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Yeah the project is getting me more and more skeptical. At this point I'm backed for 4 decks, plus all the bonus add ons for $24, because I backed during a special. You know what they say about something being to good to be true. I would really like to hear a reasonable explanation of how these costs will be covered, but something tells me we won't hear anything back until AFTER the campaign finishes.

I'm out. Not worth the hassle of worrying about it. There are a few other decks out there right now I will purchase instead. Maybe another 8 bit deck will come along, one with traditional looks, just pixelated.

Just pulled out ....oh well we shall see what happens. If anyones wants in at $6 1 spot is now open

i guess this is a good time to learn how to use kickstarter the right way: like a casino, only put in money that you can afford to lose. i wish kickstarter policed the campaigns better, but with all these KS vets that have made plenty of successful kickstarters for cards saying its borderline not possible, this is one deck i have to let go

btw, does it really count as 4 different decks, therefore they need to hit the minimum 4 times, or does it count as color variants? and if it were, would the math work out?

I posted about my concerns back on the 15th, glad I pulled out then. They had not even added the fourth deck yet and some of the other add-ons at that point and I did not see how they were going to pull it off. I like the novelty of the deck and backed for 2 original and a gold but, I will not be looking for these on ebay if they somehow pull this off.

A very good example of this situation is the Chtulu Playing cards project. As you know it almost raised $100,000 and right they are having difficulty paying for the shipping of the posters as they are asking people for extra money if they want their posters in a tube versus getting it folded in an envelloppe. This alone should open your eyes on the 8-bit project

I just cancelled my $52 pledge. If they do come out I will get them off ebay.

I think another problem with all this is that no one has yet to openly voice their concerns on their KS page. We're talking about over 1k people who may be cheated because its yet to be publically addressed. It's unfortunate, but I pulled my pledge too. I think it's a safe to say when June comes around, there's going to be some smoke in the city.

Wait so whats going on? Can someone sum it up for me this way I'm caught up haha

SeanWhelan wrote:Wait so whats going on? Can someone sum it up for me this way I'm caught up haha

This project is currently at $42k and includes 4 separate decks with metallic inks, with coins, poker chips, shirts, prints, etc. if it has been featured on another KS, it is featured here with some bonus stuff. PLUS a majority of the decks with add ons like dice, sleeves etc. are given away as stretch goals. I, for example, was pledged at $23 and was receiving all 4 decks (2 which are free), free dice, free sleeves, free etc etc.

So the issue at hand is, how are they going to afford all this? Especially since they have no prior experience with a KS deck. You and I have experience on this topic, as well as a few others here, we know the additional costs of fulfilling a Campaign. The numbers just don't add up.

Damn. Thank you for responding back. Yeah ks can get pretty crazy and shipping alone can be very very expensive.

If you look at my Lucent page right now I'm doing a one day special: Add $4 more for any pledge to get an additional deck! Get as many as you can at $4 each. Im doing this as a new years special but know what I am in for since I did this kind of promotion with the Galvanics.

Well, I messaged Cobey about this, and he replied with this:
Cobey Pile says:

Loren,

We have all of the funds we need to cover all rewards and shipping. We are limiting the Platinum, Black and Gold Decks to the numbers we have on the campaign. But we are only going to print about half of the amount of platinum and Black at this point. We have the $ in the campaign to pay for everything. We sure appreciate your support.

What I am assuming is that he only has enough money through this Kickstarter to cover this portion of the decks (though if that were the case, it would be very tight. I presume he is going to dive into funds from other sources as well, but the majority would come from the KS).

I definitely understand the concern, but I feel like it really depends on the trust you have in the project.

Lorenc wrote:Well, I messaged Cobey about this, and he replied with this:
Cobey Pile says:

Loren,

We have all of the funds we need to cover all rewards and shipping. We are limiting the Platinum, Black and Gold Decks to the numbers we have on the campaign. But we are only going to print about half of the amount of platinum and Black at this point. We have the $ in the campaign to pay for everything. We sure appreciate your support.

What I am assuming is that he only has enough money through this Kickstarter to cover this portion of the decks (though if that were the case, it would be very tight. I presume he is going to dive into funds from other sources as well, but the majority would come from the KS).

I definitely understand the concern, but I feel like it really depends on the trust you have in the project.

To be honest with you, I am not sure I understand your thought pattern here. You think he is going to use funds from "other sources"? Are you saying he is doing all of this and is going to lose money? Why would anyone do that? It really doesn't make sense to me. I think you have to decide whether or not he will have enough money from the Kickstarter campaign to take care of all his promises. If you think he does, then back it. But if you don't think so, then you probably shouldn't. Counting on him using "other sources" to fund this project is a sure fire way for you to be disappointed.

Personally,I like the whole concept and hope these do get produced. But as pointed out in numerous posts in this thread, from other people who have produced custom decks, the numbers just do not add up and there does not appear to be enough money to have everything produced.

Thanks!

I have also cancelled my pledge after reading all the post on this issue. Means more money to spend on other decks haha

well I am not totally going all in, but I am willing to take the risk, having just pledged what I can afford to possibly lose. I don't think it is a scam, but I just hope that Coby has done his math right. (this project can make him or break him)

Cobey Pile himself never said anything about "funds from other sources". My reading of this is that they started out with a cushion before even beginning the kickstarter and currently have all the funds they need. The artist for this deck, Michael Scott, had a successful KS for "Ultimate Soldier", which completed on December 21st, so they are likely to be aware of all the costs involved in fulfilling the KS.

I have kept my pledge in.

dazzleguts wrote:Cobey Pile himself never said anything about "funds from other sources". My reading of this is that they started out with a cushion before even beginning the kickstarter and currently have all the funds they need. The artist for this deck, Michael Scott, had a successful KS for "Ultimate Soldier", which completed on December 21st, so they are likely to be aware of all the costs involved in fulfilling the KS.

I have kept my pledge in.

Hopefully your right. It still doesn't make sense that anyone would do a project knowingly they will end up with less money than they started with.

Thanks!

Welp, it's over now. Is it wrong for me to say that I'm just glad that now I won't be subjected to four updates a day? Hoo boy.

In case anyone missed it, someone mentioned in the 8-Bit KS comments that Cobey filed for a Limited Liability Company (LLC) before starting the KS. I think this means they will receive self employment type tax savings and the money will not be taxed if there is no profit.

dazzleguts wrote:In case anyone missed it, someone mentioned in the 8-Bit KS comments that Cobey filed for a Limited Liability Company (LLC) before starting the KS. I think this means they will receive self employment type tax savings and the money will not be taxed if there is no profit.

Money is never taxed if there is no profit. Even if he was an individual , you would be allowed to offset the money taken in by your costs. But if someone is an individual, you would be able to attach their personal assets. With a LLC, you can't attach their personal assets without "piercing the corporate veil", which is not easy to do.

Being a LLC actually makes you occur additional expenses because you are now paying the employers portion of the SSI tax, as well as the employee portion. But you are allowed more deductions as an LLC then if you are filing just as an individual usually.
Thanks!

Starting an LLC is the smartest thing you can do as a small business owner.

Russell wrote:Starting an LLC is the smartest thing you can do as a small business owner.

Absolutely. When I started my flooring business back in 1987, they didn't have LLC's they just had S-corps and C-corps. We were a S-corp which is perfect for small businesses as well. But an LLC is even better,

Thanks!

Well, we shall see how this goes. I stayed in for $16, 1 regular deck and 1 Gold (With a Free Platinum, and of course other freebies). I went back and forth as to whether or not to cancel my pledge, having read everything posted hereof course, but ultimately I decided to call this one a gamble.(Well, more of a gamble than most kickstarters that is, I'm well aware that they are all gamble to one degree or another) I collect video games so I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff.

dazzleguts wrote:The artist for this deck, Michael Scott, had a successful KS for "Ultimate Soldier", which completed on December 21st, so they are likely to be aware of all the costs involved in fulfilling the KS.

Just so you know They used a special Promo on the 8-bit deck to get the Ultimate Soldier Funded.
Hail Mary for Ultimate Soldier

Kickstarter Update #38 · Dec. 15, 2012 · 30 comments Alright, I am throwing a Hail Mary Cross Promo to help Michael Scott & Ultimate Soldier score a touchdown and make it to the finish line.

I can only offer this on a very limited basis because it will be costly. So when the levels are gone that's it, I can't take a any bigger hit. And Mr. Scott will definitely owe me lunch for a month or 2.

If you go to Ultimate Soldier http://kck.st/T0hytC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and become a backer at the $32 level: I will throw in a Signed Gold Deck. This is only good for 20 backers. You will get the Game Ultimate Soldier game with all 3 expansion sets and a signed Gold Deck.

If you pledge at the $45 level I will thrown in a signed Uncut Gold Sheet. You will get a signed and numbered Ultimate Soldier Game and a Signed Uncut Gold Sheet. ONLY GOOD FOR 5 BACKERS!

For 20 Backers: You will get a signed original Deck. If you pledge at the $19 level.

For 25 Backers ONLY: If you pledge at the $12 or $15 level at Ultimate Soldier you will get this collector's poker chip.

can i still pledge? If so, how?

nur1988 wrote:can i still pledge? If so, how?

No, this project has ended

elcyciB wrote:

nur1988 wrote:can i still pledge? If so, how?

No, this project has ended

Shows what you know, I've made a pledge towards it after getting in contact with cobey pile

I pledged $43 + $7 shipping, like Modi ima sucker for video games too - I really hope this all goes through cos, in my own opinion, these look amazing and will Go down big with retro video game enthusiasts

nur1988 wrote:

elcyciB wrote:

nur1988 wrote:can i still pledge? If so, how?

No, this project has ended

Shows what you know, I've made a pledge towards it after getting in contact with cobey pile

Ok

elcyciB wrote:

nur1988 wrote:

elcyciB wrote:

nur1988 wrote:can i still pledge? If so, how?

No, this project has ended

Shows what you know, I've made a pledge towards it after getting in contact with cobey pile

Ok

I just read what i wrote, sorry if it sounded rude bud