Design company Backspindle Games used Invest NI support to launch a new game, Luchador, at SPIEL 2013, the industry’s biggest trade exhibition, held annually in Essen.
It secured a series of orders from enthusiasts as well as attracting interest from leading publishers.
Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director said, “Invest NI has a wide range of initiatives to help smaller companies trade on the international stage.
“The SOLEX scheme is designed to encourage and help a company to attend an international trade exhibition in its sector that fits with their export strategy and business plan.
“While we have an extensive programme of Invest NI stands at major international trade shows, it’s not possible for us to have a presence at every event.
“SOLEX offers assistance towards travel, accommodation and stand costs at many other international events.”
David Brashaw, Backspindle Games said: “Attending SPIEL is essential for any business in board games wishing to grow sales outside Northern Ireland, which is our focus. It’s a four-day event in Germany which is very costly especially in terms of travel and accommodation.
“Invest NI’s assistance made it possible for us to attend and to launch our new board game. We just couldn’t have afforded to take part in such an important trade show without Invest NI assistance.
“We sold over 500 games at the show and are now working with a major US distributor to develop business worldwide. The event also enabled us to keep abreast of developments and trends within the industry and to explore ideas for new games,” he added.
The dice-base game was also listed by the event organisers as among the most popular at the show.
Backspindle was founded by David Brashaw with graphic designer Leonard Boyd in 1991.
It has developed a number of fun and strategy board games including a successful product, Guards! Guards!, that is based on a popular book by leading author Terry Pratchett.
The small company developed initially as a hobby by the two founders and is now working with Games Salute in the US to market its board games.