IPA Award
The « IPA Award Expert Game » awards the best boardgame project from the initial idea to its planned execution.
Every year, a jury of international publishers from the Independent Publisher Alliance reviews all the submitted project to reward the one they identify having the most potential in the boardgame industry.
How «IPA Award Expert Game» differs from conventional game awards?
It does not reward a final boardgame but a concept before its editing process, giving the creators the means to fund their project independently and to keep control over all the development.
This also enables IPA members to mentor contestants with their advice and improve the overall game experience through peers support.
The contesting concepts will be judged regarding the game experience, but also its marketing relevance for the market including target audience, production choices, price positioning, graphic universe, rulebook clarity, and game mechanics.
The publishers status of the Jury and selection committee enables each participant to get professional feedback on their project and their relevance to the market.
For 2025, the selected juries are
Prize
This envelope will be used to cover the publishing process :
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$1K advance, 7% minimum Royalties on revenue
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Art payment
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Graphic design payment
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Production of 1000 EN copies Payment
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Shipping to Essen Payment
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Booth at Essen Payment
Each year, the Jury of publishers sponsors the award by financing the prize. 2025 sponsors is Matagot Studio, $30,000.
Submit your project
You are creator or editor, and you want to submit your project ?
To participate, your game concept should be original and not yet published on any market.
Your game will go through a pre-selection process which will identify 3 nominees announced each year by September.
In order to enable us to go through this process, your project submission should be done before end of May for a final prize revealed during Essen Spiele in October.
The boardgame concept submitted should include :
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Final Rules
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Final components definition
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Production cost estimate
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Sales Sheet (Price etc)
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Designer Contract ready to be signed
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Artist chosen ideally with a Contract / or Cost estimate
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Instructions for the Artist to work
Do I need so tend a prototype?
No need, only on request for the final 3 nominees
