How did 2012 fare for the studio? I guess it depends on your point of view.
This blog has seen a lot more attention (even though last January and December have been slow as far as posting goes). My blog posts are up 953% compared to what was posted in 2011 and readership and hits have grown as a result. I've also started to do more with Social Networking which has helped grow readership to the blog. To all the readers of the blog, whether you are a regular or simply stumbled upon it with a google search and decided to check it our -- thank you!
This was one of the more significant goals I set for myself -- to raise up the profile of the blog and share various thoughts.
On behalf of the Castles & Crusades Society, I have scraped up material together with the help of fans and put out two issues of the Domesday, and effectively resurrected it. Well, maybe just re-animated it. There is still work to be done there and I have two more issues I committed to do for that. I really have to start focusing some attention to the next issue -- the Winter issue. I have no hard date for it yet but it will likely see a late February release.
Despite my love of C&C, I have held two planned releases for the fourth quarter of 2012 back. Both of these are adventure modules and both have gone through editing and are pretty much ready for art, final layout, and production. Quite a few hours have been devoted to get these to that stage however art and a print run is expensive -- even in small quantities and I have really been trying to gauge what the actual interest is for these. As I've indicated before, 'A Trick on the Tain', my previous release written by Keith Hackwood, had disappointing sale numbers but this had nothing to do with the quality of the work. As such, I have been very mindful about such things since I operate very much on a shoestring budget at this point. For those interested in those, I think I've figured out how I'll proceed with the production of one, if not both, of these releases. Simply put, given that the majority of the work is done and all that is required is art and additional layout, I think I will turn towards a crowdfunding initiative (like Kickstarter) to do it. Goal would be low, little to *no* stretch goals, with shipping included and product shipped within 3 months of the end of the funding.
If for some reason, funding does not meet its goal, then I think I will refocus the energy producing these to other projects and re-purpose the scenarios for other systems other than C&C (though using it for that would still be simple enough). If the demand is overwhelming and funding greatly exceeds initial goals, well, I certainly have more projects which are ready for C&C and will have to get working on those to. In any event, I'll put the fate of my C&C related projects with Arcana Creations in the hands of fans of the game and simply wait and see.
I have two other significant projects for 2013 -- but no more than that. Time is limited and this is very much akin to a hobby. It does not generate the revenue that would warrant any additional time devoted to it. Especially since I enjoy playing the games as opposed to just developing material for them. One project involves an exclusive license to a system which allows me to build a new game from it. I have a time window for this and others will be shouldering the burden as far as writing and design is concerned. This gives me the time to do the other thing... which was already a work in progress for the past couple of years and has had its share of transformations to how it would ultimately be presented. I am talking about the Ballista and how it will finally be used. Certain parts of the system are still a bit 'rough' but solid enough to either continue to refine or drop aspects of it completely and just go with something a bit more familiar.
Besides those ... I have a couple of little things -- one of which I have to finish writing for submission for the 15th of Jan. Oddly enough, this first of little things is one of the items I am most excited about and I think it is because it's small. A smaller scale means projects area easier to start and finish and a completed project gives me a good sense of having accomplished something. Very much like the past issues of the Domesday I did in 2012, it was nice to have a chance to put together and complete something.
If 2012 was changing things around... growing some awareness for Arcana Creations and the blog... and get started (or re-started) on the right foot, I hope 2013 will be more about moving forward and getting things completed to continue building from there.
As far as moving forward and getting things done is concerned, I also don't think there is any better wish I can hope for my readers and supporters for this new year as well.
Happy New Year and all the best for 2013 to each and everyone of you!
M
Looking forward to 2013,Pat. Also wanted to let you know I will help any way I can with Domesday.
ReplyDeleteThanks Josh... give me about another week or so to get a game plan going and we can tackle the upcoming issue. Help is always appreciated! :)
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