The Price of Creativity

Have you ever held back from buying a board game because it was too expensive? Have you ever thought a game was overpriced? Let's talk about the price of creativity and why some games seem expensive when they're cheap, while others seem cheap but are actually overpriced and overrated.

Like any physical product, a board game requires manufacturing, which sometimes involves expensive materials and complex production methods. Apart from that, one might argue that there are no other costs associated with creating, producing and distributing a board game to a store in your neighborhood. Today, we're gonna try to bust this myth and show that a board game is way more than just some factory product.

In order for a board game to reach production, three main phases must first be completed. These phases are game design, illustration/graphic design, and development. Each phase requires expertise in a specific field. Teetotum, for example, has its own game design and development department, but we usually collaborate with freelancers for illustrations and graphic design. All of these phases require hard work and creativity to bring a game from the designer's mind to paper. Additionally, these phases are valuable not only because they come before production but also because of their creative nature. Without them, the game could never reach the factory, or worse, could never leave the game designer's mind.

Things become even more interesting when we take production out of the equation. For example, consider the Teetotum 99 project and its print-and-play board game titles: Christmas Rolls and Paw by Paw. Just because there is no physical product or production process, does that mean these games are worthless? Does that mean the game designers, illustrators, developers and testers are not worthy of a reward? Of course they are! Would you imagine if musicians or actors weren't paid for writing songs or starring in movies just because songs and movies aren't physical products?

Board games are no different. They are ideas, fun creations and innovative ways to bring us joy. They are more than just wood, plastic and cardboard. Supporting board game designers and artists will keep the light of joy shining in our world. Thank you and don't stop playing!

Embark on a thrilling journey through time with Restart, a tactical engine-building game that challenges you to alter the course of events to save the world.