Spider-Goat Games

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Spider-Goat Games history, 2015–2019

A summary of every news post the original publisher made, written by us from the archived posts. Old links to a post land on its entry here. For what the lessons mean for your own game, see the Kickstarter mistakes guide.

2015

  1. Gangster Dice pre-orders open

    A few weeks after its Kickstarter closed, Gangster Dice went up for pre-order on the publisher's own site. Gangster Dice page

  2. Gangster Dice production update

    Production was reported on schedule for shipping that fall. Gangster Dice page

  3. Gangster Dice assembled for RinCon

    The team hand-assembled the games in a single Saturday and brought them to RinCon, the Tucson gaming convention, for local pickup and demos before mailing the rest to backers. Gangster Dice page

  4. Every Gangster Dice copy shipped

    All backer copies were in the mail, and the publisher said more games, and possibly a Gangster Dice expansion, would follow the next year. Gangster Dice page

  5. A German-language video review

    A backer in Germany posted a video review of Gangster Dice. Gangster Dice page

  6. Designing with practicality in mind

    A designer's note, posted on BoardGameGeek, about choosing the next game to publish by what a tiny company could realistically produce. Our guide to manufacturing costs covers the same question.

2016

  1. Martial Art announced

    The second game was revealed: a card game of clans fighting for land in Sengoku-period Japan, illustrated with historical Japanese paintings. Martial Art page

  2. Martial Art prototypes printed

    Borderless prototype cards on 300 gsm stock arrived and went out to reviewers. The rules fit a small booklet inside the tuck box, so card clarifications moved to the website. Martial Art page

  3. Martial Art Kickstarter date set

    The campaign was set for June 21, 2016. The game had been designed as a light filler for couples and casual groups. Martial Art page

  4. Halfway through the Martial Art campaign

    Martial Art had already passed Gangster Dice's total of about 120 backers, with roughly 250 copies pledged by the midpoint. The main lesson drawn: presentation and art drive Kickstarter results. Martial Art page

  5. Martial Art finishes strong

    The campaign ended with a late surge instead of the usual mid-campaign slump. The publisher credited the artwork, BoardGameGeek ads run for the whole campaign, and constant contact with backers. Martial Art page

  6. Martial Art rewards shipped

    Every Kickstarter and pre-order copy was mailed, and extra copies went on sale. Martial Art page

2017

  1. Three prototypes looking for playtesters

    The publisher asked for playtesters for three small card games, including a 1990s hacking game with ASCII art (later Dark Web) and a haunted-house game. Dark Web page

  2. Dark Web heads to Kickstarter

    Dark Web prototypes, 128 mini cards with ASCII art, were ordered for reviewers. Dark Web page

  3. Dark Web launch date and a naming contest

    Dark Web was set for July 11 with a $14 pledge and a $3,000 goal; bigger standard-size cards were a stretch goal. Fans were asked to name the haunted-house game, working title Evil House. Dark Web page

  4. Dark Web goes live

    The Dark Web Kickstarter launched. Dark Web page

  5. Dark Web cancelled

    The campaign was cancelled. The publisher named three causes: too little marketing before launch, art that did not land with backers, and cards that were too small. Our Kickstarter mistakes guide picks up those lessons. Dark Web page

2018

  1. Plans for Martial Art expansions

    Two 24-card Martial Art expansions were in development, one built around heroes and villains of the Sengoku period. Martial Art page

  2. Martial Art: Battlefields announced

    The first expansion would add terrain and weather to Martial Art. Martial Art: Battlefields page

  3. Battlefields Kickstarter date set

    The campaign was set for July 24, 2018, with a $9 pledge for the expansion. Martial Art: Battlefields page

  4. Battlefields goes live

    The Martial Art: Battlefields Kickstarter launched. Martial Art: Battlefields page

  5. Battlefields funded

    The expansion funded. The plan was about a month to start the print run, then about 45 days of sea freight before fulfillment. Martial Art: Battlefields page

  6. Divorce Simulator announced

    A two-player split-and-choose card game about a divorcing couple dividing their things, first demoed at RinCon 2018. Divorce Simulator page

2019

  1. Battlefields on sale

    With backer copies delivered, Battlefields went on sale in the publisher's shop. Martial Art: Battlefields page

  2. Divorce Simulator Kickstarter coming

    The campaign was planned for the end of May 2019. Divorce Simulator page

  3. Divorce Simulator goes live

    The Divorce Simulator Kickstarter launched. Divorce Simulator page

  4. Divorce Simulator production finished

    Production was complete and the publisher was waiting on finished copies. Divorce Simulator page

  5. Martial Art: Clans teased

    A second expansion, Clans, was announced for early 2020: each player would pick a historical clan with its own always-on power and a special clan leader card. This is the last news post in the archive. Martial Art page