本帖最后由 桌游粉 于 2011-10-13 14:13 编辑
以下是中国熊猫游戏制造商和Belfort桌游发行商之间的有趣对话，让我们来看看生产一个桌游的不易吧！摘自：http://boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/page/3
一个很不错的游戏制造的访谈，可以了解生产一个优质的桌游，其实背后并不容易。（以下为简单翻译）The Manufacturer 桌游生产制造商In our finalinterview for our "Belfort: From Inspiration to Publication" designerdiary, we meet with Richard Lee of Panda Manufacturing, the Canadian companythat handled the manufacturing aspects of Belfort for Tasty MinstrelGames. Panda has been setting the standard for having games manufactured inChina in recent years. Belfort is a solid example of the work they cando.
在我们对“Belfort（贝尔福）：从构思到出版”（采访标题）采访报道的最后，我们来认识一下来自熊猫桌游制造公司的朋友--Lee Richard，是这家加拿大公司，专门为TMG桌游公司（Tasty Minstrel Games）生产Belfort桌游。熊猫最近几年在中国投资落地生产桌游。Belfort就是熊猫公司的一个案例。Richard: Hey Jay! Hi Sen! Well, Panda offers full manufacturing,sourcing, quality control, testing, and shipping services to game publishersall around the world. Our primary printing and assembly factory is located inShenzhen, but we source components from all over China.Richard：你好Jay！你好Sen！（Jay和Sen为Belfort桌游设计师）熊猫桌游制造公司向全世界游戏出版商提供全方位制造，资源整合，质量控制，测试以及提供运送业务。我们最主要的印刷和包装厂设立在深圳，但是我们的资源配件来自整个中国。
Sen: How did you find yourselves in this role?Sen：可否谈一下贵公司在桌游行业起到的作用呢？
Richard: My brother, Michael, and I have always been avid gamers andfans of the gaming industry. In 2007, Michael partnered up with our primaryprinting facility in China that specialized in commercial printing (books,magazines, packaging). With the help of some industry experts, he discoveredthat it was possible to create high quality board games in China that couldmatch the quality of German-produced games. After all, the Chinese printers hadaccess to the same materials and machinery as the Germans. It was simply amatter of workmanship, expertise, and experience.
Richard：我和我的兄弟，Michael是桌游的狂热爱好者和忠实粉丝。在2007年，Michael和我在中国开创了这家印刷公司。起初我们的业务主要从事商业印刷制品（书籍，杂志和外包装）。随后呢，在一些业界的资深专家的帮助下，我们发现，其实我们可以生产高质量的桌游产品，而且其质量符合德式桌游产品的要求。此后呢，中国的印刷公司也可以触及和德国人一样的印刷材料和机械设备。接下来的问题就剩下如何对桌游产品的精工细作，业务水平和生产经验了。
Not long afterwards, he started offering the printing services to board gamepublishers and attended major gaming conventions to promote Panda Game Manufacturing.
不久呢，熊猫就开始向出版商提供桌游产品的制造，并定期参加世界桌游的大型展会来推广熊猫公司。
Jay: So, are you hardcore gamers or game designers yourself?
Jay：那么你是骨灰级玩家和游戏设计者喽？
Richard: We have been gamers for as long as we can remember and havealways enjoyed tinkering with games and creating house rules. While we wouldn'tconsider ourselves game designers at the moment, we do have some rough designsthat we have worked on over the last few years. We look forward to the day whenwe will be able to bring one of our own games to market.
Richard：我们自小就是桌游的玩家，桌游可以让我们不断的思考，而且呢，我们也山寨了一些规则。目前，我们还不是游戏设计师，但是我们有一些自己设计桌游。期待有一天，我们能够生产自己设计的桌游。
Sen: Tasty Minstrel didn't use Panda for their first couple of games andtheir early woes with moisture are, by now, a cautionary tale in the board gamepublishing world. How does Panda Manufacturing ensure that this doesn't happen?
Sen：TMG（Belfort的设计公司）早期的桌游没有选择熊猫公司生产，因为他们顾虑是产品受潮湿的问题，这也是桌游发行商头疼的事情。那么，熊猫印刷公司如何确保不发生这样的事情呢？
Richard: Printed components made in China can be subject to very humidconditions, which can lead to warped components or even worse – mouldycomponents! Panda's manufacturing process places a strong emphasis on ensuringthat all components are properly dried in a specially-created climate controlroom. Component moisture levels are consistently monitored and brought down toAmerican and European levels.
Richard：说到中国印制的桌游配件，就会涉及到产品潮湿的问题，有时可能导致桌游配件的扭曲变形，甚至更糟的情况—发霉！！熊猫的生产工序要求所有的配件必须放入特定温度调控室来专门烘干。配件的潮湿度符合欧美的质量要求。
Jay: Seriously? That's really interesting! But why does it take about 30days to fully manufacture a game?
Jay:是吗？太棒了，那为何要用30天来生产一款桌游呢？
Richard: Actually, it takes more than 30 days to manufacture a game. Typically,after a publisher uploads their graphic files to our FTP site, we need 2-4weeks in the pre-press and sample production stage to ensure that files areprint-ready and that custom component samples are made properly before we kickoff full production. In fact, we don't start full production until our clientsapprove a proofs-and-materials package that contains full-colour proofs, amock-up of the game, and sample materials and components. After we start fullproduction, the average game takes 45 days to complete. Of course, this dependson the complexity of the project as well as the total quantity of the order.
Richard：事实上，生产一款桌游要花的时间远大于30天哦。尤其是，在出版商上传给我们产品的图形文件到我们的FTP网址以后，我们需要花费2周到4周进行桌游产品的印前和样品的生产阶段，来确保那些出版商的图案文件和配件是合适要求的，这样确保以后的大批量印刷。只有我们得到出版商提供的桌游全彩样品，以及材质样品以后，我们才开始大批量生产。一般来说，完成一个桌游要45天左右。当然这个要取决于桌游配件的复杂度，以及产品的质量要求。
Sen: So it's not as simple as pressing "Print", huh? Got it!Take us through some of the steps that Belfort went through to getthrough production.Sen：看来，这不是简单的“印刷”,呵呵！！就那Belfort生产的工序来说吧。
An example of a die-cut for a punchboard (but not one of Belfort's)桌游的打孔板Richard: There are many steps to producing a board game, but hereare some of the most important steps along the way:
· Creation of printing plates
· Colour matching
· Printing
· Creation of die-cuts
· Component sourcing
· Component quality control checks
· Assembly of games
· Packing in cartons & Palletization
Richard：生产桌游，要有很多工序。这里是一些尤为重要的工序：制作印刷板，颜色配对，印刷，制作打孔板，配件原料，配件质量控制，游戏包装，产品装箱打包。等等。Jay: What was the most difficult aspect of production for Belfort?
Jay：那么，生产Belfort最困难的地方在哪里呢？
Richard: Overall, Belfort is a fairly standard production withwooden pieces, cards, punchboards, and a game board. However, the game board isa unique pentagon shape that consists of five kite-shaped pieces. To ensurethat the game board pieces would fit together nicely, we printed all five gameboard pieces together and then cut the board into the kite shaped pieces toensure a proper fit. This required additional pre-press work as well ascarefully calibrated die-cutting machines.
Richard：总的来说，Belfort是个很地地道道的桌游，包括木头配件，卡牌，标示物纸板，和游戏版图。游戏大版图是一个五边形的形状。为了确保游戏配件和这个五边形的版图吻合，我们把所有五种游戏配件同时印刷，然后把他们切割符合版图的配件形状。这需要额外的印前工作和细心地对校切割机。
Sen: Cool, that's pretty neat! The board is a thing of beauty! But thereis no insert to hold things in Belfort – is this something that'scommon? If so – why?
Sen：好棒耶，桌游版图好漂亮！Belfort桌游没有任何收纳的插槽吗？
Richard: After sending the publisher the proofs and materials package,which included the "white dummy" mockup of the game, we realized thatthe submitted box specifications did not allow enough room for an insert.Rather than adjust the box size (which increases both production and shippingcosts) or reduce the thickness of components, the publisher chose to remove theinsert from the game.
Richard：在给出版商发送样品以后，我们意识到盒子太小了，没有足够的地方做收纳插槽，除非改变桌游的盒子尺寸，那样会增加生产和运输成本。或者把配件厚度减小。最终，出版商决定不使用收纳插槽。
For games that do not have many wooden or plastic components, it is notuncommon for them to be produced without inserts. Belfort includes 12Ziploc-style bags, so there is plenty of storage to keep the game organized.
一个没有很多木头和塑料配件的游戏，没有收纳插槽是很不寻常的。Belfort包含12个塑料封口袋，所以足以收纳那些游戏配件的。
Jay: Ah, that's actually great to know! As of the writing of thisinterview, we haven't received our copies of the game yet and I was wonderingif it was coming with bags or not. Yay!
Jay：太好了，碰巧我们在做采访报道，我们还没有收到游戏成品呢，我想知道你们带来了没有啊！
Sen: And how much does each copy of Belfort weigh?
Sen：Belfort的重量是多少呢？
Richard: The weight of one game of Belfort is 1.65Kg. (Ed: That's3.64 pounds for you Imperalists.)Richard：1.65Kg
Jay: That's pretty hefty! If great games were determined by weight, thenwe'd be right up there! It could have been heavier because I remember weoriginally wanted Befort to have custom-sculpted elf/dwarf/gnome figuresbut the cost was prohibitive.
Jay：有点重哦！如果我们以重量来论断一个游戏的好坏，那么我们就对了。原本Belfort可能更加重，因为我们想增加塑料人物模型，但是考虑到成本。。。
Richard: Yes, plastic components are fairly expensive, especially forsmaller sized print runs (anything under 5000 games). That said, somepublishers really want plastic components in their games and believe they canjustify a higher retail price for the game. We have actually done plasticcomponents for some orders as low as 2,000 in the past, but this usually addsat least $3 or $4 more to the production costs.
Richard：是的，塑料配件相当贵，尤其对那些小规模生产的桌游（低于5000套以下的桌游）。除非出版商真的觉得塑料配件是非常有必要的，他们只能在零售上调高游戏的售价了。我们过去做过低于2000套产量的桌游里增加塑料配件，但是这通常至少增加3到4美金的生产成本。
Jay: But what's actually cheaper to use as a material? Paper, wood orplastic? What are the pros and cons of each?Jay：那么现在那种材质用来生产桌游制品会便宜一些呢？纸质品，木材或是塑料？各有那些利弊呢？
Richard: Generally, paper is cheaper than wood, and wood is cheaper thanplastic. Cardboard tokens are fairly cheap since you can fit many of them on asingle punchboard. Wooden components have low set-up costs and are faster toproduce whereas plastic components require an expensive mould set-up fee buthave a lower price per unit afterwards. For smaller print runs wooden bits arecheaper than plastic bits, but for large orders sometimes plastic is cheaperthan wood.
Richard：通常来讲，纸质品比木制品便宜，木制品比塑料制品便宜。纸板的Token相当便宜。你只要把他们整在一张纸板上就可以了。而木质配件有很低的配置成本，而且也可以快速生产。塑料制品呢，需要一个很贵的模具制作费用，但是以后的生产就很便宜了。小规模桌游产品，使用木质品比用塑料制品更便宜。反之，大规模的桌游产品，使用塑料配件比使用木质配件来的便宜。
Punchboard tokens are great because printed images and text will show upclearly on them. However, they have the downside of being two-dimensional. Woodand plastic are more durable and are good for custom 3-D shapes. However, ifyou are designing a game where the pieces must be identical, keep in mind thatwood pieces are prone to higher variances between pieces.
纸质Token很不错，印刷的图案和文字都清晰。但是缺乏立体感。木质和塑料配件则更加坚硬，而且方便立体造型。但是，如果你设计的游戏里面要确保桌游配件的完全一致性的话，木制品的配件可能会造成配件之间的误差。
Sen: Has there been any really expensive game bit that you've had tomanufacture?Sen：你们生产过比较成本比较贵的桌游吗？Richard: Panda hasn't actually been contracted to produce any gamewith a single component that has been especially expensive, but in terms ofgames that have been more expensive to produce overall, the following come tomind:
· Tales of the Arabian Nights (with a special finish on the box and a huge book oftales)
· Merchants & Marauders (with plastic ships, custom bone dice, a cardboardtreasure chest, wooden bits, and just about every cardboard component you canthink of)
· Eclipse (an upcoming epic space game for a Finnish publisher – Lautepelit games)
Richard：熊猫目前还没有收到只生产一个游戏配件的桌游订单，因为那样的生产成本会很高。这比生产整个桌游都贵。这让我想到以下的桌游产品：一千零一夜（盒子上有特殊涂层，还有一本故事书来着）商人和强盗（塑料的船体，特质的骰子，纸板做的宝箱，木头配件和大量的纸版Token）日蚀（这是一个我们在生产的太空游戏---出版商Lautepelit Game）
Sen: Has Panda ever manufactured anything with electronics in it?
Sen：熊猫是否生产过有电子配件的桌游呢？
Richard: Panda has never produced a game with an electronic component.However, we are always looking for new and interesting ways to help ourcustomers develop games of exceptional quality. In general, when working withnew factories it is important to account for additional time to allow for morethorough quality control checks. In addition, we would encourage publishersconsidering electronics in their games to look into CPSIA and customsregulations related to toy testing standards for electronics.
Richard：熊猫还没有成产过有电子配件的桌游产品。但是，我们很乐意帮助我们的客户来生产特殊规格的桌游产品。通常来说，出版商和一个新的桌游生产制造商合作的话，应该给制造商更多的生产时间，来确保产品的质量监控。此外，我们我们鼓励出版商在游戏中加入电子配件。而且要通过CPSIA（美国产品质检机构）确保电子配件符合相关测试标准。
Jay: If we were to do an expansion to Belfort, what should weconsider from a manufacturing perspective?
Jay：如果，我们的Belfort有扩充版本的话，从制造商角度，我们应该考虑哪些方面？
Richard: Be sure to let us know if certain components need to be colormatched to previous editions. For example, some card game expansions needextremely careful color matching. Otherwise, cards would be "marked"and the game might be unplayable. Also, you may want to consider advertisingthe expansion right in the base game. Many larger companies put game cataloguesin each of their games. Lastly, there are optimal sizes for game boxes andboards, as well as optimal quantities for card decks. We would encourage you tocontact us early so we can provide more specific advice for your game and findways to help you save on costs.
Richard：确保让我们知道是否某些配件的颜色要与原先版本一致。比如说，有些卡牌的扩充，需要和原先的的卡牌要及其一致。否则卡牌颜色就会不一致。还有比如在基础版里面放入扩充版本的广告。许多大公司把游戏目录放在他们的游戏里面。还有考虑桌游盒子和版图的最佳尺寸，以及卡牌的数量。我们鼓励你们尽早和我们联系，那么我们可以提供给你更详细的产品建议，并且帮助你减少成本的开支。
Sen: For publishers thinking about manufacturing through you, what aresome of the things they should know up front regarding both Panda Manufacturingand working with a production plant in China? What are the dangers of not usingsomeone like yourself when dealing with printers in China?
Sen：通过熊猫，我们出版商也考虑到生产环节带来的问题，哪些事他们应该协调好和熊猫在中国的生产计划？以及和其他中国印刷公司合作时带来的风险？
Richard: It is not easy to be a successful board game publisher. Youneed to have an excellent marketing and sales strategy, great customer service,talented individuals, and of course fun games! Nor is it easy to be asuccessful board game manufacturer in China. We need a strong network ofsuppliers to provide quality components for all our games, and a dedicated teamon the ground to ensure that colour matching, quality control, and shippinglogistics are all carefully conducted.
Richard：成为一个成功的游戏出版商确实很不容易。你必须要有很好的市场营销策略，提供非常好的销售服务，得力的员工，当然！要有趣的游戏！在中国成为一个成功的游戏制造商也是一件不易之事。我们需要一个很强的原材料供应链，确保能够提供优质的游戏配件，有专门的小组负责颜色的比配，质量控制以及物流等。
Our service allows our clients to focus on their core business and be relievedof manufacturing headaches by letting us handle their production. Manufacturinga board game requires many small steps, many handoffs, and cooperation acrossmany factories and companies. While there is always a chance that things can gowrong, Panda has built a reputation for standing by its customers and workingwith them to resolve any issues fairly and expediently. We take great pride inproducing great quality games as well as solving problems if they do arise.
我们的服务使出版商更加集中于他们本身的业务，让我们来处理头疼的产品制造工序。桌游制造需要很多细小的工序步骤，许多制造商之间的切换和合作。当中每一个环节都容易出错，熊猫在业界建立了很好的客户信誉。
Jay: Is there anything else the world needs to know about PandaManufacturing and the Lee brothers?
Jay：关于李氏兄弟和熊猫公司，还有其他补充吗？
Richard: Panda regularly attends major gaming conventions such as GAMA,Origins, Gen Con, and Spiel. Feel free to email us at [url=mailto:sales@pandagm.com]sales@pandagm.com[/url] tosetup a face-to-face meeting. We would be happy to discuss your upcomingproject – or just hang out and chat over a casual board game!Richard：我们经常参加GAMA，Origins,GenCon和Spiel等游戏展。。。。。
