We like Kickstarters!

[tikatu]

Yeah, this isn't writing or fandom related but it's important!

Over the past couple of years, Hubby and I have backed a number of different Kickstarters. We backed two collected volumes of a favorite webcomic, Girl Genius, ending up with hardcover versions and a number of cool rewards for our support. Hubby has backed several games, most by his favorite game designer, James Earnest. He tries to choose games we'll play as a family, like Pairs, a new card game. With our shipment on that one, we got three different sets of cards (one with artwork from the Girl Genius artists, Phil and Kaja Foglio) and the extra game, Falling. We're still waiting on our copies of three different games from the Pack O' Games line published by Perplext, but otherwise, we have pretty much everything we backed last year.

Even though Hubby swore he wouldn't back any games this year, two have come up that we both felt we had to have!

The first is mainly for me. As this is the 50th anniversary of my favorite Supermarionation show, Thunderbirds, a lot of merchandise will be appearing to celebrate it (as well as tie-ins to the new CGI version, Thunderbirds Are Go!). One of these is a new cooperative game based on the original 1960s show. The game's designer, Matt Leacock, and its publisher, Modiphius Games, are highly regarded at the Board Game Geek forum, which Hubby frequents.The Kickstarter hit 200% of its original goal on the very first day! Each stretch goal has unlocked a new expansion to the game and, at the level we've funded it, we'll get them ALL. So excited to see this one come down the pike!

The second one meshes our love of Girl Genius with our love of games. The Foglios and the creators of another webcomic, Gunnerkrigg Court, have teamed up with Killer Robot Games to produce Legendary Showdown: Machines and Magic. This is another game we're looking forward to; even the Girl, as a fan of Gunnerkrigg Court, is eager to play this one! We're not funding this one to the extent we're going with Thunderbirds, but enough to get the accompanying magnet set with the game.

Seriously, we do like Kickstarters. It's great a way for smaller, independent companies to develop and produce content which they wouldn't have had the capital to produce otherwise. Beyond creating rewards for their backers, these concerns expect to profit from what the capital allows them to create by selling their products in the open market. So, check out the wide variety of Kickstarter projects when you have a moment. You may find something you think is worth backing!

Comments

[ellieet.livejournal.com]

I think I need to check out this Girl Genius; I've heard good things about it.

Regarding the new Thunderbirds series; I know, I really do, that I ought to reserve judgement until I see it, but is it acceptable that my toes curl together worriedly every time I look back on the pictures I've seen? I just want to see the damn thing already and know for myself. In any case, it would be good to get more merchandise; I always like the novels in particular, as I feel they tap into the characters' psyche in a way that the series couldn't do. But then, that was how I got introduced to fanfiction thirteen years ago. :D

[tikatu.livejournal.com]

You should check out this game, if only to see what it looks like. I've been impressed--not only by the quality of the replicas and little bits but by how enthusiastically the fandom is supporting it--if the rising totals are any indication!

As for the new series, I'm seeing some things I like, such as the changes in the uniforms and the addition of more women and POC, as well as others I don't. Personally, I don't think Penny looks aristocratic enough and there was really no reason to change the boys' hair colors around. Right now, I'm more than willing to give it a try before passing a final judgement. After all, even the 2004 movie had its bright spots. One of the things that has been stressed is that the show wasn't produced for fans of the original series--it's been produced to make fans of today's kids. They're the ones who will see Thunderbirds on for the next 50 years.

What I'm not looking forward to are a wave of poorly written stories posted by a bunch of 10-12 year olds masquerading as older. Mark my word, they will end up in the Thunderbirds section. In fact, I've already asked the admins at ff.net about it. Maybe after seeing a few episodes (once they show up over here) I can write another "This is how it should be done!" story like The White Winds.

Oh, a warning about Girl Genius: be prepared to spend some serious time reading it! It's the kind of thing that's hard to stop once you've started!