Explore a dark-fantasy future with your hero, completing their quests to win in this retro solo to 4 player adventure game!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
February Production Update: The Digital Proof!
10 months ago
– Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 09:57:58 AM
Hello Backers,
I wanted to start by saying thank you so much for your support during the production of Dark Venture 2nd Edition. I have been working on this project daily for quite a while now, and the show of support and encouragement from backers all the way through this process has kept me amped, excited to make the best game (and expansions) possible.
WHAT’S NEW? We delivered all final game files in January, but the Chinese New Year holiday shut down our manufacturer for most of February. However, YESTERDAY we received the DIGITAL PROOF of the core game and all expansions!
It is going to take some time to dig through all the files, cross-check against our final 2nd Edition files (and the 1st Edition files), while proofreading and making sure that everything looks great. Check out these layouts!
NEXT STEPS: The factory is currently working on the BLANK SAMPLE, an unprinted copy of the game that allows us to be sure that everything fits in their packages (while also enabling us to get an exact shipping weight). When I receive that, I’ll post an update. Next, we'll receive a COLOR PROOF of all game components (to check the exact print colors) and once that is approved, the game will print (we will see a production sample, but at that point, everything is more-or-less locked in).
That’s it for now! Hopefully we will receive the BLANK SAMPLE and possibly the COLOR PROOF in March, talk to you then!
Thanks,
Rob
January Production Update!
11 months ago
– Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 07:02:39 AM
Hello backers!
This month: some final news on CONTENT, a MANUFACTURING update, and a short note on ANDROID COMPANION APP development.
CONTENT (ART, WRITING, EDITING): This month I have been reviewing the digital production, specifically last minute revisions to the CRAWL! and KHRAG PIT manuals, but as of right now we’re done with content production on Dark Venture 2nd Edition!
MANUFACTURING: Good news! We are finally beginning to nail down the manufacturing schedule. Realistically, we’re looking at a bit of a production delay due to the Chinese New Year, but the DIGITAL PROOFS should be sent to us (for approval) in February. The BLANK SAMPLE and PAPER COLOR PROOF for the core game and expansions should be ready by late February. Pending approval, factory production will begin late March/early May. Then shipping and fulfillment. I will be sure to update you on each stage of development.
ANDROID COMPANION APP: In other news, testing on the DARK VENTURE COMPANION APP for Android is virtually complete and it will will soon be coming to the Google Play Store (it is already available on iOS, FOR FREE, here: https://apps.apple.com/zw/app/dark-venture-companion/id1448288727 ).
Screenshots of the iOS Dark Venture Companion App
After the Android release, NERD ROOM will be updating the app to Dark Venture 2E and will add all the new expansions (on both Android and iOS).
That’s it for this month, more production news soon.
Stay safe, warm, and dry!
Rob
A Quick December Update!
almost 1 year ago
– Fri, Dec 22, 2023 at 10:40:52 AM
Hello Everyone!
Hope that you are having a great holiday season.
There isn't a lot to say in this update, this is a quiet period where the manufacturer sets up the digital files for printing…and there are a lot of files to prepare. I’ll post an update as soon as we receive the digital proofs from the manufacturer.
This month, the CASSETTE TAPES were assembled and packaged. I think they look (and sound) great! Well, they sound "great" for a cassette tape (but remember, there’s a download code included with each tape).
That’s it for now. Here's to hoping your holidays are happy, speak to you next year!
Stay safe,
Rob
November Update: Happy Holidays!
about 1 year ago
– Tue, Nov 21, 2023 at 08:37:25 AM
Hello Backers!
Great news: This past month has been hectic, but I have finalized almost everything. We are in good shape, ready for the next stages of production and manufacturing.
ALL FILES have been delivered to the manufacturer. They are being reviewed, formatted, and will soon be sent back to us as DIGITAL PROOFS, a complete series of press-ready files to review. Next, we will be sent COLOR PROOFS, actual physical prints for color and final content review. Around the same time, we will receive WHITE BOX copies of the game and expansions, unprinted physical copies with the final “matte, linen texture” finish on the boxes and all token sheets, the correct card count (and linen card finish), cubes, standee bases, dice, and inserts.
A solo test run playing a standard Dark Venture game that includes the Khrag Pit location.
We will continue to work on the manuals (rule books), testing right up to the COLOR PROOF stage, making sure they are as good as they can be.
If you are in the US, I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving holiday and regardless of whether you are in the US or not, I hope you have a safe and relaxing time with your family and friends this holiday season! Without your support and input, this project could never have been made, so I am very thankful to you.
Rob
October Update: Tokens and Packages!
about 1 year ago
– Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 07:55:43 AM
Hello backers!
I hope you are well. This month, I have been focused on finishing production and delivering files to the manufacturer.
Firstly, I completed the token punch-out board designs for all expansions. Defining the token count in each expansion was the first step, laying them out onto the boards (with space for cutting) was the next step, creating print-ready files (front and back!) was the last step.
Two token punch-out sheets, front and back, from the CRAWL! expansion. NOTE: The white cut lines will not be printed on the boards!
The mini-expansion punch-out sheets are the same width and height as the cards they will be packaged with (their thickness matches the tokens in the core game and other expansions).
Also this month, packaging for all expansions was designed and finalized. The manufacturer created a template for the mini-expansion boxes based on the punch-out board and card count, then I completed the final design layouts. We’re currently finishing the template/design for the 2E Upgrade Pack box. The layouts for the Khrag Pit and Crawl expansion boxes were also completed. Once the 2E Upgrade Pack box is finished, outside of any minor last minute changes, all packaging is done.
The approved boxes for the BEASTS & MONSTERS and THE ALDERKANG mini-expansions
Finally, I typeset the CRAWL! expansion rule book. It’s still being edited (I expect that to take a week or so), but any additional changes won’t require substantial book layout revisions. This was the last expansion book to be typeset.
Most importantly, the delivery timeline is starting to come together: I’m aiming to get all game files to the manufacturer by the end of this month/early November. We’d like to begin printing soon after, but the manufacturer may not be able to fit our game into their production schedule as early as we'd like. The timeline for freight shipping is still open-ended, and until the game is manufactured (and the weight and size of the shipment defined) it will be difficult to nail down exact dates. Optimistically, I’d say the freight shipping should happen late this year. Realistically, it could be early next year. I will update you as the timeline becomes more solid.
IN CASE YOU’RE MOVING: We’re not locking shipping addresses in Backerkit until after we have confirmed the shipping/fulfillment dates, and once dates are confirmed, there will be some time before addresses are locked. For your information - BACKERKIT: How do I update my shipping address?
Thank you, stay safe!
Rob
PS: Hope you have a creepy, fright-filled Halloween!
