I finally got back the twenty (20) boxes from The Game Crafter (TGC). Also received the card corrections (which I expressed). I have packaged 18 boxes and have left a couple. I am planning to hold a LOCAL playtest at a nearby game store. We'll see if they are interested in playtesting the game.
In the meantime, that means it is ALMOST time to make contact with industry experts (reviewers)... And see what they think of my little game. All that is missing is the game pads which I hope to finish up tomorrow. Once done I should be ready to SHIP out those 18 game sets!!!
Our goal is to get some more feedback from a different segment of the industry. REAL Gamers like our game... Now we'll see what EXPERTS think. Hoping it's positive and will INTRODUCE our game to a whole bunch of potential gamers...!
Comments
Go get em Kris!
That's all :)
Got my game mats!
So now I have no reason to move forwards and contact the various Industry Experts around... What I did is make a short list of all the experts with a following of at least 5,000 followers.
I'm pretty sure some of them might inter-lap like a couple of the US reviewers, but I also chose people in Europe, Mexico and Canada. It doesn't cover the entire world (Globally) but it is a little bit more than just US marketing.
My previous game (Quest AC) did better in Europe and Mexico, so I figured I'd actively market to these two groups... Italians speak French, so having french on the cards actually attracted some buyers there. I don't know why Mexico... But hey, wherever the game sells, why not?!
So this time we will be marketing the game via experts and we hope those experts give us a good rating. We'll see when all is done, how expensive it will be (some reviewers you need to pay). I'm not sure yet.
Will keep you all posted!
Thanks for the vote of confidence!
Thank you Hamish for lending your support! :D Will be getting at this very soon... And we'll see how the exposure goes, if it works for us or not!
Thats awesome.
Congratulations on your game progress.
We're keeping count
I finally had the time to send out all the *personalized*, yes that's right I took the time to write 10 different e-mails with different artwork and a copy of our rulebook for review.
I hope to get some "positive" responses such that we can spread word about our game. This is a "little-guy" production, yeah I have had creative input, but it's still mostly my product.
With great reviews, we might actually be able to FUND the artwork... And I really hope to do this. I don't care if I break even in this venture, all I want is to get all the artwork done and paid for.
This venture's artwork budget is especially high since there are hardly no duplicate images (except for card backs and resources - again the back of cards). Therefore there are a lot of originals that need to be produced and well we need to fund all of it.
I'll keep you all abreast of our "progress" in this stage of our game!
Requests went ignored
I just wanted to briefly mention that two (2) LOCAL game stores ignored our request to playtest the game "LOCALLY". This is a major disappointment. That's part of the reason I hate living in Quebec. They don't support local talent and help grow independent designers...
I know this from experience since my first game had a similar fate. The difference this time, is that I have conservatively invested in "Tradewars - Homeworld". Making necessary expenses and trying to stick to the budget as close as possible (which means spending the least amount of money possible).
I'll be quite frank, after Quest AC poor turnout (even with the website and all), I took a serious financial loss. From a loss, I am trying to break even with our second game... Not the most outstanding growth. However if we can get all the artwork FUNDED, that will be a monstrous achievement.
It will be an accomplishment I can be proud of...
Cheers all!
Reviewers
Try this page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamereviewer/
Damn it...
I "dislike" subscribing to websites that require me to "register". As such I do NOT have a Facebook account. Thanks for the link Hamish - but I can't view it...
So far I have gotten three (3) responses from various Reviewers. One agreed to do a "preview" of the game (I will be submitting my prototypes this week), another said that they need to advise their reviewers (he was only the editor-in-chief) and that they would get back to me (if someone wants to do a review) and the third told me that they no longer do "previews" of prototypes for Kickstarter but that they would give a "shout-out" with the Kickstarter link when I launch the Kickstarter.
So far not too bad... At least I am getting responses. Five (5) more to go, and we'll see what the results will be.
Couple more *positive* response
Well it looks like I got two (2) additional *positive* replies. Both a interested in reviewing the game.
From the amount of inquiries that were sent out, that brings the count to five (5) with three (3) remaining:
Of these three (3) we strongly hope that the Reviewer in Europe respond (and it's positive). This would help since we already have reviewers in Canada and the USA. We had another European reviewer - but they have not confirmed if they are going to do a review - yet.
Overall the responses have been pretty *positive*.
A key sign that these Industry Experts are true professionals!
Cheers all.
One earlier response - is now confirmed
One of our "standby" responses has been confirmed: they want to review the game. This is good because they have a mixed audience USA + International. Although not strictly European, they have a wider readership that includes Europe and the Middle East.
Mailed two (2) more sets
Today I sent out by mail two (2) more sets (2 Players) via the local postal office... I was floored when the guy told me $50.00 for Tracking to Mexico! What?!?! $20.00 for Air-Mail, but no tracking...
This has forced me to re-edit the Kickstarter information and add a WARNING about shipping to Europe and Mexico. Basically I will mail the game sets, but I cannot be held liable if the product is not delivered. There is no way I can know for sure that the package was received...
My compromise is that I will e-mail each person living outside of Canada & USA to notify them when their package has been sent and how long (approximately) it should take before it arrives.
You are paying $35 for the game. Nobody is going to pay an EXTRA $50 to have it shipped!!! Shipping is 100% NUTS. It sucks BIG TIME. It accounts for so much of the cost to run a Kickstarter, that it almost discourages people from doing business.
The costs should be the same in North America. Come on - it's only Mexico... Maybe Europe because of Air-Mail and fuel usage, maybe that makes more sense. But not offer any tracking unless you pay at MINIMUM another $35. Seriously - crazy consumerism...
You need to look into better
You need to look into better shipping methods and proper fulfillment options by the sounds of it.
I would suggest checking out Shipwire.
https://www.shipwire.com/w/support/kickstarter-fulfillment-shipping-rewa...
Heck.. Even our shipping of full games through UPS with a volume discount is only $15 to mexico, $10 to 15 for the rest of north america.
questccg wrote:I just wanted
How did you present yourself? I don't know you, but I subscribe to the old school that interprets THIS as shouting, so a post interspersed with capital letters inevitably looks like raving to me. If I received an email like that, I'd assume borderline personality disorder or some-such and reject any offer, because I get enough of that from my mother-in-law. I hope that what I hear in my head when I read your posts doesn't reflect your tone of voice when you speak to these game store owners in person.
Research how to sell not just your product, but yourself, to these local retailers. People are constantly trying to sell these guys services, while customers are pitching ideas for events and homebrew games. Back when I managed an antique store, there were weeks when it felt like half of my customers were there to sell me a service. No wonder retailers have a low threshold for this kind of thing. It's not like playtesting your game is going to make them any money or build their customer base. It is going to occupy table space that would otherwise be earning them cash.
The biggest mistake I've seen people make is when they show up at a retailer wearing a t-shirt and jeans, looking like a schmo. No product sheet. No business card. No preparation. No deodorant sometimes, disturbingly enough. When I was selling ad space for my own magazine, I'd do business casual for something like a game store (but keep the jacket if I knew the owner), two pages of specs, and a well rehearsed spiel. Since you say you were ignored, I'm assuming you haven't even set foot inside the store yet.
Lastly, the only way you have a right to complain about them not supporting local designers is if you are a regular customer at both stores, supporting those local business. Unless you are paying for their babies' diapers each month, they really don't owe you anything.
I'm not a salesman
Firstly I contacted the stores via e-mail. And I have made purchases from both stores. Not too much, about $80 in one and $20 in the other. I don't have time to play Magic tournaments and am too old for Pokemon duels. I sent then an introductory e-mail with sample artwork and a copy of my rulebook (most current version).
I don't want to go down to the store in "business casual" attire because quite frankly I don't think that would help. First of all, everyone is in jeans and it would look funny if I stood out. Weather is getting colder, so maybe I would have worn a nice sweater and jeans.
But aside from that, I've done demos before from people whom at least respond to e-mail and inquiries. At each store, they have Magic "local" tournaments. Basically you play whomever shows up. So instead of paying $5 and maybe win a booster pack - the owner could offer a winner the chance to play a new game! It's all about creating unique experiences with the players that visit the store... This is just one example.
Anyhow too bad for those stores - I think their valued customers have missed out on a great opportunity to try a different game. And again, I'm not a salesman...
That's exactly the attitude I don't understand. Firstly it's not like the game is scribbled on graph paper. The sample artwork is professional and has quality look to it. Secondly I sent my rulebook to review. It's 20 pages with pictures, layouts, component list, etc. It may only be a prototype - but it's not crap. When you take a read at the rulebook, you get a pretty good understanding about the game.
Just because I'm not a frequent customer - doesn't mean that the store can't offer to demo the game on some particular weekend. Like I said I have done demos before at other stores (which had mixed results).
The couple stores that I have demoed my previous game gave me the answer to how "sales" seem to work: it's based on demand. No demand, we don't buy. So if people come to the store asking: "Can I buy Quest?" And enough people come to the store asking that... Then maybe the storeowner might order some of the product and stock it. At which time, the distributor will have to make inquiries with his suppliers and see if they can import the game.
Sad but true.
Progression
Today I mailed out one (1) more two (2) players sets (heading out to the USA).
I also sent out a few messages to other reviewers... since three (3) initial requests for reviews went unanswered! Bummer... :( But I guess that is expected - people are busy with other matters and maybe don't always have the time to respond...
Doesn't matter, we reached out to four (4) other Industry Experts in order to help introduce our Brand to more potential backers!
Keep you all posted! :)
Another response just came in!
We got another US response and they want to have a closer look at the game. I hope to send out two (2) more game sets out tomorrow! It looks like there are only three (3) remaining requests - that might get confirmed tomorrow!!!
Let's cross our fingers! :D I'm really hoping the other European request responds because we could use some more publicity in Europe...
I am also going to see if I can get a better shipping rate at the Local UPS store. When I go online - I get CRAZY quotes of like $100.00 per package! It's completely insane. The Postal Office has always been the cheaper option, but maybe if I tell UPS that I will be shipping 400 orders, maybe they might give me more competitive rates.
Anyways that's the plan... I'll let you guys and gals know IF I can get a better rate via UPS than the Postal Office...
Stay tuned!
Mailed two (2) more sets
So I received another (positive) response and mailed out a couple game sets. Joe also wanted to see the updated version, so I also sent him 2 copies. We may need to further discuss the solitary scenario (but I'm just doubting the latest changes - perhaps 40% breathing room is enough to make the scenario challenging enough without making it impossible to beat... IDK)
I have 1 last set out of 10 left. Maybe I'll see if there are any smaller-ish reviewers that might be interested in writing a brief article about our game.
Keep you posted!