The Presence

April Update - Sweet and Sour ?

So. This has been an interesting month. We have stuff to share for sure, so hold onto your chairs people. Let's start with the positive!

Production Update - ?

All components of the game have now been produced! Not only that, just in time for writing this update we have in our hands the first off-the-line copy of The Presence! Guys, it is an amazing feeling, after so many years to finally see it exist.

This is the production sample, the final proofing step (see the January update). Before the games are assembled we now have a final chance to correct errors. We are scouring over this sample to look for potential corrections. If we find any, this may require delays to fix.

Game Preview! - ?

However, that does not prevent us from sharing the joy of seeing the game fully realized! Overall, it looks amazing, and the production quality is very good. We can't wait for you to get your hands on it.

We have made an unboxing video for your viewing pleasure, enjoy:

UNBOXING VIDEO

After working on the game for over six years (!) this is one of the most exciting steps of our entire journey (second only to the Kickstarter launch). Help us celebrate in the comments down below :)

And for those of you who prefer 'the scroll', here are a few images for your enjoyment:

The Detective is all alone..

..but perhaps The Professor can come to the rescue?

A few item cards

The Bathroom is best avoided, don't look in the mirror.

Planning spookiness..

Shelfie. Kallax compatible.

Impact of new US Administration ?️ - AGAIN..

In our February update the tariffs on US imports from China were 20%, and we said we would cover these and additional costs (considering a worst case of perhaps 30%). They are now an unthinkable 145%. This, as you can imagine, has a large impact on us and the entire board game industry And things may still change.

Needless to say, we cannot bear these kind of costs alone. However, we are in a stable position, having taken few risks (such as printing a lot of extra copies). We have spent weeks looking for the best way through this, to minimize costs, delays and additional risks for you and for us as a small company.

This section has been re-written three times during the month. Who knows, perhaps we'll re-write it again tomorrow, but for now this is the plan and we will inform you if it changes:

We are rerouting the Canada games directly to Canada, instead of through the US. This means no change in cost for Canadian backers due to the tariffs.

We are delaying the US game shipment for a month to begin with, in the hope that the situation improves, or at least stabilizes.

When we deem it safe we will ship to US. If tariffs are still above 30% by then we will re-open the PM for US backers, to collect the additional funds needed.

Example: If at that time the tariff is still 145%, subtracting the 30% we would pay, this would mean around 20% extra per US pledge. This is actually less than the VAT applied in many EU countries.

TLDR: None of you need to take any action at this time. The US shipment is (currently) 1 month delayed. The rest of the games are sticking to the plan, and there is no consequence for non-US backers.

Pledge manager closing last of April! ???

We're coming up on the final deadline for ordering the game or adjusting your pledge. You have until then to make any additions, then the shipments are being locked down. We are very close to 100%, so we are doing super on that front, but with the extra month we cannot wait any longer. It is time to get these games onto the ships.

Make sure your address is up to date and everything looks good. After we close the PM it will be more of a hassle to change these details.

Pledge manager Q&A

Q: I am unsure if I completed my pledge, how do I see it? A: You can check this at any time by logging into the HIVE pledge manager, or by checking your email for the confirmation.

Q: I have a problem with my pledge that I need your help with. A: Create a ticket in the HIVE Pledge manager support system. We handle all pledge questions through there.

Q: What if I need to change my address after the PM is closed? A: Use the HIVE system to send us a support ticket. It is extra work for us, so please make sure you have the correct details in there.

That's it for this month! Let's hope the world situation turns out for the better in the weeks ahead. Share your thoughts in the Kickstarter comments! ?