Kickstarter preview...opinions wanted!

I almost never watch videos, but I started to this time. Why? Because much of the page suggests much of the fun is that this is a physical frantic game--but I had to extract that. You don't need a bunch of goofy graphics, just something more to suggest time and motion and pace. Something to think about in your actual video.

Also are you concerned with the price ? $20 and $30 for a game with 11 dice seems very exspensive compared to other dice games.

While I understand you want to do this at the highest quality it's just far to much money for me for a dice game of this size. I wouldn't pay more then $10 for the basic and maybe $14 for the chrome. Just my 2 cents.

Use the standard FORMULA:

KS price = Cost to make x 5 - $5 USD.

And offer FREE shipping to fulfillment cities (in USA, Canada, Germany and UK). This is of course a "subsidy" and other location needs to ADD more to their pledge for the various reward levels.

So it's like RETAIL - $5.00 + Free shipping (generally speaking).

To me this sounds like a reasonable approach. You won't make 50% retail because the HIGH price of shipping and then there is the KS discount which means you are offering a lower price point to KS backers.

I would never suggest a fixed amount - since it has all to do with your COSTS in producing the game...

Cheers.

For MOQ of 1,500 units, $4.27 is too high. Firstly you should have a quote for 1,000 units... Any manufacturer who doesn't quote for 1,000 units is one that smaller, self-published designers should avoid. I get that Panda "exudes" quality - but we all know that it comes at a price. Everyone knows that Panda is more expensive. At least that's what I have heard and with no 1,000 MOQ ... it's even higher.

The problem I see is that you have no "negotiating" power. Some manufacturers will allow a MOQ of 500 units given that you have done business with them before. Since you have no credibility because you are trying to do a 1st time self-publishing campaign... Well the manufacturers don't owe you anything.

Secondly don't dream about 1,500 games sold. From what I have gathered from Kickstarter is that if your game doesn't have miniatures - it ain't going to do that well.

Honestly our own campaign is pulling just over 500 backers (and that's from a pool of over 1,500 backers). I've seen some self-published, first time creators and the numbers aren't good: 125 to 250 backers. That's the numbers I have seen.

I don't know HOW to advise you, except to say be conservative.

Try to be a miser and pinch every penny you can so that you spend the least amount of money as possible. And that means finding a publisher that will do 500 units. Who does 500 units? Ad Magic and QPC. Both will quote you for that MOQ. They are brokers dealing with China. They may even have their own factories in China - not sure.

But I would go with them ... and get other quotes. You're definitely not in the market for 1,500 units. 500 at the most and if you get lucky maybe 1,000. It's a big figure (1,000) but entirely possible.

Get other quotes. That's my opinion. Cheers.

P.S.: QPC = sales@customizedplayingcards.com (or visit www.customizedplayingcards.com)

AdMagic = shari@admagic.com (or visit www.admagic.com)

Remember both will do 500 units. The price will be higher (obviously).

Update: I forgot your game doesn't have any cards. In that case I would forget QPC and deal with Ad Magic. I don't think QPC will do a "dice" game... but you can try... (doubt in my mind!)

I've personally invested about $10k in "Tradewars - Homeworld". The campaign is nearing $26k... Perhaps this is one of the last investments in game design I can do.

The good news: over 500 people will get to play the game.

The bad news: as it stands, I don't see earning back the money I have invested.

Had I not invested, there would have been nothing to KS... So I took a chance. But at least people will get the opportunity to play the game and share it with their friends!

Note: My game started as a TGC game. I crowdfunded it with about $1,000 in sales (like 35 copies sold)... But I also had the opportunity to KS with TGC - but I decided against this, because I felt that I didn't have the ability to make the KS "viable".

Personally I would recommended KS-ing with TGC. This way they produce the exact quantity and you pay nothing (but the exact amount for production). And you can benefit from 100+ unit discount too (if you get that many backers).

Ad Magic has in the past made quotes for MOQ of 500 units. That should be something you can work with.

But remember "The Game Crafter" can have a joint KS for a goal of $2,000 (for 100 backers) - your $20.00 per game (if you can get the price down to that amount on TGC).

It's another avenue ... And one that involves the least amount of risk and investment. Don't discount it, just because you can't get engraved custom dice. I know stickers aren't that nice - but hey, if it's the first game you want to get "out there"... well the compromise may be worth it.

Just try to keep the MOQ to 500 and get a quote for 1,000 units. Then you'll at least be better prepared for what to expect. And consider talking with JT or Tavis at TGC about a joint KS. Worthwhile to explore all options.

Cheers.

As you may have seen "Tradewars - Homeworld" got about 1,000 backers from a pool of about 1,500... For a first time designer -- this is pretty good. But you need a manufacturer that will allow you to make 500 MOQ. Why?

Well you should price in the COST for making 500 games EVEN if you only get 250 backers. What you do with overstock is your business. But the Funding Goal should take care of up to 500 backers.

This means you could sell some via Amazon or with larger online game retailers which have an online presence for board/card/dice games. Maybe even direct store wholesaling... at 50%. During our KS campaign we got several direct stores who purchased twelve (12) copies of the game.

So you do have some options even if you have some stock left over.

Passing on the savings to backers is a good idea too...! But everyone has to realize that if you don't make any profit, you can't continue to produce more entertaining games -- if there is no return. I don't know how much you have invested personally, but from my experience I know there are costs associated with being a "Game Designer".

Wishing you all the best (in success)!

Cheers.

We asked retailers to choose the $1.00 pledge and request ordering information. Basically the deal was something like 12 copies of the game for $30+ each (60% retailer discount)...

This is a way to get around that 10x copy maximum. Make the deal with them outside of the KS platform.

But considering your game is not as large, six (6) copies may sound like a good amount... The idea is to sell enough for people to buy and RE-ORDER. So it depends on the game quite a bit. But I think six (6) is reasonable.

We also had different tiers people could buy (stores).

As for the $600 investment, that's like pennies. I've invested around $10k for Tradewars - Homeworld (TWHW), with all the artwork and OLG is investing more because they wanted to add-on an expansion and offer the 2nd expansion as part of Stretch Goals. So yeah my guess is that we're probably at around $20k in total investment.

But TWHW is very Graphic/Art intensive ... and there are a LOT of cards. Plus we've included real cool Game Mats (4 per box) and better quality cards (linen, better cardstock, etc.)

Everything being RELATIVE - I hope my next game costs less to make! (Hoping)!!!

Cheers.

Note: As the Vanguard version has both Expansions, a co-op scenario and an AI Deck... We are well over the 500 card count of Dominion. I think we've surpassed the "core" game with something like about +20 extra cards more.

As far as replayability is concerned -- deep value on both the Tactician and Vanguard pledge levels. You're really getting a FREE expansion + a lower price for the Planetary Expansion + custom dice, etc. So you can mix and match how you want to play the game.