Hello backers and followers!

While I wait on the production and delivery of the first few physical orders, I worked on developing some items I've not had a chance to work on during the campaign, including the Xtra Tall Tray and new teams.

Here are some photos of the Xtra Tall Tray in action.

The hinges work and are tough (without having to reinforce it with metal hardware, which is why I have a hole in the design), but does it do the job that I designed it for? Can you fold up the Xtra Tall Tray and have the magnetized teams stay in place?

The hinges are very smooth and the clasp is loose enough that you can pop it back open without upsetting the players. Don't slam the lid closed though - the magnetization works well but when you slam anything hard enough you can scatter it. I have to redesign the middle so I'm not ready to push it out yet.

Speaking of magnetization, I've started taking photos to make a magnetization guide. The Discord has shown me that the magnetization of Port-O-Bowl isn't as intuitive as I thought. People are coming up with creative ways of doing it, but the method for which I designed it, which consists of cutting sheet metal with tinsnips, isn't something that immediately comes to everyone's mind (As an amateur roboticist, of course snipping sheet metal with tinsnips for any number of applications comes as naturally as breathing).

Finally, I've created 2 more teams, High Elves and Frogmen. I've already uploaded them to My Mini Factory, so if you wanted to add them to your own set, you can.

The first teams I'm making are the choices of backers who chose specific upcoming teams for their 48 hour backer reward. But after these 2, only 10 more teams remain. It's only a matter of time until all 32 teams are complete!

Hello backers and followers!

I have been going through the list of digital backers (for downloading files from My Mini Factory), and I'm happy to report that the majority of items have been delivered, except for those who got an upcoming team as their extra reward and those who got the Xtra Tall Tray. (The rightmost column are things I still need to do to fulfill the order).

The Xtra Tall Tray is still being developed. I hope to have a final prototype this weekend or the next. It is likely going to need some additional hardware to be sturdy, such as nuts, bolts, and washers.

I have started placing orders for physical sets as well, but I haven't been using Backerkit's backend to track any progress, which I need to start doing soon. I want people to know when their sets are being shipped out to them. I am just terrified of Backerkit's endless labyrinth of nesting menus. Those who have had their order placed have been informed on Discord. 

Once the first few sets are printed and shipped, I'll be able to give a more concrete timeline for when EVERYONE will have their physical sets. In the mean time, stay tuned and answer those surveys if you haven't yet. There are at least 3 stragglers for digital distribution and 1 or 2 for physical. You know who you are! If you don't fill out your survey, I can't send you your rewards. 

Hello Backers and Followers!

I am just going to go straight to it: The STLs for Port-O-Bowl are now publicly available on My Mini Factory. I have even created this handy collection so you can browse it directly: Port-O-Bowl.

With those collections on MMF comes invites for backers to redeem them. I have already started sending invites to backers, starting with invites to redeem the full collection for backers of the complete set.

However, I'm not quite don yet. I've created a spreadsheet to track who gets what files, and what still needs to be done to cover everyone. My color code is: Green means complete, yellow means I still have more work to do, and red means the backer hasn't filled out the survey yet. As you can see, I've got a lot more work to do:

I haven't yet invited anyone to redeem add-ons (I've not even uploaded the Number Badges or Xtra Tall Tray add-ons at all), and backers of the 2 team or 8 team collection also still have to be handled. I'll be slowly going through this list over the next few days. Please be patient as I build email lists and invite to redeem files over the next few days. In the mean time, if you haven't already, feel free to join the Port-O-Bowl discord with any questions. That's the best way to reach me. 

As for physical orders, I will start placing orders either at the end of next week or the start of the week after next. That's how long I imagine it will take to handle the invites to redeem all the files for digital orders. If there are any further delays, be assured I'll post an update about them here. It's been a long road but I can see the end - even if I can also see that there's a long way to go! 

Hello backers and followers!

Now that the surveys have gone out, I've got a good handle on what people want for Port-O-Bowl.

I will be doing digital distribution through My Mini Factory, which is why the first question on the surveys for digital backers is for an email address that can be used to redeem files on My Mini Factory.

The past few days I have been uploading every single team, the core set, and all add-ons (except one) to My Mini Factory. I'm ready to send emails to redeem files. However, before I do that, I want to make sure that everyone who has answered their surveys is sure that they have chosen the teams they wish to choose.

However, nearly half of the surveys are still not answered. I want people who haven't answered their surveys to have a little more time to make their team decisions, so I won't touch those. However, for those who have completed their surveys, I will be locking completed surveys for digital backers and charging for Add-Ons in 48 hours. That means by Wednesday, July 17th at 4PM Pacific Time, I am sending out the first round of digital files to backers. If you want your files by then, please fill out your surveys. If you're still not decided, don't worry about it.

As for the Xtra Tall Tray, well, that's the one add-on I haven't uploaded, and the reason I haven't done it is because it is still in development. When I am done with it (that, is when my prototype doesn't break at the hinges for the umpteenth time), I will upload it and send it out to all backers. I think my latest version is very promising, however.

Next update, which will probably be on the day of digital distribution, I will have some news and timelines for physical backers. 

First 48 hour backer surveys: Please answer your first 48 hour pledge question with ANY team you like - including upcoming ones.

Hello backers and followers! I was going to do an update post lamenting that my project wasn't approved to send surveys yet. I even captured a screenshot to lament my being stuck.

But it turns out, minutes after capturing this screenshot, Backerkit approved my surveys. I wanted to send the surveys last week but things were delayed by the holiday weekend. Backerkit has to approve my surveys, and they can't do that if they're not in the office.

The surveys are the method of distribution for Port-O-Bowl. It's how I collect shipping fees, addresses, email addresses for digital distribution, and of course your team's choices. Without them the fulfillment process can't begin, so their being delayed wasn't ideal. But now I have sent the first round of surveys (known as a "smoke test,") and after those surveys are answered, I can send the rest and start fulfillment!

This weekend is when I start uploading the supported team files to My Mini Factory. Once I get email addresses from the surveys, I will use MMF to send invitations to redeem files. I will also be placing orders (based on backer location) with my physical printers/distributors. 

Hang tight - soon Port-O-Bowl is going to start its slow march across the entire globe and into every nook and cranny - no matter how small!