Blog – Page 2 – Stonemaier Games

Blog

The First 48 Hours: 5 Takeaways

I have a huge amount of respect for creators–especially first-time creators–who take an ample amount of time to research, plan, and execute their crowdfunding project. Not only does this result in greater chances of success, but it also demonstrates that the creator is trying to serve their future backers to the best of their ability, […]

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Are You Unreasonably Hospitable?

When was the last time you bought a product or purchased a service and received more than you expected? That’s the subtitle of Will Guidara’s book, Unreasonable Hospitality: “The remarkable power of giving people more than they expect.” I recently finished the book (it’s on Spotify), and I found it incredibly inspiring. The focus is […]

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Black History Month, DEIB, and Small Businesses

I’ve had the great honor and pleasure over the last few years of learning from Lydia Wehmeyer, our diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) consultant. February is Black History Month, so I asked Lydia a few questions to share in today’s post. Thank you for all the advice and guidance in 2023! In the gaming […]

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Solving the Mystery of Forecasting and Gauging Demand

You’re ready to start the 4-month production process on a new game, which includes the game itself and two optional accessories. How many of each product do you make overall, for each sales channel, and for each fulfillment center? This is the mystery of demand forecasting: Making guesses about the future based on limited, imperfect […]

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Why Not Both? Running Back-to-Back Crowdfunding Campaigns on Different Platforms

With the rise of excellent alternative platforms to Kickstarter (and Kickstarter’s continuous improvement), I’ve seen some creators ponder the alternate realities wherein they chose a different platform for their product. Picture Marvel’s “What If?”, but about entrepreneurs instead of superheroes: What if I had launched on Gamefound, BackerKit, Game On Tabletop, Indiegogo, or Fanfare instead […]

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Bailouts: Considerations for Rescuing Another Company’s Product

It’s rare but not entirely unheard of that a company might try to save another publisher’s product. This isn’t unique to the game industry; it can happen for TV shows, books, movies, and a wide variety of other brands and products. Recently, Mythic Games announced that they were passing the torch for 2 of their […]

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Wyrmspan: Thoughts and Strategies from Our Biggest Launch Ever

24 hours ago we launched our new game, Wyrmspan, from designer Connie Vogelmann, on each of our regional webstores (as well as our direct retailer webstore to ensure that local retailers get what they need to serve their customers for the retail release). It was a very busy day for the entire Stonemaier team as […]

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What Mobile Apps Do You Use for Business?

I spend the vast majority of my workday at my desktop computer, but sometimes–typically when traveling–I have work to do when the only device available is my 2019 iPhone. Today I thought I’d highlight some mobile apps I use for my job at Stonemaier Games (mostly only when I’m on the move), ranging from basic […]

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Quick Kickstarter Lesson Recaps: #136-140

In today’s flashback post, we’ll look at articles about cease and desist letters, rewarding repeat backers, hiring someone to run your campaign, relying on Kickstarter too much, and the benefits of being a Kickstarter Staff Pick.   What to Do If You Receive a Cease & Desist Letter Concerning Your Kickstarter (#136): The Board Game […]

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Selling with Empathy

“Why should I buy your game?” I hear this question (or versions of it) from time to time, yet it always catches me off guard, as I’m not here to convince anyone to buy anything. I’m not a hype man. Rather, I want to present you with information about our product so you can make […]

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