Hello everyone,
Recently I got an e-mail from someone looking to BUY "Quest Adventure Cards(tm)". Of course the earlier First Edition is "out-of-print" and not available for purchase anymore.
This means that IF I was to RE-BOOT the game with some minor corrections ... Maybe it could sell a bit on "The Game Crafter" and cost me $0.00 income to produce...
Here's the thing: I've been wanting to do a Second Edition which is a completely different game featuring programming, engine building and worker placement. This NEW version is REAL COOL but would cost upwards of $20,000 CAD in artwork alone. So while this is a DREAM Project, I cannot afford to bring it to life as it stands.
But the primary reason for the Second Edition was to use ART/Illustrations from the First Edition in that BOTH games you are playing to complete quests. The First Edition features Set Collection while the Second Edition focuses on Engine Building. So that maybe it would cost $15,000 CAD in the artwork department.
My question to you Fellow Designers:
I'm not sure how the Second Edition would be perceived if this was true. I'm just trying to lower the costs of making the Second Edition ... But realize that even $15,000 CAD is expensive to pay for ART alone.
Anyhow, I'd like your opinion and/or thoughts. Feel free to share with me what you think is the best course of action knowing that the Second Edition will be ONLY made in maybe 5 to 10 years because I can't afford to make it and is it worth the time to wait for something "Quest-ish" related like "Version 2.0" or a "Re-Booted" version which I will work HARD to fix all the little bugs (in the game because it was my first attempt at making a game...)
In any event, for the Re-Booted version, I would still need to RE-DO the rulebook ... And if it comes with the game in print, that too will be another consideration. I realize that the game used to allow from 2 to 4 players... But the Re-Booted version will only allow 2 player matches.
Why? It's got to do with "Quest" Packs. There are eight (8) of them for a total of 80 cards. This is 20 cards over the 2-Player limit ... But I feel would be extra and simplify the sales model which would NO LONGER be "Booster Packs" but instead a 2-Player Game Box with all the eight (8) Quests.
The real good news, is that fine-tuning the game allows me to improve upon it just a "tad bit" (not too much from the First Edition)... And will ultimately REVIVE the "Quest" Franchise...
I know the odds are that the Second Edition won't happen unless there are dramatic increases in the profitability of my Game Design endeavors (yeah it's a money-thing... lol) I can't afford $15,000 CAD for Art and furthermore in terms of a KS with such a game, we'd be talking about a $75k to $100k CAD Funding Goal to make $15,000 CAD because production is 50%, 10% KS fees...
Well you get the picture I'm sure. $100k CAD -> $25k profitability which does not include additional unforeseen costs. Right now, the market is NOT ready for such a Game and KS Venture. Maybe down the line, possibly. It's got to do with "influence" and Backer counts ... Meaning people like what I put out into the World of Gaming, agree to support a Second Edition of Quest.
Sorry to be talking about financials. Monies are also a part of succeeding and making better games (ones that cost more too...) To me it's a process of doing one venture/project at-a-time and seeing what people prefer and LIKE too.
I'm doing it for the gamers... They will ultimately decide what I should and should not be producing!
In any event, I'd like to hear your comments and perspective. Cheers all!
I guess my point is IF you bought the Second Edition and have a copy of the First Edition, would you be disappointed that there are copies of the art... I'm actually answering my own question: "I personally would be disappointed."
I guess when I designed the game, all the other games for children around 9+ years were are DUELING games: Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Duel Masters, et al. And so I wanted to BREAK that pattern. I wanted my game to be about "completing quests"! And that's what I did... I design a game around "Set Collection". But it was my FIRST game and I didn't know about anything in the business, no KS, no TGC, no FB Ads, etc.
But generally I wanted to make a game Kids would like but was NOT about DIRECT CONFRONTATION or dueling/battles.
I think I will WAIT until the Second Edition to release the art. The game is so much improved (in terms of mechanics) ... It uses Worker Placement, Engine Building and Programming. It has a LITE "Set Collection" mechanic also but is not the FOCUS of the game.
The Second Edition will appeal to even the older crowd (20s-somethings). But of course I am no where ready to take such a BIG risk on a product that I know will need a GOOD crowd and have people interested in the game!
Anyhow ... I don't want to bore you with too much technical details! Cheers.