[Kickstarter] At what point does SJ Games profit from this Ogre print run?

[DavidK44]

I played Ogre obsessively in high school, late 70s-early 80s, at lunch with friends. I picked up some of the other SJG microgames, but never got as into them as Ogre. It's been decades since I played Ogre, AD&D, or any of the wargames I also played at that time (Panzerblitz, Richthofen's War, etc). I picked up a copy of Ogre about three years ago and played around with it a bit for the nostalgia hit. I was planning on introducing it to my daughter, and then I saw the Kickstarter two weeks ago. Perfect excuse and method to introduce my daughter to it. I'll probably put in some money for Car Wars when it comes around too. I doubt I would have known about any of this without the Kickstarter push.

[TekChef]

I think at this point, with support hitting $650K soon, Steve is making some money. I would think it is mostly off of the T-Shirts and the extras as the margin on the actual game is slim once you figure in production costs/shipping.

Keep in mind though, Steve is reinvesting that money back into the Ogre line and the company. Hiring a Line Editor for Ogre products is going to cost him some of that money, as is developing the expansion and the next non-designer's edition of Ogre/GEV I am sure will be out in the next year or so.

Ogre will hopefully profit SJ Games down the line, but for right now, I am thinking when all is said and done with this project, the profits are not going to be huge.

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by apoc527

Anyway, the strange thing about this whole deal is that I would probably back SJ Games projects that I had little to no intention of actually using.

The only question that remains is how does Evil Stevie use this great new power??

EDIT: One other thing, that comes as a result of Kickstarter, is the effect that the knowledge of such support can have on a creator. Rich Burlew, of Order of the Stick fame and the third $1 million plus Kickstarter, said it best:

I totally agree with you there, I bought the entire collection of OotS and pledged for Ogre at the $150 level, because it is all about supporting the creators at this point of things.

Granted I'll enjoy owning all the OotS stuff, as well as owning the Ogre board game, but if I get more than a game's worth of play a year with my friends out of either pledge will be a pleasant surprise.

[mook]

Originally Posted by tomc

I wonder how much of this mania is about supporting a product and how much is about supporting a cause.

Though I remember seeing the ads for it back in the day, I've never actually played Ogre before, and I'm in at $150. With all the hundreds of hours of entertainment and friendship GURPS, SJGames games, even these forums have brought, I would likely have tried to support a SJ Kickstarter called "Give Me Money, Just 'Cuz" ... the fact that I get a new and awesome game out of it is just gravy!

[apoc527]

Originally Posted by mook

With all the hundreds of hours of entertainment and friendship GURPS, SJGames games, even these forums have brought, I would likely have tried to support a SJ Kickstarter called "Give Me Money, Just 'Cuz" ... the fact that I get a new and awesome game out of it is just gravy!

LOL, exactly. But let's not give them any ideas. :-)

[JLV]

Originally Posted by apoc527

LOL, exactly. But let's not give them any ideas. :-)

I'm with you guys! (*whispering*) But, shhh, don't tell Steve....

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by tomc

I wonder how much of this mania is about supporting a product and how much is about supporting a cause.

*shrug* There's no difference in this case, AFAIC.

[offsides]

Originally Posted by Not another shrubbery

*shrug* There's no difference in this case, AFAIC.

There is a difference, but only in semantics/theory. Because of how this was done (and thus how it could be supported), the practical result is the same. But I'm sure there were some people who were less than thrilled with the new form factor who supported it nonetheless because of the possibility that it would lead to new products in their preferred form...

[Buzzardo]

Originally Posted by offsides

There is a difference, but only in semantics/theory. Because of how this was done (and thus how it could be supported), the practical result is the same. But I'm sure there were some people who were less than thrilled with the new form factor who supported it nonetheless because of the possibility that it would lead to new products in their preferred form...

That would still be supporting a product, just not this product. Rather, they would support the product line.

Supporting the cause would be pledging and then not specifying anything, such that SJG keeps all the money, and not caring about the product. I doubt there were many such people, though I'd be surprised if there were none.

More likely is the middle ground, where I am. I spent thrice what I would normally willingly spend on a game, partly to support my favorite game company, partly to get a great game.

[DavidK44]

Originally Posted by offsides

But I'm sure there were some people who were less than thrilled with the new form factor who supported it nonetheless because of the possibility that it would lead to new products in their preferred form...

While I like the new form factor, I'm actually just as interested in the new pocket-sized version. I supported early at the $150 level, and was delighted to see the improved microgame as a stretch goal. I'm hoping that my daughter will get interested in it, and can take it to school with her to play with friends, just like I did when Ogre first came out.