Michael Putlack is raising funds for Be Kind: Rewind, a solo journaling game he has written.
Question: Easy question first: Give us the elevator pitch of your project. Tell us about it in two sentences or less.
Answer: Be Kind. Rewind is a solo journaling game that asks you to reach into your past and remember a time when video stores were a huge part of your life. All you need is the zine, something to record your thoughts, and a deck of cards.
Q: Is this your first ZineMonth project or have you done it before? If it's your first, talk a bit about what inspired you to give it a shot this year. If you've done it before, what's something you've learned from previous crowdfunding projects that you may be doing differently this time, or, if you're not doing anything differently, talk a bit about your previous projects.
A: This is my second Zine Month/Quest project after funding MechTek in 2021, and I funded another zine, Blades & Heart, last October. The big differences between this campaign and my last two are that I'm already done with the project! I wanted to make sure this campaign is as smooth as possible since I have a lot on the docket in the months following Zine Month, so by already having the zine done, I don't have to worry about things taking longer than expected to finish or whatever issues crop up to delay things. I even have some physical copies already printed from a recent zine fest I tabled at.
I also have learned from my last zine project that including my back catalog as add-ons are a great way to get more of my games into the hands of the people (and from a business perspective, increase the average sale price). If you want to get my entire game back catalog, it's only going to cost you an extra $4. You can even get some remaining stock of older physical zines, too!
Q: Finally, tell us something about your current project that really excites you but the average backer may not be aware of. Maybe a twist to an old trope, a new way of presenting something, or maybe just something you've never tried before that you're using this as an opportunity to try out.
A: This game really hits that sweet, sweet nostalgia spot for Gen Xers and Millennials (like me). Going to the video store was a ritual we all practiced, and was such a huge part of many of our formative years. Walking through the aisles waiting for something to catch your eye, or rushing there when the store opened on Friday to make sure you got a new release.
I have a terrible memory, but writing and playing this game myself kicked loose so many vivid scenes in my mind. It's really been a trip to experience that, and it reminds me of going to therapy in some ways. It's my first journaling game, too. Most of my audience knows me from the Shadowdark RPG corner of the internet, but I hope they'll find this project a bit intriguing even if they usually play swords & sorcery games. Like my last game, this one's also available for only $1!