NOTE:
This page has been replaced by the new Backerkit shop for LudiCreations games:
https://ludicreations.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders.
Please make any new purchases there.
To see reviews, access free online play and download rules for So, You've Been Eaten., please visit the Kickstarter campaign page.
Note:
Your card will not be charged until the order is ready to be shipped, which in the case of pre-orders may be several weeks or months after you have made it. The charge will appear on your card as "KS-BK-Ludi".
Any orders with So, You've Been Eaten. items are considered pre-orders, and will be shipped in after the rewards of the first shipping wave of the campaign, which is currently in progress. To follow the status of the campaign, visit the updates page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ludicreations/so-youve-been-eaten/posts
Orders without any pre-order items are shipped weekly from our warehouses in the USA, Germany, the UK or China. Most small items are shipped separately, via priority mail without tracking from our HQ in Finland, so your order may come in multiple packages.
UK: Please note that all or part of your order may come from outside the UK, and you may need to pay customs fees. If in doubt, please contact us.
To contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns about a pre-order please visit:
https://ludicreations.com/contact
If you are a backer of the Kickstarter campaign, please use the KS messaging system:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ludicreations/so-youve-been-eaten/messages/new?message%5Bto%5D=ludicreations
Last update: *26 September 2022*
Latest Updates from Our Project:
So, You've Been Cursed.
3 months ago
– Fri, Aug 23, 2024 at 11:34:48 AM
Greetings, LudiCrats!
You probably did not expect to hear from us through this campaign, but here we are.
But worry not, we do not come without bearing gifts!
First, a little TL;DR for you all: - So, You’ve Been Cursed. is live on Kickstarter - SYBE x SYBC promos, free for SYBE backers - How to get the promos - USA - How to get the promos - UK, Europe, Canada, Australia & New Zealand - How to get the promos - Everywhere else
We are very excited to announce that we have launched the campaign for the next chapter in the So, You’ve Been story!
That’s right! Another strange game - something not entirely surprising to those familiar with our track record.
There’s a lot more to find out about So, You've Been Cursed. on the campaign page, but in short, it is yet another asymmetric game for 0-2 players. It is also designed by Scott Almes & illustrated by Kwanchai Moriya.
That said, So, You’ve Been Cursed. is in a completely different setting and is structured with completely different mechanisms. You can find out more about that by checking out the rules and videos that cover all elements of the game.
One thing we tried, and succeeded, in keeping the same is the cost. As you will see on that Kickstarter page, So, You’ve Been Cursed. costs the same as So, You’ve Been Eaten., while still packed with amazing components.
One the reasons we managed to do that in a time of everything else seemingly becoming more expensive is that we kept it simple. A big part of that is setting the campaign to be USA-only. This simplifies our fulfillment process and enhances our ability to deliver the game efficiently.
If you are reading this from the UK, the EU (and Switzerland / Norway / Iceland etc.), Canada, Australia & New Zealand, then you will also find that we are working with partners in those locations to make the game available to you. Pre-orders from those partners will be fulfilled from within these territories at a much better price than you would get from a KS campaign. You can find links to each partner's website on the campaign page.
SYBE x SYBC promos
In developing So, You’ve Been Cursed., we thought it would be a fun idea to connect it to So, You’ve Been Eaten.
While they are completely different in mechanisms and in theme, they both feature fantastic detailed artwork that envelops the gameplay and enhances the 0-2 player experience.
Well, now, we finally have that connection: Two promos, one for each game!
In So, You’ve Been Eaten.: Mystickal Potables of the Past, strange potions appear on the digestive tract. If the Miner picks them up, they can reroll their action dice or decrease bacteria damage. If the Beast gets to them first, they can use them as energy or play additional mutation cards. Either player can use a set of them to force an immediate Ending Number Two and end the game, if they can win.
In So, You’ve Been Cursed.: Magickal Implements of the Future, tools that seem out of this world appear in the village. If the WIzard or the Monster picks them up, they can gain coins or energy, teleport, move villagers around, manipulate panic levels or refresh held spells or powers. All this will make a lot more sense if you check out the campaign page.
Note that while their design is ready, we are still playtesting them, so they might still slightly change before printing.
In creating these two new promos, we wanted to do much more than just find a fun way to connect the two games while promoting So, You’ve Been Cursed.; we wanted to also connect the two campaigns while thanking the original So, You’ve Been Eaten. campaign backers!
So, if you have backed the So, You’ve Been Eaten. campaign or pre-ordered through the campaign’s Backerkit pre-order store, and you also back the So, You’ve Been Cursed. campaign, you can get both promos for free!
How to get the promos - USA
If you are in the USA, simply back the So, You've Been Cursed. campaign at any level that includes a copy the game (i.e. not the $1 level).
If you are already one of the 500-600 backers that have already done so, congratulations, you are already getting the promos.
You do not need to do anything besides backing So,You’ve Been Cursed. Both promos will just appear in your Backerkit cart, fully paid up. If for some reason they do not (e.g. if you have changed your email address), simply send us a message via Kickstarter.
The promos will be fulfilled together with your So, You’ve Been Cursed. pledge.
Notes:
Pledging $1 to the So, You’ve Been Cursed. campaign does not give access to the pledge manager, and does not get you the free promos (it costs a lot more than $1 to produce and send those out).
You need to have backed for any SYBE version or added one on in Backerkit. Having pledged $1 to the So, You’ve Been Eaten. campaign is not eligible for the free promos.
The offer is valid also for pre-orders made until the end of September, which is when we make the order to the factory. Note that pre-ordering has higher shipping costs than backing during the campaign.
This free promo offer is not open to retailers. Also, the retail edition of So, You’ve Been Eaten. is sold out.
There is a limit of one set of free promos per backer, regardless of any added-on copies of So, You’ve Been Eaten. or So, You’ve Been Cursed. in either campaign.
There is a limit of one set of free promos per backer, even in the case of pledging for the Bundle pledge level in the So, You’ve Been Cursed. campaign.
Post-campaign and post free-promo-offer availability for either promo is until supplies last.
After the free promo offer period ends, the cost will be the usual $5 per promo (+shipping) if bought separately, or if additional copies are added on to the ones given for free.
How to get the promos - UK, Europe, Canada, Australia & New Zealand
The campaign for So, You’ve Been Cursed. is USA-only. The reasons for this are many and unfortunately related to the smaller size and fractured nature of those geographically disparate markets.
The very high freight costs combined with the taxes we would need to charge some backers would make the total cost much higher than the one for So, You’ve Been Eaten.
Since we wanted to keep the cost of the game as low as possible worldwide, we decided to work with local partners that helped us keep that cost low and still make the game available.
All of the local partners have agreed to send you the promos, for free, when they send out the pre-ordered copies. We will be making the promos available to them for free.
To make sure that you get the promos for free, simply do the following:
Pre-order the game at one of our partners' their online store.
Send us your name, email address and order confirmation number in a message via the KS messaging system.
We will collect those confirmation numbers, cross-reference with our So, You’ve Been Eaten. records, and then give that information to our partners for fulfillment.
Notes:
The only way to let us know you have pre-ordered So, You’ve Been Cursed. is through the KS messaging system using the link below. Please do not forward order confirmation emails to us or send any other message or email.
You need to have backed for any SYBE version or added one on in Backerkit. Having pledged $1 to the So, You’ve Been Eaten. campaign is not eligible for the free promos.
Much like when they set their pricing, delivery, and other policies, each partner decides the best course of action when it comes to their market. This is why post-pre-order availability and pricing of each promo is up to them and, by definition, valid only while supplies last.
How many promos are produced depends on how many messages we receive by the end of September 2024, which is when we make the order to the factory. We can not guarantee the free promos for anyone who messages us after that.
The partners in each location will have limited numbers of So, You’ve Been Cursed. This free promos offer is also only valid while these partners have copies of the game.
Only the Retail and Collector editions of So, You’ve Been Cursed. are available outside of the USA.
So, You’ve Been Eaten. is mostly sold out around the world. As a result, it is not possible to have any bundle with So, You’ve Been Cursed.
UK
To pre-order So, You’ve Been Cursed. please click here:
As So, You’ve Been Cursed. is quite the unusual game, it is difficult to position it for a mainstream audience. This is why it was not possible to find commercial partners elsewhere.
We hope that we will be able to obtain the game available through distribution in the future, along with both of these promos. We will do our best to make that happen, but it depends a lot on individual retailer interest.
Please feel free to ask you local store to send us a message via Kickstarter, and we can see what we can work out.
Thank you so much for helping us make So, You’ve Been Eaten. and getting us started on this journey of unconventionally themed and designed games.
We realize that these games are not for everyone, and that you have many options for your Kickstarting dollars, so we are especially grateful for contributing to this campaign.
Should So, You’ve Been Cursed. be received as well as we hope to, we expect to develop more games that bring joy in the same strangely satisfying way that So, You’ve Been Eaten. has. Please accept our thanks once more.
So, We Need To Prepare For Fulfillment And Lock Down Addresses
over 2 years ago
– Thu, May 05, 2022 at 03:11:52 AM
Greetings, LudiCrats!
We are happy to report that the various shipments from the factory to the fulfillment hubs have either arrived or are close enough that we need to prepare for the fulfillment of all rewards by locking down addresses.
Please read the entirety of this backer update before asking any questions you may have.
But before we go any further, here is a look at what you see when you open the Collector box:
Note: If you are not sure of your address in the near future, you can request that we reset your survey, and then you can complete it when you are settled.
We can only see your pledge information, ask for personal details and provide individual assistance through a KS message, not the comments.
Shipments
The status of each of the shipments is as follows:
USA / Canada: The shipment has been delivered to port, and we are awaiting confirmation of their onward journey to Funagain in Oregon. The Canadian pallet will go from there to our partner Pick & Pack Logistics.
EU & other European countries: The shipment has been delivered to port, and we are awaiting confirmation of their onward journey to Happyshops in eastern Germany.
UK: The shipment is at Spiral Galaxy’s warehouse.
Asia / Pacific: The shipment is at VFI’s warehouse.
We expect the next update to be the one that says all rewards have been shipped - for those who responded in time (read on below for details).
Locking Down Addresses
The final date for locking down all addresses is:
Wednesday, 11 May 2022
The exact time is not yet set, and depending on your time zone, the exact date may vary too.
Much like for the “charging-cards-final-warning”, there will be a warning email by Backerkit sent out on the 9th of May, indicating that 48 hours later the address information will be automatically locked down.
If it is not possible to lock down an address by that date for any reason (e.g. missing information, credit card charge failed), then the rewards will be shipped in a supplemental shipping wave, after every backer who was on time.
Keep in mind that some add-ons will be sent separately, from our HQ in Finland. These are not tracked, but we are not worried, since we have had a high success rate with deliveries (even if your local post office may take a while). These separately-shipped add-ons are most non-SYBE promos, extras like playmats for Mr. Cabbagehead’s Garden, and Journal 29 books.
To confirm your address, you need to check your survey response. Read on to find out how to do that.
Important: It is your responsibility to provide us with a valid address.
If you are unable to do so for any reason (moving, on vacation, house currently suspended by balloons while on the precipice of a majestic cliff, etc.), you need to send us a message and we can move you to the next wave (see next section).
What if I am moving or what if I am not sure of my address?
If you are not sure of your address at least from May through July 2022 (and beyond, if you are in an area far from the fulfillment hubs), there are two options:
- Send the game to a friend or relative.
You can easily do this by simply changing your address via the Backerkit system:
We will need your help and cooperation with this one. The most important thing is that your address is correct.
There is some information that you may have read before, some information that has been updated, and some new information. Even though we try to repeat it as many times as possible, there are always a few people who we will have to redirect to this very text (hi!), sometimes more than once.
First, here is the survey intro text again. While pre-order backers have not seen this, every backer that is getting a game has answered “yes” to this. The ones that have not will have their responses voided and they will be contacted individually via KS messages.
So here it is:
So, You'd Like to Get Your Game.
Greetings, LudiCrats!
Thank you for pledging to our campaign and creating some more weird for this strange world. Your pledge level items are already in your cart, feel free to purchase additional items through the add-ons!
First, let us say that Scott, Kwanchai and everyone else on the team are proud and happy to have your support for what is paradoxically turning out to be both our most funded and weirdest project.
All we need now is your cooperation, so that we can get you your rewards. Please read these instructions very carefully, even if you have backed one of our games before. By answering the question below with "Yes", you agree to these terms and to the ones listed on the Kickstarter campaign page:
If you are going to be moving or going to be away from home in the period of May-July 2022, please give a friend's or a relative's address. If you are not sure, simply do not complete this survey until you are.
Delivery time may be as quick as 2 days to parts of the USA, 1 week to the UK, 2 weeks to Japan, or as slow as 4 weeks to Italy. We will be posting more information via Kickstarter backer update when the rewards are shipped.
Note that delivery time may vary depending on your local postal service. Other backers, even in the same country, the same city, or seemingly farther away from you may receive the shipment before you do. Although you might receive it a lot sooner than that, please allow at least 8 weeks after the date we ship before enquiring about your shipment. After that, we need to wait a few weeks more to see if the package will be returned to us.
The above delivery times quoted are *not* estimates, guarantees or promises. They come from empirical evidence and claimed delivery times by providers. We always try to do the best for you, and want the games delivered even more than you do. Please know that once the fulfillment centers hand off the packages to the delivery service providers, we all need to allow enough time for the system to work. And the system sometimes works in mysterious ways, especially in such times as we are living in.
Please double-check your information, as any mistakes will result in additional costs for you. E.g. if you made a mistake with your address and the package is lost, you will need to pay the full cost of a replacement. If your package is returned to us marked as not having been picked up at the post office, if delivery was refused at your address, or if the address was incomplete, you will need to pay the shipping cost again.
IMPORTANT: ADDRESS FORMAT
Please complete the form with latin alphabet letters only, and do not use any non-standard characters (ä, ö, å, etc.) - if you do, and the package is lost, you will need to pay the full cost of a replacement. Simply replace them with their basic latin equivalents (e.g. ä -> a, å -> a and ø -> o).
The reason for this is that when the address data is entered to varying types of shipping software that different fulfillment providers use, these special characters often do not transfer, and the address is turned into gibberish.
NOTE: If you have entered your address as asked above, Backerkit may suggest an address *with* those special characters added back in. Please ignore that and keep your address as you entered it.
Please do not put duplicate information in the address fields - since the fulfillment process is automated, a long address may not fit in the shipping label. Also, please see the note above about using the latin alphabet only.
Questions
If you would like to upgrade to a different pledge level, get add-ons, or change your address, please use the same invitation link to Backerkit that you already have.
You can also always use the Backerkit website to request a new link:
Note: If you are not sure of your address in the near future, you can request that we reset your survey, and then you can complete it when you are settled.
You can contact us most easily by clicking on this link:
We can only see your pledge information, ask for personal details and provide individual assistance through a KS message, not the comments.
Hey, so we're almost there! Please take a few minutes to recheck your address, and help us help you get the game to you! Once more, thank you for continuing to support us in this campaign.
Best,
LC
So, The Ships Are On Their Way And It Is Time To Charge Cards.
over 2 years ago
– Sat, Apr 02, 2022 at 03:49:00 AM
Greetings, LudiCrats!
Time to celebrate!
Yes, also for having reached 10(!) updates, even though we wanted to keep this whole campaign to a single-digit number of updates. But. Here. We. Are.
The real celebration is warranted because we are happy to report that the ships have left China and are on their way to fulfillment providers around the world!
So, it is time to proceed with charging cards. Please read on to get more details.
Note: If you are not sure of your address in the near future, you can request that we reset your survey, and then you can complete it when you are settled.
We can only see your pledge information, ask for personal details and provide individual assistance through a KS message, not the comments.
Ships
So, the ships are out! They are carrying these beautiful pallets:
The US shipment was changed from 3 to 2 parts by the forwarders, and after needing the pallets to be re-divided between them and having been pushed back a few times, the 1st and largest part managed to ship out last Friday, on the YM Upward:
Please note that we are purposely not giving out information on ETAs, because these change all the time. Just before we posted this, the EU shipment was pushed up again, and we do not, and will not, be releasing information subject to change. Also, customs may further impede shipments, including the one seemingly just arriving in the UK.
Asia / Pacific backers:
Please note the text posted in update #8: As with all of our other projects, VFI is fulfilling the games out of China and their regional hubs in Australia / Thailand / Malaysia and elsewhere. You may be getting your games before anybody else, or much after everyone else - freight over there works in mysterious ways. Once fulfillment starts, there will be more detailed information and a page where you can check your local hub's status.
So, it is now time to discuss the next steps that need to be taken by all of us to ensure as smooth of a fulfillment process as possible.
Upgrade your pledge and/or add extras on
To upgrade your pledge level, please check this handy guide from Backerkit:
OK, this is the important bit. The date for charging cards is:
Thursday, 7 April 2022
The exact time is not yet set, and depending on your time zone, the exact date may vary too.
There will be a warning email by Backerkit sent out on the 5th of April, indicating that 48 hours later the contents of your cart will be locked. Then, we will be able to charge the card on file.
Please make sure that you have the correct card information on file. If any issues arise with your payment you’ll receive an email letting you know to correct your payment information.
Important: When your card is charged, it will show up as "KS-BK-Ludi" in your statement.
Note: If you are not sure of your address in the near future, you can request that we reset your survey, and then you can complete it when you are settled.
If you are having any trouble, or have anything to ask, click here:
We can only see your pledge information, ask for personal details and provide individual assistance through a KS message, not the comments.
Please do not hesitate to ask anything on your mind - better now than after the games have been shipped!
Thanks for reading all this!
Best,
LC
So, Production Is Complete. And You Need To Check Backerkit.
almost 3 years ago
– Wed, Feb 02, 2022 at 11:11:17 PM
Greetings, LudiCrats!
Time for your regularly* scheduled backer update!
If you missed the previous update, the one about the first production sample, the general fulfillment strategy as well as more details on regional fulfillment and the word "soon", please click here.
Please make sure to read through to the end of the update before asking questions. Also, please keep in mind the backer update practices we outlined in backer update #1.
Note: If you are not sure of your address in the near future, you can request that we reset your survey, and then you can complete it when you are settled.
We can only see your pledge information, ask for personal details and provide individual assistance through a KS message, not the comments.
TL;DR
In this update we discuss the (almost) best news we could have received from the factory. Then, there is a very important bit about the next steps of the fulfillment process. Finally, there is a little something you can do while waiting for the game.
Production
You have no idea how happy we are to be able to post this: The game has been produced!
Warning: The following videos are quite loud!
To give you an idea of what happens between us and the factory at this stage, there were at least 6-7 emails just about the final height of the pallets, and a healthy exchange of opinions about roof clearance, load stability and overheight fees.
Luckily, that's all done and it is time to move on to fulfillment.
* Regularity may** vary.
Fulfillment
In the previous backer update we outlined the general idea behind our fulfillment strategy, along with initial information about regional shipments:
Although it was a possibility right up to the last moment, it did not come to pass that the pallets would be picked up before Lunar New Year.
There was simply no space, regardless of how much we were willing to pay. The local reps in all possible ports (Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Hong Kong) could not fit our shipments in any sailings.
So, we have adjusted our pledge management plan accordingly. Here is what we are planning to do in the near term:
Charging cards
Once the ships are confirmed to be on their way there will be an update announcing that charging cards for shipping costs and add-ons is imminent.
Important: When your card is charged, it will show up as "KS-BK-Ludi" in your statement.
The exact date of charging the cards depends on how quickly the games are loaded and the ships cast off.
Please check your Backerkit cart to make sure that you have added everything you still need - the freight crisis means that it is unlikely we will be moving stock from continent to continent, and that future shipping costs will be higher.
Add-ons are only available while supplies last (e.g. On the Underground is completely sold out), and those can be location-dependent (e.g. Mr. Cabbagehead’s Garden Deluxe is sold out in some areas).
Locking addresses
Then, after the cards have been charged and the ships are close to shore or the games have arrived to fulfillment providers, there will be another update.
In this one we will give the final deadline for confirming and locking addresses.
The exact date depends on the previous step, and after that no changes will be possible.
Please note that to re-ship something due to non-pickup or in the case of a wrong address, you would need to pay the shipping costs again, and it is only possible *after* the package is returned.
If you are not certain of your address in the coming months, please contact us so that we can reset your survey until you are sure. Alternatively, you can use a friend’s or relative’s address.
Do you have any questions about charging cards & locking addresses?
As usual, you can check your Backerkit survey response & cart here:
It does not actually matter what you rate the game (or why). Anybody can rate a game, for any reason, whether they own it (or not) or have even played it (or not).
What does matter is that you actually rate it, every rating helps, because BGG favors games with a lot of ratings. So, love it or hate it, please rank So, You’ve Been Eaten.!
(although if you hate it already, you may be in the wrong place)
We have eight-and-a-half thousand backers here, plus a few hundred pre-order-ers, so we really want to see how many will actually rate the game.
BGG is supposed to be (and probably is) the biggest board game website in the world, and we wonder how representative it is of those weird people that would back a game called So, You’ve Been Eaten. Let’s see!
*** Regularity will definitely vary.
Questions
If you would like to upgrade to a different pledge level, get add-ons, or change your address, please use the same invitation link to Backerkit that you already have.
You can also always use the Backerkit website to request a new link:
Note: If you are not sure of your address in the near future, you can request that we reset your survey, and then you can complete it when you are settled.
You can contact us most easily by clicking on this link:
We can only see your pledge information, ask for personal details and provide individual assistance through a KS message, not the comments.
Thank you all so much for your support! We are fortunate to have attracted your custom, and we are doing everything we can to prove worthy of it. Your continuous faith throughout this process has not gone unnoticed, and will not go unrewarded.
Best,
LC
So, You’ve Made a Game.
almost 3 years ago
– Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 01:36:04 AM
Greetings, LudiCrats
Thanks so much for your patience in between these updates, and thank you again for supporting Scott's weird game. We apologize if we have posted too many updates, we will do our best not to crowd your inbox too much. :-)
Also, a warm welcome to all those coming to the project by So, You've Been Eaten. being listed in Polygon's most anticipated games for 2022 and who joined us via Backerkit pre-order.
If you did miss the previous updates, please click here:
Note: If you are not sure of your address in the near future, you can request that we reset your survey, and then you can complete it when you are settled.
We can only see your pledge information, ask for personal details and provide individual assistance through a KS message, not the comments.
TL;DR
In this update we will report production news, outline our fulfillment strategy, and briefly discuss the timing of future steps.
Please make sure to read through to the end of the update before asking questions. Also, please keep in mind the backer update practices we outlined in backer update #1.
Production
We are happy to announce that the factory has shown us the first copies to be produced - here is an unboxing video of the Collector's Edition:
Yes, the transparent custom-shaped acrylic Upgrade tiles will come with their backing still attached, to protect them from damage from each other. You will need to remove the protective sticker before play.
And here are all the Collector components splayed out:
More detailed photos & videos of all editions will follow in a future update. We are very happy with how everything looks, and we can’t wait to see the games be on their way to you.
Fulfillment
Speaking of the game being on its way to you, the factory will soon* be concluding production, and so we wanted to give you some advance notice of the next few steps in the process.
First, we will discuss the overall plan, then list some regional details, then we will discuss charging cards and confirming addresses via Backerkit.
So here is the plan:
Fulfillment will be done separately in the following regions:
North America (USA & Canada)
EU
UK
Asia / Pacific
Each of these four shipments will be sent independently of each other. This means that sometimes contrary to logic, hopes & dreams, physics of space & time (specifically proximity to China), and the genuine desire we have that every single backer will receive the game at the exact same moment, this will simply not happen.
None of these shipments will be waiting for one another. As soon one reaches a fulfillment center, it will start getting processed as soon as it is possible to do so. Please refrain from asking "What about [country X]?" for now. More information will be posted with details on different regions, local carriers, shipping notifications, tracking codes, etc. in due time.
The freight & supply chain crisis continues to be endlessly frustrating. Ports remain hopelessly congested, cost increases are not showing signs of abating, and in private discussions fellow publishers continue to report horror stories. Here is the relevant material we have collected since the last update on the topic. NB! Some of which predates that update, as we continuously add more to the "shipping horror" bookmarks folder:
27 August - (use incognito mode to read) https://www.freightwaves.com/news/shipping-chaos-gives-largest-importers-massive-competitive-edge - 1282 words / 7:43 audio - This may be getting into shipping-industry-nerd territory but it is fascinating because it explains the difference between contract pricing and spot pricing in container shipments. TL;DR: Unsurprisingly, LudiCreations will pay more than Walmart (or Asmodee, probably) for the same container to be shipped.
14 September - https://twitter.com/tubbyandcoos/status/1437522786914902023 - 631 words - A twitter thread from a book retailer that outlines the /production/ side of the supply chain crisis. We also use a lot of paper in board game production.
Note: The above list is curated. If we added all the material we had, we would need several times the space. Most of the articles from November onwards were about the holiday season, and given that they repeat many of the points above and are repetitive themselves, we did not include them in the roundup.
Upon careful thought, research and after getting advice from people in the freight forwarding industry, the shipment will not be sent in one container. There are quite a few reasons, but the main one is that if it was, it would have a very high risk of getting stuck in a port, waiting for a truck to pick it up and get it inland. There are too many containers, too few trucks, fewer truckers, and a lot less flexibility in the system right now.
In fact, even if it was in a container, it is likely that they would not even allow it to go past the port, and would force the contents to be transloaded. This could be disastrous, because we had planned to "floor-load" the container in order to maximize use of space to minimize the expected financial hit described in our previous update. However, this hit could end up being even worse this way, if horror stories of containers being stuck for 60 days in port came to be true for us as well.
So, pallets it is. And, it looks like they will be sent across the Pacific in as many as 3 different LCL (Less-than-Container-Load) shipments. They still go inside a container, mind you, but they are sent at the discretion of the shipping contractors. This, we are told, allows for flexibility and granularity where they stick'em where they can fit'em as soon as they can ship'em, rather than trying to book a (very expensive) slot for a container shipment, a slot that can be denied even if reserved and paid for.
Sending 3 LCL shipments will still probably end up being more expensive than 1 FCL shipment (there are fixed costs we are charged per booking), but we believe it will be better and safer overall.
*Canadians*: Your games will be shipped from within Canada, and we will take care of importing them for you.
EU
The pallets going to Germany may take even longer than the USA-bound ones.
Unfortunately the train does not seem like it is an option this time, and most shipping capacity in the world is being put on China->USA routes. As mentioned before and on the campaign page, we are paying VAT on the games - you can do the rough math on what that means for your country.
Again, you are not paying the VAT, we are.
UK
Yes, your shipment will come directly to the UK, and will not go through the EU.
This time. The best way to ensure that this continues to happen is to encourage your fellow subjects of her majesty to back campaigns, so that there is a critical mass of backers.
VAT will be paid for by us.
Asia / Pacific
As with all of our other projects, VFI is fulfilling the games out of China and their regional hubs in Australia / Thailand / Malaysia and elsewhere. You may be getting your games before anybody else, or much after everyone else - freight over there works in mysterious ways. Once fulfillment starts, there will be more detailed information and a page where you can check your local hub's status.
Backerkit
Charging cards & confirming addresses
Cards will be charged in Backerkit for shipping fees and add-ons after the games have been handed over by the factory to the freight forwarders. There will be another backer update announcing this, and giving at least 2 weeks' notice.
There will also be emails automatically generated by Backerkit itself, asking you to confirm your address.
Important: When your card is charged, it will show up as "KS-BK-Ludi" in your statement.
To check your survey response on Backerkit please visit:
We can not yet say exactly when something will happen because everything depends on the factory completing production, the freight forwarders picking up, the ships' sailing date, and so on. We simply do not know, and neither do they.
For example, it could come to pass that production is completed on time, but the local logistics operators do not manage to pick up the games before Chinese New Year. If that happens, the whole timeline shifts at least 2 weeks. We will also not be making any update that says “we don’t know”, and we will not be making an update in which we have to take back any date we gave before. So, until we know for sure, we will not be able to give any estimates or predictions - or even guesses.
We have been hurt before, and so we do not trust any date given. To avoid future heartbreak, we will not be repeating any estimate onwards to you. Again, as long as something remains an unconfirmed fact, we will not be releasing estimates, predictions, guesses, or anything else that can be misconstrued, misread, misunderstood and complained about.
If this does not work for you, please do not hesitate to send us a message. Please refer to the FAQ and backer update #1 before you do, where also our backer update practices are outlined.
Questions
If you would like to upgrade to a different pledge level, get add-ons, or change your address, please use the same invitation link to Backerkit that you already have.
You can also always use the Backerkit website to request a new link:
Note: If you are not sure of your address in the near future, you can request that we reset your survey, and then you can complete it when you are settled.
You can contact us most easily by clicking on this link:
We can only see your pledge information, ask for personal details and provide individual assistance through a KS message, not the comments.
Thanks for reading yet another long backer update. We certainly appreciate your patience and understanding - especially of how we want the games to get to you as much (or perhaps more) as you do.