My Kickstarter launch for Portals and Prophets isn't until November 2nd, but I've been working on my Kickstarter page, trying to get it ready for launch.
I'm still working on the page, but would love to hear opinions on how the page could be improved so that I have a week or two to make tweaks before the launch. Hope to have some more reviews up soon, and FYI, currently the rulebook button doesn't link to the rulebook.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/andrewharmon/1363812781?ref=373301&...
Hey harmon89!
First, I really like the look and the bold colors in your game
I also like the order that you have displayed the different sections in "About the Game".
The $1 pledge levels screensaver is a cool idea!
I also like the Gameplay section. It is nice that you show a players action choices and describe how they can use them right up front.
I do think the "Read the Rulebook" button should take you right to the rulebook... :)
I think this looks very nice. I'll keep an eye on this one!
Joe
You don't have many reviewers that have taken a look and played your game. Some people just skip everything and read/view the reviews. And in your case, you only have one (1) which looks a "little thin"...
Otherwise the rest looks great.
My approach to getting "reviewers" is check out the ones with the largest numbers of readers/viewers and make a short list. Send e-mails to all of them with a brief synopsis of the game and maybe a couple "card samples".
The ones that reply might want you to submit a prototype or send a copy of your rulebook before they make the final decision to playtest and then review your game. You can also do some Previews too where the author remains neutral and only presents the game and a short synopsis about how your game is played.
For example it used to cost $50 USD for a Paid Preview with Club Fantasci (Maurice or David). Now it says Free... You might inquire with them. They have over 5,000 readers... and $50 USD was the price for a written Paid Preview.
You've got Edo Baraf that does a "nice" video review and is Free too... He'll talk about the game and give you his honest appraisal afterwards. And it's a video.
And etc, etc. Do one other video - and then follow up with written reviews/previews. The more the better. Maybe five (5) in total would be good. But send to more than five otherwise you may not get everyone's attention (or their interest).
Like I said, otherwise the rest looks great.
Cheers!
Edo Baraf did an awesome video (p)review for City Park. He was very kind and pointed out the good parts of the game, AND why people might NOT want to play it. I think that is the important part.
City Park is not for everyone. It's a simple game. It works, it's fun, it's quick, it's family friendly, it really isn't for the "heavy" gamers. Edo said ALL that, which was awesome. He wasn't creating an "it's all great!" video. I really appreciated that.
I would highly recommend him for videos. I've got to believe he's getting busy as he gets more popular. I was very lucky to have him look at City Park.
Again, his videos are quick, to the point, and honest. I cannot recommend him enough.
Joe
I'll definitely check him out for future Kickstarter projects. :-)
Looks very professional to me, great description of the game play through the video and intro text. Just as it says, the game looks very easy to learn but also looks like there is plenty of strategic depth!
Thanks Rick! I'm glad that comes through. :-)
I think you missed the point. I believe Joe is correct in his assessment of how important a "fair assessment" and an "endorsement" for your game can go a long way. That could really help with the campaign.
My advice:
Don't stick to the 2 November Go-Live date.
Contact Edo as soon as possible and ask him how much time it would take for him to do a KS (p)review of your game.
Synchronize your KS Go-Live date to the date Edo gets his video done.
Cause both "Plumpy Thimble" and "Dice Odyssey" only have an audience of 100-499 viewers. Edo has between 1,000 and 1,999 viewers. He's a more mainstream reviewer and I seriously expect that a "thumbs up" from him would be greatly beneficial to your Kickstarter.
But as always, it's your game - and you can ignore the suggestion. To be noted that it would not hurt to reach out to Edo and see what his timeline looks like.
If I was in your position, I would seek out his (p)review for your game.
Wishing you all the best!
Quest, I'm sure it would be beneficial to get Edo to do a review. I do have several other reviews on their way which will hopefully be up by the time the Kickstarter launches.
If the November launch is not successful I'll probably seek out some additional reviewers (like Edo), increase awareness and relaunch sometime in the Spring.
Oh I thought the 2nd one way the only other one... My apologies. I know I read that you said you had "several" reviews on the way... My assumption was incorrect - I thought the Dice Odyssey was the only other reviewer video that you were expecting.
Sorry! My apologies. I was under the impression the other review was all that you were expecting.
Hey no problem. Yeah, I have 4 more reviewers who say they'll have their reviews posted by launch day. Edo does seem like a fun guy though.
Well Edo was on Gabe Barrett's "Board Game Design Lab". Our site is a supporter of Gabe's initiative and features a Blog link to BGDL. Anyhow if you've seen Gabe's post about the "famous" figures in the biz... Edo was one of those names.
That's why I was suggesting trying to get Edo to do a (p)review of your game. I'm not suggesting that your other (current) reviews are not important - they are. But you always want a "Tom Vasal" or "Lance Myxter" or "Edo Baraf" to be one of those additions - that really get's people's attention.
And to be fair, we got "lucky" with "Tom Vasal" just doing a "walkthrough" KS videos. Here's the link you can check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFhHA7_-Pdk&t=303s
We didn't even know it happened, until one of our Backer told us about the "Shout Out!" LOL
I think your game looks really cool - so I am wishing you all the best in success. We also want more people to be successful in the BGDF world too.
Cheers!
I actually think I listened to Gabe's episode with Edo, I just didn't connect the dots. Gabe's podcast is simply the best. Such a quality host and stellar guests.
And wow, that was a great shout out by Tom Vasal!
Thanks for the good wishes on the launch. I'm both nervous and excited, but regardless of the outcome, it will be a great learning experience. :-)
I definitely think your game is "more" than Bible material. I don't think it's purely a game you break out at Sunday teachings for the kids to play.
The game stands "on it's OWN".
It's like Catan (In my mind). So there are Biblical elements to the game. And?! What's wrong with that... Still a playable game that explores time travel too. And the LINK with Historical Biblical events is COOL!
Where can you find a game that is FUN, strategic AND can teach SOME scripture (references at least). But the Biblical element of teaching scripture is NOT the focus of the game. Which is FANTASTIC! Because in little doses, people can actually PLAY the game and say they've had a good time... And even if it has a Biblical connection - that doesn't mean it's all about Christianity or Jesus and the Disciples...
It's a game about "experiencing" the past and what it had to offer.
Anyways I see the game as being more than just a tool for teaching scripture or a game for faithful Christians only, etc. Everyone can play and enjoy the "core" of the game which is "Time Travel". And that's great in my book.
Hope your next reviews are a bit better - I would not categorize the game in terms of Biblical content. I would focus instead on "Time Travel"...
Cheers.
Yeah, glad to see you GET it. :-)
While the reviews I gotten so far are positive, I felt they got a little hung up on it being a Bible themed game and spent too much of the review talking about that aspect of it. I definitely see it be used outside the context of a church setting.
What I was wondering, is that IF on your turn you can discard cards to boost the Time Capsule's Fuel level ... I don't get how that "messes" with your opponent's play.
Maybe it's just me... But could you explain that a bit better???
Like if I were to ADD +1 Fuel and it was at 1 Fuel, that would mean that it's now +2 Centuries. So I could go +2 or -2 from the current century.
But when I do so, what happens to the Fuel level???
That also something that I was unclear about. Like if I go +2 only (not full) what happens to the Fuel level after my turn is over?
Thanks for clearing that up.
Cheers!
Thanks for asking. It's helpful to know what people are unclear about so I know if I need to provide more detail. (It is clear if you read the rulebook, but many people won't do that.)
When you add fuel to the fuel gauge the fuel gauge increases for everyone. It stays increased until someone adds fuel that causes the fuel gauge to reach "full". The player who gets the gauge to "full" can play any card regardless of the time period listed on their cards. At the end of that player's turn the fuel gauge resets to "low."
Causing the fuel gauge to reach "full", thus resetting the fuel gauge is how you "mess" with opponents play, because they may have been counting on that fuel for their next turn.
Does that make sense?
But what if I leave it a only "+2 Fuel"? The next opponent can BENEFIT from that - and maybe go to Full and mess with the next player's turn...
Right? Something like that??
You got it. So sometimes your actions will benefit other players and sometimes it will mess them up.
I can't wait to see this Kickstarter! I think you guys are doing a great job. Asking questions, getting others thoughts, suggestions and experiences. Can't compliment you enough! AND, the game looks awesome! :-) I hope you continue onward after Portals and Prophets, I really look forward to seeing what you've got!
Thanks for the encouragement Joe. Looks like we're both going to have an adventurous November.
BTW, I've been getting advice from some Kickstarter forums that Thursday is a bad day to launch, because Friday-Sunday are the slowest days on Kickstarter and the first 2-3 days are critical to the success of the campaign. So, I'm considering bumping the launch up one day to November 1st, to get a little more exposure during the mid week.
I read somewhere it's best to start on a Tuesday... Not sure if your source can confirm - but that's what I believe is the best day to start.
Apparently Mondays are less good because people are just getting back into the normal week grind... And so Tuesdays seem to be a better day when people are responsive at their best. All of OLGs successful campaigns started on a Tuesday too...
Check out Trench, TradeWorlds ... all starting off on the Tuesday morning (9:00 AM). So you may want to start the week AFTER (7 November onwards).
Just a technicality. I'm sure the 1 November will be okay.
Yes, I believe you're right. From what I've read Tuesday is the most popular day and when there's the most traffic on Kickstarter.
However, for various reasons I didn't want launch on a holiday (Halloween), or push it to the next Tuesday. Wednesday is also a popular day, so I figured I'd be fine with that. That would still give me most of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before the weekend. We'll see how it goes. :-)
Hope you get your other "reviews" in time... And like I mentioned earlier, I hope they focus LESS on thinking "it's a Bible Game" and more on thinking it's a "Time Travel Game" whose setting is Israel.
Really is not right to make the game - more of a Church game... It should be like your Catan or Pandemic, break it out to have a good time. Maybe more of a GATEWAY game... Perhaps even more so than "TradeWorlds"...
Anyways we'll hopefully see what other "reviewers" have to say. Let's stay positive and believe in better "reviews"...
Cheers!
I've talked with the reviewers and they say they're on target for the end of the month. That was originally when I asked if they could have them done by.
Listening to the reviews, they don't really have anything but positive things to say about the gameplay, but maybe because both the reviewers were Christians they were too much in the "church" mindset.
Saying that a game based in biblical Israel can only be played at Church is like saying a Star Wars themed game can only be played at a Star Wars party.
The way I see it ... the "reviewers" should start by focusing on the "gameplay" and then explain it's a "Time Travel" game. And then say the setting is in Biblical Israel.
But NOT "mention" it's a Bible game. Because I think that like you said all kinds of people could enjoy playing the game. Not only Christians and definitely not only in Church related settings.
It's not like your game is "preachy". You're not forcing people to memory the verse in the Bible or knowing by heart a Christian prayer... etc.
And it's kinda cool to experience the PAST and "re-live" all those events that occurred...
I would DARE to say, this is more of a "Historically Accurate" game of "Time Travel" which is set in Biblical Israel. That's as preachy as I would get... But I'm not the reviewer. I'm just hoping people don't focus so much on the Biblical aspect and review the game for what it really is: A BOARD GAME.
Cheers.
Or more precisely like saying a "Star Wars" theme game can only be played by people (or Fans) of Science Fiction movies.
Ergo the link between Bible, Christianity and Faith - has little to do with the fact that you might enjoy playing P&P.
That's the way I see. When they talk "too much" about it being a Bible Game, then it tends to NARROW the focus of WHO might actually play the game. Sure you're a good guy and you've put together this "Biblical"-themed Board Game... But it's really about "Historically Accurate" Time Travel.
When you express it like that, it WIDENS the focus of the players/people who would actually like to play this kind a game. That's why I said it could be a nice "GATEWAY" game since it's NOT too preachy.
Update: I sent you a couple comments on KS preview. I suggest changing the phrasing to help from people thinking too much that it is a "Bible Game". Just minor changes - nothing too big. To broaden the appeal and increase the backer pool.
Saw your comments on the Kickstarter page. Let me know what you think of the changes. Unfortunately your suggestion was too many characters for a Kickstarter title.
We don't want people to be like "Bible game... " And just turn away from the KS... I personally think it's much better! We've got to "out-think" the backers and give the game more appeal.
Great job!
Note: While "Israel" might be accurate the wording of "ancient times" might be more FAVORABLE. Again I'm just trying to broaden the focus of the game.
"Israel" might be accurate - buy people may think it's a game for Jewish people... That's why I suggested "ancient times"...
But choose which ever you prefer...
Update: Sent you another aspect that could be modified to avoid "stigma" or people just discarding the game because of it's Biblical nature... Like I said, the game stands on it's own and is not about "preachy-ness".
I added two (2) more comments... Just double check, there seems to be some MATH inconsistencies.
I've decided instead of just contributing to your campaign - I want to own my own copy too... So you've got to succeed with this KS... LOL
In tandem I'm working on our (OLG and I) IndieGoGo which will start towards the middle of November. It's not on Kickstarter - since we had our KS already... We've decided to see if we can ADD to the pool of backers using another crowdfunding campaign.
We shall see too!
Note: You see what happened in your 2nd review is what I would try to avoid:
First thing they do is say it's good for teaching CHILDREN the Bible. Make them read the passages on the cards...
They no longer focus on the GAME being FUN for everyone too... Which is a shame - and that's why you need to re-word some details ... Just so that nobody gets a wrong impression.
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Thanks for the feedback!
There are 3-4 more reviews that should be added in the next week or so.
And yes, I still need to link the rulebook. :-)