Issue #16 - Alternate Art Edition!
over 7 years ago – Tue, Nov 08, 2016 at 11:02:12 AM

Hi everyone, 

We've kept our nose to the grindstone lately, but wanted to drop you a line and show off some of the cool new alternate art card art that we've developed, in collaboration with our Supreme Beings! 

These alternate Hero & Villain Ability cards are so awesome because they really give each Origin a different feel!

We've also got even more on the way, including Fire Control, Ocean Mastery, and...

Once all the cards are done, we're going to revamp the website, BGG page, and Tabletop Simulator module, and get our manufacturing prototype on order!

It is so exciting to see pre-orders continue to trickle in via the Backerkit PreOrder store.  With your continued support, we can still unlock even more stretch goals!

Finally, we've held off on issuing the backer surveys, but we promise they'll be going out soon!  

Issue #15 - Breaking open the Big Box!
over 7 years ago – Tue, Oct 25, 2016 at 10:24:09 PM

We are thrilled to announce that a few heroes have swooped in, late in the day, and unlocked the Big Box stretch via the pre-order store!

The revamped box design is 195 X 129 X 89mm, and will hold up to 500 cards (even sleeved.) This means you'll have plenty of room for ORIGINZ expansions down the road!

We are very excited about the new design. Here are the latest renders, courtesy of our good friend and fellow game designer Darrin Horbal of dphstudioz.com : 

The bottom of the box features separate art panels, for extra flavor!  However, that style will be matched by superior form, fit and function!  

We're working with our manufacturer to make sure the new box includes a nice insert to fit the 2 rows of cards snugly and keep them protected.

PROGRESS UPDATE

On top of the box development, we've stayed busy!  Since our last issue, we've:

• Finalized the design for the 12 Dividers
• Nearly completed the arrangements for the backer survey, which should go out this week!
• Continued working with our Supreme Beings on their art!  Here are just a couple fun examples:

In other news, Nathan Driggs published another glowing review of ORIGINZ on our Board Game Geek page.  You can read it here.  While your there, we'd appreciate it if you want to leave a comment or rating of your own - ORIGINZ currently has a 9.1 rating!

Until next time!

Issue #14 - Upgrades Galore!
over 7 years ago – Tue, Oct 18, 2016 at 03:22:43 PM

Things are busy at Flavor Faction!  We're moving toward the manufacturing order with super speed, and upgrading the game with Cyborg-style efficiency!  

The following is a short list of the progress being made to make ORIGINZ the best game it can be:

• Big Box Design - We fully expect to unlock the big box, so we've already started the design process. The box will fit ~500 cards (even when sleeved), revamped dividers and a nifty insert for a snug fit. Can't wait to share the new designs with you all. 
• Card Template Update - We've implemented the new template on over 50% of the cards. We are doing this very, very carefully to ensure that there will be ZERO errors. 
• Supreme Being Alternate Art - We're working with Matt (our artist) and our Supreme Beings to finalize the alternate art cards. They are turning out awesome! See the preview roughs below:

Please continue to tell your friends about ORIGINZ so that they can still get a copy of the kickstarter edition of ORIGINZ and other add-ons via the pre-order store, for a limited time. These pre-order copies come with all stretch goals (and help unlock more!)

Look for your Kickstarter surveys at the end of the week, and don't hesitate to engage us with questions or comments!

-Evan and Alex

Issue #13 - SUPERHUMAN SUCCESS!
over 7 years ago – Fri, Oct 07, 2016 at 05:39:21 PM

WE DID IT! 

Alex and I want to personally thank each of you for helping support our dream and making ORIGINZ a reality.   We are supremely confident in the game we've designed and can't wait to get it into your hands.  

BACKERKIT PRE-ORDER STORE IS LIVE!

We've finalized our negotiations with BackerKit and the Pre-Order button (and associated post-kickstarter store) is live for a limited time.  The great news is that any additional funds raised via the pre-order store will continue to unlock stretch goals, including the Big Box and additional Power Cosmic cards!

If you want to add-on to your pledge (for additional playmats), or if you have friends that want a copy of the game, you can now do so!  There is a link to the store on the Kickstarter page, on www.originzthegame.com, and our Facebook page.

I've also placed the store link below in case you want to send it to friends & family. If we can keep spreading the word while preparing for manufacturing, we can hopefully unlock all the announced stretch goals.

• Pre-Order Link: https://originz-the-superpowered-card-game.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

• Look for a few more reviews! 
• We've already started finalizing specifications with manufacturers and reviewing quotes. 
• We've secured our shipping partner - an experienced fulfillment that guarantees global customs friendly and tracked service.  
• As you've seen in the Origin Spotlights, we've already begun revamping the cards with the new template. 
• We'll be implementing the new Steal and Stun keyword text, and tweaking around a dozen cards for balance (we are committed to a balanced and massively re-playable game.) 
• Of course, we're updating the rulebook to reflect these minor changes.  
• Finally, we'll update the free ORIGINZ Tabletop Simulator module when appropriate. Playing ORIGINZ on TS is a blast - especially with friends that are far away!

If you all like the ORIGIN Spotlights - let us know and we'll keep them coming!  Which origin would you like to see spotlighted next?  

Issue #12 - Last Stand in the Final Hour!
over 7 years ago – Thu, Oct 06, 2016 at 10:32:39 AM

We're almost there!  We're pushing to get around 10 more backers to unlock the Big Box stretch goal!  300 backers seems like a fitting number for a Last Stand (if you've seen the movie!)

Thank you so much for all of your support!  

We want to assure all of you that we will keep up constant updates to keep you informed, every step of the way, until this awesome game arrives safely on your doorstep.  Expect to hear from us early and often! 

We intend to keep the young ORIGINZ community growing and vibrant.  We'll also keep up the fun content, like the Origin spotlights! In keeping with today's theme...

ORIGIN SPOTLIGHT: CYBORG UPGRADE

You've become one with the machine.  Your body has the incredible ability to reconstruct itself.  Not only that, your "upgraded" brain has the ability to hack into the global network to access an amazing amount of information, ammunition, and even take control of software and machines.  

To emulate these powers, when you play with Cyborg Upgrade you draw an amazing amount.  You can draw your own cards, force others to draw with cards like Interrogate, or even draw enemy cards and steal them with cards like Assimilate. Because the deck is the opponent's life, this essentially hurts them.  However, this can be a risky tactical decision because you are also helping the enemy get new cards in their hand

Your minions, tactics, and assaults are designed to take advantage of this draw mechanic.  The Mech-Walker helps you draw and offers synergies with the large number of tactics in your deck, and assaults like Drill get stronger when a large number of cards have been drawn in a single turn (by you, or an enemy player.)

And if even if you've over-drawn and your on the verge of termination, you can use tactics like Retrofit to restore your deck, or seal the deal with a Last Stand (which does a large amount of damage when your on the verge of defeat.)