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#1 Designing A Board Game, #3 Board Game Pieces

The Role of Art and Graphic Design in Enhancing Board Game Appeal and Marketability

Posted on by Eyal Harari

At Hero Time, we understand that a board game is more than just a set of rules and components—it is an immersive experience that captures the imagination of players. A crucial aspect of this immersion is the game’s artwork and graphic design. Art plays an integral role in enhancing a game’s appeal, defining its theme, and ultimately influencing its marketability. A well-designed board game is not only visually striking but also intuitive to play, making it a desirable product for both casual players and collectors alike.

 

Matching Art Style to the Game’s Theme

The visual identity of a board game should align seamlessly with its theme and mechanics. The artwork serves as the first impression, setting the stage for the game’s narrative and emotional tone. A horror-themed game about vampires, for example, can be illustrated in a gothic, eerie style with deep shadows and intricate detailing. Conversely, the same vampire-themed game can take on a lighthearted, cartoonish approach, appealing to a family-friendly audience.

By ensuring that the art complements the game’s theme, designers create an experience that resonates with players. If the art style clashes with the mechanics or story, it can create confusion or even deter potential buyers. The key is to establish a visual language that enhances gameplay and keeps players engaged.

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Drawing Inspiration from Existing Games

One of the best ways to develop a game’s artistic vision is to analyze existing board games. Game creators should explore different styles, identifying what works well within their desired genre. Observing successful games helps in understanding how art can drive engagement and attract an audience.

For instance, fantasy-themed games often employ lush, intricate landscapes and mythical creatures, whereas sci-fi games may lean toward sleek, futuristic aesthetics with metallic tones and sharp lines. By analyzing what resonates with players, designers can refine their artistic direction while ensuring originality.

 

Consistency in Art Style

Maintaining a consistent art style across all elements of the game is vital for an immersive experience. This includes the game box, board, cards, tokens, and even the rulebook. A cohesive visual approach fosters brand recognition and enhances the professional appearance of the game.

Consider a game with mismatched artwork—if the cards have a hand-drawn watercolor aesthetic but the board is rendered in digital realism, it can create a jarring effect. Such inconsistencies disrupt the game’s immersion and can make the product appear unpolished. A unified style ensures that every component feels like part of the same world, enriching the player’s experience.

 

The Marketability of Well-Designed Games

From a commercial standpoint, visually appealing board games tend to perform better in the marketplace. The box cover is often the deciding factor for potential buyers browsing a store or Kickstarter campaign. A compelling cover with engaging visuals will draw attention and invite potential players to learn more about the game.

Furthermore, clear and well-organized graphic design improves playability, making the game more accessible to a wider audience. Iconography, font choices, and color schemes should be chosen carefully to facilitate quick understanding. If the art is visually stunning but the icons and text are hard to decipher, it can negatively impact the user experience.

 

Final Thoughts

Art and graphic design are not just decorative elements—they are essential components that contribute to a game’s identity, playability, and success in the market. At Hero Time, we emphasize the importance of high-quality, well-integrated artwork to ensure that our clients’ games are visually compelling and functionally efficient. By aligning art with the game’s theme, maintaining consistency, and prioritizing marketability, creators can craft board games that captivate players and stand out in a competitive industry.

In the end, board games are about storytelling, engagement, and enjoyment. Thoughtfully designed art enhances these aspects, transforming a game from a simple pastime into an unforgettable experience. Whether you are a new designer or an established publisher, investing in top-tier art and graphic design will always be a step toward success.

#3 Board Game Pieces, #7 Safety Tests for Games

Navigating the Intellectual Property Landscape: Protecting Your Board Game Ideas and Designs

Posted on by Eyal Harari

As creators of board games, we pour immense effort into designing unique mechanics, stunning artwork, and compelling narratives. However, bringing a board game to market also means navigating the complex world of intellectual property (IP) protection. Without the right safeguards in place, the originality of our designs and brands may be at risk. Fortunately, there are several effective strategies to protect our game’s design and brand identity, ensuring that our hard work is not exploited by copycats.

 

Securing a Design Patent in China

One of the most effective—yet often underestimated—ways to protect a board game’s design is by securing a design patent in China. While many creators focus on trademarking their game title or logo, this alone provides little protection in the Chinese market. In fact, due to the common issue of trademark squatting, a trademark registered in China may not prevent unauthorized use or production of your game.

China has long been known for its rapid manufacturing capabilities, offering significant advantages in terms of efficiency and cost. However, this same advantage can become a vulnerability when knockoffs start to appear. This is where the value of a design patent becomes clear. The Chinese government has taken meaningful steps in recent years to strengthen its intellectual property enforcement, and holding a valid design patent enables us to take swift legal action against factories attempting to replicate our product.

A design patent provides legal recognition of a product’s visual appearance, covering aspects such as the shape, layout, configuration, and decorative features of game components. What makes this particularly powerful is that even if a counterfeiter changes the design slightly, the core protection offered by a well-crafted design patent can still apply. It is one of the few legal tools in China that allows a game creator to shut down unauthorized production quickly and effectively.

However, it is important to note that a design patent only covers the physical appearance of a game—it does not protect the gameplay mechanics, rules, or ideas. For creators looking to protect how their game plays, other strategies such as copyrighting the rulebook or publishing detailed gameplay documentation may be needed.

Applying for a design patent in China involves several key steps:

  1. Conducting a Patent Search: Before filing, it’s crucial to ensure that the design is novel and has not been previously registered.
  2. Preparing the Application: The patent application should include detailed illustrations and descriptions of the game’s unique design elements.
  3. Filing with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA): Once submitted, the patent undergoes an examination process before being granted protection.

By taking this proactive measure, we not only deter counterfeiters but also strengthen our legal standing in case of disputes. Protecting our game at the design level ensures that our original vision remains intact and exclusive to us.

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Protecting Our Brand on Amazon

Beyond safeguarding our game’s design, protecting its brand identity is equally important. Many modern board games are sold through e-commerce platforms, and Amazon stands out as one of the most significant marketplaces. To ensure that our brand remains secure, we can leverage Amazon’s Brand Registry Program.

Amazon Brand Registry offers several advantages, including:

  • Trademark Protection: Registering a trademark for our game name and logo allows us to prevent unauthorized sellers from using our brand.
  • Automated Protections: Amazon’s automated tools help detect and remove counterfeit listings that infringe upon our brand identity.
  • Access to Legal Support: Amazon provides access to intellectual property attorneys who specialize in brand protection, further reinforcing our defenses.

To enroll in the Brand Registry Program, we need to:

  1. Obtain a Trademark: Registering a trademark in key markets (such as the United States, European Union, or China) is a prerequisite for the program.
  2. Submit an Application to Amazon: This includes providing trademark details and proof of ownership.
  3. Utilize Brand Protection Tools: Once approved, we can actively monitor and report any infringing listings.

By establishing strong brand protection on Amazon, we can prevent counterfeiters from misrepresenting or devaluing our game, ensuring that customers receive authentic products directly from us or our authorized sellers.

 

Exercising Caution When Selling on Walmart

While Amazon provides extensive brand protection tools, Walmart’s marketplace presents additional challenges. Walmart’s platform is growing in popularity, but it does not yet offer the same level of IP protection as Amazon. This makes it a riskier environment for board game creators who have not fully secured their design and brand rights.

To mitigate these risks, we recommend delaying the sale of our game on Walmart’s marketplace until we have:

  1. Secured a Design Patent: Ensuring that our game’s visual elements are legally protected prevents unauthorized replication.
  2. Registered Our Trademark: Holding a registered trademark reduces the likelihood of brand misrepresentation.
  3. Established a Strong Presence on Amazon: Gaining brand recognition and enforcing protections through Amazon first allows us to build a reputation and establish precedence in case of disputes.

Walmart’s open marketplace model means that third-party sellers can list similar or even counterfeit products more easily. By waiting until we have robust protections in place, we can better control our game’s distribution and prevent unauthorized sales.

 

Final Thoughts

The board game industry is a thriving and competitive space, making intellectual property protection a top priority. By securing a design patent in China, we can prevent unauthorized manufacturers from copying our game. By enrolling in Amazon Brand Registry, we can safeguard our brand identity and ensure that customers receive authentic products. Finally, by exercising caution with Walmart’s marketplace, we can minimize the risks of brand infringement and unauthorized sales.

At Hero Time, we are committed to not only manufacturing high-quality board games but also helping creators protect their intellectual property. By taking these proactive steps, we can confidently bring our games to market, knowing that our creativity and hard work are secure. Protecting our ideas is just as important as bringing them to life, and with the right strategies, we can ensure that our board games remain uniquely ours.

#4 Costs of Manufacturing A Game, #5 Board Game and Card Game Art

Manufacturing Playing Cards: How Dimensions Affect Printing and Costs

Posted on by Eyal Harari

When it comes to manufacturing playing cards, efficiency and cost-effectiveness are key factors to consider. The size and number of cards that fit onto a printing sheet can significantly impact production expenses. As a board game manufacturer, we prioritize helping our clients maximize each print run to get the best value while ensuring high-quality results.

 

Understanding Printing Sheet Efficiency

One of the most critical aspects of playing card manufacturing is making the most efficient use of printing sheets. The dimensions of each card affect how many can fit on a single sheet, which in turn impacts material usage and cost.

For smaller production runs—typically under 10,000 copies—we use standardized sheets measuring approximately 540 by 740 millimeters. Since each machine setup incurs additional costs, optimizing how many cards fit on each sheet is crucial to keeping expenses down.

For example:

  • Poker-sized cards (63 x 88 mm) – We can fit 65 cards per sheet.
  • Bridge-sized cards (57 x 88 mm) – We can fit 71 cards per sheet.

By slightly reducing the card width (as in the case of bridge-sized cards), we can increase the number of cards per sheet, ultimately lowering costs. If you’re uncertain about the best layout for your game, our project managers are always available to assist you with these calculations.

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The Importance of Bleed Areas and Cutting Precision

When designing your playing cards, it’s essential to include an extra 1.5 millimeters of bleed on each side of the card. This ensures that when the cards are cut, there are no unintended white edges, preserving the aesthetic and professional look of the final product.

Bleed areas act as a safety margin to accommodate any slight misalignments during the cutting process. Without proper bleed, even minor variations in cutting could lead to visible white strips along the edges of your cards, negatively impacting their appearance. Our team ensures that every sheet is properly aligned and cut to perfection to maintain high production standards.

 

Cost Implications of Different Card Sizes

Choosing the right card dimensions isn’t just about aesthetics or game mechanics—it also has a direct impact on production costs. The more cards we can fit onto a sheet, the lower the cost per unit. For instance, a deck with 55 poker-sized cards will use more sheets compared to the same deck using bridge-sized cards, resulting in higher production costs.

Manufacturing efficiency is particularly important for independent game designers and small publishers, where cost control is essential. By optimizing the number of cards per sheet, you can reduce waste, minimize setup costs, and maximize your overall budget.

 

Larger Print Runs: Increased Flexibility and Savings

For larger print runs exceeding 10,000 copies, we have more flexibility in sheet sizes, allowing for even greater efficiency. Larger sheets can accommodate additional cards per run, which further reduces unit costs. This is because high-volume printing allows us to optimize every step of the manufacturing process, from material procurement to machine setup.

Bulk production also benefits from economies of scale. The more units printed, the lower the cost per deck. This is why larger publishers often aim for higher print quantities to reduce expenses and improve their profit margins. However, even smaller print runs can be cost-effective with careful planning and layout optimization.

 

Other Considerations for Playing Card Manufacturing

Aside from dimensions and sheet efficiency, there are several other factors to consider when manufacturing playing cards:

1. Card Stock and Finish

Choosing the right card stock is crucial for durability and gameplay experience. Options include standard cardstock, premium linen-finish paper, and plastic-coated varieties. Each choice affects the feel, longevity, and cost of your deck.

2. Printing and Color Quality

High-quality printing ensures vibrant colors and sharp designs. We use advanced printing technology to maintain color consistency across all cards in a deck, preventing variations that could affect gameplay.

3. Customization Options

Custom backs, foil stamping, embossed textures, and unique shapes can add a premium touch to your playing cards. While these features may increase costs, they also enhance the perceived value of your game.

4. Packaging Considerations

The way your deck is packaged—whether in a tuck box, rigid box, or plastic case—affects both cost and consumer perception. Thoughtful packaging design can make your game stand out while keeping it protected during shipping.

 

Conclusion: Maximizing Value in Playing Card Manufacturing

By carefully planning your playing card dimensions and optimizing sheet usage, you can significantly lower manufacturing expenses while maintaining a high-quality product. Understanding how many cards fit onto a sheet, allowing for bleed areas, and considering alternative card sizes are all strategies to make your project more cost-effective.

If you’re unsure about the best approach for your specific game, our team is here to help. We work closely with game creators to ensure their designs are optimized for cost and quality, making the manufacturing process smooth and efficient. Whether you’re producing a small run or a large-scale print, making informed decisions about dimensions and printing layouts will help you get the most value out of your investment.

Let us guide you through the process and ensure your playing cards meet the highest standards of quality while staying within budget.

#1 Designing A Board Game, #3 Board Game Pieces, #6 Manufacturing a Board Game

Choosing the Right Board Game Manufacturer in the USA: Key Factors to Consider

Posted on by Eyal Harari

As a board game manufacturer with years of experience helping creators bring their ideas to life, we understand the challenges of choosing the right manufacturing partner. At Hero Time, we specialize in making board game production simple, transparent, and efficient. While we are based in China, we recognize that many creators initially consider manufacturing in the USA before exploring global options. If you are weighing your choices, here’s what you need to keep in mind.

 

Quality and Expertise Matter

The first thing you should evaluate in any manufacturer is their expertise in producing board games. Not all printing and manufacturing companies specialize in board games, which require precise cutting, durable materials, and high-quality components that can withstand repeated play.

From our experience, many manufacturers in the USA focus primarily on book printing or general packaging rather than board game production. This can result in limitations when it comes to component customization, material choices, and overall cost efficiency. Board game manufacturing is a niche industry, and working with a company that understands the ins and outs of game production makes a significant difference.

 

Cost and Affordability

Manufacturing in the USA offers benefits such as shorter shipping distances and easier communication. However, cost is often a major concern for game creators. The reality is that manufacturing board games in the USA is considerably more expensive than in China due to higher labor costs, material costs, and operational expenses.

At Hero Time, we own our factory and maintain strict quality control while offering competitive pricing. Because we are based in China, we can take advantage of lower manufacturing costs while still ensuring top-notch quality. We also invest in eco-friendly production processes, ensuring that our products meet international safety and sustainability standards.

 

Customization and Component Variety

When creating a board game, customization is key. The best manufacturers should offer a variety of materials, components, and finishes to make your game unique. In our experience, some USA-based manufacturers may have limitations in terms of custom pieces, miniatures, or specialized printing techniques.

We have found that many of our clients initially struggle to find a manufacturer that can meet their specific needs before turning to us. With our extensive network of suppliers and expertise in board game production, we can provide everything from premium wooden components to high-quality plastic miniatures and custom packaging.

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Communication and Transparency

One of the biggest concerns we hear from game creators is the lack of transparency in the manufacturing process. Some manufacturers operate as middlemen, outsourcing production to other facilities without direct oversight. This can lead to delays, unexpected costs, and inconsistencies in quality.

At Hero Time, we believe in full transparency. We work directly with game creators throughout the entire process, from prototype development to final production and shipping. Our team provides regular updates, detailed quality checks, and hands-on support to ensure that your vision is realized exactly as you imagined it.

 

Shipping and Fulfillment

Shipping costs and logistics are another critical factor to consider. While manufacturing in the USA may seem like the easiest option for domestic creators, the reality is that most board games are sold and distributed globally. International shipping from the USA can be expensive, and many fulfillment centers are already set up to receive shipments directly from China.

We have established relationships with global fulfillment centers, allowing us to streamline the shipping process and reduce costs for our clients. Whether you’re distributing your game through Kickstarter, retail channels, or direct-to-consumer sales, we can help you navigate the logistics efficiently.

 

The Hero Time Advantage

We started Hero Time because we saw the challenges game creators face when working with manufacturers. We’ve made it our mission to provide a seamless, transparent, and high-quality production process. Unlike many other manufacturers, we own our factory and employ a dedicated team of skilled professionals who take pride in their work.

Our certifications, including Disney FAMA, ISO, FSC, and BSCI, ensure that every game we produce meets the highest industry standards. More importantly, we prioritize ethical manufacturing practices, ensuring fair wages and a positive work environment for our employees.

 

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right board game manufacturer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in bringing your game to life. While manufacturing in the USA has its benefits, it often comes with higher costs and fewer customization options. However, with the recent tariffs added on imports to the USA, we have found a way to minimize these costs for our clients.

Through our consolidated shipping strategy, we distribute the 10% tariff across multiple shipments within the same container, reducing the total additional cost to just 3% of the total order value. This method has already been successfully implemented for our European clients, allowing us to offer a cost-effective solution for US-based game creators.

Additionally, when we handle fulfillment and ship directly to end customers, we ensure that all duties, VAT, and tariffs are included upfront. We further subsidize these costs by significantly lowering overall shipping expenses. Beyond cost savings, we take care of all customs clearance and logistics, providing a seamless door-to-door delivery experience.

As a trusted partner in board game production, we invite you to explore the possibilities of working with Hero Time. Our goal is to make the process easy, reliable, and affordable so you can focus on what matters most—bringing your game to the world.

If you’re ready to start your board game manufacturing journey, we’re here to help. Let’s create something amazing together.

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Board Game Creators are the pillars of the board game industry. As a board game manufacturer, it is our duty to make sure you have everything you need throughout your journey.

 

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