Here's a sample for the new hardcover novel, Edge of The Apocalypse 2058. The three short stories are available on Amazon separately but this full-featured novel with illustrations will be available only on B&N. That's Barnes and Noble, of course, and it will be a hardcover with dust jacket edition. For now, I've opted for this cover, which I think works well. As much as I like the paperback edition of the short story, with the backdrop of New York City blowing by, this cover really works for this edition. What I really like about this cover is that it recalls the game box so that's a better fit.
It's one of those things where I want to keep using a familiar image although, that's not typically how it's done. So before I finish the board game, which should be by the end of this year around December, I might have another image for this hardcover edition, but most likely I'll stick with this one.
I'll be posting more about this new novel, including the back cover, flaps, and publication date.
There are many options but I can only use one proper image and so that's where all the indecision comes in or maybe using an image that's too busy is often an easy mistake to make. It's a lot like when I couldn't find a proper cover for the game and I went through so many designs that I wasn't crazy about until I found the one closeup image of Andrea that worked nicely. And even though I did alter the image slightly, it was by far a better option than all the other covers I had tried.
Again, I'll give credit to Mystic Art Design on Pixabay.com for such a fine image:
Pixabay Image
So in a way, I got lucky and hadn't printed another prototype that I really didn't like. As you can see below, I changed the background to fit with the story and added a Glock in her right hand. I also made one of her eyes blue to make her even more interesting. I mention that detail about her eyes in the early chapters of the book.
Current Millennium Prototype Box
Right now, as far as the board game goes, I'm tweaking the new board and adding several cards to match the board as far as Actions go. The board is all but done and I'm working out the new designs for the playing cards. I've given myself plenty of time to get all that done so I should be finished by December.
That means that I'm also trying to finish a short promo video to go along with everything and I hope to have everything done early next year. If that works out I'll be looking to score several good reviews and finally release this game on September 11, 2022. If I keep working at my current pace, I should be able to get there.
I'm also learning all the nuances of Instagram, and there are plenty, so I can build an engaged audience by next year before September.
I've got so many other things going on that I have to get this done once and for all. It's high time after 4 years of development and in a perfect world I would've been finished a year ago but I am working all by myself and don't have a huge team behind this game. But maybe that's a good thing.
Let me know what you think about this new cover in the comments below and if you want updates on the game and books, sign up for email updates up top on the right. I only use your email to send you updates maybe once a month so no worries because your privacy is secure.
Here's the latest update on the next prototype box. As you can see, Andrea, true to form, has robotic titanium-reinforced arms below her elbow. You can read more about that in the ebook, Edge of The Apocalypse available on Amazon.com.
So, this box has been through quite an evolution. This new design is probably the most direct and focused image based on the story in the three books. Andrea's Journal, included in each box, hints at events behind the scenes in detail about how the coming apocalypse gets underway and everything that happens to Andrea and her best friend, Maria.
Printed Journal Booklet
It's a fun story despite the fact that it takes place during an apocalyptic event, but hey, even the apocalypse should be entertaining at some level. But from my point of view, or Andrea's, there's so much more to Doomsday than doom and gloom.
And so, there are quite a few light-hearted moments and funny, albeit, tense situations, like their trip northeast when they pick up a suspicious hitchhiker in Jacksonville, Florida. Yes, Florida rears its dubious head, rightfully so, and not just because I live there.
My only reservations about Andrea's new image is the goggles, which give it a bit of Cyberpunk vibe, but I think I'll get over that and probably embrace it a bit more as I go along. Check out the robitic arms in a scene from the video game, Cyberpunk 2077.
These yellow marvels are attached at the shoulders, unlike Andrea's, which start at her elbows, sort of like the one Furiosa (Charlize Theron) sports in Mad Max: Fury Road. Yes, plenty of inspiration to feed from. Not to mention Blade Runner, which in my opinion leads the way with Cyberpunk history, if you will.
And so, I'll admit that while the Millennium game and Edge books are not hardcore Cyberpunk stories, they certainly lead into Cyberpunk territory. What separates my stories is that they reveal the seeds of Cyberpunk somewhat just as the recent Capitol insurrection revealed an underbelly that until that point had only been referenced and uttered in the deepest parts of the internet and among rogue QAnon groups.
Cyberpunk 2077 Game Trailer
Also, Andrea's one blue eye might suggest some sort of 3D camera lens capability but she was just born with a rare condition known as, heterchromia iridum, or different colored eyes, among several other odd birth defects mentioned in the books.
To really appreciate the board game, you should read the books because they give all the important backstory and juicy details that the game leaves out. And those ommissions are not intentional but they certainly are necessary because each product has its own vibe as far as feasability to inform.
And so, the books round out the game and vice-versa. It's a win-win all around.
In my next post, I'll talk about several other characters, which are still under development; namely Alex, Freedom, and Adam. These names are subject to change, maybe to a more descriptive image and so that remains to be seen.
Otherwise, Millennium lives on as a very ambitious board game with a scope unlike most others. I only wish I was further along with it but at this point I don't want to rush it out to market because in all reality, it's just not quite ready for prime time.
Getting it ready to meet the needs and wants of savvy players is what it's all about. And so the work goes on until the game is beyond awesome.
Stay tuned. It's getting close.
*** Remember to sign up here for private email updates about the Millennium Board Game. I hope to release the first edition this September 11, 2021. ***
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Saturday, February 20, 2021
Hello gamers, it's about time to update my posts. I've been busy updating Millennium before the next printing of its 3rd prototype. It's a slow and tedious process, especially in my case but I hope to send for another prototype soon, maybe in April.
Here's the newly updated box cover I hope to print with the spot-gloss option.
New Millennium Game Box
This is a rough version of the new square box. (large stout box) The main difference is the gradient around the letter M, which will be printed in shiny spot-gloss while the remaining image is a matte black around it.
Here's a sample of spot-gloss on the game board. It gives the spot a glossy and raised texture that's hard to see here but it is a very impressive effect.
I decided to go with a more comic book style to the box and a graphic novel feel for the books with the same idea. More contrasting colors and black and white gradients throughout.
It's not a hard and typical graphic novel look, but it has that flavor. As the design progresses over the next few months, I suspect I might indulge a bit more in the graphic novel approach to all the artwork.
Spot-Gloss
Overall, I think it's a bit more eye-catching and trendy, I suppose so this could be the direction I'll go in when I launch the game this September (fingers crossed).
It's a work in progress, as all things are and so I hope to fine-tune everything else to match and optimize the game mechanics, which is very important. I tend to work backward and tackle the design elements first because I work visually towards the end product. So all the moving parts are in place but I need to synchronize all those wonderful parts with an exciting game that players will love.
That's really the hard part. Everything else is window dressing but for me, that's an easier way to develop games. It's a lot like designing the poster for a movie before you write one word of the script. I think it's a good approach in this case too because I work visually, which is a good thing since players are first going to see the box before they learn to play the game.
I don't know about you, but that makes perfect sense to me.
In reality, I work on everything along the way, including writing descriptions of the game and developing images to go along with it for marketing and promotional purposes. And that reminds me of the back or bottom of the box. I won't be printing the bottom now but here's a preview of the "finished" design.
I've enlarged it so you can read the text, see the texture, and get a feel for the game and how it's played. It's an ambitious project with a broad scope so that takes time to develop and refine as I go along. Ideas are simple but their execution can be daunting as you can see. This image has not been updated with the new gradients yet but it's just a snapshot of the actual prototype box.
Back of Millennium Game Box
After I'm done with the game I'll post more about how I went about this design and why. There's much more than meets the eye here because there's so much to tell in a very small space. And so that's always a challenge.
There's an entire book worth of information here as far as design and development but that will be for another post and another time.
Right now, I'm stuck in development hell as long as COVID-19 is around. But that makes the game even better because I'm not rushing anything.
Stay tuned for much more to come about the game's progress. It's slowly but surely getting to a better place than when I started so improvements are essential.
Meanwhile, keep on staying alive and well and keep playing this wonderful game we know as, life in the fast lane.
September 11, 2001, is certainly a date to remember for many reasons. It's hard to believe that it's been almost 20 years since that event took place and gripped our nation in the unknown.
I had just retired that same year and moved to Florida like many people from the Northeast, trying to get away from the cold and the snow. I sure miss spending Christmas in New York and New Jersey.
But life goes on and here we are in the midst of a pandemic. Not exactly a surprise but nevertheless, a blow to the economy in so many ways.
It's great to see that New York City's Freedom Tower has stood the test of time and stands tall and proud alongside the former Twin Tower footprints; a destination on my bucket list for sure.
Today also marks the date I had set to launch my new board game, Millennium. September 11, 2001, is an important date for the board game because it serves as a backdrop to the Millennium landscape, which references September 11, 2001, as the catalyst for change in America. As it turns out, COVID-19 in the year 2020 is another flashpoint that certainly has shades of an impending apocalypse; not to mention the chaos the coming presidential election in November might bring.
Yes, folks, the future apocalypse is alive and well in America and around the world, hence the board game Millennium. Here are some of the package designs I've tested over the years.
Current Design 2020
As the game stands now it's in development hell due to financial reasons, although, that being said, I've updated the game and currently still play-testing the sepia-toned version you see above. As you can see, this box features the first book, Edge of The Apocalypse.
I think this box tells a better story on its cover and so most likely I'll print this packaging for the debut box hopefully out next September 11, 2021. Unless we're in for another dose of COVID-19 or God forbid something worse. You never know.
And so this is how it goes. I spend 3 years developing Millennium and along comes this pandemic and wipes out all the momentum I had going. Boohoo, cry me a river okay. Get over it. It's just a game. Right. That's what I keep telling myself.
No worries. Let's just hope we're all around in the year 2021 with a new outlook on life and everything it has to offer. So stay tuned for more about the game. I'm hoping to put out a promotional video soon.
Check out my previous posts on this blog for much more about the game and the three companion books, which are all out on Amazon in paperback or ebook versions.
Hey folks, I hope you're safe, healthy, and still living the American Dream in one way or another. Without question, COVID-19 has dampened spirits and has changed our daily lives in unexpected ways.
But no worries, my response to this virus regarding the Millennium game is simple because viruses are certainly a part of the apocalypse and it's fairly easy to add playing cards and chits to thematically reflect a sign of the times, which I already had in play as a generic plague.
New COVID-19 Playing Card
The question is, what does COVID-19 look like in the year 2157? For now, it looks like the common flu since several vaccines have been developed to fight it, however, about 5% of the population is still dying when infected. Anything goes at this point and the details are only as important as the action you want to add to the game.
I don't like to use losing turns like a game mechanism, but this is COVID-19 after all so the punishment fits. I can adjust the number of turns lost and will probably wind up with 2 turns lost so as to not discourage gameplay.
Other than that, Millennium is better than ever and I plan to print another prototype this coming month and continue testing the game. I've already started working on the introduction video to the game and I'll be able to add game-play rules as soon as I get the new box and game board. As far as the launch date, that remains to be seen because I had planned to launch this game on September 11 but I might push that to a later date; maybe November or even another month in 2021 because of the election this November.
As anxious as I am to get Millennium out there, I don't want to rush things either. The launch date is important because The Game Crafter website helps promote the game initially and so I want to pair that with my own promotions to generate stronger momentum.
That first push and intro are important to keep high and wide at first and then narrow the promos to the niche audiences who are most likely to buy the game. Some might say that the opposite is true but I think that wider exposure from the outset is the way to go.
Either way, Millennium will be on the market soon enough and my 3-year secret will be exposed for everyone to see.
Millennium's stealth mode is about to unveil the inevitable and glorious introduction to one of the most exciting and most innovative board games planet Earth has ever known.
Lofty hyperbole, yes. You've got to think big and reach for the stars, my friends. We've got but one life so we must make the very best of it while we can.
Hey folks, I hope all is well by you and that being home isn't driving you up the walls. Many people have adapted to working from home as I did 12 years ago. It's best if you have a dedicated home office, otherwise, the distractions are maddening.
Family game night is back and so it's a good time to try something new if you're tired of the old classic games. I was hoping to get Millennium out there by the September 11 deadline but since the manufacturer (TheGameCrafter.com) had been closed and I've had to add additional COVID-19 theme cards and chits, that has set me back a bit.
But no worries, the game is better than ever and holding up nicely despite minor delays. I still have a gameplay video to produce once they print the final prototype. Mama mia, (I'm watching the Godfather for the 100th time as I work) this game is never done. Grazie. Prego.
Absolutely one of the best films ever made. You gotta love the classics and that includes classic games but once in a while you have to take a walk on the wild side. Like watching Mad Max Fury Road for a change. That's a modern classic right there.
I like to think that Millennium will become a modern classic game in its own right someday. I designed it with that thought in mind so the game does have many classic themes and scenes that resonate and are familiar to many players.
That's one thing to keep in mind when you design a board game of any kind. It's best if a new game has familiar mechanics and themes that all players can relate to. I've always been fond of stories that take you back in time and so that's a big part of Millennium, as the cover shows.
But the game is about so much more than visiting the past as it explores Earth's possible future, which is a hopeful one. The themes and plot devices run deep in the game and so it is also more than a search and rescue game. Millennium lives and plays on many levels and draws you in and takes you in many directions. There are many choices and you'll have plenty of decisions to make along the way so its many adventures are unpredictable.
It's going to be an exciting game and I really look forward to announcing when the game is finally done. Soon. Hopefully very soon.
Just when you thought it was safe to get into the water . . .
Hey folks, I've been burning the midnight oil and here's what I came up with so far.
I'm having a great time putting together the new Millennium expansion game, Manhunt in Berlin and Beyond. It's a bit of work since board games usually are but that's the fun part in so many ways; trying to figure out the best mechanics for the game and making it work.
Imagine if Adolph Hitler had escaped to Argentina back in 1945. That would be news indeed if we could prove it. Rumors of that kind started right after the end of WWII by the Russians and the fact that thousands of Nazi's fled to South America with the help of the Vatican, helps to fuel these rumors and inspire even more conspiracy theories.
That's the theme I based this new expansion game on and it should make for an interesting and fun game. What's fun about that war? That's where baby Hitler comes in. Here's a baby that only a mother could love. Imagine that.
So there's a funny angle I can't pass up and the expression on his face says it all. He already might have been planning something sinister for sure.
You just can't make this stuff up. BTW, that's a clipping of Hitler's real mustache. (Needs some trimming) Yes, I am very dedicated to my craft.
I hadn't planned on showing this game card but how can I resist? That haircut alone is priceless. Okay, this is hard to top so I'll end it here. I'm not sure how I'll use this baby Hitler photo yet but I'll come up with something. Or better yet, if you guys can come up with a funny gag for it, please let me know and I'll use it.
Baby Hitler
Don't forget to sign up for email updates (upper right column) if you want to keep track of all this insanity.
Meanwhile, I'll get back to work on this baby Hitler card and see what I come up with.
Maybe I'll take it back to when the photo was taken and have his mother say something revealing and funny.
The possibilities are endless. Stay tuned for the final version of the Baby Hitler game card, coming soon.
Fans of apocalyptic fiction, the third and final book of The Edge of Time book series, Beyond The Apocalypse, is out and free for a limited time (March 1-5) on Amazon!
For what it's worth, I decided to release the final book in this awesome series. Beyond The Apocalypse ties all the loose ends and wraps up the series with a curious question. No spoilers, but what happens when we die?
There are plenty of theories and speculation out there. We've heard of NDE's (near-death-experience) where some people have seen heaven as described in the Bible. Others claim to have gone through tunnels with blinding lights and wormholes that have taken them beyond this realm into other-worldly places.
Whether those visions are part of our collective subconscious or just our over-active imagination, we'll never really know until we get there ourselves.
It's been a great time for me writing these short books and I've complied all three books in the series into one full-length novel of about 295 pages.
I'm not sure when I'll release the novel but I might publish it on Barnes and Noble in a collectible hardcover edition, most likely by next year.
Right now I'm turning my full attention to finishing the Millennium Board game and it's Europe Expansion, which I hope both will be out this September 11, 2020.
This expansion fits next to the big six-fold board and the game continues with a manhunt for Hitler at the end of WWII in 1945.
So, from the Millennium board, the full U.S. map, you'll find a time portal on the 89th Meridian, which transports you back to 1945 and inside the fall of Berlin.
From there, the search is on, folks! With the help of numerous clues gleaned from declassified documents, you'll have many paths to follow in search of the infamous and most notorious villain in the world.
Can you find this scoundrel and bring him to justice?
That's the focus of the Europe expansion game, which is still in the works. I think it's a fitting goal to pursue if we want to rewrite a harrowing piece of history and hopefully take our future into a far better place than it is today.
And of course, there's always a fine line between reality and fiction or in this case, conspiracy theories.
But the beauty of this game is its theme and the possibility that this is one conspiracy that just might be true, given the proven facts, based on records, that thousands of Nazi's did indeed flee to a Nazi-sympathizing Argentina under president Juan Peron's rule.
There's a good bit of factual history that helps support the conspiracy theories, so to think that Hitler and his wife, Eva Braun, also managed to successfully escape is not as far-fetched as it sounds.
Again, I'm having a great time putting this expansion game together and it's going to be a great addition to the original Millennium board game because it will add a good deal of thematic depth, resonance, and intrigue. In my book, that's a good formula for the makings of a great game.
And so, my quest to finish both games and link them to the trilogy of books in the upcoming September promotion is indeed a worthy cause to pursue.
I can hardly wait and I hope you'll be there to feast on all these fantastic games and books that are much more than what they seem at first sight.
For me, it's all about a fun and engaging story at its core, wrapped with profound meaning that takes us beyond the status quo and the ordinary, into a new world beyond our imagination.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Join us in a promising adventure that you won't soon forget. Be there or be square, as we said in the good old days.
See you back here soon with lots more exciting news!
Please leave comments or questions below.
In my next post, I'll explain my approach to marketing board games and books. Right now these products are in stealth mode but as September approaches, that's when CHTF happens. Chits Hit The Fan, which is a good title (coined here) so expect me to use it.
I've got to hustle and polish both games with more playtesting until then. Most of the initial promos will come straight out of The GameCrafter website when both games launch.
Aside from that, I might run an ad in BGG and other key websites but not sure. A lot remains to be seen and I'll play it by ear when the time comes. Gaining momentum is important after launching but so many other things have to be in place before then.
Stay tuned for all the details if you're interested in a case study about marketing new board games. This could be an epic fail without Kickstarter but I'm counting on my promotional materials and the strength and popularity of the game itself to engage consumers to generate sales.
That's a mouthful and that's why it's almost CHTF time.
Enough said. I've got work to do so see you back here soon!
For those of you following this series, you can now get the second ebook free for a limited time (Feb.23-27) so If you've read the first, here's your chance to follow-up with Epic Apocalypse.
I'm also posting a preview of Book Three, Beyond the Apocalypse, the final book in this amazing series, so have a peek.
No worries, these are short stories, about 100 pages each, so they're a quick read. I'm still working on the full-length novel of about 295 pages, which of course includes all three books in this series.
I must say that I've had the time of my life writing these three books and without question, I'll be continuing this series indefinitely. Hopefully, I'll get to the 4th book before the end of this year, although I can't say for sure because the Millennium game is due out this September 11 and I just might be quite busy promoting that for a change.
Things will then come full circle with the game and the three books out for the first time after September and that's a handful right there. Not to mention that I'm also working on a Europe Expansion of the game. I'll be posting those details here soon. I've already started designing the box and the game board and so I'll have about 3 card decks to design and a number of other things to go with it.
So, as you can see, I've got my work cut out to finish up before the end of this year. Once the game is finished I'll be able to get things going so the next several years are all about promoting the game and the books together at conventions and game rooms starting here in Jacksonville and Gainsville, Florida.
Thank you to those who've posted reviews on Goodreads.com. Hopefully, Amazon reviews will follow soon. It's all about finishing the board game now so standby for that.
I know there's a big divide along these lines; tabletop games vs. video games. But if you ask me, it's a lot like paperback or hardcover books, vs. ebooks. As a book enthusiast and collector I'm in the habit of buying all three editions of any book I like. So in fact, everyone wins.
It's a lot like that for gaming but not an identical set of parameters because RPG fans may never get into tabletop games of any kind since it's a whole different experience so I think it's safe to say that these are entirely different markets with unique players that don't necessarily crossover.
There's plenty of room for more
innovative game ideas
Classic tabletop games such as Monopoly™, Chess, and Clue™, for example, are embedded in our culture and will always sell, especially for the holidays. Other newer, modern games such as, Fallout™ , Scythe™, and Gloomhaven™, standout because they already have specific audiences with a strong following.
And there's plenty of room for more innovative game ideas similar to Scythe and my own brand of the apocalypse, Millennium™. Hey, someone has to break the mold, people. It's not rocket science, it's just fun and interesting game concepts that evolve and emerge with a big demand from new audiences.
Millennium - Glory Beyond The Ages
I'm betting on apocalyptic games because it's what I enjoy playing and designing and I truly believe, like many others, that an apocalyptic event of biblical proportions is on the horizon, so that alone is a great reason to ride that wave, which hasn't peaked by any means.
I'm not trying to make a case for apocalyptic tabletop games because I think there's plenty of room for everyone in the industry to succeed with whatever concept they decide to put out there; RPG or tabletop. Yes, it's always a crap-shoot. Life itself is a gamble at every turn so all we can do is roll with the punches and do our best. Hopefully along the way, we'll find other groups who feel the same way we do and at that point it's a happy match.
What else can we ask for?
My new board game, Millennium is on track to debut on 9/11/2020. There is a trilogy of books that precedes the game. Edge of The Apocalypse, Book One, Epic Apocalypse - Book Two, and, Beyond The Apocalypse - Book Three.
Edge of The Apocalypse is already available on Amazon. Read the Preview: Book One.
Book Two and Book Three will be available in January and February, respectively.
The Edge of Time Trilogy
Yes, Millennium has been a long time in design and development (3 years and counting) but it's about time I release this series along with the board game.
Time flies and none of us are getting any younger, folks. The time is here and now. Take it or leave it because perfection is the quintessential enemy of progress. And so warts and all, 2020 is the year of Millennium.
I'm confident all the products will do well, maybe sleepers at first but as players discover the books and the game in particular, I think they'll warm up to it and embrace it for what it's worth.
Elon Musk's Cybertruck was a huge controversy when he revealed it last month. Today it's hailed as a work of genius. Not that I'm comparing myself to Mr. Musk. I'm only comparing how people perceive products at first glance.
Time will tell. And the time is now.
Enjoy the ebooks!
Anyone interested can request Book One and Two for free until March as a PDF file. Just shoot me an email and I'll send them right over to you.
Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3. Anybody out there? Not yet. I get it. I haven't posted here in a while so any momentum I had going with SEO a few months ago has gone back to zero.
Good news is that after several mishaps and unforeseen delays, I'm finally printing the second prototype box for the new Millennium board game, so here it is in all it's glory, for whatever this is worth, just for kicks and giggles. I've decided to give this cover a bit of sepia-tone instead of full black and white. I think it works and most likely this will be the box cover that goes into production.
This time around I'm happy to say this current version of the game is playable on all levels from start to finish so I'll be play-testing the heck out of it and fine-tuning anything that needs tweaking. The new launch date is September 11, 2020 so I hope I can stick to that and meet that deadline this time around.
Blah, blah, blah. nobody cares. In fact, all the pretty packaging doesn't mean a thing unless the game is totally playable and engages gamers on a deep level. Superficial game concepts will never cut it so you need something meaningful beyond all the great artwork.
Sure, you need amazing artwork as click-bait, so to speak. But once gamers get a hold of your game and play it out in real life and in real time, you'll need a stronger hook to keep them engaged and interested until the game ends.
And in case you're wondering, the box cover must tell a story. Most games don't because they leave most of the game imagery to the player's imagination and that's a good thing but a better idea is to tell a story with your cover art so you can not only attract potential buyers but also engage them with a storyline at first glance.
Your marketing needs to be worked into
your stories so you can
use stories to market your books.
In this case, I've featured an Android, Andrea, holding a gun (central protagonist) front and center with her dog Apollo beside her, smack dab in the middle of traffic--a scene set in the 1930's. Yes there's a story in there somewhere and it's deep, wide, and long. How long? Well, that's the real hook. There's an entire novel (300 pages featured on the front of the box) about Andrea and this fascinating cast of characters.
I'm about half way done writing the novel, which in fact will also be released as 3 separate short stories that tie in all the game activity with scenes from where the apocalypse first struck in Austin, Texas.
Here's a behind the scenes preview:
Around the middle of book 2 (Epic Apocalypse) Andrea and Maria are stuck with their stolen Tesla pickup, now running low on power in Jacksonville, Florida after fleeing from Austin weeks ago. So they're deep into their adventurous trip north to New York City along with everything that happened since, which is documented in book 1 (Edge of The Apocalypse).
I'm slowly but surely working my way into book 3 (Beyond The Apocalypse). This is where things take an unexpected turn (again) and the girls are blind-sided with another life-altering dilemma. You gotta love it folks! I'm having a blast putting this down and can't wait to finish it and present it to fans of apocalyptic stories. This is the core audience, by-the-way, but I'm weaving in a bunch of sub-plots that have mass appeal.
I know, I'm a long way from promoting this new series but it helps to be inspired along the way. Otherwise, what's the point in living at all? Your marketing needs to be worked into your stories so you can use stories to market your books. That's something to keep in mind as you write. In fact, movie trailers are designed around specific throw-away scenes so think about that while you're writing your next book because it works both ways.
Millennium is alive and well!
Okay, I didn't plan to write such a long, short post but you get the idea. Millennium is alive and well and coming to a store online soon enough so it's an exciting time all around. I really look forward to playing this game in person with several different players to see how they respond to it overall.
I have a feeling they're going to love it and get hooked. And that's the beginning recipe for going viral. Everything must click so that everyone engages and gets excited at the same time and for the same reasons. That's how things are shared and word-of-mouth turns into a flashpoint that fires up the masses and therefore boosts sales in the long-run. Those initial sales also help potential positive reviews, which in turn starts conversations and begins to convert curious shoppers. There's a lesson in here somewhere but I digress.
Check out the game and if you're a curious reviewer, let me know and I'll send you a free game box in exchange for an honest review on Youtube or your game blog.
As you can see from the images below, it's no secret that the Millennium board game is female-centric. (No worries guys, there's plenty of testosterone to go around in the game.) Fortunately, the Me Too Movement is in full swing, however, my reason for featuring a female protagonist on the cover was not as altruistic as you might think.
To feminists, the male dog, ( Andrea's bull terrier, Apollo) might have another meaning to them. Hey, at least it's not a pig. Double meanings were not intentional.
I'll have to admit the female slant was a marketing ploy because even though 80% of the board game market is geared towards men, I thought I'd switch it up a bit just for kicks and giggles. It doesn't take a marketing guru to figure out that female-centric games are most likely to languish right out of the box, however, in recent years, more women are becoming part of board gaming communities than ever before. So there is a bit of momentum going on.
". . .this game could die in obscurity in the annals of female gamedom . . ."
My hope is that by the time this game and its companion book launches in mid 2019, female players (numbers) are either at their peak or steadily climbing. If they are not, which is entirely possible and most likely the case, then this game might die in obscurity in the annals of female gamedom, to put it professionally. Unless men grab the baton and reach for a cause of their own. (God forbid. I'll have to show Andrea in a bikini before that happens.)
Hey, no risk, no reward. That's what they say and I'm sticking to my guns on that one. Life is all about taking chances, and while I'm no high stakes gambler, I've been known to roll the dice against all odds before.
The Companion Story
In this case, I'm all-in with a female-centric game and book. So now you can judge me as a game designer, a marketing guru, and as a writer in one fell-swoop. It's a good thing this is not my first rodeo, people. While I'm no Jamie Stegmaier, and I'm certainly no Hemingway, I just might hold my own. (Not according to this post.)
Let's see if I can redeem myself and end this post professionally. Not sure about that because I've already had three Bacardi white rum Mojito's and working on another as we speak. Cheers, E.H.!
The point is that board games, in my view, need meaningful stories to help them along and "give them legs" as they say in the entertainment business. After all, what's a game without a good story to move it forward and a good backstory to give it texture and depth?
A boring game, that's what. The market is saturated with games like that.
Anybody up for more of those? I doubt it.
Without further ado, here's a short excerpt, (from the preface) from, Girl With A Broken Heart.
***
The Year 2157 – Austin,
Texas
AT FIRST IT LOOKED LIKE MAGIC.
Or a mirage; but it felt like an earthquake. That's what I sensed it was, until I looked outside the window and thought I saw that the entire Austin skyline was falling. My mind must be playing tricks on me, Andrea thought.
I probably had too much to drink last night. For a minute, I thought a demolition crew was at work. And this mushroom cloud, blooming over the city was no morning fog either. In fact, a cloud of dust rumbling towards me, was surely fallout from a nuclear blast.
An explosion so enormous, that my mind could not grasp its magnitude. Jesus. My eyes were not deceiving me. I stared at the landscape and tried imagining the outline of buildings that stood there and imploded in slow motion only moments ago. But what I was seeing was real.
The Austin city skyline was no longer visible at the horizon.
It was there just seconds ago. Then right before my eyes, poof!
Everything crumbled and vaporized into the atmosphere.
***
This is all subject to more editing. I'll post the rest of the story soon. Still building out the middle and ending, which has to be better, greater than the beginning. By the middle of January, 2019, I'll reveal the complete story without spoilers. Stay tuned for that event!
Remember the scene in the movie Blade Runner 2049, when K (chased by Deckard) wanders into a theater or casino and encounters the Elvis Presley hologram? (Check it out below!)
What a scene! It's as if both K and Deckard are reaching another side; another dimension at the same moment in time.
But, just as K takes in the Elvis hologram, Deckard fires a shot that misses K's head by inches. The best part is that the Elvis hologram keeps on playing and skipping in the background while K and Deckard fight for their lives among holograms of go-go dancers and showgirls.
What's magical about this scene is that the Elvis hologram starts as background information that takes you into that setting and subconsciously hooks you to it, but towards the end of the scene, the Elvis hologram becomes part of the dialogue.
The juxtaposition of these images and events is what makes it work. It is a brutal fight scene played against an unusual performance backdrop. It's almost as if Elvis was another character in this scene.
The best part and most brilliant moment in this unforgettable scene is when Deckard admits to liking the Elvis song, Can't Help Falling in Love, and the guys decide to have a drink together. Lots of good subtext here.
"Wow, what a love-fest moment."
Wow, what a love-fest moment. How cool was that scene?
How can one not be inspired by this movie? Must be the cinephile in me but either way, this is what makes movies like this so memorable.
Hologram Bonus Card
Hologram scenes like this and others throughout the movie, are what inspired me to add a bit of comic relief to the Millennium board game. Hey, even the apocalypse has to have a bit of fun thrown in every now and then for levity and contrast.
Without elements like this in a movie, a book, or a board game, you run the risk of presenting a flat and linear plot with little appeal to the masses. I mean, who doesn't like a little Elvis or Frank Sinatra?
Who doesn't like a little Elvis Presley or Frank Sinatra?
I would love to use a Sinatra clip or image in the Millennium game but because of copyright issues and costs, that's always prohibitive. But that doesn't mean I can't use images or audio that evokes the Sinatra sound. There are plenty of resources in the public domain for that.
Millennium continues to be a work in progress that seems to have no end in sight. Sometimes, the more I dig into it, the more I find to add or improve.
Keep in mind, that if you're developing a game, many of its features are not clear to you at the outset. As you research your themes and POV's, new ideas emerge. At that point you can decide either to include an idea or disregard it.
Recently, I thought of including a zombie card deck to the game. And by that I mean for the purposes of this prototype, about 9 cards and up to 18 cards in the deck because 18 is the minimum for a Bridge Deck of cards on The GameCrafter. The reason I had not considered zombies in the first place was because Millennium is based on the Apocalypse, which is of course an unfulfilled biblical prophesy.
"Millennium is based on the Apocalypse,
which is, of course, an unfulfilled biblical prophecy."
Naturally, there are two camps of thought on this. One is literal and the other is based on fantasy fiction. And that depends on your religious point of view and beliefs. With a traditional background as a Roman Catholic, I'm inclined to believe the biblical account in the book of Revelation. However, I can understand why others favor a fictive POV based on the descriptions of this event in the bible.
Fair enough. I'm not here to debate or defend the book of Revelation and its authenticity.
My main goal is to develop a board game loosely based on the events mentioned in the book of Revelation. This is a game, after all and not a diatribe or a means to convert skeptics or to promote any religious agenda. That approach, in fact, would kill any chances of this game seeing the light of day.
Fair enough.
I'm not here to debate or defend
the book of Revelation and its authenticity.
In the end, forgive the pun, I've kept in mind a bit of advice that I've gleaned from one of my favorite writer's and stuck by it. Ernest Hemingway always admonished to start with one true sentence and that everything will stem and flow from there.
I believe that entirely. And with that approach, I've set out to design and develop the best post-apocalyptic game with my personal spin and a game that I feel others will enjoy as well. A tall order for sure, but I also know that nothing worth while comes easy.
Event Chit
So far I'm in my second year of development with Millennium and nothing is set in stone as far as I'm concerned. The only sure thing is the main theme because everything grows and evolves from that. The nuances of the game and what makes it interesting and fun to play is all debatable. I've yet to figure all of that out but I think I'm getting close.
I'm not looking to set this game in a Dystopian future because that's too far from the events of the Apocalypse. Millennium is based on a post-apocalyptic setting, which in turn was triggered by the events of 2001 after 9/11. These are all minute but important differences.
Ironically, in this story,
the nuclear attacks are suspected to be home-grown.
The September 11 events in the new Millennium were the catalyst that unleashed a nuclear attack in 2157. Ironically, in this story, the nuclear attacks are suspected to be home-grown. A conspiracy unlike any other in American history. Now, there's an angle.
While I enjoy Dystopian stories, most of them deal with futuristic settings that are far removed from the initial conflict and the after-effects of nuclear war, which is when people will be the most vulnerable, shaken and confused. It is when total chaos reigns supreme and governments are in total disarray, and society is in scramble mode.
And a time when every man and woman and every child will have to fend for themselves. There's enough conflict right there to fill the entire game. Anything else I decide to add beyond that is icing on the cake.
I have a realistic deadline to finish this game.
That being said, I have given myself a realistic deadline to finish and publish this game. Shooting for mid to late 2019. Remember that nobody gives a flyin' you know what about the blood, sweat, and tears you've poured into your work. The end consumer only wants to know if your game, based on its main theme, is going to be fun and exciting to play (at least several times).
Any designer who thinks their precious game will be played over and over to rave reviews is kidding themselves because there are just too many game choices out there and too little time to play them all. These days, most gamers will play their favorite game several times at first until another offering catches their attention and they shelf your game indefinitely.
Meaning that the shelf life (in homes, not stores) can be a long one for many games. Brisk sales or the lack thereof in stores will certainly dictate the shelf life of any game or product. It's just that simple.
Impulse Buyers and Collectors
In reality, I'm designing this game for impulse buyers and collectors. Those are key consumers because they can be your best and most loyal influencers. Attracting gamers of any other kind, be it hard-core gamers, casual gamers, new gamers, is all about trickle-down marketing, which grows exponentially from players who buy your game based on the thematic concept and maybe even the game components alone.
These types of consumers are sold on your packaging, the main theme, the game components, card decks, game mechanics, and above all, your unique take and POV about the world you've created.
In a nutshell, it's either love at first sight, or an emphatic pass.
What's it going to be for you?
That's hard to say but if you design a game that you'd love to play but you can't find, and you capture the look and feel of the era and the world you want to experience on a deep and meaningful level, and you are honest and devoted to the game's mechanics and its overall intention, and the art and characters appeal to the masses, I think you stand a good chance at succeeding in this business.
Other than that and you're just spinning the wheels and gears of a dream without any conviction or direction whatsoever.
In other words, it can be a total waste of everyone's valuable time, especially yours.
If you want to avoid that scenario, all you have to do is put your mind, your heart and soul into everything you do and dedicate as much time as you can towards it and good things will happen.
That is hopefully the likely outcome.
So don't overthink it. Don't worry about how you will achieve it. Just dive into it and learn along the way until you see a way through and a way out to the other side.
I think Jim Morrison of The Doors, said it best: "Break on through to the other side."
You gotta love that.
Here's the new Millennium teaser with that BladeRunner vibe. I was looking to evoke a feeling and immerse viewers into the world of the new Millennium, a bit Dystopian here, but nevertheless it works.
The chits about to hit the fan, P E O P L E! (Yes, I'm game-drunk again!)
Which reminds me, I have a load of chits to dream up and finish before I can call it a day. I had tested these chits as shards in my original prototype and they were horrible in two ways. They were too small and wafer thin so I'm going with the the 1" chipboard with better layouts so that should improve the quality considerably.
1" Chits
You know, that first prototype was both a revelation and a major disappointment all rolled into one. Most of the printing was way too dark so I'm being extra careful not to submit dark images. Most of the images are in PNG format and about 20% lighter than the original artwork. I had quite a few hits and misses.
Wow, it's been over a year since I started working on this game and I think it's safe to say that Millennium will officially launch in January of 2019. Hey, that's only six months away! Not so bad considering I'm a one-man-band, which is unheard of in this industry. Most board games require the involvement of dozens of people, designers, consultants, artists, etc., to put a game together and bring it to market over several years.
There are several ways to accomplish this, but for now, my main concern and focus is to design a board game that appeals to players interested in post-apocalyptic themes and stories. That's the first door I need to fling open, and from there, to introduce and present this new world with all its challenges, rewards, and stories in an exciting and engaging way. Easier said than done, of course, but you will never know unless you try.
And by trying I mean you have to be all-in. Players want to play a game that engages them in unexpected ways and holds their attention in a way that goes beyond game play. Playing a game for the sake of having fun is not a good enough reason to learn a new game. From my point of view, the real appeal of Millennium is that its main theme is totally relevant to our times.
The chits about to hit the fan, P E O P L E!
Beyond game mechanics, the theme and world view the game represents is the most important asset to play up. By approaching the game that way, you elevate its meaning and its relevance.
At this point my main goal is to finish all the card decks (about 5 different decks) and continue to test the game beyond family and friends for more accurate feedback that will lead to a better gaming experience.
As they say, less is more, and so I've tried to keep the flow of events as simple and as intuitive as possible while maintaining a level of interest that keeps players engaged in a personal way. While one of the main objectives of the game is to rescue survivors, teamwork is important but not necessary to win the game. In light of that, I've made another change to my cover image.
My previous box cover featured Andrea rescuing a young boy, which highlighted the main objective of the game, however, after some thought, I changed the image to Andrea alongside her sidekick, a Bull Terrier named, Apollo. (BTW, she's packing a 9mm Glock)
Overall, I think this is a more interesting snapshot and it doesn't repeat what we already know. The design on the back of the box is also locked-in to juxtaposed imagery that adds depth to the game's themes. Namely, the past and the future.
I'm a sucker for the 1800s or any era in the past for that matter. (I'm sure my high school history teacher would be baffled by this.) And so I've added plenty of references to the Civil War, The Roaring Twenties, and so on. (See one of the video links under the EXTRAS column on the right.)
There's so much I can add to make this game even more interesting but that will hopefully come in a second edition. I realize this initial game is just a proof of concept that needs fine-tuning along the way but for now, I must include bits and pieces, as it were, of the bigger picture. I want to give players a taste of what's to come in a much bigger form if this game catches on.
Something tells me it's going to be a popular game if I can deliver all the elements I have in mind in a way that's a little familiar but at the same time, very different than any game of its kind.
That still remains to be seen and so time will tell. My lack of gaming knowledge can either serve me as a disadvantage or as an advantage because I'm not tempted to mirror any other games. So far, I've tried to put together a fun and exciting game with my own twist on a theme I enjoy playing but could not find on the market.
Once I get this next prototype locked-in and ready for sale to the general public, then I can think about presenting it to a major publisher to see if they are interested. At this point I still need to send out several boxes to reviewers and continue testing the game with various groups.
If I can generate enough interest and excitement about it, then that's a good start. I have to build momentum and follow that up with effective publicity in all the right places. On top of that, you have your marketing mix of ads and promos and blog mentions, etc. It's a marathon of things that need to fall into place around the same time for a good launch. (I know, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.)
"I think it's easier to read the rules
by scrolling or clicking instead of turning pages . . ."
The new Rules Booklet is now available to download off the The Game Crafter.com website, and you can also view it (and Andrea's Journal) from this Millennium Blog. Eventually the rules, journal, more video links, and more about the game will be available via a standalone App.
I think it's easier to read the rules by scrolling or clicking instead of turning pages. This way, everyone can read the rules on their phone, which, in turn, makes the video links and the Millennium blog more accessible.
I've said way too much and this post has gone on far too long. There's a whole book of information I can distill about this game and about marketing your product but that will come in due time.
"Right now, I have to sign off before the
attention-span police lock me up."
Right now, I have to sign off before the attention-span police lock me up.
There's so much more to talk about folks. Stay tuned for more insights and highlights coming soon. Best thing is to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss anything. I don't usually post on a regular basis (a big no-no) but when I do, I really spill the beans.
Hey, I'm juggling dozens of projects at the same time. Hard to keep track of it all.
Come on back for my next post where I'll talk about the final stretch to finish up all the artwork and hopefully add some new video links and maybe a new promo trailer, which is already in the works.
No worries, I have 20 hours a day to work, 7 days a week. I just need to make better use of all that time.
