A board game about vikings invading England, Cytosis Virus Expansion Rules, More Cytosis Stretch Goals revealed
about 7 years ago – Thu, Apr 06, 2017 at 06:31:13 AM

Hello Cytosis backers!

Many of you have as me we will start making History games, and my answer is usually the same. Academy Games is already doing an AMAZING job at this, so let's just support their efforts and I'll focus on the hard science stuff!

Their latest game, 878 Vikings: Invasions of England, is LIVE on Kickstarter and I definitely encourage you to check it out! The art is stunning, the gameplay intriguing and they've already got over 3940 backers... And I AM ONE of them!!!

 

In a nutshell, Academy Games describes 878 Vikings as an area control game in which 2 - 4 players play as the invading Vikings or the English nobles who are trying to withstand the invasion. I can't wait to play my copy come August!!

New Cytosis Pledge Levels Available

Many of you have messaged me about other Pledge Level options! It took another excel sheet or two and several hours of calculations, but I am really happy that I can make it happen! 

Here's the three additional pledge levels I've added:

• Standard Game + Premium Collector's Edition
• 2 Copies of the Premium Collector's Edition
• Pledge Level for Retailers

Cytosis Stretch Goals 

We've crushed through eight total stretch goals, and it looks like we might break the $160K Stretch Goal before lunch time!

I have to say, THANKS a thousands times over for all your feedback and suggestions and just overall involvement in this campaign! We spent a long time reading the comments and tallying them all by hand and here are the next few on the list...

I agree that these will make the game feel much more robust!! At $200K we will replace the standard meeples with the flasks shapes. 

I am a little concerned these will be top heavy and tip so we are working on the best shape that will be easy to pick up and won't fall over easy. 

Virus Expansion Rules

Our graphic designer is currently working to finalize the layout of the Virus Expansion Rules, but here's a link to our most up-to-date Virus Expansion Rules! 

Is there anything else you all want me to send an update about? Please let me know! 

Overflowing with appreciation,

John

Stretch Goals, Behind the Scenes, and Rulebook Translations
about 7 years ago – Thu, Apr 06, 2017 at 06:30:49 AM

Hello Cytosis backers!

It's been another crazy week! You guys have made this project SO thrilling for me. Hearing all your ingenious suggestions, encouraging comments and project catches makes all the craziness and sleepless nights worth it!! You guys are the best. 

So, on to some updates from the past couple days!

More Stretch Goals Achieved! 

We just keep plowing through Stretch Goals and frankly, I am having a hard time keeping up.  

Cytosis NOW includes… 

• Cards upgraded to Ivory Core card stock
• First Player Marker upgraded from card to token 

First Player Token art from Tomasz, our artist and graphic designer!

Flask Shaped Player Markers - $200K Stretch Goal

Fantastic 3D rendering created by backer Iñigo Maestro!! Thanks, Iñigo!!

Okay, so I need your help. What other stretch goals would you all prefer to have next? I’ll be revealing our next stretch goals as soon as get some good feedback about this. Here's some options... would you leave your comments below?!

• 1) Spot UV on the box
• 2) Linen finish on the cards
• 3) Linen finish on the box
• 4) Raised embossing on the box
• 4) Box insert with more compartments
• 5) 2mm player mats
• 6) Some sort of customized dice

A Behind-the-Scenes Look? 

We've now launched two different episodes of our A Kickstarter Launch Story YouTube series. Episode 1 is about the design process for Cytosis and Episode 2 is all about preparing for our Kickstarter campaign. 

Rulebook Translations 

Thanks for the enthusiasm around the translations! Some amazing backers are currently working on translating the Cytosis rulebook into German, French, Spanish and Italian. Once the translations are complete, we’ll be offering each translation as a free pdf download!! 

If you're a native speaker of any of the above languages and have a grasp on the biology behind Cytosis, would you consider volunteering as a proofreader?! Just shoot an email to [email protected] and we'll send you a Dropbox link where you can join the proofreading team!

Cytosis Mention in Dice Tower Board Game Breakfast 

Dice Tower gave us a shout out yesterday! https://youtu.be/hLV6xMGyWHE?t=7m24s

Would you help us get on the Kicktraq Homepage?!

If we make it to the Top 10 on Kicktraq, we’ll get featured on the home page!! We’ve been sooooo close a bunch of times. Two days ago we made it to to #11 and today it looks like we’re currently at #21 on the hot list... it's early so there's time to climb!! 

To help Cytosis climb, first click on this Kicktraq link: https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/geniusgames/cytosis-a-cell-biology-board-game/ and THEN click “view project” on the top left! (It’s actually clicking “view project”, not visiting the Kicktraq page that sends us up on the Hot list... I think... ) But I think the process also involves a little bit of magic.  

Thanks for being awesome, you all!

Overflowing with appreciation,

John

This project is EU Friendly, 6 Stretch Goals Down, the Rulebook, and so much more...
about 7 years ago – Thu, Apr 06, 2017 at 06:27:57 AM

Hello Cytosis backers!  

WOW. Just WOW. If you messaged me or emailed me and I haven't responded to you yet, please know I will do that ASAP! This last week I've totally maxed out my bandwidth. 

This Project is EU Friendly!!! 

I am VERY happy to announce (and I imagine that many of you are as well) that Cytosis is now EU Friendly! This means that all games sent t backer in the EU will come from within the EU, and thus you will not pay the notorious "VAT" tax on your shipment. This has consumed so much of my time the past week, but it was worth it...

A Great Review of Cytosis

 

Stretch Goals  

In one week we've crushed through SIX stretch Goals and there's no sign of slowing down. So, Cytosis now includes… 

• 7 New Asymmetric Starting Cards (I LOVE these! More details about these below), 
• Upgraded wood resource cubes from 8mm to 10mm, 
• Thicker Transport Vesicles Disks and ATP Resource Tokens, 
• Thicker player mats for the Virus Expansion,
• A double sided game board for base game and Virus Expansion!  

I had no idea we'd achieve so many stretch goals so quickly. And like many of you already know, we're currently discussing a ton of new stretch goal ideas with the manufacturer. We won’t be able to integrate every idea, but for now let’s keep dreaming!! 

This is our 8th time publishing I feel like we can be pretty open minded about stretch goal ideas in a responsible way that maintains the balance of the original game and won’t be detrimental to our production and delivery timeline! 

2 Copy Reward Level Added 

Pretty self-explanatory :-) You can now pledge $75 for 2 copies of the base game!

A 2 copy Collector’s Edition pledge level to come as soon as I can finish crunching the numbers!! 

Retail Copies 

Many of you have been inquiring about Retail Copies! I can certainly make this happen. Just shoot me an email at [email protected] and we can discuss it further! Again, many of you have already emailed me and I haven't responded to you yet. I will very soon, I PROMISE!!! I just need some time more time to catch up with all the messages and comments, and updates we have to the campaign. 

Epigenetics Cards (Variable Player Powers) 

I am REALLY EXCITED about the new Epigenetic Cards. They are essentially an expansion that can stand alone with the base game, or be used in conjunction with the Virus Expansion and they give each player an asymmetrical starting power.  

At our game night last night, we had three games of Cytosis going simultaneously with asymmetrical starting cards, and let me tell you, these cards add a dramatic twist to player strategy.

I’m still deciding which asymmetrical powers are my favorite and balance each other out the best, but what I CAN tell you is that each power will be extremely enticing without negating another power. 

Cytosis Rulebook

A number of people have asked for the Cytosis rulebook. Here you go!

If it takes me a day to respond (or many more)...

Please know that if it takes me a day to respond to your comment or message or email, I’m certainly not ignoring you!!! Believe me, I’m not complaining that the Cytosis campaign has been exploding - I’m just completely inundated with messages and am doing my best to keep on top of it! But there’s also a point each night when I call it a day and play stuffed animals with my 3 year old :-) 

Overflowing with appreciation, 

John