NOVEMBER UPDATE
over 3 years ago
– Sun, Nov 20, 2022 at 12:16:05 AM
Hello everyone!
I hope you are all well, I wanted to share with you all a progress report on ApeQuest, The GAME!
The deposit for manufacturing is paid and received, the custom templates for out dual layer boards and the punchboards have been approved and ready are ready to go.
The exciting part is the Artwork!
There are over 60 unique custom artworks commissioned for this game, they are what make the game stand out and really tell a story as you play your way through the cards...
We could have settled for 'good enough' and sent it out sooner, but Pat (our amazing artist) Insisted that he was going to make these the best images yet, and by golly they are!
Together we have gone back over EVERY image and tweaked, fine-tuned and (in some cases) completely redone the whole piece. This process has taken a few extra weeks, but has been worth every second.
I have been in contact with the manufacturer and discussing ways to streamline the production in the project... which gives me the confidence to say we are absolutely still on track on the timeline!
The final paid backers images are currently the final pictures in the final stage of completion so I expect to be sending ALL of the final files to the manufacturer early next week!
This means a full and final prototype will be ready very soon! all that leaves is for me to approve and the full production will begin!
Thank you all for your support and patience!
Kickstarter Funds are in, things can begin!
over 3 years ago
– Thu, Oct 13, 2022 at 07:55:15 AM
Hello everyone!
Today the Kickstarter funds made it into my account. We raised £21508 and the pie chart above shows how that money has been allocated...
The largest portion is, of course, manufacturing the game. This cost increased over and over as we unlocked more stretch goals. Which, in turn, increased the cost of shipping and therefore import tax too.
Money for recording the new album plus the bespoke songs for backers is the next chunk of the pie. Something which I am proud to be a part of and so excited to see them come to life!
Kickstarter fees were are always factored in to be a fixed percentage of the total amount raised, and I am happy to pay for the opportunity to be a part of this community... This website is quite literally changing my life.
Importantly, every penny of the total amount raised has gone into the game and none has been taken as 'profit' to the Professor or myself. We have decided to absorb the cost of the artwork for the game (£3500) and have both contributed towards the advertising of the game, only taking around half of what we put in.
This investment means we were able to buy a decent amount of units of the game to continue selling them to people who missed the kickstarter, although with over 800 games earmarked to go out to backers, there wont be many left over!
This week I will send out the Backerkit surveys. So please look out for an email as it is at this point that anyone with digital rewards will be able to download them.
I have spoken to all of the backers who paid to be in the game (except one!) and they are all both fantastic people and have great photos/ideas for their cards. I am grateful to all of the backers who chose to help out the cause in this way. You really have made the game better!
I will now reach out to everyone who will be involved in the songs being made... I have exciting news for you all and can't wait to hear your ideas.
Busy Busy Busy!
I will update you all soon as I release the surveys!
Thanks all!
Mark
Where do we begin?!
over 3 years ago
– Fri, Sep 30, 2022 at 02:57:16 AM
The campaign is over and now the real fun begins! In this update I will go through what happens nexts and what to expect in the next few weeks.
Firstly, Thank you. 752 backers brought this project to life and 752 people will have a fantastic game to play by the end of it all.
Now, behind the scenes at Kickstarter HQ, they will be collecting the pledges from you all, from the data I have this is now about 96% complete and only a few remaining backers are left to charge. KS gives these people the opportunity to speed up this process, so please double check your KS inbox for messages relating to payments.
Once KS is satisfied, they will then release the funds to me (minus their cut). This is expected to happen next week.
As soon as the funds are transferred I can begin to send out all of the copies of Bounty Hunters (my first game) for the backers who chose to buy it as an add-on. I can also send out the digital downloads to all of the Deluxe Apequest backers. Please be patient for a few days as the banks are not the quickest at turning over large sums of money and I need Kickstarters final list of backers start this process.
Some of you will also receive a Backerkit survey in the next few days asking for your address. I need these addresses to send you your copies of the game so please look out in your emails for that one... (I will of course post an update here when they go out so you have more chances to see it)
The rest of you will receive a Backerkit survey shortly after, again asking for shipping addresses... don't worry though, there will be ample opportunity to change address's before we ship, but it's good to get this information in plenty of time.
When I get a final balance from Kickstarter I will post a finances update, explaining exactly how your pledges are being spent, I take it upon myself as my duty to be transparent and forthcoming with this side of the project, especially as we raised over 300% of the target.
Rest assured, those addition funds have gone back into the game at every possible chance to make it the best it can be. So look forward to delightful piecharts and graphs explaining manufacturing costs vs import fees and how the games are tested to comply with UK standards if thats your kind of thing!
Finally, to the wonderful backers who chose to be in the game... You will receive a private message today with instructions on how we begin this process! I have already spoke to most of you and I am really excited for wats in store here! Please lookout for a message today and we can start work together!
I will speak to you all soon with the next update, until then, please all take care and (as always) I can't wait for you all to have your own pair of Prototype Trousers!
Mark
52 HOURS TO GO!
over 3 years ago
– Fri, Sep 23, 2022 at 01:54:19 AM
I remember when there were 52 backers, I remember each £152 pledge, I am still blown away by both of the £520 pledges, we raised £5200 before the 52nd hour of the campaign, then we hit 520 backers!
Now, here we are, 52 hours to go and it looks like we will absolutely smash through the final stretch goal! ...something that was a distant dream when this all started. I know I sound like a broken record, but, THANK YOU.
30 days ago seems like forever. I was recovering from the shock of bereavement, worried the campaign wasn't ready, desperate to try to sort out the loose ends... and here we are, with nearly 700 people from all over the world standing to support my dream.
52 is my lucky number but you're the ones who make me feel like the luckiest 'normal guy' in the world.
This game is dedicated to Bill, I wish you could have seen me build a business I love, like you did.
THE FINAL FEW DAYS!
over 3 years ago
– Thu, Sep 22, 2022 at 01:58:44 AM
I have just recovered from a wonderful weekend at TableTop Gaming Live 2022! Meeting loads of wonderful people, some backers, some creators... Everyone was enthusiastic and excited to play both games!
...Although I was there to show off my first game, Bounty Hunters, I had one eye on the Kickstarter page the whole time, so thanks for keeping me company!
Today we hit SIX HUNDRED backers and I can see another 600+ people who are following the project who are still waiting to power up their time travel trousers!
These numbers are a constant reminder of how overwhelmingly grateful I am to you all, we have come together as a group of strangers, to be a part of something very cool and I am honoured to be able to be a part of it with you all.
I feel like we are in the calm before the storm, as soon the campaign will end and the real fun begins...
I will of course keep you updated every step of the way, as I navigate the manufacturing process, reveal more delightful cards, the final box design, the new songs!!
It's all very exciting isn't it?!
So, to all of you wonderful backers, all I can say is for you to sit back with a cup of tea and a Battenberg. Relax, we have done it, ApeQuest is coming!
