Sentinel Games: Total Extinction

[Predatorpt]

Thanks for the explanation and welcome to LAF

[Sentinel]

Thanks Predatorpt!

[commissarmoody]

Thanks for the response

[tnjrp]

Off topic mostly...

Because without other funding they won't have the cash to do it

...but this still doesn't compute to me. I've been under the impression that there is a relatively high initial overhead for (traditional paper/cardboard) printing that almost all of the cost in a very small print run would consist of. Maybe I'm mistaken.

[maxxon]

Off topic mostly......but this still doesn't compute to me. I've been under the impression that there is a relatively high initial overhead for (traditional paper/cardboard) printing that almost all of the cost in a very small print run would consist of. Maybe I'm mistaken.

If there is serious doubt whether the KS pot will cover even fullfillment production, there won't be cash left for printing extra copies no matter how cheap they are. If you have $100 and need to buy $100 worth of widgets, you can't buy any extras whether they cost 1 cent, $1 or $100 each -- unless you put in your own money, which was the whole point.

Ofcourse, if you are serious about the business and the KS just barely covers fullfillment, the smart move is to have other funding to print extra copies for sale. But then again, having other funding would have been a smart in the first place.

I'm not quite up to date with modern POD presses, but traditionally 500 copies was them minimum sensible print run, 1000 copies wasn't much better and unit price didn't start to seriously come down until you hit 5000 or more.

But this is getting pretty academic...

[tnjrp]

If there is serious doubt whether the KS pot will cover even fullfillment production, there won't be cash left for printing extra copies no matter how cheap they are

Obviously, but if you've already paid most of the cost then it's surely a small matter to shift funds for "extra" copies. Most likely by postponing the printing of the add on miniatures, if necessary until after the starter sets have been are on retailer sale for a while. It would generate ill will but ill will doesn't kill your company outright, failure to generate income might.

On the subject of retailing, if we assume a minimum print run of 500 copies they'd almost all go to the KS backers (it prolly need at least about 350 to fund, and almost all of them will need to have at least one game box). Then SG would nothing at all really to send to shops where they would have to get their money from if they have set an artificially low KS goal as the assumption here goes. As an entrepreneur myself, I'd say it'd not only be naïve but downright stupid to pull such a stunt.

[maxxon]

As an entrepreneur myself, I'd say it'd not only be naïve but downright stupid to pull such a stunt.

This is getting entirely too speculative, but KS does allow certain non-traditional avenues into setting up a business.

Let's say I'm an avid gamer with a computer and design skills but little else. I have an idea for a game. Will that secure me a startup loan from the bank? Probably not, but while I'm at this stage my running costs are essentially zero. I still have a day job to pay the rent etc.

But I could launch a Kickstarter. To maximize chances of success, I calculate a minimum amount to set up production and cover the backer rewards. Once the KS succeeds, I go to the bank and point out that I already have the funds to set up production, I have a product, I even have clients. All I need is a loan to print more copies for retail.

If the KS fails, no harm no foul.

If I still can't get a loan, I can produce the backer rewards to keep my promises but that's the end of the story. It was an interesting experience, and I didn't end up losing money myself or getting stuck with piles of unsold game boxes in my garage. With some luck, I may be able to sell the molds, rights etc. to another gaming company for a littble bit of extra. Or maybe launch a followup KS later on if the game proves popular.

[Sentinel]

We are working on new prototypes. Here you could see the Glorlon Soldier:

[maxxon]

We are working on new prototypes. Here you could see the Glorlon Soldier:

These are 3-D printed masters I assume?

Looks nice and I'm really glad to see this progressing.

[Sentinel]

Hi Maxxon,
Yes this is the 3d master. In a few days we will have the resin copy and you could see exactly how the final minis are.

More news from our campaign:

As a special promotion for our backers only available till the 30 of November, Lagral, Scholar of the Second Order, is yours for only £1!!!



Only available on Lieutenant level and above



In our KS campaign you can read a story about Lagral (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sentinelgames/total-extinction-battle-for-karnak/posts/663293) and watch a video of the miniature (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sentinelgames/total-extinction-battle-for-karnak/posts/672564)

[Sentinel]

Here you could see the final resin mini:

[commissarmoody]

Looking good

[CptJake]

Here you could see the final resin mini:

Maybe it is just the picture, but the detail seems a little soft on that.

[Predatorpt]

Maybe it is just the picture, but the detail seems a little soft on that.

And I thought I was the only one...

Not enough miniatures shown, just updates with fluff (which is great, I admit) and renders. And then they show this miniature as an example of what we are getting? This figure doesn't cut it for me... I'm seriously reconsidering my backing of this KS 

[Sentinel]

Perhaps the photograph is not good enough to see the details as good as their are. That mini is the same of this:



And in this video you could see it better: