The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity as we move closer to bringing Whack to the world. Between school visits, manufacturer quotes, and planning our crowdfunding campaign, there hasn’t been a dull moment. Let’s dive in!
Kid’s get it
Mid-January brought one of the most rewarding experiences so far: taking Whack to an elementary school. The enthusiasm and eagerness of the kids to find out about this new game was absolutely incredible. The sparkle in their eyes when we told them they were among the first few in the whole world to play it was just inspirational.
We chatted with them about game design because they actually have an assignment to create their own games. How can players win? What will the board look like? How can players move over the board? And then after about 5 minutes of explaining the rules, they just went for it! These 9 and 10-year-olds honestly picked it up faster than some adults we’ve played with.
We were a bit afraid of drama as the game is all about whacking other players and stealing their points, but none of that. Instead of getting upset, they were cheering each other on when they rolled big on the dice or played their cards for a big combo. Some cards needed some explanation, as expected, but one of the kids even pointed out: “we only need help because it’s our first time!”
Their biggest critique? They were genuinely annoyed they couldn’t buy it yet because “this is a game for them.” We better get back to work! Oh, and mad props to all the teachers out there; after just two hours with these awesome kids we were knackered.
The Crowdfunding Journey
Speaking of getting back to work: we’re diving deeper into planning our crowdfunding campaign! The process has been both exciting and eye-opening as we navigate all the decisions that come with launching a campaign.
One of our first major tasks was getting quotes from manufacturers. We’ve received several now, and the differences are quite large, which makes the choice difficult. Each company has its own unique advantages, whether it is production capabilities, pricing, or delivery timelines. The good news? The communication with each company has been great, which gives us confidence no matter which direction we ultimately go.
Beyond manufacturing, we’re also thinking hard about how to bring Whack to the attention of potential backers. We’re already planning to attend more fairs to let people experience the game firsthand, and we’re actively discussing whether we should create a budget for a marketing company to help us reach a wider audience. We also want to start posting more about Whack on social media to build momentum leading up to the campaign. It’s all still a thought process, but we’re exploring every avenue to make sure Whack gets the visibility it deserves.
As for timing, we’re aiming to launch the campaign in the fall. This timing sits nicely between holiday seasons when people have some breathing room at work and might be scanning crowdfunding platforms during their coffee breaks.
So if you haven’t signed up to our mailing list do it now!
What’s Next?
In the meantime, our talented illustrator Mátyás Locsmandi is working on the last details of the game, including the boxes for both the base game and expansion, as well as the rulebook. Seeing everything come together visually has been incredibly satisfying.
We’re also excited to announce that we’ll be attending two events where you can come play Whack with us:
- Zuiderspel on March 14th and 15th
- Ducosim on March 21st
This will be our first time with a booth at Zuiderspel, which is a new experience for us! At both events, we’ll have demo tables set up, and we’re even thinking about building an XL-sized version of the game with oversized meeples and dice to really catch people’s attention. Imagine rolling a giant die and moving massive game pieces around the board!
There’s a lot happening, and every step brings us closer to making Whack available to everyone. The support and enthusiasm we’ve encountered so far has been amazing, and we can’t wait to share more updates as we continue this journey.
See you at the fairs, and see you next post!