Escape the spaceship before it blows up in a competitive/cooperative/team game for 1-6 players.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
May the 4th be with you! A MISSION CATASTROPHE update!
almost 2 years ago
– Thu, May 05, 2022 at 01:19:36 PM
Hello crew!
Captains log, stardate May 4. year: uhhhh…years don’t make sense in deep space…. let's just call it Wednesday.
COMPUTER >> What day did we launch?
It was only 531 days ago (!) that we launched this hopeful journey into crowdfunded space, seeking funding for our very first game. That's right, Cardboard Alchemy was formed about 2 years ago in 2020 (of all times) after an introductory campaign, and shortly thereafter, we launched this game - in the middle of November. An odd, ambitious year for us.
We're so excited to make this game a reality, and we love seeing pictures and hearing reports from the table. Mission Catastrophe was a dream come true for our pilot Matt Walters - now published game designer - and this project was an exciting beginning for our game studio. We were honored to raise over $100,000 in funding for this game, but even more honored that YOU would follow us on this journey.
Thank you for trusting us!
We're not done yet - not done delivering every last copy across the world, not done supporting and providing help to anyone with gameplay or other questions, and also not done with awesome campaigns with perks for former backers (that's you). Coincidentally, not done with sci-fi either (see the end of this update for our next adventure!).
CASIMIR STATUS REPORT
Before we venture out to the edge of the universe, let us investigate the fleet of mining vessels across the galaxy. We're looking pretty solid now, with all known continents showing signs of life and game packages. Canada - all deliveries seem safely received! Australia - just started confirming copies are coming in hot... and yet safe and sound thanks to the packing protocols! According to the VFI countrystatus site, (ok, that's handy, wish we had found that before!) next up looks like:
Indonesia and Japan (if not already in)!
India
Israel
and finally Saudi Arabia.
We're saving the best, working escape pods for last!
HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR COPY? DAMAGED PIECES?
If you have already submitted a component issue - good news! Replacement parts and other maintenance requests should be handled this month! For those just discovering anything amiss with your space pod, we have a SUPPORT FORM now on our website: https://cardboardalchemy.com/support/. Thank you for flying the Casimir. Our maintenance crew would like to mention... please don't use the form to order pizzas from the bridge, thank you.
IF you received the game and IF you liked the game, would you mind giving it a rating on the most searched board game website in the known universe, boardgamegeek? Bonus points for comments which help future players. We appreciate any and all comments, because if the game has good, engaged feedback, it will help our partner Lucky Duck Games take it to more markets. Also, retailers will use BGG to decide if they should give the Casimir a chance. Finally, you can be part of our forums and suggest more fun ideas for Matt, should we go to space, or teleport to a brand new setting with this game!
>> Security clearance check. No need to put your fingerprint on the security panel - our advanced systems can just take your thumbs up! All of the images in this update in fact are from the BGG pictures, click on any of them to go straight there. Also you can submit your OWN images of gameplay, and we'll give them our thumbs! If you've painted the miniatures, or taken a picture of the most epic moments - we want to see!
We're not done with space. We've gone this lighter Galaxy-Quest-like adventure to quite the trek into deep space! Sensors indicate we're coming up on a 1-5 player, engine building, worker placement, mega box game from designer Luke Laurie: Andromeda's Edge.
We've partnered with Luke on Dwellings of Eldervale, and the different worker types, the building on your workers, the variable player powers are all back and better than ever in this epic sci-fi game. Plus those that enjoy Luke's game Manhattan Project: Energy Empire will notice some familiar features as well. Join us in this fun "no bad turns" dimension at the edge of known worker placement design! SIGN UP AND FOLLOW: Andromeda's Edge! Plus, stay turned on a special appearance by one or more Mission Catastrophe characters in our new game - our MC artist, Sergio Chaves, joins us again!
Plus BONUS PERKS for backers of our previous campaigns - hope you'll come back and support us again when the wormhole opens!
Thanks for reading! Game on!
Peter, Brad, the Cardboard Alchemy team and Mission Catastrophe crew!
Where we're going, we don't need roads! Mission Catastrophe is BACK...
about 2 years ago
– Mon, Mar 21, 2022 at 02:23:31 AM
to the future!
Things have gotten very exciting, we're going at least 88 miles an hour now. Games are shipping, delivering and getting played! Here’s a rundown by region of where we’re at:
SHIPPING UPDATE:
Asia: all games have shipped. Some have delivered, others will take a bit longer depending on the country
Europe: all games have shipped and many have been delivered
Australia and New Zealand: the games are en route to the local hub and we expect to see them shipping out from there in the next weeks
United States: just a hundred or so to go - most of the games are shipped and arriving, deliveries every day
Canada: the games have been sent up from the US and if all goes well with customs should start shipping shortly
Mexico and Colombia: the games have shipped and should be arriving any time now
LOST IN SPACE? If you are in a region where you think you should have gotten your game but haven’t heard anything you can reach out to us at [email protected].
SHIPDAMAGE? If marauders attacked your game during its journey and you found a piece missing or damaged, please let us know on our support page with as much detail as possible: https://www.cardboardalchemy.com/support. We will be addressing these issues as soon as we complete fulfillment.
RULES QUESTIONS? WE'RE HERE TO HELP!
BOARDGAMEGEEK: The ultimate board game site in the galaxy is where we'll be fielding any questions, strategy and more - Be sure to check out Mission Catastrophe on BoardGameGeek for the latest. We've uploaded the rulebook pdfs there, and it's a good source to catch the latest videos on gameplay! Feel free to post your cool game pics here on BoardGameGeek!
DISCORD: Play online with our community to learn the game, ask designer Matt Walters questions, or share your custom ships - we're happy to talk all things space (including some about our next galactic project, Andromeda's Edge!) There's even a bonus Mission Catastrophe channel just for backers of this, our first game! Say hello on the Cardboard Alchemy Discord:https://discord.gg/2pYk3TT
IF YOU'VE GOT IT, FLAUNT IT!
Some folks want to share their shiny things with the world - and we love that! We've seen some great unboxings already, and we believe the Dice Tower is about to post one too!
This vid came in this week from "So Many Games, So Little Time" - crewmate Joachim takes on both meteorites and marauders in a solo playthrough - thank you Joachim!
Happy to film more gameplay or rules info - let us know what you want to see in the comments!
THANK YOU AGAIN for believing in us and this game and this moment is 100% due to your support. We are so excited to share this game with you. Cheers from the Cardboard Alchemy team!
-
Also, p.s.:
Here's a fun fact and picture by Mike Vander Veen at Dice Tower West (Thanks Mike!) He noticed that the Mission Catastrophe crew and the dragons of Flamecraft fame don't repeat a single color in the Kaleidoscope of miniatures so far from Cardboard Alchemy - all unique color minis in our first 2 games!
what are the rules of first contact between dragons, robots and aliens? pic by Mike V
Ever have that feeling where you're not sure if you're awake or dreaming? Mission Catastrophe IS HERE.
about 2 years ago
– Thu, Feb 24, 2022 at 03:18:28 AM
Hello crew!
The captain has turned on the Asia/Oceania and Europe escape pods, and we believe that the engine is currently working. Here's what we see from the view on the bridge:
FULL CARGO BAYS - DELIVERY OF GAMES BEGINS!
ASIA/OCEANIA: As mentioned, VFI now has all components to begin shipping and is ready to go. We are extremely honored that backers from Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan chose to go on this adventure with us, backing our first ever board game. Estimated delivery times do vary per country here - ranging from just 2-3 days to 45 days but VFI are pros at this and will be putting our games into their next cycles. Please share when you get your game, we'd love to hear from you. If you have any questions or issues with your copy, please see the note at the bottom of this update.
EUROPE/MEXICO/COLUMBIA: We have the good word that many goods are safely in the hands of Spiral Galaxy, in the UK. If you've backed a game in Europe, you probably know Spiral Galaxy. We love these guys, and with a name like Galaxy, they were destined to take this game to infinity and beyond. Everyone receiving games in Austria, Belgium, Columbia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom - this is your time. Spiral Galaxy is expecting to send a confirmation email to backers at the end of this week, and then shipping begins! Please share when you get your game, we'd love to hear from you. For any delivery or support issues, Spiral has given us this email: [email protected] - you can email them if your copy has issues or contact us as well (see the note at the bottom of this update).
USA/CANADA:We're sooooo close now! The boat has landed, and we're about to deliver to the fulfillment centers. We'll be using Fulex and their Tennessee warehouse and D6 near Toronto. After the games are in, we'll get an estimate from Fulex when they can begin shipping. For Canadian backers, keep in mind that all of the games have to drop in at Fulex first, and then up North to D6. It's one of the reasons we chose Tennessee here, and we hope we can go quickly at this point. We'll keep you posted - it won't be long now before your tabletops heat up with this fun game!
Double your spacesuits, double your fun. That's right, you can WIN THIS GAME! on Youtube (Yes, the one you're about to have delivered!) Bonus gift copy! Hungry Gamer, who previewed Mission Catastrophe and highly regards the game, is celebrating 4,000 subscribers and giving away a Maximum Danger copy of the game. (PLUS MORE GAMES TOO). He often jokes about the delay here in KS land and lovingly shouts "scam" whenever we say it IS COMING, but hopefully he won't deem it a scam when he's finally holding the epic full production in his hands. Please Like and subscribe and maybe we can convince him to make an updated video on the totally-not-a-scam copy. But don't encourage him much or he might goof around more about our company name.
CARDBOARD ALCHEMY customer service form: Hopefully all components make the journey from outer space safely, but if there's anything amiss aboard your ship, please do let us know. We have a new web form: https://cardboardalchemy.com/support/ - for anything related to your game! Also, Cardboard Alchemy welcomes a new crew member, Judy, who is just in time, teleporting on the ship at the perfect moment - if you like cruise directing through meteroid storms? In any case - she's got the ship communications channels open - say hello on the wall or comments section, and she will help you out - unless you want that last escape pod - then you might just be on your own.
We'll return soon with new videos and info as the copies beam to your tabletops!
Peter, Brad and the Mission Catastrophe team!
It worked! Gravity normal. Air pressure returning. Terror replaced by cautious optimism!
about 2 years ago
– Fri, Feb 04, 2022 at 06:17:09 PM
Hello crew!
Thanks to experienced hands on the controls, the CGG Magellan is off the East Coast of the USA. Look at that view off the port side! It's heading to New York, and then down to Savannah to unload games (and other things, but priorities, right?) The CSCL Atlantic Ocean has made it through the Suez Canal and is now on its way to Felixstowe, UK. We're really close now, and hope to have boats docked by mid Feb.
FULFILLMENT PHASE
After the ships reach port, we move on to unloading and transportation to fulfillment centers. We don't have a timeline yet for all these steps - we're unsure how much congestion is at port. Plus, transportation to fulfillment centers and time in each fulfillment center before shipping are largely unknowns, but we will keep you posted. All stations, standing by!
ROBOTS RACING TO THE FINISH
Time to round up the robots! All the items are accounted for except robot (and other) coasters. What happened? Well, we decided to make better coasters, and then discovered the cheap-fast-good triangle is real! We chose a quality paper and print partner to make the art really sing and the colors pop! However... a material shortage occurred, so we searched for another plant and sourced new materials. We missed a hopeful, quick December print. Then the new plant could not hit the color we wanted and had to iterate a few times in January before Chinese New Year and into the holiday.
The good news is that we have found the solution, but the tough news is that our cargo bays across the globe will be getting these coasters at the final hour. Never a dull moment in production! We're excited to have these shipped mid month and are expecting them to arrive as games unload. And in Asia/Oceania - VFI should be able to start sending packages with the fresh coasters within days of Chinese New Year celebrations coming to a close.
MISSION CATASTROPHE - VIDEO SERIES
We have started making some videos to prepare you for what is ahead. (Spoiler - meteors are headed right for the ship!) Some of you may prefer to be surprised, and not check out the latest broadcasts, but we'll have you covered when you do want to find out more about gameplay or build a custom ship. We've got 3 videos to start - an unboxing, how-to-play basics, and a ship builder tutorial:
UNBOXING
Don't look if you don't want to know, but if you just have to peek... you'll find colorful minis, cool gametrayz, asteroid dice, renegade robots, thick punchboards and much more - here's a video that covers it all!
HOW TO PLAY
This video covers gameplay overview and basics of competitive mode. We quickly get you into game setup and going into space in just 8 minutes. If you want to linger a bit longer, you can catch a couple of turns in the game, and review some options to add difficulty. Future gameplay videos will cover other modes and module specifics.
SHIP LAYOUTS AND SHIP BUILDER TOOLS
Fancy yourself an engineer of starships? One of the strengths of the modular tile system in Mission Catastrophe is the ability to form a variety of ship designs. Combined with the modes of play, levels of difficulty and options, this really makes for a game you can customize.
On our website, we have ten additional designs from Matt Walters to get you going with ideas. Some of these use expansion modules (which are noted), but for the most part these explore base game modules so that you can discover the bonus pieces and craft your own vessels. We hope you'll share your ship ideas too!
To that end, we have a ship builder tool - created by our friend Sisquinamook. We featured some of her ship ideas in update #7 here and she shares with us the online sheet she used to make all of these designs. It's now useable by anyone! SHIP LAYOUTS and SHIP BUILDER (bottom of the layouts webpage)
NEXT STEP - FUNCTIONAL ESCAPE PODS!
More videos to come - in February, we'll post a video covering more modes of play, and all about Maximum Danger modules. Stay tuned! Keep your seatbelts on until the captain has... activated at least one escape pod. ;)
Cheers - talk soon when games land!
Peter, Brad and the Mission Catastrophe team
Fast Ship? You’ve never heard of the CMA CGM Magellan? (an actual boat carrying actual games)!
over 2 years ago
– Sat, Jan 01, 2022 at 02:16:05 AM
Last transmission from 2021. But Good news.. the radio still works!
Sincere thanks to the crew as we head into 2022!
FREIGHT UPDATE!
We’re very excited to share that we’re moving into the freight phase for Mission Catastrophe with one ship about to set to sailto North America and the other headed to the UK in the next couple of days. This took all of December to book, so it's a big deal to get on a boat. Now... if we could just get container ships with warp drive, we would!
For crew members in Asia and Oceania, we’re getting everything staged in our fulfillment center and just waiting on some final production. We have decided to upgrade the printing and quality of the robot coasters (and all the coasters) and this change is the last step. Barring attacks by Cylon raiders or Arrakean sandworms we’re aiming to start fulfillment in February worldwide.
Looking forward to tracking the ships with us? We will post each boat's name and tracking link in the comments, for those curious to check out the progress. While there still may be a few more things to navigate at ports, (given backlog and staff shortages), we are excited to see our ships come in. We are working with pros in freight and fulfillment, and we'll keep updating and working to make this last step get done as fast as possible. We'll get a timeline by region up in February.
We just have to hold on a little bit longer Blorp! Thanks for keep the ship together!
HOW TO PLAY! AND MORE
It's been a minute since we all reviewed how exactly to pilot a ship during a meteoroid storm... cooperatively and competitively. We also have more crew joining us (from a nearby dragon planet) all wondering what there is to know about space mining and survival. We'll cover it all - from unboxing vids to playthroughs in a series of videos in January. You will learn all about the various modes and modules in your very own bucket of bolts. We're also working on a "ship builder" page on our website (built by one of our awesome backers) to help you easily create your own layouts. More about these items in January, as we kick the engines into high gear.
The secret to escape is definitely the lab, right Cricket? Cricket?
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2021 was an exciting year for Cardboard Alchemy, but we’re even more excited for 2022! Getting this first game into your hands means a lot to us, and we’re confident you’re going to love it. Thank you for joining us on this journey and we hope you have a very happy New Year’s celebration! Game on!
