TLDR: if you missed the Kickstarter, you can now pre-order on BackerKit!
When I launched this project, I was pretty sure I could hit my goal of $29,000, and thought maybe if all went well I could get as high as $75K. After I hit that in less than 24 hours, I assumed it was all thanks to all you fans of the Substack series who came out to show their support on day one. “Maybe I can get to $125K,” I thought. When I hit $200K I thought there was no way I could make it to $300K. At 300 it seemed like there simply wasn’t enough time to make it any higher than maybe 350. On Tuesday I somehow hit $400K; someone predicted I’d reach 500 but I thought there was no possible way.
The campaign has now ended at $523,813 pledged and 5,975 backers. The number of times you folks have exceeded my expectations has gone beyond counting. Thanks for your support of this beautiful genre of literary games I love so much, and my project of sharing their stories. I can’t wait for you to hold this book in your hands!
The pace of updates will slow down a bit now that the campaign’s over, but I’ll keep steady updates coming as I move through the process of finishing layout and bonus content, assembling extras, finalizing orders, printing, shipping, and delivery. A few priority updates:
Pre-orders are now available on BackerKit. This is a non-Kickstarter way to reserve a copy of the book if you’ve been holding off. All editions of the book are available, however the Ultimate Collector’s Edition will likely only be on sale for a limited time due to a cap on some of the item quantities in the feelies box, so if you wanted a copy of this, please reserve one soon.
At some point later this summer I will finalize order quantities, at which point the BackerKit store will have a limited inventory of each item. Editions will remain on sale via BackerKit until they sell out or we’re close to the shipping date.
Reminder that shipping was not included as part of your pledge. You’ll pay shipping via BackerKit later in the year. Shipping estimates are available on the campaign page (scroll down to near the bottom).
I’m actively researching ways to lower shipping costs for backers outside the US, especially UK/European backers who represent a big share of total orders (thanks folks!!) but I don’t have anything definitive to announce yet. I’ll share news in a backer update if I work something out!
I’m going to take a much needed break for a week or so to celebrate and regroup, but I’ll be back later in the month with more details about timelines for various pledge rewards.
Thanks again for your support of this project. I’m so excited to be bringing it to life!
Finally: here’s another crowdfunding campaign that could use your love. [I] doesn’t exist describes itself as “a text adventure modernized with AI technology and pixel art,” and looks super cool. Here’s their blurb:
The cold stone floor beneath your hands brings you to a moment of consciousness. A gentle gust of wind brushes past your cheeks. Back again? Or have you never left? A heartbeat - not your own but of a safe. Neatly tucked away, protected from intruders, holding the key to your salvation. Your salvation - just beyond that door. It's everything you could ever want. All you need to do is: Get. Out. That. Door.
Thanks and take care,
—Aaron
Grats, Aaron! I think it's clear there's a need for your work, given all the support you received.
Got to be honest. I backed this because I felt like *somebody* should support the author of the Inform 7 book I deeply admire and learned so much from. Never suspected this ending, but couldn't be happier that it turned out like this for you!
(P.S. — It would be great if you found it in your heart to re-release a new edition of Creating Interactive Fiction updated for the new open source edition now that that's out. Especially since the original seems to be pretty much unobtanium except as a Nook ebook, judging by my hasty web search. I promise I'll back that Kickstarter also. :-)