GAme Idea: Dual query letters

DonTadow · May 30, 2006

This is a general question about query letters to RPG companies. Freelancers, when you have an idea, is it ethical to send the same idea to two or more companies? By the way, this is for a board/card game, not a book.

RodneyThompson · May 30, 2006

Though I don't typically submit many query letters to books (only to Dungeon and Dragon magazines), I have in the past only submitted ideas to one at a time. This may not be representative of how other people do it, but for me I'd rather give it a go one at a time rather than have to explain to a publisher, "Uh, nevermind on that proposal, someone else bought it."

To be frank, though, 90% of the books I've written have been assigned to me, rather than proposed by me.

Alzrius · May 30, 2006

I also wait for one company to reply back when submitting ideas before I submit them to another. It'd be very awkward if both companies emailed me back saying they wanted to publish my idea.

Umbran · May 30, 2006

I believe, in the world of fiction, it is considered more proper to shop a work out to one publisher at a time.

DonTadow · May 30, 2006

Umbran said:
I believe, in the world of fiction, it is considered more proper to shop a work out to one publisher at a time.

What about a game idea? I'll just put it out there. I have a pretty good idea and prototype, but I don't know who to send it to. So I"m thinking of sending a proposal to both Steve Jackson Games and Atlas.

Is this a good idea?

kenmarable · May 30, 2006

For an entirely new game idea, I honestly don't know. But, if it's any indication, I have heard publishers/editors mention not sending queries for books/articles to more than one publisher through gritted teeth with a slight growl in their voice. One publisher even went so far as to say that "It's one of the few things that will get you immediately blacklisted with us."

As for submitting a game idea to Steve Jackson and Atlas, I honestly don't know. If it were me, I'd pick one and try them first rather than querying it to both of them. Best to maybe wait a while longer before it is published than potentially burn any bridges. But that's just me.

-Ken