Asylum Earth Board Game Prototype

New Prototype Box for 2024

Here's the new prototype box I plan to print in September. As you know, anything goes as far as how this game will look for its big debut next year if all goes well. I'm taking the rest of this year to finish it and re-test it with the same group. 

As I've said before, the themes haven't changed at all and all the Avatars and books remain intact. What has changed a bit is the monochrome sepia tone, which I'm fond of and I've used it here to good effect. I'm not a fan of a lot of color, especially when it comes to the apocalypse so I think this works, even though the actual color is a bit more muted and not as warm as you see it here.

I also fixed Andrea's hand and found a much better android-looking hand so this cover is as close to the final image as I'll get for the next prototype. Yes, there are many changes and additional card decks but only because they have improved the playability of the game and enhanced its look and feel overall.

You just can't pass up something better if it comes along, you've got to go with it even if it sets you back several months. The game will always improve even after its publication, as all products do, but the goal is to release it at its best with as many improvements as you can. First impressions count.

The biggest change was the board itself. I'll never regret changing it because it not only simplify's the gameplay but I think it just works and looks more interesting. And it was a feature I already had in play from the beginning but starting the game in New York City makes more sense and focuses the game in a more engaging way. Originally, the game ended in NYC, but now it begins there because that's where everything important ultimately winds up and takes place.

I'm looking forward to printing this new and improved game, especially the box because it's going to have a cool effect with a matte finish with shiny text. And so the name and other key elements will really stand out.

Another good feature is the two QR Codes on the back of the box. That works nicely and takes you right to the Rulebook (PDF file) or the ebook on Amazon. I'll most likely include another code for the collectible hardcover book.

A lot going on, as usual, so I'll get back into it and forge ahead. Plenty to still do but it's getting there, slowly but surely.

Play on, folks.

Board Game Heaven - The New Millennium Challenge

West Coast / East Coast Game Box

We all knew it was coming. So after months of designing an East Coast game board, I've decided to add a West Coast board to Millennium, which in my opinion was not only necessary, but inevitable.

After all, who wants to play only half a game? As cool as the East Coast board is, adding a game board that starts in San Francisco, CA, makes it much more complete and satisfying to play. Especially if the board is set in another era (1800's and 1900's).

The East Coast board is about 95% done and the new board is about 50% done, so I have quite a bit of work before finishing up this game.

I can release the East coast version this month (November) as I had planned all along but I rather not rush into anything. I want too take my time and finish this entire game as I know it will work best so that means two 18" x 18" boards side-by-side, which makes the game board a full 18" x 36" inches of awesome game play.

"It's quite a contrast of events..."

I'm still debating on splitting these games in half and selling separate boards. As it stands now, I plan on offering the East Coast board by itself and offering the West Coast/East Coast board game separately. This way gamers have two options at different price points.

While the main theme to the East Coast board is survival, the theme of the West Coast board is historical exploration, namely, the Wild West and Wyatt Earp, and moving on into the 20th Century and the Disco era of the 70's and beyond. I think it will be lots of fun, which eventually leads up to a time-warp transporting you into the year 2158 and into the East Coast. It's quite a contrast of events that I think works really nice and builds up to a full, well-rounded game.

Who knows? Only time will tell how it all plays out, but it feels like I'm on the right track. I'm also refining the four characters with multiple roles and ideally I would like to include a set of custom dice that allows special moves for each player. Both are good mechanisms that add depth to the game. Although, including custom dice all depends on how much it will add to the final price. Margins with The Game Crafter are already low enough so we'll see.

West Coast Wild West Card

Lots to think about and even more to do but I know it'll be worth it because it's going to make a much better game overall.

"I'm going full throttle

with Millennium..."

I do have four other games in various stages of completion, but I'm only one guy with limited time so right now I'm going full throttle with Millennium while I have good momentum on my side so I can finish it and move onto to other things on the design and production side as Millennium hits the market and I tweak that end of it.

It's nothing short of a full time endeavor, but that's what I do. For years I've had all these ideas and finally I'm putting them out there and giving board games a shot for whatever it's worth. Everything I've learned about design and marketing over the years has led me to this and it feels like the right time to try something different.

As it turns out, or maybe it just feels that way, everyone is getting in on the board game bandwagon these days. So competition is fierce but the market knows what it wants and champions what it likes the most so that's really the challenge; to figure out what's popular and put a new spin on it because let's face it, most of it has all been done before.

West Coast Card

"One person's favorite game

might be another's nightmare."

So while Post Apocalyptic games are not new, my spin and flavor is, so all I can hope for is that gamers identify and embrace it with fair reviews. That's always the hard part because like anything else, games are subjective. One person's favorite game might be another's nightmare.

That being said, if you design games you would like to see but can't really find out there, maybe that adds something to the gaming world. You never know until you put it out there and that takes a good investment mostly in time.

And as we all know, time is precious and in short supply, especially the older you get so you have to make the most of every day.

I think that by the spring of 2018 I'll be ready to release both editions of Millennium after several (hopefully favorable) reviews. 

Successfully marketing a game is really an uphill battle unless it has a viral element that key influencers can relate and latch on to. Big companies rely on bestselling books to base their games on and that always helps because they have a built-in audience to work with. And that makes marketing almost effortless.

East Coast Illness Card

If you don't have the luxury of basing your games on bestselling books or video games, stick with universal concepts that are already familiar to gamers and try presenting your games in the most unique way possible. Everything counts in gaming, even great and consistent artwork is a plus because there are plenty of collectors who appreciate that kind of stuff.

Okay, that's for another post. Meanwhile I've got to get back to work on my games. It's a bit overwhelming with so much to do but I take it one day at a time and keep on going until there's nothing left to do.

And then of course, there's always something else to do until it all bottoms out and then you move on.

For my next post I'm going to finally post my easy Photoshop tips for making product boxes like the one above. It's not perfect yet, but it's getting there.

Till next time, keep on gaming!

Your move.