Games shipping in Canada, UK and latest update for EU + translated rulebooks and more!
over 2 years ago
– Sat, Oct 30, 2021 at 01:11:34 PM
It's update time again! I keep thinking I'll be sending these more regularly than each month... but the world usually has other ideas. However there's lots of good stuff going on: Games are shipping to more and more backers, rulebook translations are here and we're starting to get some great press!
Progress update
Goods have now arrived at every major hub and fulfilment is taking place across most territories, but it all remains a little slower than I would have liked.
In the UK, it took 10 days for Magnate to get from the port of Felixstowe to Norwich where our UK Fulfilment hub is (a distance of 60 miles!) thanks to the truck driver shortage the UK is experiencing right now. Finally, games are now being sent out so backers should be getting their shipping notifications in the next few days.
Unfortunately that means EU fulfilment is still going to take a little while. The arrangement we've used means goods need to go from our UK warehouse to the EU. Again its not far: In normal times, this would be done and dusted quickly, but the truck driver shortage in UK is continuing to cause problems, along with the still pretty new border and all the issues that has. I'm hoping we can still be done on EU deliveries within the next few weeks. Thank you to all EU backers for your continuing patience!
I am glad to say that US fulfillment is now basically complete and shipping to Canada soon will be. I'm mostly just tidying-up loose ends at the moment. I've had a couple of missing parts requests from North America too. Please be re-assured I am getting to these - we're just still juggling lots of shipping issues right now. As soon as I have a better idea of where we are across regions with this, we will get on it! I know how annoying it can be when you don't have everything you should, so thank you again for bearing with us.
In Asia and Australasia shipping to backers is well underway. Indeed, backers in Mainland China and Hong Kong have already received their games. There has, however, been a small technical issue that's resulted in some add-on items being incorrect in some orders. We're already on this and everyone who could be potentially affected has already been emailed about it. But it may mean a slight additional delay for some backers in getting all their items. Either way though, they will get to you! Overall, we expect most games to be with backers in these regions over the next few weeks.
Backers based in any other locales have their goods serviced by our main hubs in UK, US and China. They all have stock so rest assured your goods are all on the way - it may just take a little while yet to get them to you.
Rulebook translations
I do have some good news for EU backers (and those in other parts): rulebooks in Spanish, French, and German are now all available from the Naylor Games site from these links! I'll also be putting them up on BGG along with a PDF of the final English language rulebook to make them even more accessible. Hopefully this will make learning the game that little bit easier.
Magnate starting to get lots of positive press
As well as lovely reviews on BGG, Magnate's launch is starting to get some great coverage in the press! Dicebreaker covered the news of our forthcoming retail launch (date TBC) with this long piece exploring some designer notes I've been sharing with media folk and we got a frankly fantastic write-up in Tabletop Gaming Magazine:
I honestly couldn't have hoped for better. Given the incredibly flattering attention we received from many excellent reviewers before the Kickstarter, I've generally felt optimistic about our prospects here. But its something else to actually read someone writing in great detail - in black and white in a physical magazine - why they have been really enjoying your game!
We also appear in this Winter's edition of the always gorgeous Senet magazine, with a wonderful little write-up by industry veteran Matt Thrower, praising the game for its clever twists; "innovations [that]place it at the top of its genre bubble". There are lots of other review copies floating around out there right now too, so who knows what's next?!
Lastly...
On that note, if you're enjoying the game already and you're a BGG user, please do rate and comment there on our BGG page. It really helps other people work out if it's for them and raises the profile of the project.
That's all for now!
All the best,
James
The first games have shipped to backers! Extra AI rules, Magnate at Origins and a favour to ask...
over 2 years ago
– Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 11:58:18 PM
Hi everyone,
It's finally happening! Games and tracking notification emails have started going out to backers in the US. Other countries will follow soon: for anyone in EU/UK - this is your last chance to update your address!
Meanwhile there's lots of other news including: extra AI mode rules, Magnate at Origins and a big favour to ask...
Progress update
Our North American shipment of Magnate finally managed to wind its way across the United States from Oakland to Atlanta, arriving in the fulfilment warehouse itself late last Friday. And more excitingly, just yesterday, individual games began the very final leg of their long journey: from my brain, to this Kickstarter and via virtue of your kindness and belief in myself and the whole Naylor Games team, to your front door. I don't think I've ever been this moved by logistics!
Backers in Canada will have to wait a little longer. To deliver on our friendly shipping promise we need to move a smaller shipment into Canada first, which was affected by the knock-on from the slow movement of goods across the continental US. Once the games are in Canada we should be able to ensure that there are no annoying customs charges for you to manage.
The UK/EU shipment - after its impound in Ningbo - remains the laggard, and won't arrive in the UK for another week or so. With any luck that hopefully means shipment can begin by mid-October with the EU shipment starting a little later because it too must break-off from the main shipment and cross an extra customs border: the newly minted one between the UK and mainland Europe. Addresses will lock very shortly for this region so get them updated!
Gamers in Asia, Australasia and the rest of the World however will hopefully not have too long as fulfilment with VFI should now be well underway. However, I have been advised that fresh lockdown measures in China and other places could impede transit a little bit and it will take a little while for packages to get around their freight network.
My hope is that the vast majority of backers should get their games in October, laying the groundwork for a November retail release. More updates will follow as I hear more news. Some of you may start getting individual shipping notifications before then.
Given the Magnate AI mode system can support multiple robot players we thought it would be cool to enable this with extra AI decks. This turned out to be a surprise hit with more than 15% of backers ordering these! I am glad to say, in time for the game's arrival, we have published the expansion's free rules PDF, including a print & play board for the second AI. As you will see, very few extra rules are required but there are some critical small differences.
I am excited to see how you get on with this... and how many people try playing (spectating?) the 0-player game it enables! What cities will the robots build? Consider this a preview of the Singularity.
Magnate at Origins game fair! Booth no. 711
Our US fulfilment partner, Bridge Distribution, has told me they'll be having Magnate on their stand. Nothing will be for sale (they don't sell to individuals). Instead, they'll be promoting the game to retailers. After the campaign, we ended-up generating a retail interest and many retail orders. So you may well see the game at a hobby store near you once fulfilment is complete!
If you happen to be there you can find them at booth 711.
A favour to ask...
I've been absolutely thrilled with the support I've gotten from backers. People have been so nice, so generous and so supportive. All my interactions with people in the comments have been very positive. But I have one last thing to ask of you: once you've got the game -and you feel like it's something you're ready to do - could you share something about Magnate on social media?
We hit the campaign trail at cons hard and I am flattered that we earned the attention of some big names in game media. But at the end of the day, its what you think that really matters - what really carries weight. Rating the game on BGG, tweeting about it, posting on Facebook or Instagram, telling your friends etc makes a huge difference. Ultimately its your passion that keeps our passion going.
That's all for now! With any luck, there'll be more news before the end of next month this time. *Fingers crossed*
All the best,
James
So much happening: Many backers to get games in September... but further delays elsewhere + Our new game!
over 2 years ago
– Wed, Sep 01, 2021 at 06:54:46 AM
Hi everyone,
It's been a real rollercoaster! Faster than I expected a mere month ago, Magnate will begin shipping to about 50% of backers in September! At the same time...the latest Covid measures in China have caused yet further delays elsewhere.
ALSO I announced our new game - Boardgames: The Boardgame (The Card Game): A very different project I am equally proud of for different reasons. I hope you will find it just as intriguing! It too will be coming to KS at some point.
Good news for North America and Asia! ...Not so good for Europe
Very recently, I received some very surprising news. In all the shipping chaos going on right now, the North American shipment had been loaded earlier than we were told and would shortly make landfall in Oakland, California. For the first time, it felt like we'd had a bit of luck in our favour.
But what fate gives with one hand... it takes with the other: Our UK bound shipment containing all the games destined for the European continent got stuck in the terminal of the Ningbo port that the Chinese government decided to close for two weeks due to discovery of a Covid case. As a result, they have now missed not only the first ship they were due to be loaded to but the second and third. At time of writing, the terminal has now re-opened but is currently processing an even bigger backlog than before. The games are now not scheduled to arrive at the UK fulfilment hub until Mid-October.
Two delivery waves coming your way - time to update addresses!
I really wanted everyone to get their games at once and have been organising things in such a way to make that happen. I also really wanted us to be onto retail release by October (which would have been possible had the terminal not been shut) so that we could sell physical copies of Magnate at Essen - so much for that plan!
So it now looks like we have to settle for two major delivery waves instead:
1) Delivery across Asia via VFI and North America via Bridge starting in September and then:
2) Delivery across the UK and EU starting in October (unless we get even more shipping delays here) - RoW orders will vary based on which hub it makes sense to fulfil from. Retail release will then (hopefully) follow in November.
That leaves me with just two requests:
A) If you're not in the UK/EU, it's time to update your shipping addresses! Please use this link to update your survey and make sure the game goes to the right place.
B) When the game arrives, and when/if you feel comfortable doing so, can you share something about it on social media/BGG? I really wanted to land this in one big go for maximum impact, but more than anything I just want you to be able to play it. Multiple delivery waves are going to lessen that word of mouth impact, so absolutely anything to help get the word out there is hugely appreciated!
As early as July 2019 we were looking at a potential follow-up to Magnate. But we knew it was really more of a pipe dream at that point. Magnate had been going down really well at conventions but the Kickstarter hadn't happened yet. I had wondered - given how much I enjoyed the development process - if this could actually become my job; not just be proudly ticking an awesome dream off a bucket list. But I had to be realistic that we didn't even have the minimum realistic bar for product validation: selling something.
Well - very much thanks to you - in December 2019, we got that validation: when Magnate landed in the top few % of fundraises for first-time projects. I wanted us to waste no time - so we immediately began work on what we would codename "NG2" (Naylor Games 2) and BG:TBG(TCG) (not the most useful acronym! was born.
In Boardgames: The Boardgame (The Card Game) you're a game designer competing to be the best in two completely different ways: become the wealthiest designer by making commercial hits in three categories: a bloated masterpiece, a reliable gateway game and a mass market cash cow. Then by securing eternal critical acclaim from your peers by crafting the greatest game concept. The games are assembled from different idea cards each representing themes, mechanics, tropes and other elements of the games people know and love. Every theme card includes a beautiful piece of art done to the level of execution of a box cover that captures the archetypal way those games are presented (I hope you enjoy spotting the references!). The game fuses a thinky, tactical card manipulation game with a stupid party game for hobbyists to make the filler that I always wanted: Something fast to learn, scratches that puzzley itch, warms-up the room, works for everyone and can be played in 25 minutes flat!
As a light card game, with an initial concept and design already created by my good friend Edward Wilson, I thought this was going to look impossibly easy to make compared to Magnate: Oh, how charmingly naïve I was! Sure, I know much more than before and could make many individual decisions much faster and more easily. But myself and Jaya were taught the lesson that light projects aren't any easier to develop than heavier games if you want to do them really well. Sure you can iterate them faster but every tiny change impacts the game much more substantially: a single misstep can ruin it and a single inspiration suddenly make it sing. But it was absolutely worth the 18 months of gameplay development we put into this project in stealth mode while we worked on getting Magnate to you.
I am excited to share more, If you haven't done it yet, please check out the website to see if its up your street and sign-up for a notification of KS launch.
Other news
Fans of Producing Fun may have noticed that no new episodes have appeared for a bit. I'm taking a little break from it to focus on some other things and build-up a backlog to absorb future disruptions. We've already got two episodes recorded and are about to do a third: with Tim Fowers, a designer whose approach to publishing is one I've admired for a while.
We've also got some news coming - hopefully on the next update - about Magnate rulebook translations! Translations are now completed in Spanish, German and French and we're in the final stages of checking them. More to follow on that.
That's all for now! Sorry for a long one.
All the best,
James
Games waiting at the docks, UKGE, our new game and more!
over 2 years ago
– Fri, Jul 30, 2021 at 02:29:10 PM
Hi everyone, I am very glad to say that the manufacturing of Magnate is now complete! Now there's just one obstacle to overcome: the global shipping situation. There's also lots of exciting news to share about UK Games Expo - including the unveiling of our new game: NG2.
Progress update
According to all the samples we've seen, manufacturing issues were resolved to our satisfaction. The games have been assembled, packed-up and are either at the docks, ready to set sail or are nearly there! VFI's factory pick-up is also expected very soon.
In short: the actual game is finished. But we still have to get it to you, which is proving - as I warned last time - far more difficult than usual. As I said previously, its not only that its brutally expensive but that it's hard to even find space. For example, copies bound for the US are literally sitting in a warehouse by the docks for the first ship that can take them (Indeed they have been for two weeks now). But we've been told they still won't leave until the middle of August at the earliest. Its much the same situation for the UK/EU shipment. One bright spot: It seems likely that, given VFI's direct factory pick-up, backers in Asia could start getting their games a bit sooner.
So we at Naylor Games continue to persevere. As soon as there are games actually on their way, I shall share an update. Until then, thank you very much for your continued understanding. I really hope I can get this game to all of you soon. I am so proud of it and excited for you to play.
As you know, I said I wouldn't ask you for additional contributions for shipping. However, multiple backers have now asked me if they can voluntarily contribute to help us with the huge shipping cost increases.
You know my personal view: this is part of the rough and tumble risk of business and may job to try to solve - such as by increasing prices to new customers (which we have done). I am not comfortable asking backers to stump-up surprise extra cash. But I also don't believe in turning down such a kind offer from the absolutely wonderful community that's already developed around this game.
So I have created a Ko-fi where you can make a contribution if that's something you'd like to do:
https://ko-fi.com/jamesnaylor
I thought this would be useful anyway since my Producing Fun podcast also has editing costs and it would be nice to have somewhere people can support us in general; should they feel moved to that.
I want to be clear here: Shipping of your copy is no way conditional on this and there is no obligation or expectation for backers to donate. It won't affect how fast you will get your game. I'm going to do my best to eat the cost either way and make it happen. This game has been my dream for 10 years. It simply must happen and I am realistic enough to know that no dream is accomplished without some pain on the way!
UK Games Expo & our new game
We're at UKGE this weekend, and I'm already absolutely pumped for it! It will be wonderful to see people again. There's so much to report going on here:
1) We'll have production copies of Magnate to see and play demos with...but not to take away. These are two of a small number of final production copies specially shipped from China by air, with all final components for the purpose of supplying to select reviewers, checking manufacturing quality and running demos. If you're around and want to get a sneak peek, this is your chance. For total clarity, it will not be possible to take away copies of Magnate, only pre-order them. That wouldn't be fair on you... we don't even have enough!
2) We'll be unveiling our new game (codenamed "NG2" for now). If you've been following along on social media you will have seen some of the art from the game - art I am very proud of. This is a very different game to Magnate, but also high production value in a different way. We'll be running another Kickstarter for this project once Magnate is delivered. It will be possible to demo the game all weekend at the show. You can book a demo here. Here's a taster of the art:
3) We'll be running a special offer, just for the show. Anyone who pre-orders Magnate at the show in-person will be getting a free city hall to take away (we have a limited number we have shipped over from China by air). So if you know anyone going you've been suggesting should get it - please give them a nudge!
I don't share every episode with you here, but I thought you'd be really interested in this one. David Digby is a UK based game developer who specialises in solo modes. He's developed solo modes for some the games designed by the biggest names in games including Martin Wallace and Reiner Knizia. He also did consultancy work on Magnate, giving us some very helpful direction for our AI mode (which can work at any player count... even at 0 human players. Yes - two AIs can play each other!).
That's all for now!
All the best,
James
Progress report on manufacturing and shipping
almost 3 years ago
– Thu, Jul 01, 2021 at 01:28:16 AM
Hello!
I hope you are well. Thank you for bearing with us while we get this project over the final hurdle. It's all taken much longer than we had planned for - even with lots of buffer, having assets ready early and trying to follow best practice wherever we could. I am very pleased with the quality of what we should soon be delivering to you though. The most recent sample versions of the game look great, its highly accessible and conveniently designed (with our fast set-up/packdown insert and space for expansion) with a tutorial that I think is among the best in its class. This, on top of our critically acclaimed gameplay (which was refined to its current form before we even launched the KS) will mean - I hope - that you feel it is, in every way, worth the long wait.
Manufacturing
I am glad to say that it looks like the small manufacturing issues we noticed previously have been resolved to our satisfaction. Final assembly of the games should be complete by the end of this week. If that all goes to plan the next step is shipping to fulfilment centres around the world.
Shipping to Fulfilment
As you may be aware from the news and many other companies' Kickstarter updates the world is facing an unprecedented shipping crisis which has only got worse in the last two months. At its core - the problem is fairly simple: Covid lockdowns in countries around the world reduced capacity at ports (both sending and receiving goods) and prevented containers being returned to China (which disproportionately makes these goods). At the same time, these lockdowns massively increased demand for consumer goods as people who could work from home or were in some way financially supported by their governments as part of stimulus/job protection measures stayed at home and spent money on physical stuff rather than services (restaurants, gyms, entertainment, hairdressers etc). Because global logistics are largely built around a "just-in-time" model where spare physical capacity to absorb sudden increases in things being shipped is kept low to save money, there was no give in the whole system to absorb these vast imbalances in supply and demand for container space. When supply is constrained and demand goes-up for something, one thing typically results: a massive increase in price. In this case, as freight companies realised they could pretty much charge what they like. Given the supply is so very constrained, its become difficult to source freight capacity even at an eye-watering price, resulting in shipping also taking longer. The trade press currently expects this to last into 2023, meaning these issues will likely remain for some time yet.
What does this mean for Magnate? I am not about to wait for 18 more months for prices to subside to get you the game. So I am going to do everything in my power to - by hell or high water - find freight capacity, eat whatever monstrous price increases that Naylor Games can absorb and get it to you as soon as possible. Any hope of a profit in this print run will be well and truly gone - but not of a game I am immeasurably proud of being delivered into your hands by your local courier! What this does mean is that - as of right now - its very hard for me to predict exactly when games will get to you. We could be loading onto a boat within the next two weeks. It might also take a fair bit longer. It's also likely to be quite inconsistent across territories. Some backers in Asia may get their games quite early for instance. Others could be getting their games quite a bit later.
I am sure that's not a very satisfying answer, but I am going to have to ask you to continue to bear with me. As always, I'd much rather be transparent with you - which sometimes telling you the uncomfortable truth: I can't, with any honesty, be much more specific right now.
To clear something-up in advance as I've detected this as a concern across Kickstarter: I am not going to ask you for extra money for shipping. This is the risk of doing business and making things. But if you decide you'd like to help me in some way, you absolutely can: by sharing this project with your friends, on social media and anywhere else once you get your game (or before if you are motivated to do so!). That is literally pure gold dust as far as I'm concerned and something I am incredibly grateful to you for. More than anything else, it's you communicating your passion and interest that will drive Magnate onto future success.
As soon as I know more I will do another update: hopefully well before the next monthly scheduled one!
That's all for now. Thank you very much again.
All the best,
James
