Board games have been a treasured activity for many people for generations, despite the fact that technology has undoubtedly affected how we pass our free time. In reality, board games continue to be in high demand, with yearly sales growth.
The board game market is a multi-billion dollar industry that is still expanding. The NPD Group said that board game sales in the United States rose by 28% in 2020. This can be ascribed to a number of things, including a spike in stay-at-home behavior as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, the emergence of board game cafes and bars, and a general increase in interest in tabletop gaming.
Of course, Monopoly is among the most popular board games ever. It has sold more than 250 million copies globally since its conception in 1935 and has been translated into 43 different languages. But other games are also popular, besides Monopoly. Other top sellers include older games like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride as well as modern ones like Scrabble, Clue, and Risk.
If you have a concept for a board game, you might be wondering how to submit it for review. While many game publishers welcome ideas, it’s crucial to complete your homework before submitting your idea. Find publishers who focus on the kind of game you’ve made, and be sure to carefully review their submission requirements.
After developing a board game, you might also be interested in learning about intellectual property protection. A copyright is the most popular means of board game protection. Instead of the idea itself, the creative expression of an idea is protected by copyright. This indicates that you might be able to copyright your game if it contains a distinctive design, piece of art, or set of written instructions. It’s crucial to remember that copyright protection only applies for a finite period of time, usually 70 years following the creator’s passing.
And finally, you might be curious about Monopoly’s copyright situation. The gameplay mechanics of the game are not covered by copyright, but the design and artwork are. Anyone can make a game with comparable mechanics, provided they don’t utilize the name Monopoly or its registered branded graphics. It’s crucial to remember that there have been many legal disputes over similar games over the years, so it’s always advisable to speak with a lawyer before publishing a game that might be too similar to one that already exists.
In conclusion, board games continue to be a very popular hobby for people of all ages and are still in high demand. There has never been a better moment to start playing tabletop games, regardless of whether you enjoy older titles or prefer more contemporary ones. If you’re thinking of designing your own board game, make sure to do your homework, safeguard your intellectual property, and get advice from legal professionals as necessary.