Two longtime Abbotsford friends are one step closer to launching the board game that they have spent the last year developing.
Brandon Monahan and Jake Hardin have surpassed their $8,500 Kickstarter campaign goal to bring Zebulon: Galactic Control to market.
If they hadn’t reached their target by their deadline, any of the money collected would have been returned to their backers.
But the campaign raised more than $10,000 and they can now proceed with updating the artwork and manufacturing the game for release later this year.
Hardin said the next step is to get a “soft copy” of the game made before gearing up for production. The two hope it will be ready for release by August, although it could be as late as November.
They said they are grateful for the support from Abbotsford and beyond in backing their campaign.
“I cannot put into words how emotional that makes me feel. From businesses, acquaintances and complete strangers, the support has been tremendous,” Monahan said.
Hardin said he is “humbled by the support” and it has brought him a “great amount of joy.”
The two, who have known each other since high school and describe themselves as fans of “geek culture,” had always wanted to create a board game. But the plan didn’t take off until about a year ago.
Monahan presented Hardin with his idea for a science-fiction-themed game.
He came up with a modular board that changes for every game and involves players “travelling” through space.
Rectangular tiles join together to make a galaxy through which players move around as they battle their opponents – “traps” are used to hinder their movement – and complete missions.
The pair spent the last year revamping the design, tweaking the rules, and testing the game over and over with family and friends and at various game stores throughout the region.
They say being able to bring it to a larger market is a dream come true.
“The ability to be able to design, develop and create is ingrained in who we are,’ Monahan said.
For more information about the game, search “Zebulon: Galactic Control” at kickstarter.com or send an email to info@apocto.com.
