Hey, everyone. Awhile ago, I advertized an outside project on these forums: I and my buddies in Megara Entertainment had launched something on Kickstarter, and, ultimately, we succeeded in getting funding. That was awesome. I don't like to just "advertise" at friends, and so I was quite glad that people didn't find my post too crass and commercial. That was also awesome. Now the time has come. Here's your second chance to decide I'm crass, commercial, and overly-fond of advertising at friends, because we've launched another project on Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1615043334/the-way-of-the-tiger-gamebooks-new-collectors-edit Here's the weird part . . . technically, this crass advertisement is too late. We launched two days ago and ALREADY got funded! Now what we're doing is "a campaign of stretch goals," trying to spread the word so we can make as much FUN STUFF as possible. I think it's a worthwhile project: we're reviving a classic series of six books published in the 1980's by Mark Smith and Jamie Thomson called The Way of the Tiger. These "Choose Your Own Adventure"-style games put the reader in control of a ninja, Avenger, in a world of weird fantasy. The books present a detailed combat system based on martial arts moves, and a rich story with mythic ambience (and beasts) derived from Japanese, Nordic, and Eastern European cultures. With the involvement of the authors, we're even going to expand it beyond the original six books. You may recall that our last project was a single gamebook called Arcana Agency: The Thief of Memories. This leads me to our biggest challenge. When we tell most people "we're trying to launch a series," they assume they have to BUY the whole series at once. How much does that cost? Well, when it's a collector's edition of full-color hardback books, you tell me! So we're trying to find people interested in the lower pledge levels. For just a little more than Arcana Agency, we're offering one hardback book of your choice (probably the first, right?) and two specific PDF books. Know anyone who might lay down a little money for a lot of fun? Oh, and if you're not familiar with this sort of "fun," you can play a 100-page demo for free: http://www.megara-entertainment.com/avengermegarademo.pdf (full quality) http://richardhetley.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/avengerlowres.pdf (smaller file) Anyway, if you like what you see, then please think of pledging or sharing the page. I'll leave this in my signature line for awhile, which I hope you don't find intrusive. Thanks for reading!
Swedish, you say? Excellent. The books did very well when they had their first edition . . . almost 30 years ago. Kickstarter seems to be a good place to find 80's and 90's projects. I have the US editions (likewise almost 30 years old) and you can see them in the project video. You can also see cats. I mention this in case you are allergic. But I thank you for your interest!
I have some news to share from the project. This is the same "copy" that I've plastered everywhere else during our publicity run, so it may sound impersonal. Be advised that I care for you all personally despite the form letter, okay? Now: The Way of the Tiger is now halfway through our Kickstarter campaign. Thanks to our kind backers, we're at more than TWICE our goal! We've received publicity from famed gamebook authors and aficionados: http://herbiebrennansbookshelfblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/gamebook-news.html http://www.lloydofgamebooks.com/2013/09/way-of-tiger-kickstarter-has-begun.html http://www.thebrewin.com/blog/entry/the-way-of-the-tiger-kickstarter-guest-post-by-david-walters (which links to three blogs in succession) http://jonathangreenauthor.blogspot.com/2013/10/gamebook-friday-way-of-tiger.html http://www.ashtonsaylor.com/2013/10/the-gamebooks-world-in-six-months.html . . . And appeared in the massive gamebook news source, Fighting Fantazine (issue #12): http://www.fightingfantazine.co.uk Mind you, that issue also includes a review of our LAST gamebook project, Arcana Agency: The Thief of Memories. With a free giveaway of the Arcana Agency PDF if you're fast enough on the e-mail . . . So things are going well, but we'd still love to be able to afford even more exploration of the world of Orb. Can you spare $15? That's the minimum pledge for a book, and would net you the full-quality PDF of our new prequel. We've posted "insider material" for the prequel, including these sample images: Like what you see? Then please take a look, spread the word, and pledge if you can: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1615043334/the-way-of-the-tiger-gamebooks-new-collectors-edit Thank you for your kind support! . . . Okay, I'm back. That wasn't so painful, was it?
I'm trying to figure out if this person posting above me is really a "person" and not a "spambot." I don't see any suspicious links yet . . . Which lets me segue into posting my own links, of course. I have another update to spread around the internet, and I think some of this stuff is really cool, so here goes: Hello, all. Our project is into its final week with THRICE our funding goal! This means four stretch goals down, and we're getting to explore and expand The Way of the Tiger beyond the already-beautiful game world we knew as children. We're also offering new pledge levels, including a chance to own Mark Smith's original materials from when he created the world of Orb in the first place! Publicity continues. You can see me personally in this video from Virtuacon, the online gaming convention: http://plus.google.com/u/0/events/cmohv996q343ljim5f3s26oiqss (see 22:15) I was interviewed by DJ Grandpa for "the unofficial Kickstarter Podcast": http://bedrockcommunications.blogspot.com/2013/10/dj-grandpas-crib-show-about-something.html (see 39:40) And just today, original author Jamie Thomson appeared in interview in magazine SciFiNow: http://www.scifinow.co.uk/news/51756/way-of-the-tiger-gamebooks-return-via-kickstarter We're seeing new backers every day, but we're about to close the doors on the Kickstarter and get to work. If you could spare $15 before the end of October, or just tell your friends about our project, we'd be greatly appreciative. Remember, you'd be supporting print gamebooks with gorgeous illustrations like these: Please take a look, share your thoughts, share the project, and pledge if you can: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1615043334/the-way-of-the-tiger-gamebooks-new-collectors-edit Thank you yet again!
Once more, with feeling: With less than 48 hours left, we wanted to post one last time to share The Way of the Tiger. We've passed enough stretch goals that our backers are getting a heap of freebies: background files on characters in the game, a commissioned map by fantasy artist Leo Hartas . . . basically, details of the world itself which longstanding fans would be eager to see, and a "deluxe" experience for newcomers. Original author Mark Smith also talks about the past and future of the series in interview in magazine SFX: http://www.sfx.co.uk/2013/10/29/way-of-the-tiger-interview So The Way of the Tiger has a bright future, but this is the last chance to get involved yourself. Please look if you haven't yet, and please pledge if you are able. Thanks for joining us on the journey! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1615043334/the-way-of-the-tiger-gamebooks-new-collectors-edit . . . Seriously, folks. Thanks to all of you for tolerating my posts about this outside project. It's been great fun, I'm glad that it's about to close as a success, and hey: I like to think it was relevant to your interests, too.
Congratulations, it's just gone through $40,000! Impressive, especially since I'm sure it was below $35,000 the last time I looked. I finally got around to checking out the Arcana Agency demo the other day too and really enjoyed it. I wish I'd backed it, rather than getting distracted and forgetting about it
Thank you for your kind words. We're delighted at how the project is turning out! Now, would it be crass of me to point out that you can get the Arcana Agency hardback and .pdf file as a single add-on during The Way of the Tiger? Crass . . . or helpful?
Not only that but it is cheaper to get Arcana Agency as an add-on than it would be to buy it direct. I'm not going to lie, I was already seriously contemplating this idea. The question now is will another $1,050 be raised in the next 3 hours so that a music CD can be made? Honestly, I can't say that I find that stretch goal particularly exciting but (a) I'm not going to complain when it's a stretch goal and (b) such things can often turn out to be the most pleasant surprises! Good luck, Sir Knight.
Did you check out our sample music? I linked it again in our concluding project update, so if you can open a .rar file then you can hear our composer at work (from a previous game). Oh yeah . . . the project concluded. I'm supposed to post about that . . . Whew, it's over! Many, many thanks to those who backed or shared our project, because we just finished with 450% funding and seven met stretch goals! If you missed the campaign but are still interested, you might keep an eye on our project updates or follow us on Facebook. We now begin (continue, really) the long process of editing the books and filling them with art. Your input would still be appreciated, and of course in the end all these books will go up for sale to the general public. Thanks for your time this past month, and here's to the future! . . . Or, well, you can just see me around the forums, because I'm not going anywhere.
