Two things that people most often forget to ask for on their quote requests are rules and platforms. Rules are often forgotten because it is assumed they’ll be in there. The platform, however, is mostly just forgotten, because unless you make games, chances are you never even think about it. It’s just there – part of the box. Platforms are important, however. Let’s talk about what they are and why they’re important. (C’mon! Its Monday morning! What else are you gonna do while your coffee gets into the system?)

Platforms are, simply put, that thing that holds the board up off the bottom of the box. Usually, there’s a trough or well in the center or down one side where cards, pawns and other game components sit. Pretty basic stuff. Most platforms are stamped out of corrugated cardboard with a white face on one side, but many are printed to enhance appeal. Some will have cut outs or slots for sand timers and other bits. A platform is NOT the same thing as a vacuformed plastic tray. A plastic tray costs an order of magnitude more to get started with for one thing. For another, cardboard simply cannot be worked the same as plastic to create cubbyholes for parts.

Why do you need a platform? I get that question a lot from people looking to shave some money off their manufacturing price. Its a valid question. The reason you need a platform is to keep all the “stuff” in the game from sliding around. The game will feel more attractive to the consumer if the weight is nicely centered in the box. Components will not get damaged from sliding around. Also, imagine a game with 300 cards shrinkwrapped in a brick. Imagine tilting that box left and right and feeling the cards slide around. Imagine that game on a pallet with 300 others being picked up slightly off center by a fork lift driver in a hurry. Now, imagine those 300 games with 300 cards ALL shifting at once… not pretty.

Now that I’m done shuddering, let’s move on.  As I said, a typical platform is pretty simple – a well in the center (”center well”) of some thick white cardboard. Common variations include an “end well”, with a well at one end of the box, and a “double end well”, with a well at each end of the box. While a centerwell is most common, there is no “standard” and, as with box size, the platform design should be based on the components in your game.

In most cases, printing on corrugated cardboard requires a specialty printer, so unless you’re a big cheese like Fantasy Flight Games, then you’ll need to go with an unprinted platform unless you have a small box and can use a thinner cardboard that can run through a normal press. Whether its printed or not, your platform will need to be stamped out of a cardboard sheet. The cost for the die to do this can range from $450 to $650 in most cases. That’s a one time cost. It sounds expensive, but compared to the $4000 – $5000 for a mold for a vacuformed plastic tray its dirt cheap (I said there was an order of magnitude difference!). Occasionally, your game manufacturer will have an existing die that can be re-used. This is rare enough given the wide variety of box sizes and component types in games, but go ahead and ask. Why not save $500 if you can?

Of course, there are always caveats. Most war games are sold without a platform. This is because most war games contain a map, rulebook, and counter sheets, and two small dice. With the exception of the dice, all these components are held firmly in place due to their size. Also, they’re lightweight and won’t shift too much. With more war games using cards, we’re also seeing more war games use platforms. Most other games are going to have a platform expected by the customer, but if the components won’t shift too much, or are lightweight, then you can occasionally skip one. I’ll try to talk you out of it, but you can do it!

So there you have it: everything you ever wanted to know about platforms. Give me a call or shoot me an email or post a comment if you want to know even more about the exciting world of platforms!