The Pit: The Board Game!

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving
over 3 years ago – Sat, Oct 10, 2020 at 04:19:54 PM

Hello all,

A short update on how production is going, which is that it is going and should, as the manufacturer told us, be done soon. After our last update, when we had approved the test copy they'd sent, there was a bit of careful communications that couple of issues be addressed (we had them make some alterations to the insert tray to make it easier to get cards out) - the care is that while we communicate in English, we want to make sure there isn't any misunderstanding of what we mean about things, particularly if we're going to OK them to begin production without the additional time-sink of having them send another test copy. In particular, we wanted to confirm the figure plastic colours. They said the ones they sent were just test prints, not final colours, but that's the kind of thing you want to double check carefully.

With that sorted, production began. We only had our last game to go by, which was mostly cards and took a couple of weeks. In this case it was going to take longer thanks to the miniatures, which if you'll remember back to the mold test photos they sent, required hand assembly. This was going to take time, so we hunkered down to wait.

Our hope was that once the factory was back to work after the first week of October being a holiday (National Day of the People's Republic of China, which is actually eight days, and includes the Mid-Autumn festival and Golden Week), but before we here in Canada entered our Thanksgiving Weekend, we'd have an update from the manufacturers, but that did not come together, so for now it's just a simple update that things are still moving ahead, which production ending soon and our pallet(s?) of games awaiting a boat. Once we've talked to them more this week, we'll update again.

As always, we appreciate every joining us on this journey of discovery on making a big-box game during some of the weirdest of times.

Have a great weekend, with or without a Turkey dinner!

(we promised some close ups after the test copy unboxing video - here are a couple while we wait to get some more from China, particularly ones of the shipping pallets!)

Production Prototype Is Here!
over 3 years ago – Wed, Aug 12, 2020 at 11:29:37 AM

It arrived Friday! And while we said we'd posts note when it did, we bobbled that one, but we knew we'd have some video today, so we didn't feel as bad.

A few notes on the game copy you'll see in the video. The figures are from the production molds, but not in the intended colours. They warned us of that - it was just an expediency thing. And they didn't shrink wrap it for some reason (our last game they did and we're not sure what's normal).

We're checking every component in the box against our production order and will be giving the factory our official thumbs up this week. Unless there are any things we need addressed, which should only require some clarification, some photos from them, and then it's a thumbs up. No need for a second test box. A couple extra days is all, if that's what happens.

We'll post more stills soon, as we check everything. Thanks, gang! One step closer!

Prototype Arrives Tomorrow! (we think)
over 3 years ago – Fri, Aug 07, 2020 at 04:50:04 PM

Hello All,

This is a couple weeks later than hoped, but we're where we wanted things to be before we caught you all up, which is the prototype copy is going to be in our hands this week. It's not entirely clear why there was a delay on the production side, other than for all the talk about figure molds, the dice molds (which we thought were hanlded) hadn't... so there wasn't much point asking for a prototype to review until we could see the custom dice. And now that's done, we got our tracking number, and the prototype was slated to arrive today... the Friday... now tomorrow... So, we're just going to take a deep breath and assume UPS will put in in our hands sometime in the next few days. At that point, we are going to unbox it - we'll make sure to share that with you all, though fair warning, the test figures are all the same colour, not the individual colours the end product will have - confirm everything is correct, tweak anything that isn't, then sign off on final production. At that point, we move to the next phase, shipping to our fulfillment company, and shortly there after, into everybody's hands. FINALLY!

Oh, one thing that came up in the middle of the production test was that the box size we figured on was fine breadth and width, but a tad too short in the height. Which was annoying, as we had to reformat the box art BUT it let us correct some issues with the shiny UV layer, as well as add a couple of flourishes. So, we've been using every little hiccup, as much as possible, as a chance to keep polishing everything.

So, we will post a quick update in the next few days when the parcel arrives, and then it's unboxing. In the meantime, here's the last pic they sent us prior to the prototype shipping, which is the box tray they made for us (placeholder figures, obvs). So excited to punch out tokens off cards! And those battle dice! 

Thanks everybody! All! Most! There!

Samples!
almost 4 years ago – Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 02:09:14 AM

Hi all!

Last update, we set the end of June as a target for the manufacturer prototype sample or even start of final production, and it's going to be pretty darn close. Custom dice molds are almost done, and an unforeseen sourcing issue on wood tokens - of all things - threw off our estimate by just a bit, but we're working to make time where we can and keep things rolling to the finish line.

To that end, some more production pics! We don't have these in hand yet, as they haven't finished all the sample elements yet (dice, player turn tokens, plastic tray for putting everything in), but they wanted to show us what was done, which is most everything else, so they sent pictures. For us, the highlight is the box cover with super sexy spot gloss UV! Oooh, baby. It's also a bit of a thrill to see our first punch token cards.

So, we'll keep you in the loop as we get that sample copy in hand, then it's making boxes and putting them on boats! Then some planes! And a ultimately a few trucks! You get the idea - the point being, we're almost there! Prepping for fulfillment has begun, so as to make the line from factory to backers as contiguous as possible.

As ever, thanks everyone, for your patience and support. 

Chopping Up Figures for Manufacturing
almost 4 years ago – Fri, May 29, 2020 at 09:57:56 AM

Hello,

Instead of waiting for something to report on our test print of the game, we thought we'd touch base and provide a look at the game's figures as the factory has dismantled them in order to make the mold. This is an area new to us - we were aware board game figs, the fancier they are, can't be injection molded in one piece. We did not want to undertake that task ourselves and screw it up, and instead let the experienced mold makers at the factory guide us. And the following photos are what they sent to us for approval before making the mold. We had them last update, but forgot to post, our apologies, but it let us increase the frequency of communications now that we're in the home stretch. 

We are so pleased with how they turned out - in hindsight, boy, that Hiver Warrior is a puzzle of a figure, but they all look great! And the factory also help us define a few things that looked OK in our own 3D prints, but wouldn't translate well in the injection mold - most notably the Solforce helmet faceplate lines.

Talk more soon!

The Kerberos Team