1. How do I create a project?

First thing first, you need to sign up on the website and click on “Create”. This is the easy bit.

Then, you’ll need to fill in carefully all the pages of the creation section, especially the project description. It can also be useful to check the other project to get an idea of how they work.

Be careful: it’s up to you to do this, and to do it at best. We will not intervene in any way in the creation of the project. Here are some suggestions. 

Once you think your project is ready, you can send it to Giochistarter to be assessed and approved. The project evaluation is selective: only complete, well defined and with actual, documented chances of being carried through will be approved.

Once approved, the project will be online on the set date and everyone will be able to join!

2. How do I create an auction?

It’s like creating a Project, but an auction requires much less information and the procedure is way faster. Take special care to make the description of the object clear and detailed. Add several pictures when possible. You can upload the main picture directly to giochistarter, while additional pictures can be uploaded to any website, and then added to the description page with the “insert picture” utility. 

3. I want to create a project, but I only have a prototype, what should I do?

In theory, you could make a project from anything: even just hand written paper sheets and a machine typed rulebook. What you should ask yourself, anyway, is: “would I back a project like this?”. More often than not, the answer would be no, because the visuals are important in a game.

Our public wants to know as much as possible about you and your game. They want to have a clear idea about how it will be, how it will look, what kind of components will it have and how they will be made. Long story short, looks matter. On this page you will find some useful suggestions about this and other issues.

4. How much does it cost to present a project or an auction?

Presenting a project doesn’t cost anything. Only if the project is successful, a commission equal to 8% of the collected sum plus 35 euro cents for each transaction will be due.

The auctions work similarly. If nobody bids, you won’t pay anything. If the sale is successful, a commission equal to 8% of the collected sum plus 35 euro cents for each transaction will be due for the services provided by giochistarter.

5. What’s the approval time for a project or an auction?

It depends on how the proposal is structured and on how many proposals we are receiving at that time. Usually it’s a matter of a few days. It is advisable to start in advance so you’ll have the time to “refine” your project with the help of our suggestions.


6. How do I make an estimate of the  costs of the project?

Creating a board game is not a simple task: there are many components, each with its own production modes, as well as different costs. Packaging and shipping of games are other issues to keep in mind. It is therefore very easy to feel confused and not to know where to start and how much it will cost.

We suggest you write down a very detailed list of what your game will contain, reading it through several times and comparing it to other board games, to make sure nothing is amiss. Then, you should get in touch with some printing works companies and ask for an estimate for 500 or 1000 copies of your game (500 or 1000 copies are usually the minimum print run). This way you will have your production cost: add the expenses to pay for graphic design and artwork, plus any other expenses that you think your project would encounter. Try to leave some “leeway” for unforeseen expenses.


7. What services does Giochistarter include free of charge?

Submitting a project or an auction is free of charge. Once received, Giochistarter will assess it, approving or rejecting it. If the project is rejected, the evaluation will include a brief comment about:

1. graphics: a project must make a good first impression! The graphical presentation is vital. An extraordinary game with poor looks could risk a premature failure.
2. completeness: a project must be complete in all his parts (introduction, description, game mechanics, videos, pictures, downloadable rulebook etc.) and must be presented in several languages (at least Italian and English, unless it is only aimed to the Italian market).
3. budget assessment: we will send you an estimate of the costs you will have to sustain to produce the game.
4. general evaluation: is it a convincing product? Is it innovative? Is it fit for its market?

Most often, projects are rejected at first: they may lack some information, there may be some errors, or the graphic department may not be up to standards. We will suggest you the next steps to fix the issues, so you can improve your project and submit it again!

Notice: we only offer evaluations when a complete project is submitted to giochistarter. Don’t asks us for information via e-mail before creating your project.

8. How will I ship the games?

If you need to ship many games, you can arrange a plan any packaging and delivery company of your choice. For smaller numbers, the Italian postal service is usually a good alternative.

9. If i create a project, will Giochix be my publisher?

Giochix is the owner of the Giochistarter platform, but this doesn’t mean it will be the publisher of your game if the project is successful.

It is always possible for Giochix to make an offer to publish a game they find interesting. It must be noted, though, that submitting a game to Giochistarter has no influence on this. Giochix can make an offer to the author of an interesting game regardless of the presence or not of a project on giochistarter. Making a project on giochistarter does not limit nor favour this possibility. It depends solely on the project and its points of interest.

When this happens, all aspects of the game, from development to production, fall upon Giochix, while the authors are only expected to work on the game mechanics and rules. If this happens, the authors earn through their copyrights and do not take part in entrepreneurial risk, development and general revenue. In this case, an hypothetical crowdfunding project would be managed by Giochix.

10. I saw the Kickstarter, Spieleschmiede o Indiegogo icons. What does it mean?

Some major projects managed directly by Giochix can be presented simultaneously on several crowdfunding platforms. Currently, we don’t offer this service to third parties: the project you submit will therefore be limited to the Giochistarter platform only.

Anyway, if independently from our service you also present your campaign on another platform, if you want we can link it to the Giochistarter one: this way, the GS totals will automatically be updated to include the sum of all involved websites. The linking service is free of charge.

11. Who receives project updates?

The new project announcement will be sent by e-mail to all the project’s participants and those who subscribed to the updates.


12. Is it possible to insert exclusive stretch-goals in a project?

Of course. You can insert stretch-goals that will apply to all the game copies, or just for the backers. You can handle such matters as you like.