I like the 2nd option, however if you are going to include the small indices then I wouldn't recommend including a blank card with it. They would look cool in reverse fans though. Also I like the design of the diamonds, I may have to pinch that if I design a deck of my own
"First rule of magic: always be the smartest guy in the room"
Following up on the "poker peek" idea, I tried another option. What if we turn that small index 90 degrees? if we do that, we get an interesting visual flow if you follow the pips all the way around the card. Each one rotates 90 degrees and you get a visually circular relationship amongst all of the pips, instead of having the card split into two halves. This mockup also shows an alternate color idea for the Silver deck, to use a metallic blue from the back design in place of normal red pips.
hope to get these finished by early May, and on their way to USPCC shortly after. I'd love to have these out in the next couple months. Stay tuned, of course.
Do you mean Bicycle logo or not, or just the box in general?
For the former, I'm not really a fan of the Bike logo anymore but it wouldn't really bother me much either way on this one.
For the latter, I like the balance between simplicity and "glam". It is somewhat reminiscent of an old broadway play flyer, which looks really nice. Will the back of the box have the full back design? In which case it might be a bit overkill to have half of it on the front.
Do you mean Bicycle logo or not, or just the box in general?
For the former, I'm not really a fan of the Bike logo anymore but it wouldn't really bother me much either way on this one.
For the latter, I like the balance between simplicity and "glam". It is somewhat reminiscent of an old broadway play flyer, which looks really nice. Will the back of the box have the full back design? In which case it might be a bit overkill to have half of it on the front.
I was more talking abotu the Bicycle branding, something I haven't done before, but thanks for the other feedback.
The back will not have the full back design, the box will be one of those "simple yet intricate" things that I like to attempt.
Encarded wrote:I was more talking abotu the Bicycle branding, something I haven't done before, but thanks for the other feedback.
The back will not have the full back design, the box will be one of those "simple yet intricate" things that I like to attempt.
Paul i think you have to give us something to compare to rather than just a simple yes/or on the bike branding. Its good at the moment, but could there be something better??
I disagree, the deck shouldn't be Bicycle. As much as I love Bicycle, it looses the essence of the deck and the fact that it is 100% custom, limited and a two-deck set. The Tendril and Aurum weren't Bicycle, so why should this be any different? Fortunately, this is the only disappointment about the deck so far IMO so keep up the good work! Cant wait to see them in my hands
"First rule of magic: always be the smartest guy in the room"
I like the fact that Encarded's other decks didn't give in to Bicycle branding. In this case I think it works, and makes the decks more recognizable, especially with the aim of them being usable custom poker decks. You could replace the Bicycle with "ENCARDED" in the DECO font if you want to keep the custom flavor.
Thinking through all the deck concepts rattling through my head, this is the one that fits with Bicycle very nicely and to be honest I really like the idea of tapping into the history and nostalgia of the brand just once. Getting one of my creations into a Bicycle only collection would be pretty neat I think.
I don't foresee any of my future decks working with the Bicycle brand and long ago determined I wouldn't do Bicycle decks "just because" it's cool but because its fits the theme and overall feeling of the deck.
That said, I'm still fiercely debating this in my little brain.
Paul, I buy Bicycle branded decks and custom ones with equal enthusiasm depending on whether the design appeals to me or not. I like the clean look of your previous decks/tuck designs and if you're happy with your sales by all means stick to your guns. 2 cents.
Encarded/Paul - I have purchased almost everything you have produced, I think you are talented and have a great brand in general. I work in branding and marketing and I am going to take off my collecting purely selfish hat and place my marketing and branding hat on and give your my 2 cents regarding this decision.
You have produced 2 decks (Tendril and Aurum), with great fan fare and hopefully some sort of monetary success. From a strategic point of view I would do the "bicycle" branded option for the very reason you stated above. Bicycle branding gets you noticed in a different light, which for you to expand your market presence in this venture would be valuable to brand and marketing efforts, making the sale of your products easier not harder for past, present and future decks. Sometimes it is important to produce mainstream products (in this case Bicycle branded) to fund and expand future endeavors. Which I am sure you already know, the purpose of my post is to support this idea or direction from a strategic point of view. I would be curious to know how many people out there just collect "Bicycle" branded decks... take my opinion or leave it, regardless you will have success.
Now putting my collector hat back on, I would purchase any deck you produce as they look awesome... either way I am in.
Not a deal breaker either way for me, I do agree with you though, that out of all your decks you've produced so far, I think the bicycle branding fits this one just right. Love the color scheme by the way....hope to see its release soon
SavageJ, I think you are hitting upon some of the basis for the idea. While I honestly do not endeavor to grow to something like D&D or Theory11, I would like to bring my ideas to a slightly larger audience. I think that as a very tiny fish in a large pool, Encarded is not on the radar of many people (let's be honest, 850 Facebook likes vs 80-100,000) but from the feedback I've gotten on my decks so far, I think a few of those folks out there might very well appreciate what I've done, they just don't know I exist yet.
Having a Bicycle deck would, as you say, be a bit more mainstream and might shine a little light on my endeavors, which would be a positive thing.
Encarded wrote:SavageJ, I think you are hitting upon some of the basis for the idea. While I honestly do not endeavor to grow to something like D&D or Theory11, I would like to bring my ideas to a slightly larger audience. I think that as a very tiny fish in a large pool, Encarded is not on the radar of many people (let's be honest, 850 Facebook likes vs 80-100,000) but from the feedback I've gotten on my decks so far, I think a few of those folks out there might very well appreciate what I've done, they just don't know I exist yet.
Having a Bicycle deck would, as you say, be a bit more mainstream and might shine a little light on my endeavors, which would be a positive thing.
I agree you'd get more exposure which should equate to more sales. If that's what you're looking for go for it. You might consider what Jackson did with Fed 52, do unbranded versions as well, perhaps in a limited edition. I'd buy both.
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Thank you,
Jeff
“Magnus raised his hands above his head and clapped once. The room flooded with light. "You see? You think that would be possible without magic?
"Actually," replied Simon, "It is. If you watched infomercials you'd know that.” ― Cassandra Clare