New Magic related crowdfunding project on kickstarter

[Proph3t]

Today a new crowdfunding initiative launched on kickstarter, a project for eCounter & eCounter Avatar, two innovations for Magic the Gathering. Check it out!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/653883082/ecounters-trading-card-gaming-evolved

What's your opinion?

[Neffy]

Innovation is a great thing and these guys clearly show enthuiasm and love for what they do. I can see the eCounter be way more useful than regular dice, having multiple modes, but Im not sure customers see this new product as value for them. Especially since the eCounters wont be as cheap as molded dice. I see absolutely no need for the avatar - I would personally never carry it with me and display it. It seems a bit too "rauw, im a mighty wizard with dangerous dragons around me" for my taste.

I also like the use of dice and they can't break. :)
Still, props to the gentlemen!

[Dan Turner]

My wife and I are interested in this project.

I want you to explain, if you can why a person would get this item over something like an app or a nice metal abacus style counter.


I do like the size issue I could carry a dozen around but why should I instead of tokens or dice.

What sort of retail marketing are you looking at, as well as have you come to a wholesale cost (buying a dozen or so units at a time for retail sale)

[Nihil Credo]

One big annoyance I see is that your opponent(s) have to read that upside-down. Counters or dice don't have that problem.

[Phelix]

also is shady that OP the guy w. the kickstarter project. just come out and say it.


I personally think the project is absolete already.

[bruizar]

I'd rather have WOTC reprint cards like tarmogoyf that can change their power and toughness through e-ink and some low power technology/nfc/something else that doesnt exist yet.

[Proph3t]

@Nihil Credo - You don't read dice upside down? I do it all the time.... :confused: You are right about the fact that counters don't have that, but I think it gets messy when you have more than 2. And for me, that happens a lot.

@Phelix - Nothing shady about it. If I had something I wanted to hide, I would have done my best to hide it. Yes, I am one the guys who started the kickstarter project. I didn't want the thread to be something like a huge promotion thing. I just want to reach out to the community of which I have been part of for years now and get some momentum and feedback. I apologize if you find that offensive in any way, which I hope you do not.

@Magic Fanatic - Feel free to contact us via the kickstarter project page. Obviously we have plans to get this into retail if the funding succeeds, but wholesale pricing and conditions will be set at a later date only.

@Everyone else - Thank you for the feedback and please keep it coming!

[apple713]

here are the issues i'm seeing. Price is going to be a major major selling point. You have not really given a STRONG argument as for the e-counters benefits over its competition...the d20. Yes it will not roll in case the table moves, and its visible in the dark, but if its too dark to see a dice how are you going to see your cards?

The benefits indicated probably would not warrant the cost. For competitive tournaments, paper and pen is preferred as a record for life totals.

Are they durable? can I throw them recklessly into my pocket like dice and not have to worry about them breaking?

Finally, if I were to be given one and not have to worry about the cost, the first time i went to a tournament or needed it and the battery died, that would be the last time i used it. If there was a way to make it motion powered someone could give it a couple shakes before setting it and it should be good?

I like the innovation however i feel like this is a fringe product and would not be widely adopted. You would be better off designing something like sleeves that didnt show signs of wear and had significantly longer life than available options.

Maybe even a playmat with a built in life counter and numbers on the design that could indicate the counters on a permanent when aligned with the appropriate number.

i just found the cost on your site. To turn a profit it seems like you'd have to sell them for more than $15 USD and most players i would imagine would rather have a dual land than a set of 6.

[twndomn]

really? are we at the point of sending money to bunch of Netherlands European guys and trust their execution of business ideas?

what's EU's law for this? what if they just pick up the money and run?

[Nihil Credo]

really? are we at the point of sending money to bunch of Netherlands European guys and trust their execution of business ideas?

what's EU's law for this? what if they just pick up the money and run?

Well, the Netherlands is a kingdom, so there are really no "laws" against fraud per se. You have to present a supplication to your local nobleman - the baron or count that rules your province - and *if* you have been a dutiful subject he will take your defence and issue a challenge against the accused's own feudal lord. This used to be resolved through duels or battles, but nowadays it's most often done peacefully, with a bishop or (for important cases) the King serving as arbiter. If the two nobles are friends or relatives they might settle it with a friendly horse-race; those usually draw some media attention, too.

Anyway, as a foreigner from a republic like the USA, your legal status would be equivalent to that of a "stuk stront", an "outcast plebeian" who has been deprived of aristocratic protection (usually because of crimes committed by him or by his forefathers). Your best bet would be to formally join either the Dutch Reformed Church or - more likely, due to its better international network - the Catholic Church, and then appeal through a bishop or abbot; there's a customary donation but it's not too expensive. Otherwise, you can always present a supplication to the King's Minister, which is open to everybody for any reason, but as you can imagine that can take years. Plus a new king has acceded to the throne only recently, so things will likely be extra slow as he will be very busy establishing a power base at court, keeping ambitious noblemen under control, and so on.

[alphastryk]

This seems to be a classic case of a solution in search of a problem.