Make Some Noise! Pound The Drums!
over 6 years ago
– Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 04:28:13 PM
Boom, Boom!
There was plenty of excitement here in Pittsburgh as we reached the last few minutes of this first Kickstarter for Okermania!
This would not have been possible without your passion and support. Thank you to all the folks who shared with friends and family, hosted game nights, stayed up late to work on the campaign content, or shared incredible comments about playing Taiko!
I am specifically indebted to the more than 45 early beta-testers who have pre-release copies of the game. Your feedback over the last 8 months has been essential to hammer out the details and to make each Taiko battle an epic experience! Thanks for your early partnership!
UNLOCKED!
Because of your momentum, we unlocked the final stretch goal during the closing minutes of the campaign! This adds a never-before-seen Action Card into all decks 6-player and above!
Also UNLOCKED!
In the final hours, we also hit 21 backers at the 3-player level and unlocked the Pocket Pouch upgrade! Most excellent! Here is that sweet graphic that I had hoped to share earlier!
This means that we broke LITERALLY EVERY STRETCH GOAL for Taiko!
Next Phase!
It is exciting to transition the Taiko project into the next phase of logistics, creation, and fulfillment. We will keep you updated on this journey together!
Be on the lookout for a survey through BackerKit to help us collect the information we will need to get this shipped to your doorstep!
I am eager to begin laser-engraving the Elite Wooden Boxes, and packing each of these with a generous serving of love and magic!
Thanks again for a tremendous 21-day sprint, and an epic finale!
Sincerely,
Jason Okerman
Final Hours!
over 6 years ago
– Sun, Oct 22, 2017 at 03:39:57 PM
The campaign finish line is in sight!
With your help we have broken through another stretch goal! The expanded and upgraded games are now looking extra awesome!
I am excited to begin the next phase of the journey: handling the logistics to get each of these decks into everyone's homes!
The pledges for 3-player decks have doubled over the last couple days! We are now only a few pledges short of the 20 pledges to UNLOCK the awesome 3-player Pocket Pouch! Notice how I built this cool graphic and then had to slap a huge "ALMOST" across the center!
HOW ABOUT ONE MORE!
I am thrilled to share a concept for ONE MORE STRETCH GOAL expansion card!
This wasn't planned to be released until well after the campaign ended! But I've worked out the logistics to be sure it won't delay anything, and I am excited to offer it as a new stretch goal! I will share the tentative rules very soon so that folks can give feedback and we can refine this action card!
Here is the inked drawing based on this sketch! It makes the character a little more wild, and gives him about 100% extra abs to make it clear that he is bit of a show-off. I can't wait to turn this into a full-fledged action card!
International!
I look forward to running my next campaign with the doors wide open for our international supporters! I appreciate the comments and hopeful words, as we have focused on the US audience for this first campaign under Okermania!
If you know someone who wants Taiko shared overseas, send me an EMAIL! We are considering requests case-by-case as we wrap up the campaign. I may be able to work out an adjustment for you!
Thanks!
It has been awesome to walk with you on this tremendous journey. Thank you for your support and passion!
Sincerely,
Jason Okerman
[email protected]
New Stretch Goals UNLOCKED!
over 6 years ago
– Sat, Oct 21, 2017 at 04:14:38 PM
We are in the last 30 hours!
I am humbled at the support and encouragement from all the backers who have shared with friends, posted on social media, and added comments! You have kept the momentum high on this adventure!
As we prepare for this FINAL SPRINT, would you consider helping by re-posting something from the Taiko Facebook Page or my Instagram?
If you have anyone in your circle who would also love their own upgraded copy of Taiko, now is the time to invite them into the community!
We smashed through two stretch goals!
It is very exciting to be able to include both of these upgrades in every Kickstarter copy of Taiko! Each suit will now be equipped - one per color - with a samurai horsemen card and a thief token. The actions for both of these have been hammered out over many weeks of play-testing and they are ready for the fun to be shared everywhere!
Next Stretch Goal Announced!
This will be a second BONUS ACTION CARD with one of my favorite new illustrations! I have experimented with several versions of this card's action, and if we break this goal, we’ll be revealing a final rule definition soon!
Pocket Pouch!
This stretch goal is specific to the 3-player version! If we can break 20 of these decks (both colors together), we will upgrade ALL 3-player decks to include this awesome pocket pouch! I enjoyed keeping a portable version of Taiko in my jacket last winter, and it let me capture many spontaneous 2- and 3-player battles!
The portable deck will combine perfectly with a full 6-player game for an even bigger battle since the high-quality cards are the same shape and size! Tell your friends!
Finishing Strong!
It has been a GREAT PRIVILEGE to walk with you on this thrilling adventure. I look forward to finishing strong!
It will be exciting to shift into the logistics phase of this campaign, packing quality and love into each shipment of Taiko that goes out!
Sincerely,
Jason Okerman
New Stretch Goals Announced!
over 6 years ago
– Mon, Oct 16, 2017 at 01:10:42 PM
INCREDIBLE!
In less than ten days, we have exploded past the funding target!
Now things get even more exciting as we look at adding STRETCH GOALS!
This is one of the awesome opportunities of crowdfunding – it creates a win-win partnership between maker and backers. By taking advantage of the cost-savings of a larger batch production, we are able to give back additional value into each and every copy of Taiko. I hope we can use this FINAL WEEK to share the love with friends and family, and to push the game to be even higher quality!
UNLOCKED! The first stretch goal is a Free Bonus that I couldn't wait to include! Now all 6-player and ELITE versions will come with these cool leather (ish) coin pouches! These perfectly match the quality and artistry of Taiko, and are way more fun than plastic baggies!
The second stretch goal is a set of EXTRA ACTION CARDS with a fresh illustration! Out of many experimental expansion cards, the Samurai Horseman or "Duel" has been super well well-received during beta-testing, and it lends a bit of high-stakes tension to any round where it is used!
The third stretch goal is a set of EXTRA METAL TOKENS with special actions! These beautiful "mini" coins can be played while everyone is placing their cards facedown. They add an entirely new dimension by disrupting your opponent's carefully chosen plan! This add-in is my personal favorite of the expansion ideas tested so far, and we are really hoping to get to share them with everyone!
As we work together to unlock these goals, my first encouragement is to talk to friends and family, and to reach out to people in your circle who may like games, art, Japan, or the thrill of being on the ground-floor of a dream in the making!
The second encouragement is to drop something on social media. Particularly, I have found Facebook and Instagram to be effective, since they keep the personal touch: you can directly tag those you want to reach; and your friends will already know and trust your judgment.
Third, text a couple friends and TRY OUT THE GAME at a coffee shop, or in your living room! Send me an email, and I will be happy to reply and attach the recently-updated PDF rules (with an easy way to translate to regular cards) so you can try it! This is a win-win-win because it lets you include others, gives you a chance to enjoy the game early, and allows you to snap a memorable photo to share with the friends who couldn't come!
If you have ideas to make the experience of Taiko even better, feel free to reach out directly at:
Thank you to each and every backer for your part in this crowd-funding adventure!
Sincerely,
Jason Okerman
Coming soon: exciting ways to get involved!
over 6 years ago
– Wed, Oct 11, 2017 at 09:46:50 AM
We are cooking up some awesome ways you can help spread the love, and ideas to set up and begin breaking stretch-goals that are are not tied only to dollars: like numbers of shares, comments, hashtags, or hosted game nights! If you have any brilliant ideas, send me a direct message and lets keep the energy rolling!
Also, still less than the first week, and we are past the HALFWAY MARK!!
You guys are awesome! -Jason
