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The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)

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The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« on: August 28, 2013, 10:02:19 PM »
 

Rob Wright

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http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/658322750/the-melies-playing-cards?ref=users

Project by Derek McKee
First created, $11,500 goal, $12 for 1, $20 for 2 + some earlybirds
Printing by USPCC
Last night I stayed up late playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died.

 Steven Wright
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Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2013, 02:41:20 AM »
 

MrMollusk

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I absolutely love these cards! Voyage de la lune remains one of my favorite films to date, and these cards NAILED it.

I'm super hyped for the court cards and number cards.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
 

Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2013, 08:29:08 AM »
 

Alex Willis

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Love the card back, jokers and AOS, but it appears the rest of the deck will be standard suits which I know is preferred for magicians and poker players, but to take such an iconic film and not take advantage of resurrecting some of the wizards and other characters seems a waste.  I don't buy decks for card backs, but as a fan of the vintage film and the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (which inspired the movie Hugo) I would seriously consider spending the money... then again, $12 for a deck of cards... mmm, maybe not.
« Last Edit: August 29, 2013, 08:29:43 AM by Alex Willis »
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Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2013, 05:23:46 PM »
 

MrMollusk

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Love the card back, jokers and AOS, but it appears the rest of the deck will be standard suits which I know is preferred for magicians and poker players, but to take such an iconic film and not take advantage of resurrecting some of the wizards and other characters seems a waste.  I don't buy decks for card backs, but as a fan of the vintage film and the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (which inspired the movie Hugo) I would seriously consider spending the money... then again, $12 for a deck of cards... mmm, maybe not.

Well, the creator did say in the comments that it would be fully custom. We'll just have to wait for the court cards.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
 

Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2013, 06:38:58 PM »
 

see_squared

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Couldn't resist backing this project yesterday.  Really great original idea for a deck. Méliés was a bit of a magicians himself with the camera.  Love their traditional approach to creating a back design, well done!
 

Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2013, 07:38:49 AM »
 

Alex Willis

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Love the card back, jokers and AOS, but it appears the rest of the deck will be standard suits which I know is preferred for magicians and poker players, but to take such an iconic film and not take advantage of resurrecting some of the wizards and other characters seems a waste.  I don't buy decks for card backs, but as a fan of the vintage film and the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (which inspired the movie Hugo) I would seriously consider spending the money... then again, $12 for a deck of cards... mmm, maybe not.

Well, the creator did say in the comments that it would be fully custom. We'll just have to wait for the court cards.

What he actually writes is this:  "The deck will be 100% custom with a stretch goal, my team and I are working on it currently. It does take a large amount of time to do this correctly."

His team being his artist friend and his project does not have any stretch goals listed.  Someone later pointedly asked if the Jokers, back and AOS were the only modifications to the cards to which he has ignored although he did answer other peoples questions after that one.  I guess the question on everyone's mind is his definition of 100% custom. 

My concerns...  He's a young guy (sophomore in college), but he seems positive.  I would like to know that he has someone with some business experience to walk him through the logistics of direct distribution.  The theme and reference are not a concern as the copyright has been open on the film for a decade, however he should be careful not to get too close to the work already done by Selznick in his novel and the fine folks that brought us Hugo the movie, there could be some infringements there.  His goal is good, it takes about $15K to get them printed, delivered and shipped to customers.  I'm not sure if that was a happy accident or if he has some mad math skillz.  Still, $12 a deck for artwork we haven't seen in full?  I'm not a fan of "design on the side" because it tells me the deck is incomplete.  He and his friend are back to college and when are they going to have time to complete this work?  I know when I was in college I spent all my time studying...and partying...and waking up asking questions like:  "who are you?  who's dog is this?  and why is there peanut butter on my chocolate?"

I've starred this project on KS and if I see more I like I'll squeeze $12 out of my kids college fund to get a deck. 

« Last Edit: August 30, 2013, 07:41:13 AM by Alex Willis »
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Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2013, 12:54:36 AM »
 

Rob Wright

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I think he is coming at this project as a magician. Hence the standard courts and faces would common to him. The problem I see is so many of the projects on KS are 100% custom. Most backers expect this on all projects.
Last night I stayed up late playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died.

 Steven Wright
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The Méliés Playing Cards now on KS
« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2013, 04:45:34 PM »
 

PlayingCards13

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Hello,
My name is Derek McKee. I am very excited to announce my first deck of cards, The Méliés.
I would love to get everybody's thoughts and opinions on the project. My idea for the cards came when I wanted to do a deck based on the works of George Méliés, and saw the success of Kickstarter to fund it. I wanted these cards to have a crisp design. Something that both card collectors and card handlers would enjoy. With help from illustrator Logan Max I believe we have designed a deck that stays true to great playing card design, while giving the cards a "luxurious feel".

Cant wait to hear what you think!

Kickstarter Link:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/658322750/the-melies-playing-cards

Thanks,
Derek McKee
 

Re: The Méliés Playing Cards now on KS
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2013, 10:08:21 PM »
 

Don Boyer

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Welcome aboard, Derek.  Perhaps you didn't notice, but we already have a topic about your deck here.  I'll merge the two of them - you should check out some of the older comments already made about your cards.
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Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2013, 10:03:08 PM »
 

Rob Wright

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This project has a little over 5 hours left, and has reached its goal- $11,605 of $11,500 goal.

I like the backs, jokers and ace, and wanted to pledge for this one- But can't do it.
He has not been clear if the rest of the courts are going to be custom. His last update and comment was 09/17/2013. He was asked 3 days ago about seeing finished art- No response. Just seems to have a general lack of concern for the project. Hope he actually comes through with the project for his backers.
Update of proposed courts from 09/27 below
Last night I stayed up late playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died.

 Steven Wright
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Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #10 on: September 26, 2013, 09:31:03 AM »
 

Don Boyer

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With the way this project barely passed the finish line with under $300 to spare, the creators indifference to his backers and the plans to make custom courts - the designs for which having barely begun, nowhere near finished - I have some serious reservations about this projects chances for success.  I mean REAL success, not just reaching a goal - that number is meaningless if the project goes nowhere with it.

At the least, there's no good chance this deck will see the light of day until sometime next year.  They're claiming a November estimated delivery, but without finished designs, he won't be up and running, ready to print, until perhaps sometime in November if not later.  If he does manage to finish by November, then he has to deal with the holiday crunch - the bigger card companies rushing to get out Black Friday and holiday season deck releases in large numbers, all before the plan closes for the holidays for about two weeks.  If he submitted his work today, he's stand a great chance.  As he hasn't even finished the design, he's going to be perhaps a season or more late on delivery.

And all of that assumes that this guy took everything into account, every single penny that needs to be spent, with a margin for error built into the goal.  There's absolutely no extra cash for him to fiddle with on this.  He's going to be cutting it really, really tight - I suspect he'll run out of cash before he can complete delivery, and maybe before delivery even begins.
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Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #11 on: March 05, 2014, 11:39:57 AM »
 

badpete69

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These are starting to pop up on ebay, so I must assume that he finally produced these decks.  One guy is selling them for $5.95... No need to do KS on so so projects when you can get them cheap like that after the fact

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261390967416?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
 

Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #12 on: March 05, 2014, 12:10:13 PM »
 

Don Boyer

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These are starting to pop up on ebay, so I must assume that he finally produced these decks.  One guy is selling them for $5.95... No need to do KS on so so projects when you can get them cheap like that after the fact

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261390967416?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

True enough, but tell that to the folks who missed the Kickstarter for the Fed 52 decks...
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Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #13 on: March 05, 2014, 12:19:45 PM »
 

badpete69

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Don

Notice I said " No need to KS on so so projects"  I think Fed 52 falls outside of that so so realm hehehe
 

Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #14 on: March 05, 2014, 06:54:26 PM »
 

Don Boyer

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Don

Notice I said " No need to KS on so so projects"  I think Fed 52 falls outside of that so so realm hehehe

True, but it's not always so easy to tell the wheat from the chaff, is it?  :))
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Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #15 on: March 06, 2014, 02:49:23 PM »
 

bhong

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Did anyone here on the forum back the deck? I'm curious to see how it turned out. I remember there was suppose to be semi-custom/modified version of the standard court cards (like some of the Bicycle decks). Did it turn out well?
 

Re: The Méliés Playing Cards (KS)
« Reply #16 on: March 07, 2014, 06:46:45 PM »
 

MrMollusk

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Did anyone here on the forum back the deck? I'm curious to see how it turned out. I remember there was suppose to be semi-custom/modified version of the standard court cards (like some of the Bicycle decks). Did it turn out well?

I pledged for 2. The AoS was custom, and so were the jokers. However, the court cards were completely standard. No recolor or anything. I was miffed, but they still work great for magic. Still, custom courts would have been so cool.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)