And display a countdown with the remaining time for the fundraising, on the front page, as big as possible.
I'm sure there are a lot of people, like myself, who have pledged already but are ready to give more if it's close, but want to wait and see if others pledge, first.
With a clear countdown those people would know for sure how much time they have left and won't miss their chance...
The same goes for all the people who haven't pledged yet but still think about doing so.
Crowdtilt allows the fundraiser to change the goal amount, but they would really have to be careful with that because if they ran a second kickstarter and still (:c) didn't reach the goal then refunding all the pledgers would become a bit of a process, and it might be a bit of a grey area in the ToS? Can't say for sure.
Technically, though, I think they've only raised about $15k through crowdtilt and the rest through paypal, if the website works the way I think it does. I think they'd have to refund it all if it doesn't pass goal.
If they're willing to take the risk of 50k crowdtilt + 50k kickstarter, it could really pay off in that a 50k goal is more appealing than a 100k goal even if they are equally feasible. It could also totally backfire because the largest push would be supporters who had already given to the crowdtilt. I predict that HE will just refund, analyze and retool their campaign for a second push.
Anyways, yes I totally agree that there should be a countdown, and I still think an email blast for the last 3 days to get people to pledge, or perhaps this weekend, as some people will be paid at the start of the month.
They have all the people they need to reach the goal in the non-pledging opt-ins. If they can convince them all to put in $30 each that alone will reach 100k.
I'm not familiar with the legislation about setting up a fundraiser to fund a fundraiser, but at this point, I don't see the harm in trying.
I know I personaly am waiting for the "group-pledges", that there's been some talk about, and have been saving up for just that kind of scenario. But even then, I suspect the problem will be not enough "fresh blood", as we have dedication and good-will by the boatload from our existing community.
As for "waiting and seeing", keep in mind that you will be refunded the money if it falls through. Conversely, although unlikely, we might be quite a few "waiting to see if others pile in the money", thereby creating a proverbial stand-off of people waiting for the first person to throw money at the game.
The "worst" thing that can happen if you pledge sooner rather than later, is that your money will either be refunded and the game won't happen, or the game happens and you get what you paid for.
The one thing I'm really hoping for, is that HE has prepared a small "Pre-fundraiser deadline" Burn on entry-ARG, one that is extremely active for ARG standards, that they can keep going untill the fundraiser deadline is reached, set up in such a way that coming a day late doesn't leave you in the dark (sudden burst in Rupture sites?), ultimately luring in new players.
Hell, I think they could even pull in a lot of the current community to make it one of the more widespread and involved ARGs yet.
*looks at his Megalomaniometer* .. "who turned up the dial!?"
I'm not familiar with the legislation about setting up a fundraiser to fund a fundraiser, but at this point, I don't see the harm in trying.
I know I personaly am waiting for the "group-pledges", that there's been some talk about, and have been saving up for just that kind of scenario. But even then, I suspect the problem will be not enough "fresh blood", as we have dedication and good-will by the boatload from our existing community.
As for "waiting and seeing", keep in mind that you will be refunded the money if it falls through. Conversely, although unlikely, we might be quite a few "waiting to see if others pile in the money", thereby creating a proverbial stand-off of people waiting for the first person to throw money at the game.
The "worst" thing that can happen if you pledge sooner rather than later, is that your money will either be refunded and the game won't happen, or the game happens and you get what you paid for.
The one thing I'm really hoping for, is that HE has prepared a small "Pre-fundraiser deadline" Burn on entry-ARG, one that is extremely active for ARG standards, that they can keep going untill the fundraiser deadline is reached, set up in such a way that coming a day late doesn't leave you in the dark (sudden burst in Rupture sites?), ultimately luring in new players.
Hell, I think they could even pull in a lot of the current community to make it one of the more widespread and involved ARGs yet.
*looks at his Megalomaniometer* .. "who turned up the dial!?"
That sounds like a great idea. An active community is more likely to donate!
I have no idea how much an ARG like End of Days or Gate 33 have cost, but I think you can do something great with only $50,0000. Even if we can't have IRL mission or stuff, it doesn't matter. Because we must not lose sight of the essential component to make these ARG a success is hardcore puzzle.
I don't know for you but my favorite ARG from HE was Gate 33 : realistic (no high-tech boards), just a video that ran in loop and high difficult enigmas. I was a bit disappointed of the End of Days where puzzles were not up to meeting the challenges. The only thing that has marked me was its incredible atmosphere - I remember when I got this mail with this prayer or the Jim Jones dude on the screens, simply awesome! - but that's all (okay, I'm rude but I caricature my feeling).
The last ARG (Division 66) was better on this point. The difficulty was significantly higher than End of Days. However, I didn't like the "high-tech" direction, as well as the distance taken with The Secret World universe. In my mind, TBW is an underground organization from The Secret World which hires renegat agents and offers a kind of safe to those who were disappointed by their initial secret society. They are managed by a charismatic leader (Jack Whitechapel, ex-Dragon) or maybe more (as I understand, after the fall of Quadhos, TBW is the product of an alliance between a Dragon, a Templar and a Illuminati... I really like this background which deserves to be developped).
That's why if another ARG had to be released, it should leave the possibility to participate as a BW agent as an undercover agent working for their own secret society (example: Georgia Msika). It was the case for Gate 33, perhaps less clear for Division 66. I don't ask to make special missions for no-true BW agents (they are infiltrated, so they do missions as BW agents) but avoid strict rules for roleplaying.
One feature that could be interesting to bring closer PARG TBW and MMORPG TSW will be an option which will allow you to show your allegeance in game to TBW during special event. Let me explain...
You play to PARG TBW missions: you receive alerts an details on your smartphone with your companion app, the main storyline is going, etc. until the moment where an important event happens: TBW organization is close to retrieve a powerful artefact. Instantly, undercover agents inform their own HQ. A BW agent is located with the artefact somewhere in Egypt (in game) and has to be extracted.
Players who belongs or wish to help TBW switch on their tag TBW and their identity is automatically masked: first name, last name and nickname are change by ????? "?????" ?????, we can't see their nickname when they talk on the local channel (changed by ID number or something else) and of course they can fight agents from other factions in PvP to escort the BW agent.
In the same time, we can imagine players who aren't in game or play only ARG to help people in game. I take the escort example but it could be to seal an artefact in a building belong to Illuminati and to progress inside, in game BW agents will need support from out game agents to hack building security.
I have no idea how much an ARG like End of Days or Gate 33 have cost, but I think you can do something great with only $50,0000. Even if we can't have IRL mission or stuff, it doesn't matter. Because we must not lose sight of the essential component to make these ARG a success is hardcore puzzle.
- Gate 33: 150 000$
- End of days: 75 000$
- Division 66: 35 000$
And I agree,from all the arg, hardcore puzzle seem to be the core component that bring everyone together.
Originally posted by WilliamFlynn
I don't know for you but my favorite ARG from HE was Gate 33 : realistic (no high-tech boards), just a video that ran in loop and high difficult enigmas.
The mood in Gate 33 was really nice. But our reach was extremely limited compare to End of days where we had more people playing the puzzle, probably due to some game mechanics like a mission board, etc...
Originally posted by WilliamFlynn
The last ARG (Division 66) was better on this point. The difficulty was significantly higher than End of Days. However, I didn't like the "high-tech" direction, as well as the distance taken with The Secret World universe.
That is not something we have choice one. We happen before TSW and we need to have no link / impact at all to TSW lore. If something we do interest Funcom's TSW Team, they will take it and use it in but we have to make TBW a seperate and independant entity. We live in the same 'mood' and have lot of reference to secret society and Lovecraft also, but you can play TBW, be an agent and never know what TSW is.
If you know TSW, you will understand some insider reference we put in the game: but this is a spinoff that need to live without TSW. Initially we wanted to heavely reach out to TSW player and we didn't manage to reach our objectives. In the next week you will probably see us try to reach a larger audience interested in secret society, puzzle, horror and not specifically limited to TSW.
Originally posted by WilliamFlynn
In my mind, TBW is an underground organization from The Secret World which hires renegat agents and offers a kind of safe to those who were disappointed by their initial secret society.
TBW in Gate 33 was like that. A paramilitary division a little bit cripple, run by shadow agent (Whitechapel) looking for renegat agent let down by their secret society. In The Inception, you see the birth and rise of the Black Watchmen as the most powerfull paramilitary group before secret society cripple them.
But all in all, my goal is to bring you F&F (fun and fear) and if it can't be done only with the TSW / MMORPG community, I'm not about to stop there.
I predict that HE will just refund, analyze and retool their campaign for a second push.
You predict right.
Originally posted by Santiak
The one thing I'm really hoping for, is that HE has prepared a small "Pre-fundraiser deadline" Burn on entry-ARG, one that is extremely active for ARG standards, that they can keep going untill the fundraiser deadline is reached, set up in such a way that coming a day late doesn't leave you in the dark (sudden burst in Rupture sites?), ultimately luring in new players.
Hell, I think they could even pull in a lot of the current community to make it one of the more widespread and involved ARGs yet.
And you also right. We will restart with a smaller goal and objectives to bring you something quick of good quality that will get this community fire up as it was before.
What I'm really hoping for is that for that second push that HE isn't afraid to use a big mainstream crowdfunding source like Kickstarter.
I feel that the decision to go with MMORPG and marketing directly to the TSW crowd was a bit "elitist", and that if this is going to succeed it needs a broader base.
If you pitch it right you'll get the audience you desire. Going with a platform with higher visibility doesn't mean you have to "dumb it down".
What I'm really hoping for is that for that second push that HE isn't afraid to use a big mainstream crowdfunding source like Kickstarter.
I feel that the decision to go with MMORPG and marketing directly to the TSW crowd was a bit "elitist", and that if this is going to succeed it needs a broader base.
If you pitch it right you'll get the audience you desire. Going with a platform with higher visibility doesn't mean you have to "dumb it down".
Part of the reason I never pledged---and believe me, I would have been a huge pledger---was a combination of typos, a disliking of how the TBW page is set up on MMORPG, and just the lack of a general website. It costs maybe $200, tops, to host and construct a website, not counting the week or two it takes to design one.
From someone who's designed webpages before, it just seems baffling that TBW didn't have a nicely constructed layout on their own webpage. I mean, Jesus, most small-town venues have webpages in 2014. I really hope that the next push is better laid out than this, because if we were able to throw together $50,000 w/o mainstream availability, I think this has the potential to go a long ways.
Edit: Just wanted to clarify that I'm not being elitist about them having a website, I've just been concerned by the difficulty in finding information. I know people that still don't see the deadline for this ARG's funding, and I have trouble finding links/citing things constantly. I even remember just hoping that the pledge system would be redone, and I recall Anashel saying that there would be a remodel at the end of April, and I'm still waiting. Good luck, guys.
its sad that all of this happened during one of my busy times that I missed it completely except the beginning and the ending. Is the site going to be still up . even if the funding wasn't made. wish I could get a good break soon and hope you guys use kickstarter for your next push..
I also think it would be cool for the black watchman to have its own forums and also its own website.. because it made it past 50000 with limited visibility and I think if it was promoted in a different way it would have easily made it to 100000 or more . Maybe not as much as star citizen but still quite a lot.
Secret world can be one of the tier prizes as well promoting the game as well as the ARG
I find the world of the secret world has so much potential . the game by itself is only exploring the tip of the iceberg.
Keep us all updated and good luck.... And thanks a lot for the hoodies!
So sad we didn't make it..was really looking forward to this.
Please, do use Kickstarter for your next campain, I'm sure that 100k is reached in no-time overthere.
Anyhoo thanks for the hoodie, I'll wear it with pride.
And lets not forget the email I got the other day.
"Dear Black Watchmen Agent,
As a token of gratitude for being one of the top pledgers, we are giving you a free Division 66 Multipass Card."
Not sure how or where we now will be able to use said Multipass, and still not sure how I made the Top Pledgers list when I only gave $50, but I´m excited eitherway.
Comments
And display a countdown with the remaining time for the fundraising, on the front page, as big as possible.
I'm sure there are a lot of people, like myself, who have pledged already but are ready to give more if it's close, but want to wait and see if others pledge, first.
With a clear countdown those people would know for sure how much time they have left and won't miss their chance...
The same goes for all the people who haven't pledged yet but still think about doing so.
Crowdtilt allows the fundraiser to change the goal amount, but they would really have to be careful with that because if they ran a second kickstarter and still (:c) didn't reach the goal then refunding all the pledgers would become a bit of a process, and it might be a bit of a grey area in the ToS? Can't say for sure.
Technically, though, I think they've only raised about $15k through crowdtilt and the rest through paypal, if the website works the way I think it does. I think they'd have to refund it all if it doesn't pass goal.
If they're willing to take the risk of 50k crowdtilt + 50k kickstarter, it could really pay off in that a 50k goal is more appealing than a 100k goal even if they are equally feasible. It could also totally backfire because the largest push would be supporters who had already given to the crowdtilt. I predict that HE will just refund, analyze and retool their campaign for a second push.
Anyways, yes I totally agree that there should be a countdown, and I still think an email blast for the last 3 days to get people to pledge, or perhaps this weekend, as some people will be paid at the start of the month.
They have all the people they need to reach the goal in the non-pledging opt-ins. If they can convince them all to put in $30 each that alone will reach 100k.
A.K.A. nikel
I'm not familiar with the legislation about setting up a fundraiser to fund a fundraiser, but at this point, I don't see the harm in trying.
I know I personaly am waiting for the "group-pledges", that there's been some talk about, and have been saving up for just that kind of scenario. But even then, I suspect the problem will be not enough "fresh blood", as we have dedication and good-will by the boatload from our existing community.
As for "waiting and seeing", keep in mind that you will be refunded the money if it falls through. Conversely, although unlikely, we might be quite a few "waiting to see if others pile in the money", thereby creating a proverbial stand-off of people waiting for the first person to throw money at the game.
The "worst" thing that can happen if you pledge sooner rather than later, is that your money will either be refunded and the game won't happen, or the game happens and you get what you paid for.
The one thing I'm really hoping for, is that HE has prepared a small "Pre-fundraiser deadline" Burn on entry-ARG, one that is extremely active for ARG standards, that they can keep going untill the fundraiser deadline is reached, set up in such a way that coming a day late doesn't leave you in the dark (sudden burst in Rupture sites?), ultimately luring in new players.
Hell, I think they could even pull in a lot of the current community to make it one of the more widespread and involved ARGs yet.
*looks at his Megalomaniometer* .. "who turned up the dial!?"
That sounds like a great idea. An active community is more likely to donate!
5 days left that means $10K/day. Game over?
I have no idea how much an ARG like End of Days or Gate 33 have cost, but I think you can do something great with only $50,0000. Even if we can't have IRL mission or stuff, it doesn't matter. Because we must not lose sight of the essential component to make these ARG a success is hardcore puzzle.
I don't know for you but my favorite ARG from HE was Gate 33 : realistic (no high-tech boards), just a video that ran in loop and high difficult enigmas. I was a bit disappointed of the End of Days where puzzles were not up to meeting the challenges. The only thing that has marked me was its incredible atmosphere - I remember when I got this mail with this prayer or the Jim Jones dude on the screens, simply awesome! - but that's all (okay, I'm rude but I caricature my feeling).
The last ARG (Division 66) was better on this point. The difficulty was significantly higher than End of Days. However, I didn't like the "high-tech" direction, as well as the distance taken with The Secret World universe. In my mind, TBW is an underground organization from The Secret World which hires renegat agents and offers a kind of safe to those who were disappointed by their initial secret society. They are managed by a charismatic leader (Jack Whitechapel, ex-Dragon) or maybe more (as I understand, after the fall of Quadhos, TBW is the product of an alliance between a Dragon, a Templar and a Illuminati... I really like this background which deserves to be developped).
That's why if another ARG had to be released, it should leave the possibility to participate as a BW agent as an undercover agent working for their own secret society (example: Georgia Msika). It was the case for Gate 33, perhaps less clear for Division 66. I don't ask to make special missions for no-true BW agents (they are infiltrated, so they do missions as BW agents) but avoid strict rules for roleplaying.
One feature that could be interesting to bring closer PARG TBW and MMORPG TSW will be an option which will allow you to show your allegeance in game to TBW during special event. Let me explain...
You play to PARG TBW missions: you receive alerts an details on your smartphone with your companion app, the main storyline is going, etc. until the moment where an important event happens: TBW organization is close to retrieve a powerful artefact. Instantly, undercover agents inform their own HQ. A BW agent is located with the artefact somewhere in Egypt (in game) and has to be extracted.
Players who belongs or wish to help TBW switch on their tag TBW and their identity is automatically masked: first name, last name and nickname are change by ????? "?????" ?????, we can't see their nickname when they talk on the local channel (changed by ID number or something else) and of course they can fight agents from other factions in PvP to escort the BW agent.
In the same time, we can imagine players who aren't in game or play only ARG to help people in game. I take the escort example but it could be to seal an artefact in a building belong to Illuminati and to progress inside, in game BW agents will need support from out game agents to hack building security.
I'm afraid so.
- Gate 33: 150 000$
- End of days: 75 000$
- Division 66: 35 000$
And I agree,from all the arg, hardcore puzzle seem to be the core component that bring everyone together.
The mood in Gate 33 was really nice. But our reach was extremely limited compare to End of days where we had more people playing the puzzle, probably due to some game mechanics like a mission board, etc...
That is not something we have choice one. We happen before TSW and we need to have no link / impact at all to TSW lore. If something we do interest Funcom's TSW Team, they will take it and use it in but we have to make TBW a seperate and independant entity. We live in the same 'mood' and have lot of reference to secret society and Lovecraft also, but you can play TBW, be an agent and never know what TSW is.
If you know TSW, you will understand some insider reference we put in the game: but this is a spinoff that need to live without TSW. Initially we wanted to heavely reach out to TSW player and we didn't manage to reach our objectives. In the next week you will probably see us try to reach a larger audience interested in secret society, puzzle, horror and not specifically limited to TSW.
TBW in Gate 33 was like that. A paramilitary division a little bit cripple, run by shadow agent (Whitechapel) looking for renegat agent let down by their secret society. In The Inception, you see the birth and rise of the Black Watchmen as the most powerfull paramilitary group before secret society cripple them.
But all in all, my goal is to bring you F&F (fun and fear) and if it can't be done only with the TSW / MMORPG community, I'm not about to stop there.
You predict right.
And you also right. We will restart with a smaller goal and objectives to bring you something quick of good quality that will get this community fire up as it was before.
What I'm really hoping for is that for that second push that HE isn't afraid to use a big mainstream crowdfunding source like Kickstarter.
I feel that the decision to go with MMORPG and marketing directly to the TSW crowd was a bit "elitist", and that if this is going to succeed it needs a broader base.
If you pitch it right you'll get the audience you desire. Going with a platform with higher visibility doesn't mean you have to "dumb it down".
Part of the reason I never pledged---and believe me, I would have been a huge pledger---was a combination of typos, a disliking of how the TBW page is set up on MMORPG, and just the lack of a general website. It costs maybe $200, tops, to host and construct a website, not counting the week or two it takes to design one.
From someone who's designed webpages before, it just seems baffling that TBW didn't have a nicely constructed layout on their own webpage. I mean, Jesus, most small-town venues have webpages in 2014. I really hope that the next push is better laid out than this, because if we were able to throw together $50,000 w/o mainstream availability, I think this has the potential to go a long ways.
Edit: Just wanted to clarify that I'm not being elitist about them having a website, I've just been concerned by the difficulty in finding information. I know people that still don't see the deadline for this ARG's funding, and I have trouble finding links/citing things constantly. I even remember just hoping that the pledge system would be redone, and I recall Anashel saying that there would be a remodel at the end of April, and I'm still waiting. Good luck, guys.
its sad that all of this happened during one of my busy times that I missed it completely except the beginning and the ending. Is the site going to be still up . even if the funding wasn't made. wish I could get a good break soon and hope you guys use kickstarter for your next push..
I also think it would be cool for the black watchman to have its own forums and also its own website.. because it made it past 50000 with limited visibility and I think if it was promoted in a different way it would have easily made it to 100000 or more . Maybe not as much as star citizen but still quite a lot.
Secret world can be one of the tier prizes as well promoting the game as well as the ARG
I find the world of the secret world has so much potential . the game by itself is only exploring the tip of the iceberg.
Keep us all updated and good luck.... And thanks a lot for the hoodies!
So sad we didn't make it..was really looking forward to this.
Please, do use Kickstarter for your next campain, I'm sure that 100k is reached in no-time overthere.
Anyhoo thanks for the hoodie, I'll wear it with pride.
And lets not forget the email I got the other day.
"Dear Black Watchmen Agent,
As a token of gratitude for being one of the top pledgers, we are giving you a free Division 66 Multipass Card."
Not sure how or where we now will be able to use said Multipass, and still not sure how I made the Top Pledgers list when I only gave $50, but I´m excited eitherway.
Till next time.