Kickstarter Lesson #165: The Whiteboard Video – Stonemaier Games

Kickstarter Lesson #165: The Whiteboard Video

messy youtube wallpaperA few years ago I watched a YouTube video about the health dangers of sitting down for hours at a time. The video had a lasting impact on me, and I attribute it largely to the way the information was presented.

The format was a “whiteboard video,” a dynamic approach to sharing a large amount of data in a short amount of space. As the narrator talks, the concepts they describe are illustrated in real-time on the screen. The visuals are good for both short-term attention spans and long-term memory.

I never really considered this type of video for Kickstarter until JR Honeycutt called my attention to a similar video on the Millenium Blades project page. The video (on YouTube here) explained a complex game in simple terms.

I instantly knew I wanted one for Scythe.

So I reached out to Klaus Kneale (klauskneale AT gmail DOT com) to see if he would make a “Scrappy Preview” video for me too. He kindly agreed, and a few months later I sent him a prototype.

This is actually one of my favorite aspects of the Scrappy Preview video: I don’t have to write the script. I love to write, but Klaus is particularly good at condensing a lot of information into a short, visual video. He plays the game writes the script, and sends it to you for review before he moves on to the illustrations.

For the same reasons I like the video at the beginning of this post, I really like Klaus’s illustrations. They have this friendly, accessible feel to them.

Yes, I have a project video for Scythe, a full gameplay video, a few review videos too. But I think the Scrappy Preview is a great way for backers to understand the game in only a few minutes. It’s a paid service (contact Klaus for his rates), but I think it’s well worth the expense.

I’m a big fan, and I think this style of video could work for a project in any category. Feel free to watch the Scythe Scrappy Preview video below to see what I’m talking about.

Also see: QuickDraw Services

13 Comments on “Kickstarter Lesson #165: The Whiteboard Video

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  1. From what i can see, Scrappy Preview’s channel is not very active these days. I like and i would consider this type of videos for first or other future projects. Any other similar channel to suggest Jamie?

  2. Hi Jamey,

    I’m really a fan of this kind of video. I saw it many times in different aspects. Whenever I start
    this kind of videos I can’t stop it until the end, especially with the one that make jokes.
    My point on your video is that it feel a little dark. I feel like it need more light while he recording the video and maybe using a red mark with the black make it more refreshing like the health dangers of sitting down for hours at a time video.
    I will really consider doing that kind of video for our project in the future.

    Thanks Jamey

  3. That certainly is an interesting idea. Depending on cost might be something I look into…..Thanks for sharing Jamey.

  4. I think it’s cool! At 4:11 there’s a small mistake in that it’s showing meeples X8 while there are 6 in the game.

  5. But maybe it is just because i didn’t see this video type form the first time and i am used to it. So i wasn’t like YAAAAAY how cool is that.

  6. I like this video style mostly, but i have to admit that this version is way too long for this type of video. I got more and more disinterested from minute 3+. it should have been shorter in my opinion. I found myself starting to switch to other tabs after the 3 minutes and checking stuff while it ran in the background.
    But maybe it is just me.

    1. I’m okay with 3 minutes, even if that’s not the entire video–that’s longer than most attention spans! :)

  7. I’ve never seen anything quite like this. Bravo! This really encapsulates the gameplay and a few important strategic points in a short period of time. Impossible to stop watching it once you hit the play button (which is surely what you are going for).

    1. I’m glad you like it, Scot! This type of video has that effect on me–once I start watching, I can’t stop.

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