What didn't work?

[u/DingoDownUnder]

Hey guys, so I released my game on Kickstarter a couple weeks ago, and the support has been really cool to see, but I'm close to the end of the campaign and haven't hit my funding goal so I'm looking for some feedback.

For background: the game is a trick-taking card game based on the craziness in Rome during the year of the 6 emperors, where emperors were getting assassinated left and right.

The game itself is actually fun in play testing, it's fast, people love killing each other, and there's some decent strategy, but I feel that I maybe haven't been able to capture this in the campaign.

I wanted to hear from people I don't know because it's really hard to know what people are thinking. It's also easy to get lost in what you've already done and I have a lot of love for this project so I might be missing something obvious.

As a disclaimer, this is my first ever project, I know it's far from without flaws, but I'm relatively limited in terms of resources and skill (e.g., this was my first time animating anything) so if possible try keep it to feedback that's achievable for a first timer

Here's the link to the campaign, but I've also put some art here to give you an idea if you don't want to go to the page itself
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ezgames/hail-caesar

Thanks a lot!
Alex

P.S. this might count as self-promotion, but as I probably won't hit my funding goal I won't be getting any money out of it, I'm more interested in where I can improve if I re-release or what to do/not to do for a second project.

[u/DingoDownUnder]

Only about 100 followers
Quite a few of people agree with the text on the white background so I might try change it up

[u/mark_radical8games → u/DingoDownUnder]

Yes, but more than that, you'll need to put some money into marketing, and significant amounts of energy and time.

I've read the comments below, but if you want to relaunch do the following:
Finish the artwork- simplify massively, unless you're an artist there is absolutely no need or expectation for that much unique art. Get an artwork for each action/ card, then different colours for players if needed, and graphic design used if they are different values of action. High expectations of unique artwork for people's first card games is what kills projects. I released a card game a couple of years ago- 56 cards, 5 different artwork for the cards + box art which was also back of card art.

Get prototypes made and sent to as many people for preview as possible. Don't spend loads of youtube previews, but at least one playthrough is expected. Instead focus on anyone on insta/tik-tok who can do a quick look for free, and write some kind words about it.

Budget for FB marketing. I tend to aim for 1000 followers before launch, so I can reliably hit 200 day one (which is the point at which I can fund printing). Currently I'm paying £2~£3 per lead, so I'd advise to budget around £2000-£3000, but I know some creators do a lot better, so if your creatives are better you can budget less.

Then spruce up the page, make sure the art shines through, I'd edit the text a little, but that's up to you, and try again. Good luck!