Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Quote from: New Raven BR on March 20, 2013, 10:33:47 AM

i think the main reason why redemption is "failing" is cause nobody posts videos and advertise it on youtube, though i could post ads and have podcasts for it but i hardly have the time and the encouragement anymore to do so cause my sub count is so low and ive been a youtuber since 06

Advertising on YouTube through a channel really won't work. People visit channels that they connect with, and Redemption is nowhere near big enough to get put in the "featured" section on even The Top Cut (Pokemon TCG's largest YouTube channel at 7000+ subscribers).

We need a way to easily introduce people to the game before we start mass marketing. People may be like "Oh, that looks cool" and then start looking into it and realize they can't figure it out. We need an easy process.
1. Potential player discovers the game (i.e. selling through Walmart or other marketing, currently only done through word of mouth)
2. Potential player is interested in the game (this is the difficulty...Daniel's ideas are a good place to start)
3. Interested player goes to RedemptionTCG.com, where they find things to get them further intrigued, as well as a "How to Play" section so they can buy a starter deck, go home, and start playing day 1 without any outside teaching or trying to figure it out for themselves. Rulebooks are never fun to read and often times can create further confusion.

I agree with Daniel in that I'm sure I/J will be a top notch starter, but I think the ease of reading the rulebook also needs to be addressed.

That was another thing I meant to mention: the rulebook. Both Yugioh and MTG have simple beginners rulebook a that come with introductory packs and are very easy to understand. I remember the first starter deck I bought when I was 8, and neither me or my dad could grasp the rules very well. The game is essentially very simple and there's no need for a new player to be bombarded with game situations and terms and everything right off the bat.

Having a website is not free, but they are already paying for it.

Yeah, they are very cheap.

There are tons of good ideas being shared in this thread. I'm encouraged by the fact that so many of you care enough to share these ideas!

I agree with Daniel in that I'm sure I/J will be a top notch starter, but I think the ease of reading the rulebook also needs to be addressed.

I was given the new rulebook to proof last weekend and I can tell you it has been simplified. Still, a rulebook isn't an exciting read, although it's a great reference tool.

Rob and I have spoken about putting together a video tutorial for the new starters after they are released. A plan is in place. Video takes time to do well though so don't expect them right away.

I'm 100% on board with getting Redemption into major stores like Target and Walmart. I asked Rob about this a few years ago. At the time I was suggesting that he attempt to get Redemption into larger stores. Even if he can't get into the ones previously mentioned, it seems like he would have a decent chance with stores like Hobby Lobby that are run based on Christian values. Here are some challenges he was up against at that time:

• There is a great deal of competition from secular games.
• Redemption is about 15 years old. Secular stores feel they should move on and are looking for new games.

I know that more recently Rob said somewhere on these boards that Redemption is 10% or less of his companies profit. If he let it, it would take up 90% of his time. Obviously that's not a sustainable business model. But it seems, from an outside perspective, that investing in some of these ideas could pay off by increasing the profit for Redemption. Last I knew, Cactus Games is a family run business with Rob being the only full time employee.

That helps explain why things like a website, facebook and twitter are not being used to their full potential. Even though they are "free" from a financial perspective there is a large cost involved - time. I imagine for these to be done well and kept up to date would require fan intervention. For example, Redemption has a facebook page. I imagine almost everyone on this forum is also on facebook (I am not). How hard would it be for any of you to post something encouraging you've learned about the Bible or a spiritual truth God led you towards because of Redemption? Or a picture from your last playgroup gathering?

Keep the ideas coming. Who know, Rob might read some of these and be inspired. The video idea I mentioned above was direct fruit of a suggestion from someone on these boards.

Thanks for the insight, Gabe! I am happy to do more with online marketing like Facebook and Twitter if it's worth my time, but I am not social media savvy, so I'm open to suggestions on that from anyone. Your point about Redemption being 10% of Cactus' profit is important for us to consider, and it was about when Rob made that announcement that I started doing more with social media to try to increase awareness of Redemption.

Glad to hear about the simplified rule book!

Can specific walmarts make decisions on what to carry though?

Gabe, is there any chance of Daniel's ideas being implemented into the new set, or is too late for that at this point?

The rulebook and packaging are already finished except for some minor corrections. Over half of the cards are done already too. It's not that things couldn't be re-done, it's that Rob would need to buy into the idea that it needed to be re-done.

If you need Social Media advice, please see my wife. She just transferred her blog to her own website:

http://love2encourageyou.com

She is willing to create a page on her drop-down navigation menu just for Redemption to get things started. She has 13,400 Facebook followers, 7500 on Twitter, and 1500 on Pinterest. Her internet stats are at the top under "PR Friendly." She was a PR2 blogger just before her website transfer.

Running a website definitely costs money and time, if you want it to draw a crowd.

I'll be totally honest. I feel a redesign of the cards would be a mistake at this point. It would be such a drastic visual change that people may think it's a completely different product, or not realize that it's still Redemption.

Uh, why would a template redesign make the people that already play think it's not Redemption?

Quote from: Lamborghini_diablo on March 20, 2013, 12:32:43 PM

I'll be totally honest. I feel a redesign of the cards would be a mistake at this point. It would be such a drastic visual change that people may think it's a completely different product, or not realize that it's still Redemption.

Uh, why would a template redesign make the people that already play think it's not Redemption?

Agreed.


About the only downside I see is for deck-checkers.

I'd like to volunteer to become an admin of the facebook page. It doesn't make sense to start a new one with 300 likes already, but I would be good at frequently updating whenever a big ruling decision is made or whenever there are tournaments coming up. I spend enough time on Facebook already, might as well make it somewhat productive.

I don't think a redesign is necessary, but I would like to get words off the art. The sleek design does just fine. It also could be cool to have ultra rares or other cards that you know will be valuable (like Mayhem and Grapes) Full-Art/borderless.

Because it's weird to have two totally different looking cards side by side in the same deck. Set rotation can smooth this over, only allowing for reprints, but Redemption can't really do set rotation.

Full-art/borderless is fine, and having played Pokemon which utilizes both, I agree. Having classic side by side with the redesign would be kinda off, IMO.

FA is just a joke way to make cards worth more on the secondary market. #Isaidit #SorrynotSorry

#FoReal

A redesign of some form would vastly benefit. Just include the line- Compatible with all prior Redemption game cards, on the back of the packaging for the first threeish sets.