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This is something I want to talk about from a business perspective: The "De-Greening" (to borrow a phrase coined by the Brain Trust podcast, hosts tagged at the end of the thread) of Anyone Can Wear the Mask.
Thread incoming. https://twitter.com/Keganexe/status/1354127870495498245
Thread incoming. https://twitter.com/Keganexe/status/1354127870495498245
For context: De-Greening is the act of taking Kickstarter practices and applying them outside of Kickstarter, for non-Kickstartered projects.
In a lot of ways, Anyone Can Wear the Mask was an experiment in De-Greening, and that's what I want to thread about.
In a lot of ways, Anyone Can Wear the Mask was an experiment in De-Greening, and that's what I want to thread about.
Posting the game here for reference, so you can immediately see the end result, for context.
There are three specific De-Greening things of note I want to call out: Stretch Goals, Reward Tiers, and what I'd call the "KS Promo Cycle." https://jeffstormer.itch.io/mask
There are three specific De-Greening things of note I want to call out: Stretch Goals, Reward Tiers, and what I'd call the "KS Promo Cycle." https://jeffstormer.itch.io/mask
Let's start by talking about Reward tiers, and how I feel about how they've performed.
As you can see on the page, I elected for two non-physical rewards: Build a Scenario, and Run a Game.
Both have been pretty successful! It proved to me there's a market for them on itchio.
As you can see on the page, I elected for two non-physical rewards: Build a Scenario, and Run a Game.
Both have been pretty successful! It proved to me there's a market for them on itchio.
Admittedly, I've talked about this before (and in fact, this thread prompted the BT podcast to coin the phrase De-Greening), BUT, this was my way of putting money where my mouth was, and I'm pleased with the result. People are willing to go for it. https://twitter.com/PartyOfOnePod/status/1306083295176818688
My biggest regret with the Build a Scenario reward, is, I feel like, in trying to prove it was viable, I underpriced it.
If I bring it back for a second round, I'm raising the price on it. I think, for the amount of work going into it, it deserves a higher price tag.
If I bring it back for a second round, I'm raising the price on it. I think, for the amount of work going into it, it deserves a higher price tag.
But the great thing about it is: I only offered five of them. And once that runs out, unlike with a KS, I can, in three months, six months, WHATEVER, come back and offer more as I see fit.
That's a real power that is unique to De-Greening, which I'll talk more about shortly.
That's a real power that is unique to De-Greening, which I'll talk more about shortly.
So that's Reward Tiers. Let's talk Stretch Goals.
And this is where I do two things:
- Recognize my places of privilege, and hold myself accountable
- Talk about the best part of De-Greening, in my experience
And this is where I do two things:
- Recognize my places of privilege, and hold myself accountable
- Talk about the best part of De-Greening, in my experience
Recognizing my privilege:
Game Design is a Hobby for me. The money I make in Games goes back into Games. And I was lucky enough to have some Games money set aside for Cover Art & Layout.
This is not true of everyone, and it is important for me to call that out.
Game Design is a Hobby for me. The money I make in Games goes back into Games. And I was lucky enough to have some Games money set aside for Cover Art & Layout.
This is not true of everyone, and it is important for me to call that out.
Mainly wanted to put that out there to say: There are drawbacks to this, and it is not going to be the right fit for everyone, and there is privilege that comes with this, and that's worth noting.
Digression over. Time for Part 2.
Digression over. Time for Part 2.
The thing I really, really like about doing this as a De-Greened project, as opposed to as a Kickstarter, is:
There is no stress of "I have to hit this goal by this date or it doesn't happen."
Stretch goals in this project, for me, turn from "goals" into "a roadmap."
There is no stress of "I have to hit this goal by this date or it doesn't happen."
Stretch goals in this project, for me, turn from "goals" into "a roadmap."
Eventually, I can say with almost utmost confidence, I'll do everything on that stretch goal list. It's just a matter of timing.
And that also applies to the KS Promo Cycle. I had no obligation of "my reviews/podcast appearances/whatever need to happen by X date."
And that also applies to the KS Promo Cycle. I had no obligation of "my reviews/podcast appearances/whatever need to happen by X date."
The #1 biggest shift in De-Greening for me, is this. All of the cool rewards, stretch goals, promo cycles, etc., are things that can be done on whatever timeframe they happen in.
And losing that KS stress is such a powerful, valuable gain for me. I am extremely pleased with it.
And losing that KS stress is such a powerful, valuable gain for me. I am extremely pleased with it.
Anyway there's the thread. I hope this was helpful for you to consider.
Feel free to AMA.
Shout-out to @WCgameco and @will_jobst for coining the term, and the Brain Trust podcast & Discord for fleshing out the idea.
Feel free to AMA.
Shout-out to @WCgameco and @will_jobst for coining the term, and the Brain Trust podcast & Discord for fleshing out the idea.
Also, if you want to move us towards our stretch goals, buy the game: https://jeffstormer.itch.io/mask
