From Steve Jackson:
Ogre was the first game I ever designed. It came out in 1977! It’s been out of print for years, except for the miniatures rules. I’m constantly getting requests to bring it back, and in 2008 we started working on a new edition . . . a “designer’s edition” that would be as big and beautiful as any wargame you’ve ever seen.
Why are we using Kickstarter, if we’re going to do the project anyway? Three reasons:
– First, our margin on this game is low, so we had to be conservative in our plans. We couldn’t put a 10-year supply in the warehouse. We were going to print only 3,000, which is the absolute minimum we were sure of selling in a year or so. There would probably not have been expansion sets, or even a reprint. Something that’s expensive to do at 3,000 units is impossible at 1,000!
But with Kickstarter, we can reach a lot of people quickly, and gauge our support. If the initial print run can be bigger, fine! If the gamers show that they want an expansion set later, then I get to do it!
– Second, because I got literally hundreds of requests to pre-order the game, and we don’t do pre-orders. When we get our new shopping cart set up, sure . . . but that won’t be any time soon. By using Kickstarter, we get a pre-order system automatically. And, because so many people said they wanted more than one copy, we’re offering options for two and even three.
– Third, because with Kickstarter we can have stretch goals, which will let us add more components and improve the ones that are already there.
Our actual funding goal is low – only $20,000. There are some big numbers is the stretch goals, but at $20K, everyone who supports us will get what they ordered.
And some of the support levels are intended to let the gamers get into the game. Everybody who buys a game on Kickstarter will be acknowledged both on our website and on the box. At higher levels, you can put your initials on an Ogre, get painted into an illustration, or even get your own custom counter sheet.
So please support us. Help us show that classic wargames aren’t dead. And remember the guys you played Ogre with in high school or college? Let them know so they can reserve a copy too. Spread the word!
Thank you. It means a lot to me to be able to do this, and with your help, I can.
– Steve Jackson
Even as planned right now, the game is huge. The current prototype weighs 14 pounds! There are three huge maps – one 17″ x 21″ Ogre map and two geomorphic two-sided G.E.V./Shockwave maps. The hexes are 1.5″ across, with counters to fit. And the Ogre and building counters are 3-D models made of heavy cardstock. There are already well over 15 square feet of chipboard in this game.
We couldn’t sell this for $100 if it weren’t for the cash that Munchkin has brought in (thank you, Munchkin). But it’s something I want to do.
(You may have noticed that we’re not currently offering shipping outside the US. We are NOT happy about leaving non-US players out! If we can find an affordable and somewhat-reliable way to ship a 14-pound package outside the US, and deal with the inevitable customs issues, we’ll add foreign support options.)
According to Phil Reed, the Kickstarter is more about raising funds for gravy to add to the game, rather than gauging interest or raising money for the print run itself.
Actually, Steve Jackson himself states the KS project was in part to gauge interest, so I had to go with what Steve said.