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 August 8, 2012.

Beer is right around the corner. So it's time for a Founders Party!

Update #13 · Nov 18, 2012 · 6 comments

The four months since signing the lounge lease have been amazing. Constant growth. Constant new challenges. Constant learning curve. And we’ve achieved a lot: not only building everything from scratch, but learning how to build everything from scratch as we went. We're thrilled and proud to share we're nearing the end of phase one. With our basic kitchen up and running and our beer and wine license days away, it’s time to actually declare the Raygun Lounge open! Which means it’s time for our Founders Party. Our official Invite-Only Kickstarter Backers Party will be on Friday, November 30th from 7pm until… whenever, really - it’s your party, we’ll back you up. We’ll send out digital invites to everyone on the list early next week.

I’d hoped to have all of your swag ready by the Founders Party, I really did. But restaurant buildout turns out to be very different than retail buildout and with the steep learning curve, the transitioning of management teams to make sure that the store ran smoothly throughout, and the tightness of the budget we were bold enough to work with, I just wasn’t able to pull it all off as fast as I thought I would be able to. Now with Christmas coming, I’ve accepted that it’s better to get you what I can now, piecemeal if I have to, than wait to try and bundle it all together. Starting with the preparty, we’re going to begin fulfilling on everything that we can, as soon as we can, especially the intangible stuff like draft passes and game nights. We’re likely going to have some of our swag items in time for the holidays, but not all of them. This means that some of you will receive multiple rewards spread out over the next few weeks/months. But don’t worry, we’re keeping close records on what everyone has been promised and though we’re behind in our schedule our record keeping is top notch and we’ll make sure that no one is forgotten or left out.

And, more to the point, WE DID IT. It worked. We’re officially opening doors December 1st. Thank you so much for being bold. And hopeful. And believing in community so much that you built your own lounge. I look forward to serving you and continuing to develop your lounge for years to come and working to make it all it can be. As always, if you have any thoughts, comments or concerns, you can reach me through the Kickstarter messaging service, the email on our website or by coming by the shop or lounge to talk with me directly. Most days you can find me in or near one of them from around 10:30am until 10:30pm...especially with the holidays coming.

I’ll see some of you at the Founders Party and the rest hopefully soon after.

-Eric

P.S. If you have a Founders Party invite but simply can’t do Nov. 30th we’ll set up an alternate night for a backup party once we figure out how many people need it and what their schedule constraints are.

6 Comments

The Lounge Opens Tomorrow

Update #12 · Sep 19, 2012 · 6 comments

The Lounge will indeed open tomorrow, Thursday the 20th, and will be open 6 days a week from that day forward. As promised it will still be very much a work in progress -- no full bar or working kitchen just yet. But rest assured both are coming. For more details about where the Lounge is at and how we got there, check out our latest blog post

http://www.gammaraygamestore.com/2012/09/on-the-benefits-of-sub-optimal-decision-making/

See you soon,

-Eric

6 Comments

Raygun Lounge will open next Thursday, Sept. 20th

Update #11 · Sep 12, 2012 · 7 comments

We made it through PAX! Though, admittedly, it took a little more effort to get ready and a little longer to recover than we'd expected. But overall the weekend was an outstanding success. And it provided an excellent opportunity to complete all of our initial testing for the Lounge - as a freeplay space, as a gaming conference host, as a gaming party host, and as an event rental venue. The initial testing went fantastically. And, as we'd expected, revealed a few new projects for us to take on. One of the most prominent was learning how sound echos around the space when it's packed full of people. We've contacted our good friend and construction guru, Vashon Nick, and already have a plan in place to install some sound baffling that will cut down on the overall noise level.

And now, for the answer to the question everyone's been asking: When will the Lounge be open?

I'm pleased to announce that the Raygun Lounge will officially open on Thursday, Sept. 20th.

Our next big push between now and then is to get our initial food and beverage services ready. And yes you read that right - it's just over a week from now. This opening won’t be a test. Once we’re going, we’re going. We’ll be open 6 days a week from that day forward, making improvements as we go, in public, the way that we always promised that we would.

Once we’ve achieved the primary objective of our Kickstarter campaign and have the basic Raygun Lounge space open, our focus will be on fulfilling all of the rewards from all our Kickstarter pledge levels, including the wall of awesome, all of the amazing custom swag, and throwing you all a great Founder's Party. We’re currently planning the Founder's Party for late October to give us time to get all of the swag fulfillment ready for handout the night of the party.

Let me be the first to say this puts us one month behind our proposed fulfillment schedule on some pledge rewards. I apologize and take personal responsibility. But as the primary goal has always been the opening of the best lounge possible, as quickly as possible, we’re going to continue to be in action with that as our first and foremost objective until doors are open. Over the next few days, I have a ton of vendor conversations to have as we arrange for food and drinks of various kinds and all of the appliances and materials necessary to prepare and provide them. At the same time I'm going to be working to complete and send out all the Kickstarter questionnaires. Each and everyone of you is personally invited to come down and talk to me face-to-face at the Lounge with any questions and concerns. And in return I hope that you’ll be patient with me during this very full, very exciting week.

I look forward to seeing you very soon,

-Eric

7 Comments

FAQ about this Wednesday's Preview Event

Update #10 · Aug 27, 2012 · 1 comment

To clarify some questions that we've received about this Wednesday's preview event:

This Wednesday's preview event is NOT Founder-Only and does NOT require an invite to attend.

We are moving our Invite-Only Founders Event to September to ensure we have all your pledge rewards ready when you arrive.

You are welcome to join us this Wednesday, as are your friends, family and significant others.

Wednesday's event will be a preview only. The lounge proper will not open officially until at least September 7th. This Wednesday's event, like all of the rest of the PAX events following it, is simply an opportunity to visit, get a feel for the space and make some plans for how you and/or your game group might best make use of it and give us some feedback.

We will have food and drinks available at all of our preview events but the menu offered will not reflect our final, or even our initial, lounge menu. Heck, if things get close and we're not ready enough, I'm just going to call over to Hot Mamas and make it a pizza night.

I hope that this answers all of your questions and concerns. If it does not, please contact me here, through facebook or twitter, or via email anytime.

Thank you. I look forward to seeing you,

-Eric

1 Comment

Two Week Update

Update #9 · Aug 23, 2012 · 3 comments

Two weeks in and we've made tremendous progress. The majority of our 4x6 supertables are finished. The rest are nearly done -- if you pledged at the "name on table" level we recently contacted you with the file specifications for our amazing laser printer! Please contact me if you have any questions. Inserting and sealing your insets are the final step in the process…and we can’t wait to get it done. They're going to look fantastic.

Nick and Jensen have assembled all of our custom cabinetry and are laid out the countertops this afternoon. Our benches arrive this week and our chairs this weekend. The backdrop for our Wall of Awesome will be installed on Friday along with the new lights and our initial sound system.

In short, we will be ready for PAX. Ready but not actually open. Not as a lounge at least. We will be a fully functioning, fully lit, attractive space that will be hosting private events from Thursday through Sunday. Some of these events, like Saturday’s Break from Reality Games’ demo day, are completely open to the public. Others, like Thursday night’s Indie Developer Meetup are private. Friday’s Pink Party and Sunday’s hangover party are both somewhere in-between.

“But what about the backers soft opening?” I hear you asking. “We want to come check out the space before anybody else.” But of course! While our timetable got pushed back by some friction between the landlord and the previous tenants, and PAX is going to happen as a series of special events before we’re even really open, we can still get you in here first. One week from tonight, next Wednesday, August 29th, from 6pm until midnight we will sweep the floors and open the doors for the Private Soft Opening. This will be a just-you-and-us, take a look around play some games kind of a thing. I’ll pick up a banquet license so that we can serve you some beer, probably served straight out of a bucket of ice, and rustle us up some kind of food, probably catered. The kitchen won’t be open and there won’t be taps. But there will be huge tables, comfortable seating, good lighting, nice music, a great ambience, and all of your friends. Okay, who am I fooling, it’s going to be one of the greatest nights of our lives and I’m really looking forward to spending it with you. Take note – the Private Soft Opening on the 29th will be in addition to the invite-only Founders Party – and that won’t happen until we’ve really got the space up and running and I’ve got all of your great swag ready to hand out. And as for the actual, real opening date for the lounge…look for that announcement soon. We’ve got our eye on Friday the seventh but I want to stay focused on what's coming up first.

Also, stay tuned for those Kickstarter backer questionnaires. Realistically we’re looking at the week after PAX for those now, but we’ve reached out to all of the vendors necessary to fulfill on your rewards when the time comes and are in the final stages of working out the new logos and signage with our friends over at Zone Four.

Whew! What a week. Can’t wait to see what the next one is like!

See you soon,

-Eric

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Jul 20, 2012 - Aug 8, 2012

  • Pledge $10 or more

    71 backers

    Your name on the wall. Every person who backs the Lounge will have their name painted on our Wall of Glory... should we rename that? We probably should.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $20 or more

    96 backers

    Get yourself a sweet, sweet limited edition collectible mug... and pick it up yourself. If you'd like us to ship it to you (and we'd be happy to), you need to select the next option down. Be sure to check out our "where everybody knows your name" option below as well.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $25 or more

    21 backers

    Ship one of our sweet, sweet limited edition kickass awesome (I'm running out of adjectives here) mugs to you, your family members friends and/or loved ones? We'd love to! And remember, each mug recipient gets their name on our Wall of Awesome (is that better than earlier Glory idea? Don't worry, we're totally going to nail this thing).

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    121 backers

    Dining room table a little intimate? We understand completely. That's why we’ve created this new 2 Raygun Lounge Pint Glass pledge level, shippable to anywhere in the continental US, just for you. For a pledge of $50 you get two Raygun pint glasses, your name on our Wall of Awesome and, thanks to a recent push goal unlock, a custom t-shirt. You’ll also get the raygun D20 when it unlocks at $20K and the as-yet-to-be-announced secret $25K unlock when it becomes available (it’s sweet, you’ll be way into it). If you’re looking for the “most swag for your buck” option, this is definitely it.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    4 backers Limited (2 of 6 left)

    Interested in a “Private Encounter”? Our official Dungeons & Dragons Encounters program host, Andrew Asplund, will run your choice of either an official D&D Encounter or Lair Assault for you and up to 5 of your friends at our lounge or the location of your choosing (greater Seattle area only, thanks) at a time and date of your mutual convenience. This option includes your choice of mug or pint glass and your name on the wall and qualifies you for the custom t-shirt and D20 stretch goals that were recently unlocked.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    20 backers All gone!

    You'd like a mug, your name on the wall AND an invite to our private soft opening? Well then this is the option for you. Just remember that there are only 48 invites available to this thing so if you'd like your friends to come too you may want to text them - like right now - to ensure they make the list.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    20 backers All gone!

    "Where everybody knows your name." Sure. You've got the mug. But wouldn't it be great if it had your name on it and hung over the bar so that when you came in, everyone was like "oh hey, 'your name here'," and pulled down your mug? Yeah. That'd be great. This option includes the mug with name over the bar, but not the party invite. If you'd like one of those as well, select both options and you'll get a take-home mug too.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    6 backers All gone!

    Have you heard the legends of what a spectacular DM, gamestore (and now lounge) owner Eric is? Possibly from Eric himself? Now you and up to 5 of your friends can find out. In person, at the time and date of your choosing (subject to Eric's fairly flexible availability). Eric will run a session of ANY RPG you choose. Yes, that's right, even RIFTS if you're a sadomasochist. But Eric warns you that if you do that, you and your friends will be playing RIFTS and, really, good friends don't let good friends play RIFTS.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)

    The Raygun Lounge is going to be an amazing hub of community and to help us demonstrate that, some of our favorite game designers, including Sage La Tora will be running one offs of their games to help us raise funding and awareness. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, Sage La Tora will be in the house to run a custom adventure of his legendary Kickstarter favorite, Dungeon World, for you and up to 5 of your friends. And you know what? Mugs all around! That's a mug for you and you and you and.. you know what? We'll give Sage a mug too. Least we can do. The dude's solid.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)

    But Sage isn't the only indie RPG designer who loves us so much that he's willing to stop in and rock your world for the cause. Oh, no no no. Because we have legendary cartographer and Dungeon World contributor Tony Dowler in the house to run your choice of Dungeon World or the even more obscure World of Dungeons for you and up five of your friends (with mugs in all your hands and your name on the wall all big and badass).

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    1 backer All gone!

    A night of Microscope with author Ben Robbins for you and two of your friends for only $100? OMFG!!! And you get the mugs! And you get the name on the wall! I just peed myself. Seriously. I'm totally embarrassed and yet strangely excited. Microscope with Ben Robbins, ladies and gentlemen.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    10 backers

    More of a beer type? We completely understand (we're the ones opening a lounge, afterall) which is why we've put together a complete set of 4 high-class Raygun Lounge pint glasses, either for pick up or delivered right to your door through the glory of UPS, plus your name on the Wall of Awesome (formerly known as the Wall of Glory), not to be confused with the wall of coffee mugs hanging in the bar. That's a separate pledge level altogether. Because, seriously now, how would you hang a pint glass on a wall?

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    1 backer All gone!

    But wait! Just when you thought we'd blown the roof off (roof? who needs a roof? we're doing this place colloseum style- someone get me my net and trident), we've got John Harper. That's right, John "I'm mutha-effin John Harper, mutha-effers" Harper will be in the house to run you and 4 of your greatest friends EVAR through an evening of any one of his games that you would like. I have to say it like that because, and let's be real here, John has either written or contributed to EVERY SINGLE INDIE RPG EVER MADE (I can't back that up with facts). Bam. Gaming with John Harper, name on wall, mugs for everybody. $100.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    5 backers Limited (3 of 8 left)

    How about locker rental for an entire year to keep your most treasured games right in the Lounge? Sure! Be the first to claim one of the sure-to-fill-up-quickly gaming lockers and get a mug, your name on the wall and invite to our preparty to boot. Lockers will be at least 24"x12"x15" to easily store everything you'll need for your regular ongoing gaming event.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)

    Grab up to 5 friends and get together with the blogosphere’s own Gamer Viceroy to be the first people to play Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Echo, Fives, and Hevy as they attempt to retake Rishi in his new Dungeons & Dragons hack of the Star Wars Clone Wars “Rookies” episode. Option includes your choice of mug or pint glass, your name on the wall, all of the unlocked pledge goals, including custom t-shirt, D20 & underwear AND a personal appearance in the Gamer Viceroy’s blog! Minor internet notoriety can finally be yours!

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    1 backer Limited (5 of 6 left)

    Board game nights are great fun. Hosted nights are even better. Store manager, boardgame podcaster and long-running co-host of Seattle’s most popular boardgaming event, Jake Waltier, will bring a stack of games from his own private collection and show you and your friends how to play them for up to four hours at either our lounge or the location of your choosing (greater Seattle area only). Jake is a most excellent game coach and he'll happily add any game you request to the mix of the night. Also in the stack he'll have your choice of mug or pint glass, a t-shirt, some underwear and a custom D20. Oh, and we’ll add your name to the wall of awesome to boot.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    2 backers Limited (4 of 6 left)

    How about a private booster draft for you and 7 of your friends any time that you want during the next year? You’ll get reserved table space, all of the supplies you'll need to play – even prize support – AND a dedicated organizer to run the whole thing so you don't have to, including providing sanctioned rulings and bracket organization. Plus, we'll put your name on our Wall of Awesome, nice and big, to boot. An amazing event value all around. And yes, multiple drafts could be combined to create one massive MEGADRAFT! Just pledge the appropriate amount and send us a message letting us know. Oh, and agree to never let it roam the streets. Who knows what sort of damage that thing could do if it escaped into our unsuspecting city?

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $150 or more

    20 backers All gone!

    By popular demand, a brand new pledge level for all of the people who told us that they wanted their own Raygun mug hanging on the wall AND an invite to our exclusive soft opening preparty. All in one complete package. If that’s you, this is your pledge level.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $200 or more

    17 backers Limited (3 of 20 left)

    “But wait!” you cry, which frankly, is a little awkward for both of us, “what if I want my mug on the wall, an invite to the party AND free coffee?” Free coffee, eh? For how long… a year? Your name on the recently renamed Wall of Awesome, your cup on the Wall of Muggage and free coffee for a year? Ooh… that’s a tough sell…but you know what? We can do that! Coffee! In your face! Any time that you want it. As much as you can jam in there (if you freakout, pull your shirt over your head and start calling yourself Cornholio, we’re totally cutting you off). For 365 days. Starting on the day of our preparty and going from there.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
  • Pledge $250 or more

    5 backers Limited (19 of 24 left)

    Your name on a chair. Name on the wall not good enough for you? You want your own permanently labeled chair? Alright. You know what? Take both! Name on chair, name on wall, mug in hand. Boom. You are legend.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $500 or more

    2 backers Limited (1 of 3 left)

    Name on a chair not good enough for you? No? You need your name (or company logo, we're getting big enough now, I say, why not?) permanently etched into one of our benches? Go for it. Get your (or your company's) name etched on a bench and on the wall. Say. Did I mention higher pledgers get their names higher and bigger on the wall? Well they do. Your name will be frickin' huge up there. You can look at it while you drink out of your awesome mug.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $500 or more

    2 backers Limited (1 of 3 left)

    If one night of roleplaying with gaming legend Eric Logan is good, imagine an entire campaign. That's right, noted DM, entreprenuer and lunatic Eric* will run an entire six-adventure campaign for you and up to four, maybe five, of your closest personal friends in the system of your choosing (except for RIFTS, one night's a laugh, one season's a torture). Eric personally guarantees that it will be "hella epic." *see 2012 Free RPG Day D&D Adventure 'Dead in the Eye' p. 4 by Jobe Bittman for a more detailed description.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $500 or more

    8 backers All gone!

    So, you think you're a drafter. Well how about a one year pass good for one draft per week all year long then? Could you loan it to a friend? Yes you could. Is this crazy? All the way around. Does this include your name on the wall, big and near the top, a free mug and invite for 2 to the preparty? Hell yeah it does. We'll see you there.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $500 or more

    2 backers Limited (4 of 6 left)

    Want to reserve the entire space with seating for 48 and all the amenities, including staff, for your private event? We'll give you the space for 4 hours on the time and date of your choosing (very limited blackout dates, like Christmas Eve, apply) to do whatever you'd like with it (we recommend playing games). No one gets in or out who isn't on your private guest list. Includes name on wall, mug to anywhere you'd like and an invite for 2 to our preparty.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    2 backers Limited (6 of 8 left)

    But I know you. You want your logo (or name, don't let me hold you back) on the middle of one of our tables. Forever. Letting everyone know, forever, whose table they're at. We can do that too! Name on table, name on wall, mug to anywhere in the world.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    2 backers Limited (1 of 3 left)

    4 hours simply not enough? Need the space for 48 people with staff and access control for an entire day? Done. Includes mug, name on wall and invites for 2 to preparty.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $1,500 or more

    1 backer All gone!

    Reserve the entire lounge for 1 day during PAX '12. Need additional space for a big event that you can't fit into the convention center? Missed the submission deadline and couldn't get a space in time? Banned for life but still want to camp nearby? Want a space where you can get a banquet permit and have an open bar? If you or your company find yourself in any of these boats, we have your immediately available solution (refundable if anyone takes the 'entire weekend' option).

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $2,500 or more

    0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)

    The entire fully staffed lounge for all of Friday of PAX 2013, from 10am until 2am. Go wild. Huge name on wall, invites to the preparty and the mug explosion all apply.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
  • Pledge $2,500 or more

    0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)

    The entire fully staffed lounge for all of Saturday of PAX 2013, from 10am until 2am. Go wild. Huge name on wall, invites to the preparty and the mug explosion all apply. Get this and Friday both and we’ll go ahead and throw in Sunday as well, you big baller, you.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013