Doomscroll Game

January Update - Doomscroll Mini-Expansion JUST GOT BIGGER, Production/Timeline Updates & More!
about 1 year ago – Thu, Jan 30, 2025 at 09:21:54 AM

Hello Fellow Doomscrollers,

Happy 2025 to you all! I can say with CONFIDENCE that you will be holding your copy of Doomscroll this year, heh. We're so pumped to get you your copy!

We've got updates on the delivery timeline, production, and a new opportunity for the Doomscroll Mini-expansion if you missed the $1 presale. Let's start there!
 

1. Doomscroll Mini-Expansion Now 16 Cards & Back on Sale!

Before Doomscroll launched, we offered an 8-card mini expansion to the game for $1 for early adopters. In preparing our cards for the expansion (which doesn't impact the game balancing - just gives you MORE Post cards and terrible puns), we realized we could easily bust out another 8 cards to fit in the expansion and make it work in the larger game!

So... that's what we did! If you are interested in scoring the now 16-card mini expansion for your copy of Doomscroll, you can order it on our website!

2. Mass Production Proof Arrived - Last Step Before Mass Production Begins!

We received a special package from LongPack, our manufacturer, this week ... the mass production sample! Just like the preproduction sample, we'll be reviewing each card, board, token, and instruction manual page with a magnifying glass, looking for any imperfections. After this step, the games will begin production en masse. Woooooo!

3. Delivery Timeline - Chinese New Year Pushes Back Production Schedule

As we made tweaks to the last version of Doomscroll, it meant that we ran up against the Chinese New Year. With the holiday event, it means that our game will not begin mass production before our manufacturer shuts down for a few weeks. 

With that in mind, we likely will not have our game in the United States by March - this means we're looking at April for our fulfillment timeline for US orders, and May for international order. I apologize for this delay - we definitely were hoping to have the games in full production before the holiday season! Below is the updated timeline:

We're hoping there will be no other surprises during the journey overseas and U.S. customs, heh. Fingers crossed!

I believe that is everything for this update. Thank you, as always, for your incredible support for Doomscroll! We greatly appreciate it.

Best,

Jon

Lead Doomscroller

December Update - Doomscroll Production Copy Unboxing, PnP, and More!
about 1 year ago – Wed, Dec 18, 2024 at 08:51:21 AM

Hello Fellow Doomscrollers!

Whoa, have we got a holiday gift for you below! The anticipation is over - we've got video proof of the final copy of Doomscroll. In addition, we've got some tasty updates about our print and play files, timeline, and more! Enjoy.

1. IT'S HERE and Unboxing Video 

The near-final Doomscroll copy straight from our manufacturers at LongPack is HERE. Of course, I have recorded me geeking out over the game in our UNBOXING VIDEO. Check it out!

2. Print and Play Files Almost Ready

As we take a look at the near-final version of the production copy of Doomscroll, it is the PERFECT time to update all of you patient PnP folks. There's a really good reason we haven't released your files yet - checking over the PHYSICAL game ensures that we release the BEST possible version of the digital game for you to print!

For example, looking through the physical copy of the game helped us catch an incorrect image in our rulebook. That means instead of sending out one batch of files, catching the error, and having to send out an update to all of you, we can instead nail the send out all at once! It also ensures you aren't having to reprint anything with an error.

3. Timeline - Still on Track for March 2025

As noted last update, we are still on track for a March arrival for games, barring any crazy manufacturing, logistics, customs, or shipping issues! You can see the current timeline below:

That should be everything for now - everyone at GamestormEDU would like to wish you a happy holidays. Thank you SO MUCH for your incredible support for Doomscroll!

Best,

Jon

Lead Doomscroller

November Update - Production Copy Underway & We are Thankful for YOU
over 1 year ago – Tue, Nov 26, 2024 at 10:15:51 AM

Hi Fellow Doomscrollers,

We've got lots of exciting details to share with you all, but first, I just want to say...

I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU

Without your support, Doomscroll would never have become a reality. Many times backers ask me how that up-front money makes a difference. For starters, I sent a large chunk of the Kickstarter funds to our manufacturer, LongPack, after seeing the final e-version of the game assets. Your support made that happen!

And that takes us into our first update nicely...

1. Manufacturing Sample in Production!

We've hit another milestone - as noted above, I approved LongPack's digital design, and now the production sample is underway. LongPack will mail me the physical sample in about two weeks (Week of December 9th), and then from there full production takes about a month (mid-January). We're hopeful this keeps us on track for a March arrival and distribution of your game!
 

To help with the anticipation, here's LongPack's mock-up of the game insert. This is one of my favorite parts of the game production, as a well-designed insert makes ALL of our lives so much better, heh! 

As you can see, the insert allows the poker-sized cards to rest on the bottom of the box, and the "dish" on the right will hold the "Like" tokens. The jumbo-sized cards will rest on top of that token dish, and then the 4 thicker player boards and instructions will rest on top of the insert.

As a result of the enhanced game assets (we upgraded the player boards to be higher quality for you!), the game box will be approximately 8 mm taller. It's a very small change - 57 mm to 65 mm (2.25 inches to 2.55 inches), so you won't notice it at all, heh. I will be inspecting the physical copy to ensure all fits well in the box before we hit mass production!

2. Speaking of Boxes - Check Out the Back of the Box!

Not only is your game box getting bigger, but you're also getting a SNEAK PEEK at the back of the Doomscroll box too! I didn't include it in the last update (because, well, I forgot), but we've got the box back completed by our wonderful folks at OwlGhost Studios, headed by Vika Fajardo, our Art Director. Check it out!

We tried to keep the back simple and visual-forward. You'll notice we've got a brief description and component list, and then some fantastic renderings of our game on the table. Hopefully it makes the game an easy "sell" to your friends, family members, and game night members when they ask what Doomscroll is all about!

3. Organizations, Stores and Districts - We've Got Your Bulk Order Portal Ready!

If anyone is interested in adding Doomscroll copies to your order, you ALL have access to the Backerkit Pledge manager. Feel free to add on additional copies, or use the 5-copy set to get a further discount too.

However, if you want to purchase for, say, an organization, business, or school district, many cannot purchase via Kickstarter or Backerkit due to purchasing rules. Or, you may want to purchase via tax-exempt means. Good news! We've got Doomscroll up for pre-order on our site, and you can pre-order using bulk or tax exempt methods. One note - it will be more expensive than our Kickstarter, as you - our backers, get that BETTER deal for being early supporters!

That should be all of the November updates. Have a wonderful holiday season, and THANK YOU for your incredible support!

Best,

Jon

Lead Doomscroller

October Update - Let the Doomscroll Manufacturing... BEGIN!
over 1 year ago – Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 01:34:31 PM

Hello Fellow Doomscrollers,

The day is here! We are sending final card, token, playmat, manual, and box proofs to LongPack Games this week. Get excited!

Below are some other key details about Doomscroll feedback, timeline updates, and our next game!

1. Steve Jackson of Munchkin Fame Praises Doomscroll

We're not all that great at bragging, but Doomscroll had quite the compliment at Gamehole Con, a regional gaming event in Madison, WI. Steve Jackson, designer of games such as Munchkin and Zombie Dice, chatted with me after looking over Doomscroll at our vendor booth. Steve said, "Here's someone who got it right" when designing a social media card game, which will officially keep me floating in the clouds for approximately the next 8 years.

Steve took one of our prototype copies of Doomscroll along with our rulebook to further review - we're excited to hear more of what he thinks!

2. Timeline Update

Let's get back to what you're all wondering - when am I getting Doomscroll? We had high hopes of getting the game to you in 2024, but I failed you for various reasons. Number one - we did a LARGE revision to the single player game to make it a better and more unique experience from the 2-4 player version. We also added new player board backs to make the game easier to teach/learn, and we added four new cards with unique art - all on us!

In addition, some life updates took a bit more time away from the project. Jon welcomed his second daughter, Quinn, in April, and then defended his doctoral dissertation in August. 

Still, we're excited to announce that we're submitting final files for manufacturing to LongPack Games THIS WEEK. Hooray! With that being said, below is our new timeline:

3. Sign Up for Fantasy Loot Brawl Playtest

As we've teased earlier, we're beginning the large-scale playtesting of our next game, titled Fantasy Loot Brawl! In FLB, you are aiming to draft the greatest fantasy lineup about ANY SUBJECT, then duel other players and debate who made the best team in a variety of mini-games. We are planning three game modes - Draft n Duel, Bracket Battle, and Build Your Best. Each allows players to use our collection of fantasy topics, or add your own words to use. 

If you are interested in signing up, we're looking for playtesters (especially classes and organizations) to get feedback on each of the game modes. Feel free to sign up using our form!

That should be everything for our October update! Remember to share our Doomscroll late pledge page for anyone interested, and thank you for your incredible support for Doomscroll!

Best,

Jon Spike

Head Doomscroller

Hopefully My Adorable Daughter Will Make You Forget That We're Behind Schedule
over 1 year ago – Mon, Sep 30, 2024 at 09:12:44 PM

Hi Fellow Doomscrollers,

First of all, let's be honest - we're behind where we wanted to be at this point in the year with Doomscroll's production. As CEO of GamestormEDU, I want to own that delay. In addition to finishing Doomscroll, I welcomed my second daughter, Quinn, and finished up my dissertation defense. Who could have guessed those would slow our final steps? *cue laugh track*

Regardless, all of you, our wonderful backers, are waiting. What is the good news? We're delaying to add REALLY great content to what you already backed. We've added additional cards, designed custom playmat backs for our single player variant, and even added a bonus playmat back for organizing the game cards for when you have 2-3 players instead of 4!

Here are the crucial details as we forge ahead toward production:

1. Instruction Manual in Final Stages

We've got the last details of the Instruction Manual coming into focus. Our wonderful team at OwlGhost Studios is designing the single player instructions, while our 2-4 player instructions are done! Below is a screenshot of our end-of-game and scoring pages for your viewing pleasure:

2. An Adorable Photo of My Daughter, Who You Cannot Blame for Our Delays

We recently put out a blog about the progress of both Doomscroll and my young daughter, Quinn. If you want to learn more about how both are rolling, please check it out here. Also, remember that if you're mad about the delays with this Kickstarter, you are mad at MY ADORABLE DAUGHTER. I kid, of course, but it's still kind of true.

New Card Art - Robot Wrestling Federation

Our final new Ad Card art is done! As we shared previously, we added four additional Ad Cards complete with new art after the project. We wanted YOU to have the most variety possible in the end product. Our friends at OwlGhost Studios did an incredible job on the last card - Robot Wrestling Federation!

Thank you, as always, for your incredible support for Doomscroll!

Best,

Jon

Lead Doomscroller