1. My ad campaign was about as big a flop as you could get. The Twitter, Facebook and Google campaigns did reach hundreds and got some likes and a few clicks. But absolutely zero people signed up for the email list. Even with me offering a free downloadable mini game for signing up. I obviously didn’t do something right. In the future I may need to hire a firm to handle this and get better results.
2. I admit I’ve been a bit lax on maintaining my social media presence. I joined a number of teachers groups to build a network but I haven’t engaged as much as I probably should. I even started my own group dedicated to the game and i’ve been lax on updating that too. Hopefully I can pick this up this month.
3. Part of the reason is the feedback I’ve gotten from a few teachers about my game’s engine that aren’t really feeling the metrics on “positive” and “negative” behavior and assigning point values to them. They don’t feel that method is effective for classroom management.management.
I can see the validity of their arguments and i respect their opinion because they’ve forgotten more about classroom management than i’ve picked up in my entire 7-year run as an afterschool teacher. but here’s the issue.
I’m trying to make a game that as many as six 9-year olds can play with their parents or teachers or each other in less than 30 minutes, like during downtime between lessons or during an indoor recess. And I don’t see how a game with more complex or abstract ideas, methods and mechanics would work within that framework.
4. I also spoke to a child therapist who sees great value in the game as a therapy tool for therapists and social workers. She thinks the game should skew towards younger players in grades 1-3. These metrics would potentially be more effective on them than on older kids that may require more nuance. I see potential in this for a number of reasons. I can simplify the rules and mechanics, modify the gameboard and eliminate most of the cards and elements that complicate the math. We can actually make this an entirely separate game aimed specifically at younger kids and call it “Rule the school Kids edition” or something like that. And removing all those extra cards will cut the production cost of the game in half, which makes it an easier sell. I’ll start working on a prototype soon.
5. Getting title one funding is still a goal, but i have to do a deep dive into what Is required of me to be eligible. I’m also thinking it might be better for me to have a finished game before I pursue this.
6. One of my beta testers has a teenage daughter that has offered to contribute some artwork to the game. Having original art would be a major improvement over the public domain art ive been using. Im giving her a tryout of art for 3 cards, and if i like them, i’ll commission her for more. Its good experience for her and having art on a published board game would look great in a portfolio.
7. We had a scheduled tradeshow appearance in imlay city on the 17th. It was for the Great Lakes Emergency Preparedness Expo. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get out booth materials secured on time, nor could i free up the time and gas money to get there (it’s a loooong drive from Lansing to Imlay). And i was scheduled to work at my dayjob that day. Furthermore, my investor didn’t think a prepper show was a good fit for the audience we are targeting. I could have made a pitch for homesteaders looking for some non-electronic educational family entertainment, but i admit it would’ve been a stretch.
Those are the latest developments with the game. I’ll give more updates as they happen.