How to submit a game to shufflemaster or other companies

I remember about a year ago there was a page on the shufflemaster website where you could submit a new game providing you enter a patent number.
I've just looked though there webpage and I couldn't find any such link anymore. Does anybody know why its not there (unless I'm missing something) and could anybody explain how to submit a game to them or any other company.

Cheers
kingcreights

Some distributors have a large enough portfolio, and are not in a position to sign up new games on speculation, and so have stopped accepting unsolicited new game submissions.

If they have to cue up their own promising games with years long release schedules, it's difficult for them to justify signing up new external games.

This does not stop the independent game inventor from meeting with casino operators to try for an install or field trial, where if a game does exceptionally well, it may be signed up. Perhaps a good bet is to compete in the Cutting Edge Table games conference, held yearly. Granted, this is a bit of a "don't call us, we'll call you" scenario, but it is a rough racket.

Thanks Paigowdan.

Quote: Paigowdan

Some distributors have a large enough portfolio, and are not in a position to sign up new games on speculation, and so have stopped accepting unsolicited new game submissions.

Do the larger distributors even take unsolicited ideas? I know that major movie/TV studios pretty much invariably not only send scripts not sent to them through an agent back, but take pains to make sure that the envelope was unopened, out of fear that if it is opened and it ends up being a script for an idea in early development, the studio has to choose between scrapping the project (which has happened) and risking a lawsuit from the scriptwriter, who can claim that his idea was stolen and the studio has no proof that it had the idea first.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

Do the larger distributors even take unsolicited ideas? ....

They used to more readily. Because the whole game design and install process is so slow and expensive, and because the market is more crowded, distributors are trying to install what they've got, and may be cued up for years. If you don't have an install, or at least patent filing and a GLI/BMM, they might not even look at it. The bar is a lot higher than it was 10 or 20 years ago.

What some designers do is get their games installed in a few jurisdictions, and while having fewer installs that what a distributor can do, they get 100% of income, and do all right. Joe Centrone of Bust It Blackjack is a game designer who lives off of his installs and does well. Paradigm here has installs that only his company owns. Generally, the independent game designer who leases his own games directly focuses on NV, WA, MS, MO, and maybe a Canadian province. Other jurisdictions may have extremely slow or expensive approval processes.

Again, The Cutting Edge conference is composed of game designers showing games to operators who ARE interested in installing good games. They function like an agent.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

Do the larger distributors even take unsolicited ideas?

In my experience, they claim to, but don't actually.

2 or 3 years back, I used the online submission form found on several pages, but noone ever got back to me.

Quote: socks

In my experience, they claim to, but don't actually.

2 or 3 years back, I used the online submission form found on several pages, but noone ever got back to me.

They now officially "don't" - but will see a game from, and maybe sign up, an established inventor or super-big name (read: a track record of installed games or an industry name).
Derek Webb, Switch, MathExtremist, Gary Hamud, Mike, Al Lwin, et al can get a showing.

It has become invitation-only.

However, if you get an install by your lonesome, you may get a call.

Quote: Paigowdan

They now officially "don't" -
...
It has become invitation-only.

huh, I guess I hadn't really thought things through... Has this had an obvious impact on the number of indie game hopefuls or on followon services, demo game and/or math work? I've continued working on gaming math, here and there, thinking indie devs might be a market once I felt fully up to speed...

Quote: socks

huh, I guess I hadn't really thought things through... Has this had an obvious impact on the number of indie game hopefuls or on followon services, demo game and/or math work? I've continued working on gaming math, here and there, thinking indie devs might be a market once I felt fully up to speed...

Not really:
1. Once bitten by the game design bug, especially if you get any traction, you are ruined for life.
2. What indies are doing is getting their own installs first, often in WA state, NV, and tribals, and entertaining some potential offers.

Many don't make it, a few do in the end, but many sign on to take this ride.

Quote: Paigowdan

Not really:
1. Once bitten by the game design bug, especially if you get any traction, you are ruined for life...

Thanks.

I thought (hoped) this might be the case.

Quote: kingcreights

I remember about a year ago there was a page on the shufflemaster website where you could submit a new game providing you enter a patent number.
I've just looked though there webpage and I couldn't find any such link anymore. Does anybody know why its not there (unless I'm missing something) and could anybody explain how to submit a game to them or any other company.

Cheers
kingcreights

The information in here isn't exactly correct. Please PM me and I can assist.