Author (Read 5686 times)

HankMan · « **on:** May 11, 2015, 05:01:49 AM »

The UnTied States Playing Card by Ember Waves is now live on KS.
"I am happy to share with you the first ever Prototype of The Untied States "Capitalists" Playing Cards. You read that right, UN-TIED not united, it is an intentional play on words to signify the United States cutting the ties of injustice and bigotry that has made up such a large part of its history. The entire point of the Untied States brand is to be a symbol of acceptance and inclusion of all people no matter what their background may be."

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1095850670/the-untied-states-capitalists-playing-cards-by-emb

Justin O. · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2015, 02:07:04 PM »

Is the capitalist model not a huge component of the injustice of the US?

These are way too busy for me, the pips are nearly impossible to register with any sort of efficiency. The concept is tired and the execution needs some fine tuning.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2015, 01:01:16 AM »

I've seen a project like this only once before - he's marketing his deck AND an album from his band in the same project! If your hearing is good enough, you can hear me shout "D'OH!" as I slap my hand into my forehead...

This is not like the happy accident of peanut butter and chocolate. This is more like the not-so-happy accident of ice cream and sand.

He thinks that he'll be able to make this deck as a print run of 1,000 - then follow that up with the same deck in a print run of 2,500 at USPC in a separate project, AND that it will provide enough profit for him to move from Phoenix, Arizona to an unnamed city in California (I'd guess the greater L.A. area, since it's the largest). Wow. All this, with a deck that looks like the love child of Lee McKenzie's "Empire" decks and Jackson's Federal 52/Civil War/Revolutionary War decks, with barely an original idea squeezed in edgewise.

His own backers are already complaining about how he's structured his project - the decks appear all on limited tiers and the music should really be in a separate project altogether. Better still, the project creator is already whining that people are being negative, despite their criticism being constructive - and he claims he's been a musician and graphic designer for over 15 years. With skin that thin, I can't imagine he's had too many clients.

For me, this project is an easy "No, thanks, I already have this."

HankMan · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2015, 02:43:14 AM »

Quote from: Don Boyer on May 12, 2015, 01:01:16 AM

I've seen a project like this only once before - he's marketing his deck AND an album from his band in the same project! If your hearing is good enough, you can hear me shout "D'OH!" as I slap my hand into my forehead...

This is not like the happy accident of peanut butter and chocolate. This is more like the not-so-happy accident of ice cream and sand.

He thinks that he'll be able to make this deck as a print run of 1,000 - then follow that up with the same deck in a print run of 2,500 at USPC in a separate project, AND that it will provide enough profit for him to move from Phoenix, Arizona to an unnamed city in California (I'd guess the greater L.A. area, since it's the largest). Wow. All this, with a deck that looks like the love child of Lee McKenzie's "Empire" decks and Jackson's Federal 52/Civil War/Revolutionary War decks, with barely an original idea squeezed in edgewise.

His own backers are already complaining about how he's structured his project - the decks appear all on limited tiers and the music should really be in a separate project altogether. Better still, the project creator is already whining that people are being negative, despite their criticism being constructive - and he claims he's been a musician and graphic designer for over 15 years. With skin that thin, I can't imagine he's had too many clients.

For me, this project is an easy "No, thanks, I already have this."

I was thinking of the same thing about it being very similar to JR decks, I also think the back design very similar to rebel deck by T11.

Nothing original on this deck.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2015, 05:24:43 AM »

Quote from: 52JokesAndCounting on May 12, 2015, 02:43:14 AM

I was thinking of the same thing about it being very similar to JR decks, I also think the back design very similar to rebel deck by T11.

Nothing original on this deck.

Now that you mention the Rebel deck, I'm inclined to agree - that back really does look like it was cribbed from T11/Shepard Fairey.

I'd bet the music sounds like some other band, too! Either that, or it's the only original idea in this entire project...

HolyJJ · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2015, 07:33:06 AM »

There's too much about the design that makes it look like a poor man's copy of the Federal 52 and Empire decks.

I guess the project creator's logo also gives the impression that he has no issues with modifying existing, successful designs... after all, the logo is just a rather blatant mutation of the Warner Brother logo!

chas0039 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2015, 07:23:24 PM »

I agree, and what is the idea behind the blindfolds?

Don Boyer · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2015, 12:03:17 AM »

Quote from: chas0039 on May 12, 2015, 07:23:24 PM

I agree, and what is the idea behind the blindfolds?

You guess is as good as anyone else's. Perhaps it's a political statement of some sort?

Magic_Orthodoxy · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2015, 02:07:38 PM »

wow... that escalated quickly

the campaign made $4,306 on May 31st with 16 backers

On all the previous days the highest days were around $200

Then again on June 1st it made another $1,800 with 4 backers

chas0039 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2015, 06:28:42 PM »

Now I really want to stay away. I avoid things that make no sense when I cannot understand. Keeps me out of trouble.

HankMan · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2015, 06:54:49 PM »

I was shocked when I saw this yesterday, the fact that it almost fund puzzled me

Don Boyer · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2015, 08:32:30 PM »

While I can't say anything conclusively, it looks suspiciously like someone's trying to rig the project and make it appear successful by using shill backers contributing large sums of cash. Build it up, let it hit goal, then collect the cash afterwards and run for the hills! People tend to be more inclined to back an already-successful project, especially in playing cards - they "know" they're getting what they pledge for. Until it turns into a scam, of course, but that's strictly speculation on my part.

HankMan · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2015, 04:46:35 AM »

lets hope that is not the case, I hate to see people going through that type of thing.

Magic_Orthodoxy · « **Reply #13 on:** June 06, 2015, 08:21:51 AM »

WOW! We had another banner day!

June 2, $202 - 5 backers

June 3, $67 - 4 backers

June 4, $14 - 2 backers

and then.....

June 5 $2,317 with only 5 backers! that's $463 a backer

WOW! We did it!

Don Boyer · « **Reply #14 on:** June 07, 2015, 05:09:30 AM »

Gang, based on this funding pattern, in my opinion, this project's got more red flags than a bullfighters' union meeting. I would trust it only as far as I could throw the printing press.

I would have thought the offer of music with the playing cards would have been enough of a hint... Is this is a deck project or an album project?

chas0039 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 07, 2015, 08:21:01 AM »

I wonder if many backers will pull out?

HankMan · « **Reply #16 on:** June 07, 2015, 08:23:55 AM »

I am seeing this as a red flag as well, the pledges jumps way too quickly and very suspicious. Hopefully the are genuine and people that actually pledged for it get the deck.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #17 on:** June 08, 2015, 12:59:09 AM »

Quote from: chas0039 on June 07, 2015, 08:21:01 AM

I wonder if many backers will pull out?

Anything is possible. I also wouldn't be surprised if KS themselves caught wind of the funding irregularities.

Magic_Orthodoxy · « **Reply #18 on:** June 17, 2015, 03:12:03 PM »

some people have pulled out, he's had a few days now where the campaign had negative dollar amounts, if anyone here has backed this, I'd run for the hills before it's too late - if this has been "padded" by over 8K I highly doubt you'll see your cards.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #19 on:** June 17, 2015, 07:45:12 PM »

Quote from: Magic_Orthodoxy on June 17, 2015, 03:12:03 PM

some people have pulled out, he's had a few days now where the campaign had negative dollar amounts, if anyone here has backed this, I'd run for the hills before it's too late - if this has been "padded" by over 8K I highly doubt you'll see your cards.

Actually, there's been exactly two days of losses, according to Kicktraq. On May 26th, they lost $21 but lost no backers - meaning someone just stepped down their pledge, or number of pledges made equaled number lost while the money lost was slightly greater. On June 9th, they lost $13 and one backer in total.

None of that, however, explains the very dodgy-looking funding pattern. Many, many days of low to no funding, and just a few where most of the money was earned in huge blocks of money - but not huge numbers of backers. Rather small numbers, in fact. Their best-funded day, May 31st, they pulled in $4,306 - but had only SIXTEEN backers, for an average of over $500 a piece. Possible? Sure. Likely? Hell, no! The average was almost as bad on June 5th - $2,317 earned from only FIVE backers.

Cardfool · « **Reply #20 on:** June 18, 2015, 01:04:00 AM »

Glad I heeded everyone's advice and got out early...it will be interesting to see how it pans out, but I think we all know how it will

Don Boyer · « **Reply #21 on:** June 18, 2015, 09:03:31 AM »

Quote from: Cardfool on June 18, 2015, 01:04:00 AM

Glad I heeded everyone's advice and got out early...it will be interesting to see how it pans out, but I think we all know how it will

If my hunches are correct, the best possible outcome would be that enough people jump ship to cause the project to fail. But even I have to confess that I'm making assumptions and have no hard facts to back up those hunches.

Paul Ruccio · « **Reply #22 on:** June 29, 2015, 02:20:13 PM »

The thing that caught me off guard was he over emphasized having a baby soon and moving to California within a year. In addition, he said he launched the project to gain funds for just that... but he did say he wanted to gain funds by delivering a product. Maybe he's being very transparent. I'm not sure.

I just wasn't sure what to think about the entire message... the need for funds for something unrelated to the products and the project focusing on music... no... playing cards... no... music... no... both?

Don Boyer · « **Reply #23 on:** June 29, 2015, 03:26:44 PM »

Quote from: Paul Ruccio on June 29, 2015, 02:20:13 PM

The thing that caught me off guard was he over emphasized having a baby soon and moving to California within a year. In addition, he said he launched the project to gain funds for just that... but he did say he wanted to gain funds by delivering a product. Maybe he's being very transparent. I'm not sure.

I just wasn't sure what to think about the entire message... the need for funds for something unrelated to the products and the project focusing on music... no... playing cards... no... music... no... both?

It's hard these days to tell the difference between a modern Renaissance man and a confidence man...until there are results. He's mentioned having a second deck, "Swords," in the works - this isn't something a con man typically does, though it's not impossible. He's already asked for his surveys to be filled out - which is a little foolish, considering he's not delivering anything for nearly two months from now, but he's new and will figure it out, I'm sure. For his own sake, though, I hope he's smart enough to deliver on the first project before launching the second, because that right there would be the kiss of death, considering how things already look a little dodgy to start with.

Jay Losa · « **Reply #24 on:** October 08, 2015, 03:13:08 AM »

Good news, the cards were printed. I received my one deck.

Bad news, the cards are terrible in my opinion.

Glad I only got one deck. The spades and clubs are both black obviously but the hearts came out way darker than the diamonds (almost brown). Looks sooooo bad. I want to blame it on USPCC but honestly, I think the designer didn't pay close attention to his colors before sending them to print.

Also there's too much going on with the face cards in my opinion. The court cards definitely clash with one another. I may have missed that during the campaign. This was my first Kickstarter deck and I just pledged to be supportive to the playing card community and designers (I did that a lot at first, now I'm more picky when it comes to backing Kickstarter projects. I might have made it a little personal too).

If you're thinking about buying this deck, DONT.

The only decent thing about this deck is the back design, but even that isn't special.

This deck will definitely end up in the trash in the near future.

I feel bad saying all this but I'm not talking bad about a person to be honest, just a product. Hopefully his future projects will turn out much much better, that's if his backers didn't lose faith in him.