Get your copy of Bubble Net, its expansions and accessories right here!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Files away!
4 days ago
– Sat, Nov 16, 2024 at 08:41:50 PM
Hello Podmates!
It's been quite a process to get things just as we want them, but we're excited to announce that we've sent our first batch of files to our manufacturing partners at Gameland! It's not all just graphic design and logistics either; we've got new art as well. Above is teaser piece from the revised Fish Deck!
Print & Play fans, we haven't forgotten you! We appreciate your patience, and are pleased to let you know that Martin, of Martin's Print and Play Hideaway, has our files in hand and will be working on putting together the best possible experience for you in the very near future. Watch this space!
Going to PAX Unplugged? So is Drayer Ink! We've a full schedule of demo appearances, including Knight Moves Cafe and the PAX Together Intersection (PTI). We'll be doing demos, showing off the newest assets for Bubble Net, and doing some usability testing around the Fish Clock expansion. Come visit us at one of the below times, we'd love to see you!
That's all for now. Thank you all for your support, and talk to you soon!
Rulebook updates: we'd love your input!
about 2 months ago
– Tue, Oct 01, 2024 at 09:36:59 PM
Hi Team! We've just received a new revision of the Bubble Net rulebook, and thought we'd give you all a look and get your feedback. We've got some of our own notes but it'd be valuable to hear what you have to say. After all, this is really for you!
Thank you all again for your participation!
Fish Clocks and files
2 months ago
– Wed, Sep 18, 2024 at 09:13:53 AM
August/September Update
Hello Podmates!
It's been a minute since our last update on here. That's deliberate - we will not be updating on Kickstarter as often unless we specifically have something to tell you, but if you want more regular updates on what we are doing (which includes conventions, other games, and general life stuff), you are invited to join our Facebook group or follow our other social media channels!
TL;DR
Almost all assets complete
Still to do:
Fish Clock design (testing in progress)
Fish Clock box (awaiting box dimensions)
Rules editing (in progress)
PNP file formatting (ready to start!)
So, a brief summary:
We recently lost two of our pets, Shasha and Lizzie, and it was a huge blow to us both. We have needed a bit of time to mourn.
We also had lots of other things going on: GenCon, PAX West, George's new job, Cat's game design course (and preparing 8 students' games for printing!), but we have been able to fit in some design and development work on Bubble Net and the Fish Clocks expansion, which we will cover below.
The team over at Jovial Graphics have been working hard on the game assets - we think they are looking pretty good! Here are previews of the two player boards:
And an example of the Fish cards:
And a mock-up of the box cover (this folds around the lid, so the writing around the edges is actually on the sides of the box):
What do you think, shall we go ahead and add our Drayer Ink logo and call it finished?
We have worked together to simplify the Podmate tokens:
And the icons on the Dice expansion (the pink outline is the "no print" zone):
And mainly, we have been working on the rulebook, which is nearly ready to show you. That will be in another update!
Fish Clocks
George and Morgan have been working on the best way to combine the requirements for a compact expansion with the best shape for the hands of the Clocks - we originally tested with clock hands, but they were pretty flimsy and we worried they would wear out easily, especially as they were unsupported.
So George tested circles with finger holes, which worked well, but felt pretty unwieldy - and took up too much space on the punchboard slug.
In our last meeting, Morgan suggested a teardrop shape, so that will be our test project this week - we are going to make a version on our Cricut and make sure the shape works at the size we need, and we will post about that on social media.
Print and Play
We know it's partway through September. We are still tracking to have PNP files for you this month, but it might be a bit tight for Martin - it has taken longer than expected to finalise the files.
The base game assets are ready for handing over now, though, so we are starting that process, and as soon as the Fish Clock testing is complete, we will be able to send everything out!
Expansion Box art
Ignore the text, it's just a placeholder - this is a quick draft, our graphic designer will make that bit look great!
I have a draft layout for the illustration in progress, but until we have the exact box dimensions, I won't be able to complete it, so that is the last task on my plate.
The box dimensions rely on the slug size, which relies on our completed testing for the Fish Clocks, and we want to be sure we have that right, so it might take a little longer than planned - we would prefer to send out the files a week late than have to send out several fixes as we figure out what's wrong, but done is also better than perfect!
As soon as the rulebook is back from Jovial and our editor, we will post it here as well, so you can help us make sure it's clear and we haven't missed any typos!
And that's our update! How are things in your world, friends?
Post Gen Con Update!
3 months ago
– Sun, Aug 11, 2024 at 07:26:49 AM
Hello, friends and Podmates!
We're back from Gen Con and swinging back into the rhythm of being a tiny, 2-person game studio with full-time jobs (lol?).
So, what's happening with the game?
TL;DR: The files for Bubble Net are going through some final tweaks. We will have some examples to show you very soon!
We need to finalise the design and art for all the game components, then send the files to the manufacturer to check for formatting issues, after which we can move towards our first pre-production copy.
We want the Print and Play files to be as perfect as we can make them, so we are waiting until they have been fully checked by us, Jovial Graphics, our editors and proof-readers, the manufacturer, Gameland, and our PNP expert, Martin Gonzalvez, before we send them out, because we know how upsetting it can be to work hard on a build only to find an error.
Right now, here's where things are:
Game logo * Design - complete
BASE GAME
Player boards * Art - complete * Graphic design - final draft in progress
Cards * Art - complete * Graphic design - final draft in review
Box * Art - complete * Graphic Design - in progress
Podmate tokens * Art - complete * Graphic Design - final draft in progress
Rulebook * Text - in review * Diagrams - first draft, in review * Art - WIP
Print and Play files * Awaiting final inputs so they are ready to send to Martin
FISH CLOCKS EXPANSION
Fish Clocks * Art - complete bar some tweaks to fit with design * Functional Design - in testing * Graphic Design - complete * Punchboard Design - awaiting testing
Box * Art - draft * Graphic Design - Draft
Rules * Text - draft * Diagrams - not started * Art - WIP
Print and Play files * Awaiting final inputs so they are ready to send to Martin
So as you can see, everything is moving along nicely. We expect to be sending our first set of files to the manufacturer in the next few weeks, which means we are also still on track for delivering the Print and Play versions during September as planned.
What else is happening chez Drayer?
HOMEBODIES
We are still isolating as much as possible, given how many people came home from Gen Con with COVID. No symptoms and tests remain negative, but better safe than sorry. It's also nice to have a bit of quiet time at home, working on our games and being with our pets.
To prepare, we have also been making prototypes of a game she designed recently, WillaMET, to give the students a starting point for their own design journey.
Prototype of Puddle Boats made for us by Print & Play
We are also bringing some of our other prototypes and game design kits.
We have received sponsored donations from Print&Play and Panda Game Manufacturing, which will help enormously. Check out our socials for more on all that as the course progresses -we are @drayerink on all the things!
FAREWELL
We had to say goodbye to our much-loved feline matriarch, Queen Shasha, who was almost 21. We are devastated, because she was a core member of our family, and there is a small black-and-white hole in our hearts. Our other two pets, Lizzie and Loki, are a bit disoriented without her firm rule, and need a lot of reassurance. It's all a bit subdued in the Drayer household at present.
Throwback to a rare family photo; Sha was due to turn 21, Lizzie is now 15, and Loki is 11.5
NEXT UPDATE
We will update you again soon with renders of the finalised base game and expansion components as soon as we have them!
Have a wonderful August, stay safe, hug your family - and if you want more frequent updates, follow us on Instagram TikTok Facebook (page and group) BlueSky Join our mailing list here
Ngā mihi,
Cat and George
Late pledges closing tonight, pledge manager opening tomorrow!
4 months ago
– Thu, Jul 18, 2024 at 03:10:47 PM
The subject says it all; tonight (8pm PST) Late Pledges on Kickstarter will be closing, and soon after the first surveys will be heading out to backers. If something seems odd with the survey you receive, PLEASE let us know!
Tomorrow morning the pledge manager will be available at https://bubble-net.backerkit.com!
As mentioned before, here you'll be able to add those items that you might have missed during the Kickstarter. Have some friends who missed out on the campaign and late pledges? No worries, we'll have a pre-order store available for them too at https://bubble-net.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders!
Due to the volatility of shipping prices globally right now, shipping fees for this project will be calculated at a later date once we have the best estimates for everyone. We plan to enter & charge backers for shipping a month or two before fulfillment when we have better estimates of what it will cost to ship backers rewards. We will alert backers when shipping costs are finalized & before we charge your cards in your BackerKit survey. We will keep you informed all along the way!
