Conclusion

One could fill an entire book on the topic of how to get a publishing deal. This article has given you a start; you now know the 10 misconceptions that can sabotage your own efforts. However, you are far from knowing everything you need to secure a successful deal.

If you are seriously pursuing a deal, you need to do much more research. You also need to find a good lawyer, someone you trust who can look over contracts and show you where the gaping holes are. You might think that you can identify these holes on your own, but you can't—get a lawyer.

In addition, talk with other developers who have been there. All of them have opinions and things they wish they had done, or hadn't done. Find a developer with a situation similar to your own and talk to the deal-maker for that company—learning from the experience of others is always a good idea.

Also, keep up with the times. The game industry changes very quickly, and people have been predicting the death of retail for a long time. Again, it all goes back to your own situation. Make sure you're doing things not because of some superficial reason ("I want to walk into the store and show my mom/spouse/arch-nemesis my game sitting there on the shelf!"), but because it's really the best move.

Finally, don't stop trying. The road to the store shelf is long, but many companies have walked it, and some have achieved tremendous success. You might be next. Good luck!