Game Submission Process:

Step 1: Email Steve at publishing@geniusgames.org with:

• If you agree to the IDEA SUBMISSION AGREEMENT, please paste the following text in your email with your Submission. "I, [Your First and Last Name], have read and agree to the the IDEA SUBMISSION AGREEMENT from Genius Genius." (We cannot accept and review a submission without this.)
• A brief explanation of how the gameplay accurately plays through a science concept. The core specs of your game – player count, game length, and recommended minimum age.
• A short rules video (this is the most important part of your pitch). In your video, please clearly explain the game components, the science and gameplay. This doesn’t need to be anything fancy - a couple minute video shot on your phone is great. It's hard to get a feel for a game from the rules, a video like this goes a long way.

Step 2: The Genius Games Team will review your pitch and video.

Step 3: If we think your design has potential for Genius Games, we’ll contact you requesting a physical prototype!

• Prototypes must include all components. We do not playtest Print-n-Plays.
• Prototypes must also include a rulebook with clear, concise and COMPLETE gameplay instructions.
• Prototype art does not need to look amazing, however, all art and graphic design in the game and rulebook must be clear and help the player intuitively understand gameplay.  

Please note: we do not ship prototypes back.

Game Design Requirements and Guidelines

Game Theme:

• We are particularly interested in science themes that would naturally fall into the content introduced in a basic biology, chemistry or physics course, however other topics in the physical science, earth sciences, life sciences, etc. are of interest to us as well.
• Must take a science concept and gamify it in a way that stays true to the science. (In other words, simply by playing the game, players will have an accurate idea of the scientific process or concept the game is themed around)
• We are particularly interested in science themes that have broad appeal and not only specific to a discipline of science that the general public will not have any familiarity with.

Science topics that come up often in the news are great themes to consider or a game design.

Game Play:

• Is fairly easy to learn, yet offers choices that provide depth to the game.  
• Players should have multiple strategic paths and multiple paths to victory.
• Choices in the game should have some kind of catch - that aspect of the game that makes decisions interesting or stops you from doing the same action repeatedly.
• Don’t allow winning or losing to be heavily determined by randomness or chance.  

Player Count / Weight / Length:

Must accommodate 2 players minimum and go up to at least 4, although 5 or 6 is preferable.  

• For a light weight game, play time should be 40 minutes or less (preferably falling between 15-30 minutes).
• For a medium weight game, play time should fall between 45-60 minutes.
• For a heavy weight game, play time should fall between 60-120 minutes.

See the rule video - How to Play Cytosis: A Cell Biology Game - for an explanation of a game we feel fits all the major points above and would be something we would want to publish instantly.

Don’t see the answer to your game submission question?

Email Steve at publishing@geniusgames.org with the subject line "Game Submission - [Game Name] by [Your Name]"

IDEA SUBMISSION AGREEMENT

Because we have a number of internal projects being developed at the same time as your submission, and multiple submission will be about the same theme, in order to avoid conflicts between ideas that may be similar or identical, we’ve put this Idea Submission Agreement in place.

Please review the following agreement between You and Genius Games, LLC (“Genius Games”), before submitting your materials (“Submission”). If you have any questions, please send them to publishing@geniusgames.org.

Term

This Agreement is in effect from the time that you click the “I Agree” checkbox below, and will continue until modified or terminated by a writing signed by both of us.

Non-Confidential

You acknowledge that the information contained in your Submission is non-confidential.

Your Promise

You promise that the Submission is a wholly original work of yours, or that you own all rights in and to the Submission.

Rights and Remedies

Your rights and remedies under this Agreement are limited to any rights and remedies under US Patent or Copyright law.

Waiver

You waive all other claims of any nature arising out of your disclosure of the Submission to Genius Games, including, without limitation, including, copyright infringement or breach of implied in fact contract, that your rights were infringed due to any similarity between your Submission and any other product or content that is or may become available from Genius Games, unless there is substantial similarity of protectable expression under United States copyright law between your Submission and the other content and the other content includes a verbatim copy of a material portion of your Submission.

You agree that Genius Games is under no obligation to purchase, license, sell, develop, produce, or commercialize the Submission.

Genius Games has no obligation of any kind until a formal written contract has been signed by You and Genius Games. Then, the obligations will only be those in the formal written contract.

Relationship

This Agreement solely governs the relationship between us, and that there is no confidential, fiduciary, or other relationship between You and Genius Games.

Competitive or Similar Materials

In no event is Genius Games prevented from discussing, reviewing, developing for itself, or developing for third parties, materials which are competitive with those in the Submission, irrespective of their similarity to the information in the Submission.

No Expectation of Payment

Genius Games has no duty, express or implied, to provide you with any compensation for the disclosure of the Submission. You are submitting the Submission solely for the consideration of a future business relationship with Genius Games, and You have no expectation of payment.

Additional Submissions

This Agreement applies to any additional submissions that are related in any way to your Submission, unless this Agreement is subsequently modified by a writing signed by both of us.

Governing Law; Disputes

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Missouri. Any disputes under this Agreement may be brought in the state courts and the federal courts located in St. Louis, Missouri and both You and Genius Games hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of these courts.

Entire Agreement; Modification

This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements, understandings, or representations, either express or implied, regarding the Submission. The Agreement may be changed only by a writing signed by both parties. If any provision of this Agreement is held unenforceable, that provision will be severed and the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect.