The Princess Bride Playing Cards by Albino Dragon on KS

[GBAllison]

Underwhelmed. Easy pass. Horrible tuck. And yet ... AD has this formula down to a science. And not in a good way. Find cult following. Appease. Cash out. Can't blame 'em ... 'cause it sells. Welcome to capitalism.

In striking contrast, Jackson Robinson has found a formula too. But his requires hard work, astonishing talent, and stunning dedication to the craft.

Letting Shane go was the sign that "appease-and-cash" is the AD strategy. But the buying public is blithely unaware. I'd like to pretend that quality always wins out over marketing in the long run, but then there's that painful tale of Tim Paterson, Seattle Computer Products and QDOS (a story from a galaxy far, far away :-). Capitalism can really bite sometimes.

[samurai007]

What I don't get is this: The 1st update confirmed that there will be 3 entirely separate decks by 3 different artists. The pledges only say "1 deck", "2 decks", etc, which suggests you'll get to choose just which deck(s) you want in Backerkit/after the KS. But what happens if everyone wants decks 1 and 2 but dislike deck 3, for example? You'll still need to print 2500 of deck 3, even if it's a flop, and you might not have enough of decks 1 and 2 unless you print even more than you were initially planning on.

[Brillig]

What I don't get is this: The 1st update confirmed that there will be 3 entirely separate decks by 3 different artists. The pledges only say "1 deck", "2 decks", etc, which suggests you'll get to choose just which deck(s) you want in Backerkit/after the KS. But what happens if everyone wants decks 1 and 2 but dislike deck 3, for example? You'll still need to print 2500 of deck 3, even if it's a flop, and you might not have enough of decks 1 and 2 unless you print even more than you were initially planning on.

Sounds like exactly the same issue faced by most projects for decks with multiple backs.

[sprouts1115]

"We just broke through the second stretch goal!

Here is the card back for Deck #2. You'll notice that we have a completely different artist and style with this deck. Hopefully we are making it very hard to choose which one you like the best.

We'll have one of the court cards and tuck box art to share with you on an update soon but hopefully this gives you a good idea of what to expect."

I don't know when I look at a "2-way" back I start at the middle and work my way up. It's very important the top should be right-side up and it's critical what's in the top left corner of the back. If your playing cards with this deck and your opponent is sitting across from you I can image seeing a bunch of upside down rat thingamajiggers. To me, It won't look pleasing to the eye. I know a lot of people break that rule and sometimes they make it work and it's no big deal, but this time it's going to be pretty obvious.

[montecarlojoe]

Hmm. Not a fan of the new back either.

Some interesting insights into your design paradigm there Sprouts. And I see where you're coming from. Do you think it's a cultural thing? We read from left to right then top to bottom, so that's how we tend to look at most things - so it makes sense that the top left corner is important to draw the eye into the design and that the top half makes 'sense' first.

Do you think you'd change the way you design a card back when designing for or about other cultures? For example Arabic readers will read right to left the top to bottom making the top right corner and top half important areas. Or Chinese readers who read top to bottom then right to left, making the top right corner and right half of the card important...

(Sorry to go off topic!)

[th4mo]

I'm curious how much the licensing actually costs, and if it's a lump sum or a per deck charge... anyone know?
if it's a lump sum, he could have kept the per deck cost more reasonable and just set a higher project goal...

So, nobody knows if the licensing fee is per deck or a fixed amount?

[sprouts1115]

Montecarlojoe - It's just basic card functionality. Take 5 cards and fan them in your hand. Turn them around and that is what you see. The main card is the one fully exposed while the other 4 are partially exposed with the top left showing. Of course this only works if your the 90% that is right handed. If your left handed, I guess the cards look ok...

[montecarlojoe]

I can see that for the top left corner of the design, but what about he overall back design - is your notion of the top half being right-side-up merely personal preference (since card function doesn't really influence this providing card backs are two-way and identical)? This is where the "rules" of design moves away from functionality and into art appreciation and the psychology of aesthetics and culture...

But I guess you can over analyse these things - if it looks good go for it!

[MagikFingerz]

I agree with you, MCJ. I think unless the design has a significant center piece that draws the eye, the natural thing to do is to start at the top. IIRC Arabic is read right to left, so in that case the opposite corner might be of a larger significance. But they still read top to bottom, so that seems to be the natural thing to do even though it is a picture. I do recall at least one designer who posted his back design here (might have been back at UC.net), who originally did the same thing and ended up changing it later.

[montecarlojoe]

Plenty of designers seem happy to take ideas expressed here on board - the "Most Awesome Poker Set in the World" deck is recent example.
That dynamic is really refreshing - I don't know if it's unique to cards or crowd-funding, but it's unusual!

Re reading direction I think you're right. Here's a visual representation of my thinking...

FunctionalBackDesign.jpg (134.06 KiB) Viewed 1206 times

(The Chinese / Japanese has both left to right and right lo left represented as, depending on the language and its usage, this can be quite flexible.)

(Also, geometrically speaking the axis of rotational symmetry is a point at the centre of the card - the notional line, strictly can go anywhere through it - the lines above are more about the "narrative" of the image, delimiting the area that we naturally want to make sense of first)

[Oswin]

I wish the previous project is delivered in before launching a new ...... Kickstarter should require that ... Proof of the purpose of the project.

[Ben Taylor]

I wish the previous project is delivered in before launching a new ...... Kickstarter should require that ... Proof of the purpose of the project.

It is a requirement, unfortunately Kickstarter doesn't bother enforcing a lot of their policies.
http://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq/cre ... #faq_41837

[Verloren]

I wish the previous project is delivered in before launching a new ...... Kickstarter should require that ... Proof of the purpose of the project.

It is a requirement, unfortunately Kickstarter doesn't bother enforcing a lot of their policies.
http://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq/cre ... #faq_41837

From what I can tell, creators just need to provide proof to KS that their previous project is undergoing production before a new one can start.

[sprouts1115]

I little tit for tat going on in the comment section.

Georgeann Muntin - "@noobiegameplayer. Sadly (and I truly mean sadly) the information sent out by Eric about Shane leaving Albino Dragon for other projects is untrue. Shane has said in several forums that there is untrue and he did not want to leave the company that he was part of. I know nothing about the specific details only that it does not seem to be on good terms., both Shane and Eric are fabulous at the what they do and I wish them both well in their individual projects, including this project. As a backer of WTW, though, I do feel uncomfortable and about the misinformation sent to me and all the other backers about Shane. That was, in my opinion, a misuse of the backer-creator relationship of which I have not quite yet recoverd my trust."

Erik Dahlman - "@Georgeann - I hardly think that this is the forum to discuss the airing of grievances of past employees. Shane was a contract employee that I offered a full time job with Albino Dragon and he declined the offer. Having never seen The Princess Bride he was not interested in working on this project, nor do I feel he would have done it justice not being as close to it as the other artists that have been chosen. I won't go into further details because I don't think that you would appreciate it if your previous employer did so and as I said, this is not the place for it. The only reason I have responded to this is to clear the air so that you don't jeopardize the current project and it is the last comment I will make on the matter."

[MagikFingerz]

So for himself to air it in a KS update right after it happened was fine, but when someone else comments on it and raises questions it's suddenly "not the place for it"? Yep, I don't trust Eric all that much either. Hopefully Shane will continue his great work, I am ready to support him when he does.

[Brillig]

So for himself to air it in a KS update right after it happened was fine, but when someone else comments on it and raises questions it's suddenly "not the place for it"? Yep, I don't trust Eric all that much either. Hopefully Shane will continue his great work, I am ready to support him when he does.

There's a difference between saying someone has left a company and saying *why* someone left (or was let go.) Sure, it was bad form to notify Shane in a KS update (if that's what happened - there's no real corroboration of that,) but there is no benefit to doing an employee review on an internet forum, and slagging AD for refusing to do so is unreasonable.

[MagikFingerz]

So for himself to air it in a KS update right after it happened was fine, but when someone else comments on it and raises questions it's suddenly "not the place for it"? Yep, I don't trust Eric all that much either. Hopefully Shane will continue his great work, I am ready to support him when he does.

There's a difference between saying someone has left a company and saying *why* someone left (or was let go.) Sure, it was bad form to notify Shane in a KS update (if that's what happened - there's no real corroboration of that,) but there is no benefit to doing an employee review on an internet forum, and slagging AD for refusing to do so is unreasonable.

But he DID say why, and that was (obviously) false information to boot.

[Brillig]

So for himself to air it in a KS update right after it happened was fine, but when someone else comments on it and raises questions it's suddenly "not the place for it"? Yep, I don't trust Eric all that much either. Hopefully Shane will continue his great work, I am ready to support him when he does.

There's a difference between saying someone has left a company and saying *why* someone left (or was let go.) Sure, it was bad form to notify Shane in a KS update (if that's what happened - there's no real corroboration of that,) but there is no benefit to doing an employee review on an internet forum, and slagging AD for refusing to do so is unreasonable.

But he DID say why, and that was (obviously) false information to boot.

Really? Because all I see is the usual non-disclosure which boils down to "pursuing other opportunities."

[MagikFingerz]

So for himself to air it in a KS update right after it happened was fine, but when someone else comments on it and raises questions it's suddenly "not the place for it"? Yep, I don't trust Eric all that much either. Hopefully Shane will continue his great work, I am ready to support him when he does.

There's a difference between saying someone has left a company and saying *why* someone left (or was let go.) Sure, it was bad form to notify Shane in a KS update (if that's what happened - there's no real corroboration of that,) but there is no benefit to doing an employee review on an internet forum, and slagging AD for refusing to do so is unreasonable.

But he DID say why, and that was (obviously) false information to boot.

Really? Because all I see is the usual non-disclosure which boils down to "pursuing other opportunities."

Well, he was a bit vague, but everything he hints at is total BS or Shane wouldn't have reacted as he did. Anyway, I guess we interpret things differently so let's not derail this thread any more.

[Brillig]

Well, he was a bit vague, but everything he hints at is total BS or Shane wouldn't have reacted as he did. Anyway, I guess we interpret things differently so let's not derail this thread any more.

No, you *interpret* what he hints at as total BS. So let's let that be the end of the derail.

[MagikFingerz]

Well, he was a bit vague, but everything he hints at is total BS or Shane wouldn't have reacted as he did. Anyway, I guess we interpret things differently so let's not derail this thread any more.

No, you *interpret* what he hints at as total BS. So let's let that be the end of the derail.

In that case we must be interpreting the hints differently

[Ben Taylor]

It was also originally worded to sound like Shane had died. I never saw Erik saying that Shane's story wasn't correct.

[Brillig]

It was also originally worded to sound like Shane had died. I never saw Erik saying that Shane's story wasn't correct.

No, the title was worded in a way that sounded like Shane had died. Anyone who actually read the update wouldn't have had that impression.

But since Erik refuses to contradict Shane in public, clearly, he's a witch. BURN HIM!!!

[MagikFingerz]

It was also originally worded to sound like Shane had died. I never saw Erik saying that Shane's story wasn't correct.

No, the title was worded in a way that sounded like Shane had died. Anyone who actually read the update wouldn't have had that impression.

But since Erik refuses to contradict Shane in public, clearly, he's a witch. BURN HIM!!!

Kind of ironic how you don't think Erik did anything wrong, but you blow the critiques of him out of proportion

All I'm saying is when something like this happens, the people who aren't transparent towards their peers about it are usually the ones with something they want to hide.

[Sharpie]

... people who aren't transparent towards their peers about ...

anything

... are usually the ones with something they want to hide.

Amen.

S

[Brillig]

Kind of ironic how you don't think Erik did anything wrong, but you blow the critiques of him out of proportion

It just amuses me to see how irrational people get when I hold up a mirror to their own positions.

All I'm saying is when something like this happens, the people who aren't transparent towards their peers about it are usually the ones with something they want to hide.

...or are restricted from saying things by employment law...

[Eoghann]

For any ios gamers out there. Just saw that TPB official game just released if anyone's interested. Seems the same artwork for the cartoony deck was used.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/princes ... 44872?mt=8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;