There's 1000 of us!
over 5 years ago
– Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 02:00:41 AM
Good morning all!
Funding progress
Since our last update we have broken through 1000 backers and (as of writing this) are currently sitting at 1072! Also yesterday "we beat the curve" gaining more than the previous day!
(For anyone who's new to Kickstarter, campaigns tend to have a strong couple of opening days, then settle down to a consistent trickle for a bit and then "jump" back up in the last few days.)
This is probably because we've had a good couple of days of publicity.
Publicity Roundup
Firstly, we've gained "Project We Love" status from Kickstarter itself. (Here's a little peek at the exciting email you get sent when that happens!)
But we've also been featured in several prominent kickstarter roundups and more reviews, previews and videos are appearing all over:
We got a mention in the Dice Tower News's Crowdfunding Spotlight:
http://www.dicetowernews.com/crowdfunding-spotlight-dragons-dales-and-steampunk-arcana/54364
(I like this one particularly because we gave a prototype copy to Tom Vasel at UKGE in June and there's a little bemused section of his unpacking video where he finds it again - our literal 15 seconds of fame at that point!)
We're also featured in on La-Matatena.com's Top 5 Kickstarters of the Week:
http://la-matatena.com/top-5-kickstarters-de-la-semana-04-09-18/
The Dunwich Buyer's Club talked about us on their podcast (apparently, it's in Italian) this week:
https://dunwichbuyersclub.it/episodio-67-anteprima-keyforge-games-workshop-news-microbrew-jacks-bgg-top-50-luglio-2018/
The I Play Red blog did a slightly shakeycam video of me demoing Microbrew to them at Tabletop Scotland:
https://youtu.be/-5b4q-w9eCI?t=11s
The UK board game retailer Zatu Games featured us on their New to Kickstarter blog segment:
https://www.board-game.co.uk/microbrew-kickstarter/
All of this is great publicity for us and drives us further through the stretch goals! We're also continuing to run ads on Facebook and Reddit and have just added a banner to Kicktraq.com's rotation:
If anyone spots any other places Microbrew is getting some love, or if you have any ideas for podcasts that might be interested in talking to us or people we should share our campaign with - please let us know in the comments so we can get in touch with them. More publicity means more backers and more backers means more stretch goals!
Rules Update
Finally, I've updated the rules link with the version that includes the 3 and 4 player variant so you can see how that works! It's pretty much seamless with the base game so it should be a very easy transition for everyone.
Stay thirsty!
Nigel.
The first proper update!
over 5 years ago
– Fri, Sep 07, 2018 at 12:31:09 PM
Hello everybody!
Well, this definitely counts as a most awesome weekend and Microbrew has had an amazing start! As I write this you’ve smashed through the funding goal in less than 16 hours, unlocked two stretch goals and are driving onwards to the third! This update is being sent to you and 680 others who’ve seen the potential in our unique little project!
What We Did On Our Weekend
Our weekend was dominated by attendance at the most excellent Tabletop Scotland board game Con and included a live launch of the project streamed by Unlucky Frog Gaming.
You too can relive the historic moment where a big beardy nerd pushes a button on the Internet here: https://www.facebook.com/unluckyfroggaming/videos/2137787496481229/
(Sarah was too camera-shy to do it. The wuss.)
The Merchant City Brewery Co. in Glasgow loaned us some kegs to decorate our stand at the Con and we ran competitions to bring us unique beer mats / coasters or draw us one as a promotion. We made a wall of them!
We also demoed Microbrew solidly the entire of both days (people were literally still playing as we packed up around them at the end) and I think it was during the demos on the Saturday that it really hit us that we were on to something.
We ran demos where we explained the rules, helped the players through the first full round and then said they could keep playing or call it there if they had to go. Every single pair stayed to finish their game and several had phones out signing up to the Kickstarter while they were playing!
(There was one moment where I looked over and a player had his head in his hands and a frankly anguished expression and I thought "Uh-oh, he doesn't look happy." I started walking over to check, but as I got there he looked up, and deadpan asked his partner: "Do you like this? I really like this." - clearly I need to work on my gamer body language reading skills!)
People Talking About Microbrew
In other parts of the Internet, people who have had review prototypes sent are continuing to post reviews, playthroughs and other content:
Meeple Like Us have posted a very funny text preview with some lovely pictures of the prototype:
http://meeplelikeus.co.uk/microbrew-2017-preview/
Gaming Knights have filmed a “We play Microbrew” video on youTube (they’ve got the fermenting wrong, but it’s otherwise a good illustration of play!):
https://youtu.be/iTuH9kBWhKs
Both Sides of My Table has posted a text preview on his blog normally dedicated to solo gaming:
https://bothsidesofmytable.com/of-tiny-tin-maltings-and-loyalty-demandings-micro-brew/
Nigel appeared on the excellent “We’re not Wizards” board game podcast to talk about Microbrew, Carcosa and, apparently, Glee Club:
https://werenotwizards.podbean.com/e/microbrew/
Stretch Goals and How We Get Them
A couple of backers have worried that our stretch goals are not realistic. It’s actually the opposite unfortunately: our stretch goals have been thoroughly researched and are based entirely on the actual numbers of backers we need to make them viable. Microbrew is so unusual, with so many components packed into the tin that it is almost as expensive as a “full size” game to manufacture and yet costs you less than half a “full sized” game.
We can only do this by using the Kickstarter funding model and because we’ve done our homework thoroughly with a manufacturer we know well.
We would love to get all our stretch goals, but even if we don’t, Microbrew is still a unique, wonderful game that you are helping make a reality.
Having said that, we really believe we can get those goals, if some of you can find some time to help out! Microbrew is an affordable game for a lot of people if we can get the word to them! We’re running adverts on facebook, reddit and twitter but the power of social media is in your hands too! Here’s some things you can do:
Visit, and “fan”, our page on BGG:
Every fan and visit has a chance to push us up onto “the hotness” and get more people seeing our game. Also if you’ve played it, either print-and-play, online on Tabletop Simulator or in person at UKGE, Tabletop Scotland or GenCon, give us a rating and a review so people can see how much fun it is.
Find us and keep an eye on the project on Kicktraq:
Every search for Microbrew on Kicktraq pushes us towards their “Hot List” and “Top Ten” getting more curiosity and clicks through to the campaign page.
Talk about Microbrew on reddit, mention you’ve backed it on facebook, like our Microbrew or One Free Elephant pages on facebook and/or twitter or share it with a friend who loves beer and board games:
The wider our network spreads, the better chance we have of finding more people to join us on this adventure.
If you’re a backer who’s played the game too, through the print-and-play, on Tabletop Simulator or in person at a Con - say “Hi” and give some of your thoughts here in our on comments. The more real people explain why they’ve backed, the more potential backers will feel confident backing too!
And if anyone can think of anything else we can do to spread the word, let us know - we’ve already had some great suggestions we’re working on over in the comments!
I think we can do this - I mean, we've hit two stretch goals in the first two days! We can do this!
