeTwo has subsidiaries such as 2K Sports and Rockstar Games that have done similar games. What would you suggest?

How much do you know about software development, game development, or the games industry in general? And how involved are you in the process of working with the squash federation?

My most general advice would be to get together with a lawyer and talk to games companies about making a game. If you're here asking I can only asume you have no technical experience yourself in games development, which is a potential problem (think of it like buying a car...if you go in with no idea of whats good you can often end up buying a lemon). You might want to talk to anyone at your company who might be technically minded (someone near the top of your IT department might be who you want) who could advise on sketchy looking offers or companies...but games are somewhat removed from traditional IT and are a bit more artistic, so you might want to also just look at what hte companies you're talking to have done, and if that fits in with what you want your game to look/feel like.

> How much do you know about software development, game development, or the games industry in general?

Well, I've been building applications and websites on the internet since 1996, and I've used many different types of machines, os's and api's. I have next to no experience in game development or the games industry. That's why I'm posting here.

> And how involved are you in the process of working with the squash federation?

I'm very involved there -- these guys are my friends, I had the head of WISPA (Women's Intl Squash Players Assoc) over at my house last Friday. She was there along with a bunch of people involved in the PSA (professional squash association) and WSF (world squash federation).

Here's my thought on the game, tell me if I'm nuts.

It seems that some of the more popular Wii games are in the fitness category. Also, sports are popular, including tennis and table tennis.

Squash is considered the #1 sport for fitness in the world (http://www.irishsquash.com/healthiestsport.htm).

My thought is that someone could create a squash game that could be billed as the best fitness/workout sports game available on the Wii.

Anyway, I'd like the chance to pitch this to a games developer. What would you do as a next step?

Ted,
Here are the steps:
1. Make Squash a success - a sport with a big following.
2. Get a licensing agent to represent the World Squash Federation to the game publishers.
3. Let the licensing agent take care of it.
You can't reverse the order of steps 1 and 2. The big game publishers probably won't want to risk big bucks on Squash unless they're pretty sure they can sell a lot of games to Squash fans.
Any questions?

Quote:

Original post by TedMurphy I'd like the chance to pitch this to a games developer. What would you do as a next step?

No - not to a developer. You need a publisher, that's the company with the money.

OK, fair enough. Is there a forum -- either here on gamedev.net or elsewhere -- that you would recommend in terms of getting a conversation going with a licensing agent?

If you're going to talk to publishers it would have to be in a more formal face-to-face way. I think a letter sent directly to the publisher would be the best way.

Quote:

Original post by TedMurphy OK, fair enough. Is there a forum -- either here on gamedev.net or elsewhere -- that you would recommend in terms of getting a conversation going with a licensing agent?

That's not how you get a licensing agent.
Google licensing agencies, then start phoning.

> Google licensing agencies, then start phoning.

OK, I will do that. Please email me at ted@tedmurph.com if you (or anyone else on this forum) can help me with next steps. Thank you very much!

Quote:

Original post by TedMurphy > Google licensing agencies, then start phoning. OK, I will do that. Please email me at ted@tedmurph.com if you (or anyone else on this forum) can help me with next steps. Thank you very much!

Next steps:
a. Choose a Google result that gives you lists of licensing agencies with telephone numbers.
b. Print the list.
c. Take the list to the telephone.
d. To make a call, first obtain a dial tone.
e. Then press the number keys in the exact order shown. Add a 1 before the area code when dialing a number in another area code from yours.
f. When you have an agency on the phone, tell them "I'm calling from the World Squash Federation and we're in need of a licensing agent."
g. When you have a short list of agencies willing to represent your sport, check them out. Look for BBB complaints, happy or unhappy clientele, look up their track record.
h. When you've chosen an agency, have them talk to the business development managers at game publishers and try to get your sport licensed.

[Edited by - Tom Sloper on January 30, 2009 10:50:38 AM]