Pulp Gamer Doing Business

Gen Con Seminars: Virtual Worlds: Making Imagination Come Alive

Gaming Media — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:56:21 -0500

Our panel discusses virtual worlds, from Second Life to Eve Online. Explore how these platforms can build community, provide unique services, and facilitate commerce.

Panelists include Ed Healy and Ryan Dancey.

Gen Con Seminars: RPG Bloggers Unite!

Gaming Media — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The past year has seen an explosion in the number of people blogging about RPGs. Come meet some of them, and find out why they do it, what they write about, and tips for any aspiring bloggers out there.

The panel is lead by Dave Chalker. He is joined by Phil, Tahsa, Yax, Bob, and Danny.

We also want to welcome RPGBloggers.com to the internet.

Gen Con Seminars: Content is King

Gaming Media — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

To create an exceptional podcast, you will need to prepare before your lips come anywhere near the microphone. We will discuss format, scripting, round-table discussions, pacing, news coverage, and how your favorite podcasters prepare for their shows.

This panel is led by Ryan Macklin and also includes Clyde, Josh, and Brian.

Gen Con Seminars: Working in Print

Gaming Media — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Wolfgang Baur shares the Kobold Quarterly story and talks about the challenges of print. Learn about what it took to get the magazine off the ground and the challenges of running a magazine. Find out what works and what doesn't.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 21: Lessons Learned - GTS Wrap-up

Game Manufacturer's Association — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:06:41 -0400

Speakers: Anthony Gallela, Executive Director of GAMA; Kell Wallace, GRD Chair; Trey Reilly, Program Director, GAMA Members of the GAMA Board of Directors, the Retail Division Board, and the GAMA Staff are waiting to hear from you about what went well this year and where there is room for improvements.

Gen Con Seminars: Advertising: Effective Brand Communication

Gaming Media — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:55:02 -0400

During this hour we will explore how advertising campaigns are an integral part of a brand communications program. The emphasis will be on exploring "why and when" advertising works, and how to create a campaign that people will engage with, instead of feeling interrupted by.

Branding: What sets your company apart from your competition? What is your promise to your customer? Things to remember when you consider your brand.

Communication: What is the difference between marketing and sales, and where does advertising fit into your communication plan? Things to think about when designing your marketing plan.

Advertising: What is the purpose of advertising? What are some of the things to consider when building your advertisement?

Effective: It's important to test the effectiveness of your advertisements. Google Analytics, special store codes... always be testing. Also, a short intro to Facebook Ads.

Looking for advertising opportunities for your games? Consider these resources:

Magazines: Dragon Roots (dragonroots.net), Game Buyer(impressionsadv.net/gamebuyer.html), Kobold Quarterly (koboldquarterly.com), WIRED (blog.wired.com/geekdad/)
Podcasts: Board Game Podcasts (boardgamepodcasts.com), RPG Podcasts (rpgpodcasts.com)
Websites: EN World (enworld.org), Kobold Quarterly (koboldquarterly.com), RPGnet (rpg.net), and many more

Further Reading:
(1) Ogilvy on Advertising, by David Ogilvy
(2) Tested Advertising Methods, by John Caple

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 20: Comics in the Game Store

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:06:26 -0400

Speaker: Jim Crocker, Modern Myths
Many game stores sell comics, and many comic shops sell games. This seminar reviews everything you need to know about selling comics, whether you’re starting from scratch, or integrating them into your existing product line, with a special emphasis on graphic novels and the book trade. Stores that already carry comics are encouraged to attend to share their strategies, boost sales, and better integrate other products into a "hybrid" store.

Gen Con Seminars: Setting Up the Studio

Gaming Media — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:23:14 -0400

Part of making a quality podcast is the hardware. We will discuss microphones, sound boards, and acoustic treatment of your recording room. We will also discuss some software packages that you will need to produce and polish your show.

This panel is led by Ryan Macklin and also includes Chris Perrin, Ross Payton, and Josh.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 19: Manager Awareness

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:11:03 -0400

Speaker: Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games
This session covers the 'big picture', how good managers integrate the various aspects of their jobs to make sure their stores run smoothly. Learn how to evaluate your performance and your staff's, and how to respond as necessary.

Gen Con Seminars: Introduction to Podcasting

Gaming Media — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:28:58 -0400

No longer are we tied to the channels of content on the television. Advances in technology and the evolution of consumer habits have brought on a new era of media. Radio and television programing is available on demand over the web with concepts as specific as worm farming. Learn more about it from both ends of the microphone.

This panel is led by Ethan Parker and also includes Chris Perrin, Zeke Russell, and Fraser Ronald.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 18: Demographics

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:53:02 -0400

Speaker: Mel Thompson, Melchior Thompson & Associates
Analyzing demographics is a key part of finding a good location for your store. Learn the things you to look for before ever requesting a lease.

PSI Point Blank: Point Blank Episode 4

Boyan Radakovich — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Episode 4 of POINT BLANK gears up for major distributor open houses and trade shows this Fall and highlights several key products going into the final months of the year.

My Hot Picks for Fall 2008 are:

• Cthulhu Tech

• Super Nova

• Munchkin Booty

• Night Horrors: Grim Fears

• The Art of Children’s Conversation

We conclude the episode with two more POINT BLANK interviews – The Wiretap features a phone call with the Marketing Director for Steve Jackson Games and return guest, Paul Chapman; and the White Wolf Confidential takes a deeper look at the big new VTES base set for Keepers of Tradition with Organized Play Director, Oscar Garza.

The total length of the show is roughly 20 minutes, which should still be ideal for the average commute time. Please email all questions and comments to boyan [@] pubservinc.com

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 17: Retailer Outreach

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Alex Yeager, Mayfair Games
Alex will describe some of the successes that he has had in using games in an educational and Scouting setting, and how some of the lessons learned can be used to help retailers set up outreach opportunities.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 16: Pre-Release Discussion

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:35:22 -0400

Moderator: Mike Stackpole
In this discussion, we'll take on the contentious topic of pre-release tournaments and events. What effect do they have on the local game economy? How do Tournament Organizers affect local retail sales and game interest? What effect does it have on casual play? As this is a passionate topic for many, this discussion will be strictly moderated to keep it productive.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 15: Buyer's Training

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:52:06 -0400

Speakers: Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games; Gordon Lugauer, The Board Game Barrister.

Good stocking is a lot more than just 'order 1 of each, 2 if it's D&D'. Industry veteran Dave Wallace will discuss specific strategies for building your expertise, tracking sales and order data to allow more efficient buying, and more. Learn how a dedicated buyer can free up time for managers to manage and owners to concentrate on long-term strategy, and the systems you'll need to put in place to let one buyer handle multiple product lines and/or stores and get the feedback needed to make smart purchasing decisions.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 14: The Entertainment Model

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Tony Lakas, The Danger Room
By making your store "more" than just a Game Store, you can sell things to people who are not your core customers. We will cover how to buy, sell, display and process merchandise outside of the traditional game channel, including but not limited to: video games, music CD's, movies on DVD and VHS, and other merchandise while remaining a strong game store. Learn how to create a store that appeals to every single person who walks through your door. Please feel free to bring examples of your success or difficulty in moving beyond the traditional game store product lines for comparison and friendly peer review.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 13: Macro-Managing

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:25:41 -0400

Speaker: John Riley, Grasshopper's Comics
Stop micro-managing and start thinking big. Now that you're up and running, it's time to start looking at the big picture. John will discuss some good ways to get out from under the 'daily grind' and start thinking about your company's future, not just that day's shipment.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 12: The Bottom Line

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: Dave & Kelli Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games
This seminar presents the tools you need to analyze where your money is going and how to keep more of it in your pocket. Please feel free to bring your store’s financial data (profit and loss statement, year-end, etc) for comparison and friendly peer review.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 11: The Good, the Bad and the Questionable

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:56:21 -0400

Speakers: Ken Burnside, Ad Astra Games; Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games
A discussion about product packaging, from the perspectives of a Graphic Designer and a Retailer. What works, what doesn’t, and why? We’ll talk about simple changes you can make to your design to really make it pop, and popular mistakes to avoid.

PSI Point Blank: POINT BLANK Special Presentation: Chuck Wendig

Boyan Radakovich — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:40:59 -0400

Every installment of the White Wolf Confidential segment of PSI Point Blank, I like to call the creative at White Wolf to get a point blank look at some new releases. This is a special director's cut version of the full interview released exclusive for the White Wolf website.

This issue takes a deeper look at the big new summer launch, Hunter: the Vigil with developer Chuck Wendig.

The total length of the show is roughly 15 minutes, which should still be ideal for the average commute time. Please email all questions and comments to boyan [@] pubservinc.com

PSI Point Blank: Point Blank Episode 3

Boyan Radakovich — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:07:46 -0400

Episode 3 of PSI POINT BLANK gears up for Gen Con and invites listeners to participate in our PSI Game Night the Wednesday evening prior to the show. Our partnership with Gen Con LLC is detailed in this show and is also covered in a recent icv2 article. Plus you learn how to listen to the show from your own website!

My Hot Picks for Summer 2008 are:

Bananagrams
Xeko Mission: China
Gangrel: Savage and Macabre
Say Anything
GURPS: Mysteries, Spaceships, Supers

We conclude the episode with two great POINT BLANK interviews – The Wiretap features a phone call with best-selling author and owner of Catalyst Game Labs, Loren Coleman; and the White Wolf Confidential takes a deeper look at the big new summer launch, Hunter: the Vigil with developer Chuck Wendig.

The total length of the show is roughly 25 minutes, which should still be ideal for the average commute time. Please email all questions and comments to boyan [@] pubservinc.com

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 10: Legalese

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:51:45 -0400

Speaker: Gordon Lugauer, The Board Game Barrister
A discussion of current changes in the law that affect the game and retail industries. Learn what you should know about these changes and what you can do about them.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 09: The Unrealized Potential of Podcasting

Game Manufacturer's Association — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:50:38 -0400

Speaker: Don Dehm, The Podcast Advantage, Pulp Gamer
The potential of podcasting has yet to be realized in our industry. During this presentation we will evaluate the misuse and misunderstandings that have been standing in your way. You will also learn about incredible training and marketing opportunities few have thought to explore. No technical knowledge is necessary.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 08: Making Board Games Work for You

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:36:43 -0400

Speakers: Gordon Lugauer, The Board Game Barrister; Tim Peiffer, Games & Gizmos
This seminar reviews everything you need to know about selling board games, whether you’re starting from scratch or integrating them into your existing product lines. Stores that already carry board games, whether board game only or general game stores, are encouraged to attend to share their strategies and boost sales.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 07: PR for Retailers

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:24:29 -0400

Speaker: Jay Adan, Greenfield Games

Public relations is the managing of outside communication of an organization to create and maintain a positive image. Public relations involves popularizing successes, downplaying failures, announcing changes, and many other activities. Learn to examine how you’re seen by your customers, and how to change that image into what you'd like it to be.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 06: Customer Service

Game Manufacturer's Association — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:44:00 -0400

Marcelo Figueroa covers all aspects of customer service from the greeting to closing the sale, including the aspects of customer service that happen behind the scenes.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 05: The Daily Grind/Manager's Toolkit

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Speakers: John Riley, Grasshopper's Comics; Linda Ross-Mansfield, Pendragon Games & Hobbies
Tips and tricks to get you through the daily operations of your store. We’ll talk about scheduling, daily shipments, and other aspects of your store’s day-to-day routine.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 04: Credit Management and Protection

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:12:54 -0400

Speaker: Ron Solomon of The Credit Collective

A discussion of receivables and credit management. An expert panel will explore issues that are vital to the financial health of publishers and distributors, both large and small. Discussion topics will include how to find reliable credit information on potential retailer debtors, how to determine which accounts will get terms, how to determine how much credit to extend to a particular account, how to set up an effective dunning system for late paying accounts, how to get your Sales and Credit departments to work well together, and how to choose and when to use a collection agency.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 03: Store Identity

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Speaker: Dave Wallace, Fantasy Shop Comics & Games

In an effort to reach out to new customers and not just sell to the same old regulars, you need a store that encourages new fans and doesn't just stock the product. We will examine displays, advertising, marketing, and customer interaction methods to make your store more interesting to everyone that comes in.

Seminars of the GAMA Trade Show: GTS08 02: Games in the Library

Game Manufacturer's Association — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:59:12 -0400

Speaker: Dale Lipschultz and Jenny Levine of the American Library Association

Libraries across the country are reaching out with games and make great partners in reaching new players. Learn how to work with your local library and what libraries are looking for in this wonderful presentation from the American Library Association.