Moongha Invaders

[Chuckila]

Lay your odds/bets for a potential 2014 release here in 5, 4, 3 ...

[jakkal]

Eu sunt 100% convins ca o sa fie 2014...sper sa fie Q1 si nu Essen

[AngelEye]

La cum o tine in bla bla sper sa nu fie 2015, eu nu reusesc sa am optimismul vostru cu 2014

[jakkal]

No comment!

Project Update #25: Casting issues

Sorry for the delay in the latest update.

Life has been a bit hectic here with a number of other projects on the go. It has to be said that at the moment if something can go wrong then it does go wrong.

I had to change production company for the game due to a massive rise in the quote for casting the pieces. The new company has the figures and is working out the best way to cast them. The problem is that some of the pieces are too large and complex to cast in standard PP, which leaves only PVC as a possibility. I'm not happy about this as PVC has a bad environmental reputation. Therefore, I trying to work out with the sculptor whether it would be possible to 3d scan the figures, alter them digitally, then print them in a form that can be cast from without having to use PVC.

I had no idea before going into this that so many things could go wrong. The issues we are having with our other projects is putting a lot of strain on the company. I cannot say when Moongha will be ready, as it depends on how long it takes to alter the pieces. All I can say is that one way or another the game will be published - just don't expect it before Christmas.

I'm sorry for the delay, it will teach me to stick to cardboard and paper in the future;).

Thanks for your patience in this matter. Please remember that Max Michael is not responsible for this project. As he receives all of the KS messages and then has to forward them to me please try to communicate only if you have to. If you need to contact me personally you can do so at martin@treefroggames.com.

Martin

[DanielIndru]

[jakkal]

Project Update #26: Martin Wallace's Moongha Invaders

Happy New Year
Work is still proceeding with the figures. the mold manufacturers are having to make
adjustments to the figures to make them suitable for injection molding. This means
altering poses and changing the shape of certain features. It also means in the case
of Mechoor that the piece will have to be made in multiple parts which are then
locked together.

Please do not panic, we will eventually get there.

Martin

[jakkal]

Project Update #27: Moongha update

The sculptures are now with an Auckland based company who will scan them in 3D,alter them as necessary and then print them using a laser-centered printer (which is very expensive). Cheap 3d printing is not of a high enough resolution. The main issue with the figures is that they are too big, so they need to be reduced in size otherwise they will not fit in the box.

All of the artwork for the game is complete. Nothing has been printed yet because that'snot the way things are done. Once the pieces are in the process of being molded then the rest of the components will be printed. I will get the artwork put up on the Treefrog website.

I understand some of you are frustrated by the lack of updates. Please bare in mind that at any one time I'm working on a number of different projects. Moongha will be produced as Treefrog cannot afford to let its customers down. However, I also have to work on other projects to earn money otherwise Treefrog goes out of business. At the moment this project will probably make a small loss for the company, I'm trying to manage things so keep this loss as small as possible.

Martin

[jakkal]

Project Update #29: Martin Wallace's Moongha Invaders

Response to questions
Just responding to unanswered queries.

Rules will be posted as soon as they are ready. I was originally going to use the
resident Treefrog artist but she is busy working on another project. I have somebody
else in mind but need to ask them first. Hopefully rules will be posted in next two
weeks, along with samples of artwork. Rules on website are old ones.

With regards to the app, the final form depends on the advice of the coding company
and the costs of different versions. I cannot answer those questions now as I have
not had that conversation. I want to focus on the board game first, then worry about
apps.

Pieces were larger than originally asked for. Most are just a few mm over size.
Mechoor is way over-side, so is the one causing a headache. Only this figure needs
to be adjusted digitally, rest will use original sculpts. The board has not changed
size.

Cannot give firm delivery date, too many variables. Depends on how long it takes to
sort out Mechoor.

No printing will begin until the molds are created. I want to leave myself the
option of being able to increase the depth of the box if necessary. Printing process
is fairly quick.

3D printing is much better now - see Witches pieces from Phalanx and Micro Art - all
produced by laser centered-printer.

I realise that this is all very frustrating for you and can only apologise for the
slow progress of the game. This has been the most difficult project I have ever
worked on. All I can ask is that you remain patient. You will see a copy of the game
sometime around July/August.

I am aware that answers usually lead to more questions. At the moment I am dealing
with a number of projects in different stages of development. I am doing all I can
to progress Moongha and just because I do not answer questions promptly does not
mean nothing is being done. For me to work efficiently I need to keep a clear head.
Dealing with lots of questions ends up getting in the way of work, so it would help
me if you could keep them to a minimum.

Thanks

Martin

[Chuckila]

I am aware that answers usually lead to more questions. At the moment I am dealing
with a number of projects in different stages of development. I am doing all I can
to progress Moongha and just because I do not answer questions promptly does not
mean nothing is being done. For me to work efficiently I need to keep a clear head.
Dealing with lots of questions ends up getting in the way of work, so it would help
me if you could keep them to a minimum.

Mi se pare mie, sau devine nesimtit de-a binelea nenea Wallace?!

Nu e ca si cum lumea il deranjeaza asa, din senin, cu intrebarile inocente gen "Hey dude, where's my game?". Daca tot lucreaza la atatea proiecte, si unul pentru care deja a luat banii nu e important, macar sa aibe obrazul sa nu vina cu asemenea texte.

[DanielIndru]

Mie nu mi se pare.
Dar cum tot mai multe proiecte de pe Kickstarter au intarzieri si probleme, lumea isi cam pierde rabdarea si il bombardeaza cu tot felul de mailuri si intrebari.
Ii dau dreptate intr-un fel, e multa bataie de cap sa raspunzi tuturor, e de preferat sa fi lasat in pace sa-ti vezi de treaba.
Oricum, a fost cinstit cu raspunsurile, asta conteaza mult.

Si sa nu uitam:

Treefrog has never produced a game with plastic pieces before, so to a certain degree this is a journey into the unknown.

[AngelEye]

Parerea mea e ca se astepta sa castige muuult mai mult si dupa ce s-a terminat kickstarterul nu prea i-a convenit asa ca incearca sa minimalizeze costurile maxim si tare sper sa nu ne trezim cu niste componente de ... Iar de nesmtit a trecut de mult de acest stagiu din moment ce a avut tupeul sa spuna ca sunt cam multe postari la rarele update-uri.

[jakkal]

Project Update #31: Change in management

Sorry for the delay since the last update.

I've been waiting for some decisions to be made from other parties about changing the way the project is managed.

After producing A Study in Emerald Treefrog developed a good relationship with Cool Stuff Inc. They helped us out when the US order fulfillment company we had originally started using became less than reliable. They have since become the only source of Emerald in North America, which has helped streamline the way we deal with sales.

I approached them a few weeks ago asking if they would be interested in taking over the management of the Moongha production. They have their own contacts in China and have started going into game production as well as sales. From my point of view there are many upsides to CSI taking over. It also means better order fulfilment once the game is ready.

CSI have said yes. They have got a quote from the company they regularly use, Panda, who are now primed for the job. Files and masters are presently being sent to Panda.

According to the quote it will take 55 days to produce the molds for the pieces. Production will take another 65 days, which is longer than I would expect from a German company. However, this seems to involve climatization time protect the games from moisture (which has been the bane of some other productions). Shipping time to the US will be another 30 days, to Europe 40-50 days.

So, on the one hand things are looking up as the games will be produced by a reputable company in China while managed by a company in the US, who also have a good reputation. The main downside seems to be the time, but speeding the process up is not doable without risking moisture issues.

I will still be responsible for posting updates and managing the art files, which are mostly in hand. Work has begun on translating rules into German, French and Italian. Tim Huesken is working on the layout for the English language rules. Once they are ready I will post them.

Thanks again for your patience.

Martin

El zice ca pana in septembrie ar trebui sa le primim... eu zic ca daca ajung pana la Essen, e minune.

[DanielIndru]

Sa fie in 2014, ca in rest nu mai conteaza asa de mult.
Si sa arate bine!

[AngelEye]

Ce optimist esti

[Chuckila]

Eu sunt 100% convins ca o sa fie 2014...sper sa fie Q1 si nu Essen

Eu inca tin pariurile deschise

[jakkal]

Project Update #32: Progress report

Just to let you know that Panda are getting on with producing the molds for the plastic pieces. Gary Hunt has re worked Mechoor to reduce him in size. Tim Huesken has produced the first draft of the 2 player rule book - will be a delay before he can make corrections as he is at the Gathering.

Hopefully should be plain sailing from here.

Martin

[AngelEye]

Deci dupa 2 ani avem un draft la 2 player rule book. Voi chiar sperati sa il avem anul asta, sincer eu sper macar sa vina si sa arate cat de cat ok caci dupa cum vad in curand o sa reduca si harta la jumatate ca e mai ok de jucat asa

[jakkal]

Plastic mold complete

Some major movement on the Moongha scene. Panda, the manufacturers, have just sent me samples of the game pieces. The quality is good and I'm pleased to see they have managed to cast Mechoor in a single piece.

I have played the game with the pieces and they fit (just about;). It's actually nice that the monster pieces are suitably monstrous, in that they tower over the board.

I have held back on production of the box as I was not sure if the planned size would fit the pieces. As it happens that was the right decision as they are too big for the box. The box will now have to be made 30mm deeper.

Once I have a revised production date I will let you know.

I have attached two images of the pieces. I will see about posting the rest on the Treefrog website.

[jakkal]

Project Update #36: Rules posted to Treefrog website

The rules for the standard and two player game have now been posted to the Treefrog website.

I'm going to be busy for the next month, as am seeing family in the UK.

Files are in the process of being sent to Panda, the manufacturers.

Cannot confirm final production date yet, as that depends on how long it takes to sort the files out.

Please do not worry about updating addresses. Once I get to the point of being ready to ship the game I will ask for addresses.

Martin

[ProfessorChaos]

Mi se pare mie sau chiar nu-s așa mare șmecherie miniaturile? Asta ținând cont și de cât timp le-ați așteptat...