New Update Schedule + Card Approvals
over 6 years ago – Wed, Sep 06, 2017 at 01:08:57 AM

Hi unkindled,

New Update Schedule

We will be moving back to one update per week from next week onward now that the bulk of the Wave 1 Shipping is complete or in the final stage.  The development team are already working on some updated content in relation to the Expansion Sets that are coming in Wave 2 and we should see the first of those arrive soon.

Wave 1 Shipping

Italian and Spanish corrected copies we expect to start arriving next week. Thank you once again IT/ES backers for your patience in getting these corrected copies out to you. Everywhere else in the world has now been sent so your parcel is either on its way or if it has not arrived it may have had some difficulties finding you.

Fear not, for support have you covered. [email protected] will handle any issues you may have. We have increased our support team again recently in size to help cope with the demand at this stage as we have fell behind on our ideal of 24 hour response time. 

We hope to catch up as soon as we can on this so please, if you have sent an email already we will answer it - no need to follow up with a second.

Wave 2 Production - Cards

Today's update is all about cards! We have recently had the final bunch of cards approved from all expansions. This means over 400+ card designs have now been approved and are in full production. 

WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW!

Cards are usually made alongside the main production run or just before as they can take some time to actually produce. We are very specific about the quality and finish on the cards that come in the game and this means we have to be selected when we look at what manufacturing partner we use.

As we have already made the core game, we will use the same factory that produced those cards to ensure the same quality, colour and finish on each card.

We have been slightly behind on getting the full approval on the cards - when dealing with over 400+ different designs its understandable that the proofing, checking, approval, testing, sampling can take a considerable amount of time. With a project of this scale these kind of delays are usually understandable.

In the development of a lot of the expansions the cards are something that increased in size and scope quite significantly. The good news is everyone gets some more cool cards - whether they are boss behaviour, armour, items, etc. it all helps expand the core game experience.

Armour Set

Finally, last update we put a photo up of the Armour Set Expansion. We have had some mixed feedback relating to the armour sets not having weapons - some people liking the fact they have the in-game emotes...while others don't.

We always listen to the community and will of course always assess what we can/cannot do within practical realms. We are already in discussion with Bandai to see if this is even an option.

We will keep you updated - but please understand that although we cannot always act, we do always listen.

Praise the Sun! \[T]/ 

Iron Keep, Invaders, Armour Sets & Summons Production Samples!
over 6 years ago – Fri, Sep 01, 2017 at 01:44:22 AM

 Hi unkindled,

Wave 1 Shipping Update

• 90% of Asian orders have now been processed and are on their way. The final batch will be shipping tomorrow (01/09), with tracking numbers being provided throughout next week.
• Australia/NZ is now complete with all orders on their way.
• IT/ES corrected Core Games are now on their way to the Shipping Hub. We expect them to land next week so we can start processing and sending products.
• If you have still not received your copy, drop [email protected] an email to investigate for you. Support is receiving high traffic again at the moment so please be patient with the response time.

Production Update

Now that the BackerKit is over and shipping of Wave 1 is virtually complete - we can start to give you updates regarding production. Model production has been going pretty well - arriving with us at the office this week we have:

We will be also getting the 'colour proof' of the Invaders and Summon models. These are to test to see if we like the colour or if it needs to go lighter/darker or a different shade completely. 

When you send a colour shade (usually a PANTONE), over for manufacture and it's actually applied to a model it can sometimes not look quite right due to the way light reacts on the final model.

The Brown/Grey above are the same as we have used in the Core Set so we know they are correct, but when we get the Invaders/Summons arrive into the office (most likely Monday), we can really have a good look and see if we need to make alterations. 

Although the above models have had several rounds of revisions, if we still need to make changes to the moulds we can do at this stage - for sharpness, detail, etc. - but this does add delay. We always strive for quality in the output and would rather suffer a delay than provide backers with poor quality model(s).

The whole process, from initial sculpting file to final production model, takes time to ensure the detail is of the level backers expect - which is why we have been super busy in the background working on the models as a priority.

Models usually are the biggest hold up to production flow as they take a considerable amount of time to create the moulds and fix them if needed.

Right now our pressing job (apart from model approval), is working on all the graphical assets and ensuring they get approved by Bandai Namco and into full production. Graphical work generally starts production once tooling is nearing completion just prior to mass production of the product(s). As you can appreciate we have a LOT of graphical work on this project for all these expansions...but more on that in the next update! 

Praise the Sun! \[T]/

BackerKit CLOSED! Thank You!
over 6 years ago – Wed, Aug 30, 2017 at 01:24:08 AM

Hi unkindled,

The BackerKit is now CLOSED! Thank you so much to everyone who added additional products - hopefully everyone managed to get what they missed first time round!

Its been a bit manic at SFG HQ again recently with GenCon, our new webstore launch, the card game pre-orders AND obviously the BackerKit - but now things can start to run a little more normal again :)

We will update everyone with shipping status for Wave 1 on Thursday - we are just waiting for some confirmations that haven't been received (by time of writing this update).

We will also start to reveal more over the next few weeks of how production is going and what the sets are going to play like (similar to the Mega Boss one we did) while we lead up to Wave 2 shipping.

Praise the Sun! \[T]/

LAST FEW DAYS OF BACKERKIT! Post GENCON Update
over 6 years ago – Fri, Aug 25, 2017 at 01:36:38 AM

Hi unkindled,

BACKERKIT LAST FEW DAYS! CLOSES 25th! http://darksouls.backerkit.com

(Check your email or request a reminder from the link above)

GENCON 50 Done!

We have just got back from an incredible GENCON 50 - thank you to all those who came and visited us, it was great to meet our backers in person and listen to the awesome gaming experiences people have been having with the game. 

We also put on display a TON of the Expansions including the HUGE Mega Bosses. Remember the BACKERKIT is OPEN until Friday 25th (22:00BST) if you wanted to purchase these Add-Ons. Below are some photo's directly out of the cabinets:

Shipping Update - Wave 1

• Australia Shipping is all now landing so expect to receive your products soon
• Now that Australia has cleared the systems, we will begin the process the New Zealand orders for delivery
• Asia Shipping has started landing and backers will receive products soon
• IT/ES production is now complete! All boxes are repacked. We will now start the process to get them to the shipping hubs! 500 boxes are currently awaiting outer packaging arriving - once this has happened we will get them moving and keep you up to date with the process.

Praise the Sun! \[T]/

GenCon 2017 - Booth #2927
over 6 years ago – Wed, Aug 16, 2017 at 12:55:03 AM

Hi unkindled,

We have just finished a huge 14+ hour flight from the UK to Indianapolis ready to setup for the greatest gaming show on earth - GENCON! This year is super special as they celebrate 50 years of the convention.

Steamforged Games are at Booth #2927 

We have a huge (some would say MEGA) range of miniatures on show for Dark Souls along with our other games, so please come by and say hello and take plenty of photographs to share with those who cannot make it!

As we are at Gencon, our regular updating will be a bit sporadic this week, so please bare with us - we will try to get a shipping update out at some point but we have quite a large amount of our staff attending the show so this may prove difficult.

Don't forget, check your inboxes for your BackerKit link to add any more Add-Ons you want along with the Card Game...it will only be open until the 27th! If you can't find the link visit:

http://darksouls.backerkit.com

Praise the Sun! \[T]/