Good News Everyone! Pledge Manager & Late Pledges Live!
Pledge Manager Live, Surveys Sending...
It's finally here, the Pledge Manager is live!
Everyone should be receiving their surveys in the next couple of days. They go out in...
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Jordan Miller
7 days ago
Happy Friday (5-2-2024)
Hi All,
We just wanted to wish everyone a happy friday, and let you know that the Pledge Manager is still under review. The BK staff is out of the office today, so we should s...
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Jordan Miller
3 months ago
May 2024 - Pledge Manager Launching
Hi There
It's here, this is the update you've been waiting for. We want to thank everyone again for sticking with us, it's been a tough couple of years but things are finally m...
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Jordan Miller
11 days ago
WTF XYZ, Are you ghosting us? Update (Full Update coming Wednesday)
We are not Ghosting you.
Hi all, Jordan from XYZ Game Labs here. I'm the Chief Operating Officer and I'm posting this update to let you know that we do hear you and we know t...
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XYZ Game Labs
3 months ago
Feb 2024 - Project Update
Hi There!
We want to start by addressing the lack of communication. In the previous update we committed to updating monthly and we didn't do that, that's not cool. Rest assu...
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Jordan Miller
7 months ago
AR: Magic Socks - Production Update - December 2023
Hi There!
Lauren, Director of Communications, here! I know we've been quiet and we're so sorry it's taken so long. I was on sabbatical for 15 months dealing with a lot of pers...
We're so sorry it's taking so long for us to give you a proper update on this project. Thank you for being so patient with us. And to those that sent us emails, messages, comments, etc... Thank you!
The reality is that we've been operating with reduced staff and bandwidth for all of 2023. XYZ Game Labs' first and top priority is fulfilling our obligations to you, our backers (as well as our backers and pre-order customers on other projects).
Due to that, we've been focusing all our efforts on the tasks most critical to delivering these projects. Rest assured, we are actively working on all things pre-production, editing, proofing, and producing Magic Socks, and it's accompanying mini-expansions, theme packs, and add-ons.
Regarding Project Timing: We are on track to deliver the rewards for this project this Fall.
To recap for clarity that list includes:
ArchRavels: Magic Socks (and the Enchanted Theme Pack)
All 3 Standalone Theme Packs (Cryptids, Cuddles, & Dinos)
Both Mini-Expansions (Award Season & RIVALS!)
Add-On game components (Bowl 2-Packs, Yarn Bazaar Playmat, & 3D Yarn Balls)
ArchRavels: Magic Socks - TheRulebook
One of the most important aspects of any game or expansion is the rulebook, and we're happy to say that we have the ArchRavels: Magic Socks (AR:MS) rulebook ready to rock! The product development process isn't always linear or tied to just one aspect, so since we're working on other areas now, it would be a great opportunity to provide the rulebook for your review.
You can take a look at the components, some game play examples and of course, get a sense of how Magic Socks will play when it hits your table later this year.
Developing a board game (or expansion) is a little like having a wombat on your back while trying to play rugby in a peanut factory: There's a lot going on at once. While we work on proofreading, tweaking, testing, and designing, our artists are hard at work on our remaining art needs.
Here are some of our most recently completed pieces of art for the RIVALS min-expansion:
As well as some recent SPECIAL REQUEST art for Award Season & RIVALS that's been completed:
Shelter Support - SPECIAL REQUEST
Knit Chain - SPECIAL REQUEST
TBA - SPECIAL REQUEST
There are also 20 or so other smaller Art Pieces (Icons, Tags, Borders, Etc) that have been completed during this time and now need to be assembled into individual Project, Awards, Events, Tangled, and Snagged Cards.
[ And Yes, for those paying attention there are at least 3 new card types in that list that you haven't seen yet :-) ]
Overall Progress:
Our projects are nothing without you, our community: With that in mind, we've put together a super simplified project tracker that you can use to get an idea of the different aspects we are working on and where we are at with each piece:
ARMS Progress
Mini Expansion Progress
Theme Pack Progress
Future Updates: We will be continuing to focus on the last steps needed to get this game to print. Things should start getting completed faster, so there will be more things to share with you all. Our initial goal will be to share these things with you starting on a monthly basis, so you can expect another update from us in about 4 weeks.
Next Up, Pledge Manager: One of the next big milestones will be the launching of the pledge manager. This is one of those items that our limited bandwidth has certainly impacted.There are a few details to work out, mostly with add-ons, before we can launch. Stay tuned and we should have details on how to access the pledge manager and what you need to do next.
Thank you, everyone, for your patience as we navigate one of the most work-heavy portions of a crowdfunding campaign. This project, and this community, mean a lot to us. We're focused on making sure it's delivered in the best possible form it can be.
We've seen a few questions pop up regarding WHEN you'll be able to purchase the stuffy that wins and while we don't have an exact date yet we are planning to have this added to the Pledge Manager before we get to our fulfillment stage.
Speaking of the Pledge Manager!
We're in the process of getting this set up and expect to launch the Pledge Manager and open up access for Late Pledges later this month. We'll be posting here and on our social media accounts when that happens, so keep an eye out if you missed your chance.
Unlocked Special Request Packs
We succeed in hitting 1,000 backers to unlock the SPOOKY PACK and 1,200 backers to unlock the AQUATIC PACK. We'll have the final art for both coming in the next week or two. (ArchRavels Artist, Rochelle Steder is literally working on these RIGHT NOW!)
Both of these Special Request Packs will be included in every copy of ArchRavels: Magic Socks - so as long as that is part of your pledge: You'll be getting them!
The last day is here! We've got just about 12 Hours Left - The Campaign Ends TONIGHT at 11:59pm!
Not only did we unlock the AQUATIC PACK over the weekend but we're 80% to unlocking the GNOME PACK!
Last week we showed you 3 of the 4 items in the SPOOKY PACK. Here is #4: The Spider!
Today we can give you a preview of the sketches for the AQUATIC PACK! We'll keep sharing new art as it comes in - even after the campaign is over :-)
CUDDLEDOME FINAL ROUND!
Today is not only the last day of the campaign - but the start of voting for the FINAL ROUND of CUDDLEDOME!
Results from the FINAL FOUR: Loch Ness Stuffy beat Stegofluffus (218 to 77) Cuddlope hopped past Otter (121 to 94)
FINAL ROUND MATCHUP: Loch Ness Stuffy vs Cuddlope (VOTE HERE or click the image below)
Thank you to all our backers, fans, and friends who have shared our campaign. We're super excited that this new suite of ArchRavels products are going to be a reality and can't wait to get these in your hands!
What Happens Next?
After the campaign closes it'll be a week or two before we get a late pledge option opened up - but we will be offering late pledges.
Just a reminder that we are expecting to deliver this campaign in Q2 of 2023 and won't be charging shipping until about 30 days before fulfillment begins.
Team XYZ is here to answer any questions you might have during the campaign. Feel free to comment here or reach out to us via email at [email protected].
Everyone should be receiving their surveys in the next couple of days. They go out in waves, so if you don't quite have it yet, sit tight and you should receive yours.
The Pledge Manager and Late Pledges will be open until July 31st 2024, so please get your orders in and lock in your shipping address as soon as possible.
What's Next?
That's it for this update, next time we will talk more production and proofing details.
It's here, this is the update you've been waiting for. We want to thank everyone again for sticking with us, it's been a tough couple of years but things are finally moving. In this update we're going to hit you with a lot of things. Some life updates, we'll talk about the pledge manager, and finally, an update on the current production timeline.
Life Updates
As you may or many not know, two of our partners had major traumas during this campaign. Adam, our CEO, and Rob, our Head of Development, both lost their homes to house fires nearly 2 years ago. We're happy to let you all know that this last month both of them are finally now back in their rebuilt homes and out of temporary housing. It's been a hard journey for both of them, which has had a profound effect on XYZ that we were not prepared for.
Good news here is: They're back and their lives are now returning to whatever normal is for them. We're so grateful.
Pledge Manager and Exciting News!
As of the publishing of this update, the pledge manager is ready to go, we are just going through the final review and smoke testing before our pledge manager is approved. Please bear with us for a couple days while we complete the review.
ArchRavels now has sleeves!
We've partnered with the wonderful folks at Game Trayz to offer some of their products directly in the AR: Magic Socks - Pledge Manager. We're starting with a full set of sleeves, this bundle will contain every sleeve you need to protect your ArchRavels Cards. That's Right! Just one set of sleeves will cover you even if you own everything ArchRavels. We're also providing organization trays to store all your bits while you play. This initial offering is just the first step in what we are sure will be an exciting partnership going forward. You can expect many more awesome things from XYZ & Game Trayz in the future!
Production and New Timelines
In a previous production update we laid out that we would be producing and shipping things in two batches: Magic Socks & Theme Packs first, then Rivals + Awards Season. That plan is not changing.
So, we proceeded with that plan in mind! This meant doing the final passes on Magic Socks/Theme Packs for production submission while we were also finishing up the development & layout for RIVALS/Awards Season.
To be perfectly honest: We underestimated the time & effort that we would need to put into both of these tasks given our currently available staff. Due to the aforementioned life events and the fact that XYZ is, and always has been, 6 passionate people dedicating their time to Invent New Gamers; our personal lives have a huge impact on our organization. We are sorry things have been delayed, we are doing what we can to get things moving smoothly again.
Here's what's happening now: We're still planning on delivering in two batches. But, we've shifted focus to preparing the first batch & getting it into production. As of now Magic Socks and all the Theme Packs have been prepared and sent to the printer. We've begun the production proofing process. We're now targeting Gen Con 2024 as the wide release date of Magic Socks and the Theme Packs.
With the uncertainty of the supply chain and international shipping, as of this moment we cannot promise that the games will be in our hands before we leave for Gen Con, we however can promise this:
"We will not offer Magic Socks for Sale at Gen Con until pledges are shipped and on their way to backers. If we do have Magic Socks in hand at Gen Con, any backers who attend Gen Con will be able to pick up their pledges from us in person."
One more time, we will not be offering Magic Socks for sale at Gen Con if backers pledges have not shipped. We'll have more information in the months leading up to Gen Con if it seems we'll be able to offer Gen Con pickup. And if so, then we'll establish a process for people to sign up at that time.
Here's some updated Production Status Graphics.
So What's Next?
Over the next few weeks we will begin the proofing and mass production phase with Whatz Games, our manufacturer. We'll share content along the way.
So that's it for now, we will be posting another update as soon as we have confirmation from Backerkit that the pledge manager is approved, at that time surveys will go out.
We just wanted to wish everyone a happy friday, and let you know that the Pledge Manager is still under review. The BK staff is out of the office today, so we should see everything approved early next week.
So I did the everything pledge because I don’t own the main game, when will I get my pledge? Will I only get the expansion and then have to wait another couple months to get the main game????
Hi all, Jordan from XYZ Game Labs here. I'm the Chief Operating Officer and I'm posting this update to let you know that we do hear you and we know there is a lot of uncertainty and concerns about the project.
The biggest concern is the Pledge Manager. You probably know by now that we missed our March 1st deadline. There is not a problem and you did not miss it, we did.
We know that a lot of you have been feeling ghosted. We're sorry, that was not our intention The fact is that up until now we've been short staffed and doing our best, and we've missed the mark.
We want to thank you for your patience and thank those of you who reached out. The Pledge Manager will be launched this Wednesday, May 1st. Along with that, we're preparing an update that will be published the moment the pledge manager is live and we'll share all the details you need to know along with what is happening next.
Please sit tight and we will have all the information you're looking for on Wednesday.
Thanks again for your support.
Jordan Miller Chief Operating Officer XYZ Game Labs
It's been a while again between updates, I think the last one apologised for not sticking to monthly updates even though that had been promised in the previous update, and then promised to stick to it from there on. That was two months ago now so I think an update is due. I don't even mind if there has been no progress, I mind more that there is radio silence. Thank you
This is not the longest I've waited for a game (I have one that finished the campaign in spring of 2020). Nor is it the worst communication (same campaign pays every 10-15 weeks). BUT, I would very much like an update. Surveys should be going out. Please talk to us!
We want to start by addressing the lack of communication. In the previous update we committed to updating monthly and we didn't do that, that's not cool. Rest assured, we have not forgotten about you and we will try to do a better job checking in, even if we have no new information. Just so you know we're still here.
However! We DO have some new information to share with you. We've got a production update, news about the pledge manager, some new content to share, and a set of FAQs that we have some answers for. So with all that, let's get on with the update!
Production
Where's the project at? ArchRavels: Magic Socks & All Theme Packs are ready for production!
We're still wrapping up Rivals & Award Season
Here's a quick overview of the current project status:
The Pledge Manager
We have previously held off opening up the pledge manager because we didn't fully understand how the delays were impacting the timeline. But, the time has come, we will be opening the pledge manager on March 1st, 2024.
You will be able to update your shipping address and add items to your pledge as much as your crafty heart desires.
Enchanted Theme Pack Rules
Theme Packs are introducing a brand new way to play, remix, and customize your ArchRavels experience.
With our Theme Pack Production prep complete we can finally show off how Theme Packs will integrate into ArchRavels.
The images below are the pre-production proofs of the Enchanted Theme Pack Rulesheet. This will be folded brochure style. Each Theme Pack will include a customized version of these same rules for that theme.
OUTSIDE: This may look a bit disorienting at first. The right-most panel is the "Front" of the folded rule sheet and the Reference Chart is the "Back".
ArchRavels: Enchanted Theme Pack Proof - OUTSIDE
INSIDE: These panels explain how to set up a Multi-Theme Game, as well as Projects+, and can be read left to right.
ArchRavels: Enchanted Theme Pack Proof - INSIDE
FAQ
We got a few questions with the last update, so here are some answers:
Q: Have you considered a companion book with knit or crochet (or BOTH) patterns for some of the iconic patterns in the game? A: Yes we have considered this... ;-) Perhaps some eagle-eyed backers might find a related easter egg in one of our updates...
Q: Will it be possible to update my shipping address? A: Yes, when the pledge manager opens in March you will have full access to update your shipping address.
Q: How will Shipping Waves work? A: We're still firming up some decisions and options here. But rest assured, like you, we want to minimize shipping costs for everyone involved.
Q: Will Wave 1 include the ArchRavels Base Game Shipments? A: Yes!
Thanks for the patience and support. Happy Crafting!
