We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on October 6, 2011.

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The Spiel will provide in-depth video coverage of the Essen International Game Fair and a video tour of Ludo Fact, a game manufacturer.

The Spiel is a show about board/card games and the people who love them.

We review games, discuss the history of games and we also cover game conventions.

Hundred and thousands of game players, publishers and designers gather every year at the world's largest game convention, the International Game Fair in Essen, Germany.

We plan to cover this amazing event through a series of video and audio interviews with as many game publishers and designers as we can over the four days of the event. We have been covering American game conventions (Origins, GenCon) in this fashion for over five years (to see and hear our past coverage, go to thespiel.net)

In addition, we plan to film an extended tour of Ludo Fact. Ludo Fact is one of the largest manufacturers of board and card games in the world. We will produce a documentary-style account of this tour, showing how games are made.

Funds for this project will cover the budget for this overseas on-location shoot in Northern Germany (Essen) plus the interview and tour of the factories at LudoFact in Southern Germany (Jettingen).

FAQ

  • What's the deal with two separate $25 reward levels?

    My apologies if the reward listings have caused any confusion.

    At the $25 level, you will receive one additional Essen promo (every backer receives the 3 promos: Drum Roll, Kingdom of Solomon, and Venture Forth).

    The promos available will include but are not limited to:

    7 Wonders, Dungeon Fighter, Mondo, Pantheon and Airlines Europe.

    Kickstarter would not let me edit the $25 reward to include the additional promos under a single listing, so I had to start a second $25 reward to announce the new ones. There is, in fact, a single $25 reward level and (as indicated) there are simply more promos added to the list.

    As I just mentioned, we will most likely have other promos to include in the choices once we return from Essen having talked to many different publishers during the event.

    We should have enough of each promo to honor requests for specific titles, but in some cases the publishers have not confirmed the exact quantities they are providing us. We'll contact backers after we return and ask for 1st choice, 2nd choice and so on.

    Hope this clears up any confusion.

    Last updated: Saturday Oct 1, 3:27am EDT
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163
Backers
$6,969
pledged of $6,500 goal
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Funding period
Sep 6, 2011 - Oct 6, 2011 (30 days)

  • Pledge $1 or more

    2 backers

    Minion Games is providing TWO Essen promos to every person who backs our project. The first promo is a card for Kingdom of Solomon http://www.miniongames.com/kingdom-of-solomon-pre-order.html The second promo is a card for Venture Forth. http://www.miniongames.com/venture-forth.html Thanks to James Mathe and Minion Games for their generous support. This means every backer will receive at least 3 Essen promos now: Drum Roll, Kingdom of Solomon, and Venture Forth.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2011
  • Pledge $1 or more

    3 backers

    Essen Promo Card for Drum Roll a new game from Artipia Games. The fine folks at Artipia Games have pledged a special Essen promo card to every person who backs our project. This is in addition to the other promos offered at the higher levels. For more info on Drum Roll, use this link: http://www.artipiagames.com/games.html

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2011
  • Pledge $5 or more

    7 backers

    Your name will appear in the Thank You portion of the credits on every video.

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2011
  • Pledge $15 or more

    21 backers

    A pair of custom laser-etched Spiel dice.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2011
  • Pledge $25 or more

    67 backers

    All of the above, plus one promo item from Essen. Most game publishers offer special promotional cards, dice, expansions and accessories to their new games at the show. These items are often only available at the event. We have made arrangements with LudoFact and other game publishers to obtain several different promo items for a variety of games, including but not limited to: 7 Wonders, Drum Roll, Mondo, and Dungeon Fighter.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2011
  • Pledge $25 or more

    13 backers

    All of the above, plus one promo item from Essen. In addition to the promos already listed, we have two new promo items available at the $25 level and up. From publisher Hans im Gluck, promos for Pantheon. From publisher Abacus Spiele, promos for Airlines Europe

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2011
  • Pledge $50 or more

    32 backers

    All of the above, plus two promo items from Essen. (see above for details).

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2011
  • Pledge $100 or more

    8 backers

    All of the above, plus a deck of Scopa cards

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2011
  • Pledge $250 or more

    3 backers Limited (23 of 26 left)

    All of the above, plus a handmade custom Spiel tile/dice bag

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2011
  • Pledge $500 or more

    0 backers

    All of the above, plus a free game (our choice)

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2011
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    1 backer

    All of the above, plus your choice of: A game-themed gift basket - filled with handmade game-themed items handmade by Stephen and Francie. OR A Game Day with The Spiel! (face to face gaming for 24 hours with Dave and Stephen; you are responsible for your own travel arrangements, but we'll keep you full of good food and games for a day)

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2012