Digital Preview is live!
about 4 years ago – Tue, Mar 31, 2020 at 02:40:41 AM

Hey folks, just a quick one as I know I only updated you a few days ago.

The preview of the new edition is now live on itch.io! 

If you go check the game in your library, you'll be able to download a new file - imaginatively titled 'Artefact - Preview of New Edition.pdf'. You'll be able to see all the new content in the new layout, and the chapter artwork by CROM. There are a few small things to add, like the cover art and introduction, but this is essentially 'content complete'!

Over the next few weeks, between this release and ordering the first print run of the zine, I can still easily make changes to the text. Let's make sure this game is as close to perfect as possible before we make it physical! So many of you were generous with your time in giving playtest feedback, and much of that is reflected in this new version. If you've got time to give me feedback on this new edition - from typos to terrible wording, please do using the form at https://forms.gle/GhrTtEAc48t1LyT36.

Otherwise, enjoy! I don't expect any drastic changes between now and the full release, so if you want to get playing be my guest!

If you've not claimed the game on itch.io, rest assured you'll still be getting a copy via BackerKit when the final file is ready.

March deadlines!
about 4 years ago – Thu, Mar 26, 2020 at 11:14:21 PM

Hey all, hope you're keeping well in whatever form of social distancing / isolation / work that you're getting on with. It's certainly a very strange time to be alive at the best of times! Anyway, I've got a few things to update you on, so here we go.

Last few BackerKit surveys

To the 2,342 of you who've completed your surveys, thank you! ☺️ 

To the 228 of you who haven't, please, please can you complete it asap! I want to make sure you don't miss out on your rewards, but if you don't manage to complete it in the next week or so it's gonna make things way more complicated for me and you 😬 

If you haven't received your survey invite, let me know and I'll sort you out.

Playtest Feedback

You have one day remaining to provide playtest feedback on the original version of the game! The rules are looking way tighter already, and I've already got a slew of new and improved content that is directly influenced by your comments. If you've got thoughts but haven't shared them, now is the time!

General Progress

✅ All of the guest content has been received, and I'm just finalising how it fits into the book.

✅ CROM is making his way through the chapter art and it's looking great already!

✅ New Keepers, new tables & rules clarifications are written and ready to send to my editor.

With all this progress, I'm hopeful that I'll be able to share the digital version with you in the next couple of weeks. This will leave a good amount of time for feedback and any errors to be corrected before it goes to print.

Oh, and if you're looking for something to listen to, the nice folk over at Encounter Time released a playthrough of The Artefact as a podcast recently - check it out!

Anyway, stay safe folks. It's been good to have something positive and creative to focus on during this challenging time!

J

Surveys, Strategies and SARS-CoV-2
about 4 years ago – Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 01:42:37 AM

Good morning everyone, how are we doing?

BackerKit Surveys

Thanks so much to the 2,198 (85%!) of you that have already completed your surveys, it's been great to see that number shoot up over the past week.

Everyone should have their BackerKit survey invite by now. If you haven't received one you can use this handy tool (https://www.backerkit.com/are_you_a_backer) to recover it, or drop me a message if that doesn't work.

We need to get up to 100% ASAP so I can confirm final numbers with my printer, so if you could all take a moment to complete your survey if you haven't already, I'd really appreciate it!

Playtesting

Thanks for all of your amazing feedback so far. It's been really fun seeing all the weird and wonderful items people have come up with.

We've had over 30 responses already to the playtest form, all of which have been really useful. If you'd like to give your feedback and shape the new edition of the game, you've got until the 27th March to complete the form. I'm already making changes to the text based on trends I've seen in the responses (apparently people consistently dislike pirates?), but it's not too late to have your say!

Draft Progress

Speaking of the text, I'm making really good progress with the new draft. I've streamlined or taken out a lot of the repeated text, which has given me room for an extra Keeper in each Act - something which should help make replays even more interesting! The layout is a lot cleaner and, hopefully, clearer than before.

I'm hoping to have a complete draft version by the end of the month, which I'll share with you for feedback. It's exciting seeing it all come together!

Coronavirus Impacts

I'll try and keep this brief as I'm sure you've all heard enough about it already. But, in the interests of openness and clarity, there are three big ways that coronavirus could impact the project.

• If someone in my family gets sick and develops serious complications.
• If one of the contributors (art, content) gets sick or otherwise can’t work.
• If the people at the print studio I’m working with get sick or otherwise have to close.

Another likely consequence is that the process of shipping might take longer. I had a big packing / posting / pizza party planned with some friends to get through the bulk of the work, but now that seems like it could be a bad idea. Regardless, we'll get through the shipping one way or another.

So yeah, so far everything is (relatively) fine - just keeping you in the loop. If you know someone who's self-isolating and having a hard time, feel free to share your copy of the game with them.

Stay safe, folks!

Surveys are being sent!
about 4 years ago – Sat, Mar 07, 2020 at 02:11:59 AM

Good afternoon folks,

We're making really great progress so far, as you can see on the Project Board. If you ever have a question about timings or progress, you should be able to find the answer on that board!

To recap, we've:

• Sent out copies of the original, pre-Kickstarter version of the game. Send me a message with your Kickstarter email if you've not received anything.
• Sent out a playtest form, which is already providing great feedback - you have until 27th March!
• Finalised the cover artwork with CROM, and started the process for sketching the chapter artwork.
• Reviewed 2/4 of the new guest playbooks, which are looking great and almost done.
• Imported your email addresses into BackerKit and set up the surveys & pre-order store.

So what's next?

BackerKit Surveys

After looking at a few cheaper (or free) options, I decided to stick with BackerKit for post-campaign delivery. While the other options seemed very capable, none of them had actual human beings on staff to help set everything up and provide support along the whole process. As someone who's delivering this project alongside a full-time job and young family, that was an important factor in my decision and well worth the extra cost.

You should all be receiving your invitation to a BackerKit survey over the next few days. As many of you know, BackerKit allows you to add items to your Kickstarter pledge. Some of you have already pledged extra funds towards items, which will be available to specify. You can also add funds if you decide, for example, that you want an art print now you've seen the awesome cover art below! You'll then be asked for your shipping address, which will calculate the shipping fees you need to pay.

I'll be locking down order changes on the 19th April 2020, so make sure you're all sorted by then. You'll be able to change your shipping address up until that date too, so don't worry if you're going to be moving soon. 

If you don't receive an invite in the next few days, send me a message with your email address and I'll investigate.

Cover Art Finalised

CROM has already finished the cover art, so I thought I'd share it with you. I couldn't be happier. It's going to look so great, especially with different parts of the design picked out with hot foiling. I'll share proofs of the actual, printed cover as soon as they're ready (the spot colour won't be red!).

He's now working away on the chapter artwork, starting with some initial sketches. It's so much fun to see my ideas realised by such a talented artist.

Blake, The 'Mousehole Press Mouse'

Speaking of talented artists realising my ideas, look at this nerdy little mouse pal! I asked Stacey Thomas to illustrate a new mascot for my branding, and she did an outstanding job. There's also a black & white vector version that will be embossed onto the back of each of the books. It's gonna look great!

Thanks everyone, stay cool!

Digital rewards sent! (current version)
about 4 years ago – Mon, Mar 02, 2020 at 11:57:21 PM

Good morning!

I'm still waiting for a few things before you get your BackerKit invitation. This will let you choose or add rewards and sort shipping when it's time for physical rewards to go out.

In the meantime, I've imported your Kickstarter email addresses into itch.io, where I host my games. I'm currently processing them to send out access keys to The Artefact. This will let you download all the files for the current version of the game - the pre-Kickstarter version. You can get playing with this version right away, and I hope you do!

One of the things I'm particularly excited about is playtesting. Now you've got the files, I'm hoping that a few of you are keen enough to play through the game ahead of its full release. Then, if you're inclined, you can provide feedback to me via this handy form. This feedback will help me make the best possible version of the game. You'll be impacting the direction of the game as I rewrite the rules, write new content and coordinate with my guest contributors. Plus, as thanks for your time, anyone who completes the playtest form will get a credit on the game's page.

I'll be closing the feedback form on the 27th March, so you've got a month!

My plan is to update the files on itch.io when I've completed the new edition. My current estimate for this is some time towards the end of April, as you can see on the planning page. And don't worry - you'll also be able to get digital rewards through BackerKit if you don't want to sign up to itch.io. But you should; it's where all the coolest, weirdest new games are being released!

Thanks,

Jack