Tabletop game industry

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The tabletop game industry is the economic sector involved in the development, marketing, and monetization of games that fall within the scope of tabletop games, which includes dice and card games. According to Statista, the tabletop game industry had an estimated market of approximately 7.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2017 and is expected to increase by 4.8 billion U.S. dollars within the next 6 years. [1]

Contents

Since most of the game play requires offline meetings players may choose to participate via meetups or through a variety of tabletop exhibitions held around the world, which are supported by both game designers and players. Some individuals involved in the tabletop industry focus on collecting valuable game cards, games, or pieces, as they see the value of cards as far higher that its original production and sales cost. This mixture of individuals makes up a market structure that can give the board game market a variety of opportunities.

Classification of games

Tabletop games are occasionally referred to as board games, but are not limited to games that require a game board to play. [1] These games are typically based on strategy, randomness, or a combination of both. [1] Games that are traditionally described as tabletop games includes board games, card games, dice games, paper and pencil games, tabletop role-playing games, strategy games, and tile-based games.

These types of games typically include chessboards, game pieces, figurines, cards, dice, and a variety of other accessories that vary according to the complexity of the game involved. Chess is frequently cited as a classic example of a two-player board game. Desktop games can be oriented to one or more people at the same time and the number of players varies depending on the size and rules of the game.

Process

According to author and game inventor Brian Tinsman, the average tabletop game company does not create their own games but instead purchase or license them from independent inventors. These inventors will pitch their games to potential buyers after coming up with a game idea and running the prototype through several test groups and revisions. [2] If the pitch is successful the game will be run through a publisher's art department, which will work on the game's art and graphic design while the game is refined and made ready for the production team, who will select the physical game materials and prep artwork to be run through the machines used to print the game. [2] After this the game is typically sent to distributors, who will sell the game to mass market retailers and specialty/hobby shops. If a publisher is very large they may choose to distribute the games without using a distributor. [2] Many North American companies use factories in China to produce their games, [2] which can make tariffs or laws on Chinese imports of great importance to companies. [3]

Tinsman states that for game inventors there are four major markets for tabletop games: mass market, hobby games, American specialty games, and European games. Mass market games are ones marketed to the general public, whereas hobby games are aimed at a more specific market and mostly fall into three categories: role-playing games, miniatures games, and trading card games. [2] American specialty games are made up of games that would not fall into the prior two categories while the European game market is primarily made up of games put out by German companies, most of which are not translated into English or brought over to the United States. [2]

Select vendors

There are thousands of board game publishers around the world, here is a selection of a few of the largest.

Asmodee Editions (Group)

Asmodee is a French publisher of board games, card games and role-playing games that was founded in 1995. As of 2019 the company has 11 development studios, 11 distribution business units, and over 750 employees worldwide. [4] Tabletop games released by Asmodee include Catan, Star Wars: X-Wing, Ticket to Ride, Arkham Horror and Pandemic.

Hasbro

Hasbro is a global play and entertainment company that has its corporate headquarters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The majority of its products are manufactured in East Asia. [5] Products released by Hasbro include MONOPOLY, MAGIC: THE GATHERING ,and the D&D series.

Mattel

Mattel is an American multinational toy manufacturing company founded in 1945 with headquarters in El Segundo, California. [6]

Puzzle Ravensburger Rathaus Herford.jpg

Ravensburger

Ravensburger AG is a German game and toy company and publishing house. [7] The company is known for games such as their puzzles games series. [8]

Board games

A board game is a tabletop game that involves counters or pieces moved or placed on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Some games are based on pure strategy, but many contain an element of chance; and some are purely chance, with no element of skill.

While the board gaming market is estimated to be smaller than that for video games, it has also experienced significant growth from the late 1990s. [9] A 2012 article in The Guardian described board games as "making a comeback". [10] Another from 2014 gave an estimate that put the growth of the board game market at "between 25% and 40% annually" since 2010, and described the current time as the "golden era for board games". [9] The rise in board game popularity has been attributed to quality improvement (more elegant mechanics, components , artwork, and graphics) as well as increased availability thanks to sales through the Internet. [9]

A 1991 estimate for the global board game market was over $1.2 billion. [11] A 2001 estimate for the United States "board games and puzzle" market gave a value of under $400 million, and for United Kingdom, of about £50 million. [12] A 2009 estimate for the Korean market was put at 800 million won, [13] and another estimate for the American board game market for the same year was at about $800 million. [14] A 2011 estimate for the Chinese board game market was at over 10 billion yuan. [15] (Some estimates may split board games from collectible card, miniature and role-playing games; for example another 2014 estimate distinguishing board games from other types of hobby games gave the estimate for the U.S. and Canada market at only $75 million, with the total size of what it defined as the hobby game market at over $700 million, [16] with a 2015 estimate suggesting a value of almost $900 million [17] ) A 2013 estimate put the size of the German toy market at 2.7 billion euros (out of which, the board games and puzzle market is worth about 375 million euros), and Polish markets, at 2 billion and 280 million zlotys, respectively. [18] Per capita, in 2009 Germany was considered to be the best market, with the highest number of games sold per individual. [19]

Gaming conventions

Xcom the board game at 2015 gdc.jpg

Gaming conventions are large gatherings centered on various types of games, which can include tabletop games. These conventions can range in size from small single day exhibitions to large multi-day events. Tabletop gaming conventions typically provide venues for players to conduct exhibitor activities or test board games that have not yet been released. Game conventions can often be divided into two categories: small conventions or large conventions. Small conventions are most frequently attended by local people and have between 200 and 5,000 attendees. They are often focused on bringing people together to play games and can lack showrooms. Large conventions can draw attendees from all over the country or globe and can accommodate between 15,000 and 200,000 people. There are several hundred gaming conventions around the world each year. [20]

Conventions typically have a dealer's room or hall where attendees can purchase games from sellers. Attendees can also purchase directly from the publisher, a feature that is most common at larger conventions. Some conventions also feature a large event hall where participants can sign up to play specific games or participate in competitions. [21]

Select tabletop gaming conventions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Board game</span> Genre of seated tabletop social play

Board games are tabletop games that typically use pieces. These pieces are moved or placed on a pre-marked game board and often include elements of table, card, role-playing, and miniatures games as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mattel</span> American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company

Mattel, Inc. is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company founded in Los Angeles by Harold Matson and the husband-and-wife duo of Ruth and Elliot Handler in January 1945 and headquartered in El Segundo, California. Mattel has a presence in 35 countries and territories; its products are sold in more than 150 countries. Mattel consists of three business segments: North America, International and American Girl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hasbro</span> American multinational toy and entertainment company

Hasbro, Inc. is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment holding company founded on December 6, 1923 by Henry, Hillel and Herman Hassenfeld and is incorporated and headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Hasbro owns the trademarks and products of Kenner, Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, and Wizards of the Coast, among others. As of August 2020, over 81.5% of its shares were held by large financial institutions.

A puzzle is a game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together in a logical way, in order to find the solution of the puzzle. There are different genres of puzzles, such as crossword puzzles, word-search puzzles, number puzzles, relational puzzles, and logic puzzles. The academic study of puzzles is called enigmatology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gen Con</span> Tabletop game convention in North America

Gen Con is the largest tabletop game convention in North America by both attendance and number of events. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, and strategy games. Gen Con also features computer games. Attendees engage in a variety of tournament and interactive game sessions. In 2019, Gen Con had nearly 70,000 unique attendees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ravensburger</span> German game, toy and jigsaw puzzle company

Ravensburger AG is a German game, puzzle and toy company, publishing house, and market leader in the jigsaw puzzle market.

For over a century until 1996, F.X. Schmid was an important German manufacturer of playing cards, board games and puzzles. It was considered one of the major European manufacturers. In 1995, its turnover was 67 million DM and there were around 250 employees.

A gaming convention is a gathering centered on role-playing games, collectible card games, miniatures wargames, board games, video games, or other types of games. These conventions are typically two or three business days long, and often held at either a university or in a convention center hotel.

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Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) is a game developer based in Roseville, Minnesota, United States, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, card, and dice games. As of 2014, it is a division of Asmodee North America.

Outburst is a trivia party game designed by Brian Hersch and first published in 1986. Two teams compete over multiple rounds to reach 60 points by guessing items listed on a Topic Card within a time limit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ideal Toy Company</span> Defunct American toy company

Ideal Toy Company was an American toy company founded by Morris Michtom and his wife, Rose. During the post–World War II baby boom era, Ideal became the largest doll-making company in the United States. Their most popular dolls included Betsy Wetsy, Toni, Saucy Walker, Shirley Temple, Miss Revlon, Patti Playpal, Tammy, Thumbelina, Tiny Thumbelina, and Crissy. The company is also known for selling the Rubik's Cube.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asmodee</span> Board games publisher and distributor

Asmodee is a French publisher of board games, card games and role-playing games (RPGs). Founded in 1995 to develop their own games and to publish and distribute for other smaller game developers, they have since acquired numerous other board game publishers. A division, Twin Sails Interactive, publishes video game adaptations of Asmodee games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spin Master</span> Canadian toy and entertainment company

Spin Master Corp., formerly known as Spin Master Toys, is a Canadian multinational toy and entertainment company. Spin Master employs over 1,600 people globally with offices in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Board wargame</span> Wargame played on a printed surface or board

A board wargame is a wargame with a set playing surface or board, as opposed to being played on a computer or in a more free-form playing area as in miniatures games. The modern, commercial wargaming hobby developed in 1954 following the publication and commercial success of Tactics. The board wargaming hobby continues to enjoy a sizeable following, with a number of game publishers and gaming conventions dedicated to the hobby both in the English-speaking world and further afield.

ThinkFun, formerly known as Binary Arts, is a toy and board game company founded in 1985 by Bill Ritchie and Andrea Barthello. The two started the company from the basement of their home in Virginia, with a product base that initially consisted of four games invented by a family friend William Keister. The husband and wife team used these products as a launching pad for their company, and within six months they were able to move the company headquarters out of their basement and into a more workable space and were able to begin to expand their product line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tabletop role-playing game</span> Form of role-playing game using speech

A tabletop role-playing game, also known as a pen-and-paper role-playing game, is a classification for a role-playing game (RPG) in which the participants describe their characters' actions through speech and sometimes movements. Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization, and the actions succeed or fail according to a set formal system of rules and guidelines, usually involving randomization. Within the rules, players have the freedom to improvise, and their choices shape the direction and outcome of the game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outset Media</span> Company making board games and puzzles

Outset Media Corporation is a Canadian company that develops and distributes family entertainment products, specializing in board games, party games, card games, and jigsaw puzzles. In addition to developing its own games, Outset Media also distributes games and puzzles in Canada for United States-based companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funskool</span> Indian toy manufacturing company

Funskool (India) Ltd. is an Indian toy manufacturing company, founded in 1987 with headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Apart from its own brands and its American counterpart Playskool, the company also manufactures and distributes products in the Indian market under license from foreign toy brands including Hasbro, Disney, Warner Bros., Takara Tomy, and Ravensburger.

A digital tabletop game is a video game genre that includes video games that have gameplay similar to physical tabletop games, including board games, card games, and role-playing games. Many digital tabletop games are adaptions of existing physical games into the video games, though some of these are wholly digital games that use tabletop game mechanics. There are also tabletop game simulators that allow for users to recreate tabletop games from a variety of game pieces.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Global board games market value 2017-2023". Statista. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tinsman, Brian. "Understanding the Tabletop Game Industry". Game Design Workshop . Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  3. ↑ Hall, Charlie (2019-05-17). "Trump's trade war with China is causing major concerns in the tabletop game industry". Polygon. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  4. ↑ "Home | Asmodee USA". www.asmodeena.com. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  5. ↑ "Hasbro Toys And Games". shop.hasbro.com. Hasbro. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  6. ↑ "Mattel Inc | The Official Home of Mattel Toys and Brands". www.mattel.com. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  7. ↑ "Ravensburger - Puzzles, Games and Crafts & Science". www.ravensburger.us. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  8. ↑ Markets, Research and. "Global Board Games Market Outlook and Forecast 2018-2023: Major Players are Asmodee Editions, Hasbro, Mattel & Ravensburger". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  9. 1 2 3 Duffy, Owen (2014-11-25). "Board games' golden age: sociable, brilliant and driven by the internet". the Guardian.
  10. ↑ Freeman, Will (2012-12-09). "Why board games are making a comeback". the Guardian.
  11. ↑ Scanlon, Jennifer (2001). "Board games". In Browne, Ray Broadus; Browne, Pat (eds.). The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Popular Press. p. 103. ISBN   978-0-87972-821-2.
  12. ↑ "So you've invented a board game. Now what?". Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  13. ↑ "Educational Games Getting Popular". The Korea Times. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Monopoly, Candy Land May Offer Refuge to Families in Recession". Bloomberg News . Archived from the original on 26 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Chinese Board Game Market Overview". LP Board Game. Archived from the original on 21 February 2016.
  16. ↑ "Hobby Games Market Hits $700M". ICv2.
  17. ↑ "HOBBY GAMES MARKET CLIMBS TO $880 MILLION". ICv2.
  18. ↑ "Pamiętacie Eurobiznes? Oto wielki powrót gier planszowych, dla których oni zarywają noce". Menstream.pl. 2013-04-16. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016.
  19. ↑ "Monopoly Killer: Perfect German Board Game Redefines Genre". WIRED. 2009-03-23. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "Database and guide to gaming conventions" . Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  21. ↑ Longwell, Elijah (2017-08-09). "The 2019 Guide To Board Game Conventions". Meeple Mountain. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
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