How We Work

1. 1. Initial Contact
2. 2. Submission of the Required Material
3. 3. Initial Analysis, Development Plan, and Quotation
4. Project Agreement
5. 4. Investigation and Development Work
6. 5. Completion and Delivery
7. 6. Proposal for the Next Development Phase
8. File Retention and Confidentiality

A Clear, Phased Development Process.

Every board game has different development needs. Our work is therefore divided into clearly defined phases, allowing us to focus on the most important issues, evaluate the results of each stage, and adjust the development plan as the game evolves.

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1. Initial Contact

The process begins when you contact us with a short introduction to your game and the type of support you are looking for.

It is helpful to include:

• the game’s title and central concept
• its current development stage
• player count and estimated playtime
• a brief description of the core gameplay
• any known problems or areas you would like us to investigate
• previous playtesting or development work, where relevant

You do not need to send every project file with your first message. We will review your enquiry and explain what material is required for the initial assessment.

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2. Submission of the Required Material

To begin evaluating the project, we normally require the latest version of the rulebook and every component that contains rules or gameplay-related text.

Material may be submitted digitally in formats such as:

• Word documents
• PDF files
• card and component images
• spreadsheets containing card or component data
• printable prototype files
• digital player aids, reference sheets, or boards

Depending on the requested service, we may also require access to a digital implementation or a physical prototype.

Final artwork is not necessary during early development. The material only needs to be sufficiently complete and readable for the objectives of the current phase.

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3. Initial Analysis, Development Plan, and Quotation

Once we receive the material, we conduct an initial review to understand the game’s current condition, identify the areas that require investigation, and determine the most appropriate starting point.

Where necessary, the work is divided into separate development phases. This allows us to:

• define a clear objective for each phase
• evaluate specific problems with greater accuracy
• keep the scope and cost of the work under control
• review the results before moving to the next stage
• adapt the development plan as the game changes

You will receive a written proposal explaining:

• the purpose and scope of the current phase
• the areas that will be examined
• the work that will be carried out
• the expected deliverables
• the estimated timeframe
• the cost and payment terms for the current phase
• the possible development stages that may follow

Future phases are presented as an initial development roadmap. They may be revised depending on the findings and changes made during the current phase.

Project Agreement

Before any paid work begins, both parties sign a written agreement defining the scope, deliverables, fee, payment terms, confidentiality conditions, intellectual property rights, responsibilities, and any other terms relevant to the project.

A new agreement or written approval may be required before each additional development phase. This protects both your work and ours and ensures that no service is undertaken without a clear, mutual understanding.

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4. Investigation and Development Work

After the proposal and agreement have been accepted, we begin the work defined for the current phase.

Depending on the project, this may include:

• examining the rules and overall game structure;
• identifying ambiguities, contradictions, or missing information;
• investigating gameplay, balance, pacing, and player decisions;
• conducting developmental or targeted playtests;
• recording recurring outcomes and gameplay patterns;
• reviewing cards and other components;
• restructuring or rewriting rulebook sections;
• developing and evaluating possible solutions;
• defining questions that require further testing.

Our purpose is not simply to identify that a problem exists. We aim to understand why it occurs, how it affects the game, and which development options can be explored without losing the designer’s intended vision.

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5. Completion and Delivery

When the agreed work has been completed, we contact you to confirm the conclusion of the current phase.

You will then receive the deliverables defined in the agreement. Depending on the service, these may include:

• a diagnostic or playtest report;
• a prioritized list of findings;
• explanations of how each issue affects the game;
• practical recommendations and possible solutions;
• annotated rulebook files;
• rewritten or restructured sections;
• playtest observations and relevant data;
• questions that should be examined in future testing.

The final material is delivered according to the payment and delivery terms defined in the project agreement.

All recommendations are intended to support the designer’s decision-making. The designer retains ownership of the game and remains responsible for all final creative and development decisions.

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6. Proposal for the Next Development Phase

At the end of each phase, we may also provide a separate proposal for the game’s next recommended development stage.

The proposal may include:

• the issues that remain unresolved;
• changes that should be implemented before further testing;
• the recommended type of playtest or rulebook work;
• the objectives of the next phase;
• the expected deliverables;
• the estimated timeframe and cost.

Moving forward is entirely optional. You may implement the recommendations independently, pause the project, or continue working with Dice Peak under a new agreement.

Because board game development is iterative, the next phase is determined by the actual results of the previous one rather than by a fixed package established at the beginning.

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Development Credit

The designer retains ownership and control of the game and its intellectual property.

Where Dice Peak has materially contributed to the game’s development, the relevant project agreement may require an appropriate acknowledgment in the game’s credits. The exact wording and placement of the credit will be agreed in writing according to the nature and extent of our contribution.

A typical acknowledgment may be:

Additional Game Development and Playtesting: Dice Peak Game Studio

or:

Rulebook Development and Playtesting Support: Dice Peak Game Studio

This credit does not grant Dice Peak ownership, publishing rights, royalties, or creative control over the game unless a separate written agreement explicitly states otherwise.

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File Retention and Confidentiality

Game files and development material submitted to Dice Peak are treated as confidential and are used only for the assessment and services requested by the designer.

Unless a longer retention period is agreed in writing, client-supplied game files are retained for up to 30 days after the completion and delivery of the relevant development phase. After this period, they are deleted from our active storage systems.

If the project continues into another agreed development phase, the files may be retained for the duration of the active collaboration and deleted within 30 days after the final phase has been completed.

Material submitted for an initial enquiry that does not proceed to a paid project may also be deleted within 30 days after the enquiry has been concluded or communication has ceased.

This deletion policy applies to game-development material such as:

• rulebooks and rules drafts;
• cards and component files;
• prototype images and printable files;
• spreadsheets and structured game data;
• player aids, boards, and reference sheets;
• playtest-related material supplied by the designer.

Project agreements, invoices, payment records, essential correspondence, and other administrative documents may be retained for longer where required for legal, accounting, security, or record-keeping purposes.

Designers are responsible for maintaining their own master copies and backups. Dice Peak should not be considered a permanent file-storage or archival service.

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