Pampero: Project Verne Update
about 1 month ago
– Sun, Aug 23, 2026 at 06:33:34 AM
It's been over a month, so we're due for another update.
In short, Project Verne is still in production. It will be at least six more weeks. I have asked the printer to commit to a completion date of 30 Sep and am waiting to get that confirmation from them. I can say that this is one of the larger, more well-established printers so I'm confident I'll get the games, and everything will be right. As I mentioned last time, one reason for delay was the complexity of the punchboards. Happily, we're through that. I'd hoped that the printer could lay out the punchboards more optimally than we could, but results weren't better than we'd have done and took a lot more time than we would have.
A second reason for delay is that there is back and forth about how to print non-English language components in order to get the best price/quality balance at very low quantities (e.g. ES).
So, I apologize again for the delay and I promise that I'll provide more details as I learn more. I'm confident I will have better news a month from now.
Pampero Project Verne Production Update + Upcoming Medici Traders Kickstarter
3 months ago
– Sat, Jul 04, 2026 at 09:42:44 AM
First, happy belated Canada Day to our neighbors in the north, and happy 250th Independence Day to everyone in the US!
Pampero: Project Verne Production Status
There isn't much to report, but it's been over a month since the last update, so some folks asked for news. We're in the project phase where we're waiting on production. There was a lot of back and forth the the manufacturer around the punchboards. I tried something new this time and asked if the printer could build the punchboards, since they could do a better job optimizing the tiles on the boards to reduce the number of boards and the die costs. We had mixed results with that, and it ended up burning an extra week. But the end result is good, and we're now back in wait mode as they continue production.
We're probably still looking at late September or October for shipping to you. We'll narrow in on that date in future updates as production completes and the games ship to fulfillment centers.
There's still time to complete your pledge manager if you've not done that.
Medici Kickstarter
Last year we licensed designer Reiner Knizia's Whale Riders game for the US, Canada, and UK. This year, we licensed Dr. Knizia's Medici line for the same geographies.
We're bringing back the classic auction game along with the Medici Card Game and Medici Dice Game. But wait - that's not all! We're launching a new Medici Traders tile game. Traders is the next addictive auction game in this classic series. Learn more on the APE Games website. Preregister while you're there and get free bonus tiles when you pledge for Traders in the upcoming Kickstarter (tentatively scheduled in late July).
APE Games at Gen Con
Gen Con is just a few weeks away! We'll be in booth 2436, but you don't need to remember that - just look up APE Games on the Exhibit Hall page on gencon.com when you get there. Stop by and say 'hi'! We'll be running lots of Pampero, Whale Riders and Medici.
Project Verne Production Under Way - Ready to Charge Shipping + VAT - DOS
4 months ago
– Wed, May 27, 2026 at 01:20:13 PM
The printer has had the art in-hand, and we should be getting soft copies for approval in the next week (maybe two). Things are going well, and we're a little ahead of schedule. Given that, we're going to lock orders and charge shipping and VAT/tax this coming Friday (27 May). So, if you need to change your address or add anything to your pledge, it's easiest to do that in Backerkit before Friday. You should be able to log into your Backerkit account (backerkit.com) to do this. However, if you need to change anything after Friday, just let us know ([email protected]) and we'll unlock your pledge to make the change. Same thing if this isn't the best time, and you need us to hold off charging your shipping + VAT/tax until closer to ship.
We've been working hard on Julián's next design - Dynamic Object Solutions (DOS). In DOS, players are AI's in a robotics company, each vying to impress the board and become the next CEO. The game has several unique mechanics, and we're looking to do original things with components that you might not have seen before! It will be another medium/heavy-weight game, like Pampero, with just as many components (or more!) Watch for DOS to hit Kickstarter in 2027.
Project Verne Status
5 months ago
– Thu, Apr 23, 2026 at 11:16:28 AM
It's been a few weeks - time for another update!
Translations
We got the last of the Project Verne translations back and Carlos, our graphic designer extraordinaire, has finished final layout for all the languages. We've notified the printer that we're just days away from sending them all the art. It will take them ~90 days to complete printing and another 30-45 days for shipping to the fulfillment centers.
Pledge Over Time
This is the first time we've used Kickstarter's Pledge Over Time feature. I must say that I'm not a huge fan. For one thing, people are telling me that they don't appear as proper backers in external pledge managers (like Backerkit) until after the last payment. Second, I understand from Pledge Over Time backers that they have already been charged for the last payment. APE Games hasn't received any official notification of this. In fact, if it works like the second payment we might not receive notice until sometime in early May! That means Pledge Over Time backers won't be able to access their pledge in Backerkit until sometime in mid-May. That's a few weeks for them to hold on to your pledge money and collect the interest.
I'd be interested to hear what you think of Pledge Over Time. Leave a comment below if you have strong feelings one way or the other. I'd also like to know if you're already able to access the pledge manager.
Finally, don't worry if you cannot access the pledge manager. There's plenty of time before pledges ship to take care of that.
Pampero: Project Verne Survey Reminder + Limited Chinese Language Copies Available
6 months ago
– Mon, Mar 23, 2026 at 11:33:37 AM
Survey Completion Percentages
78% of you have answered the pledge survey over the last week thank you! It would be amaze amaze amaze we could get the last 22% of your responses this week so that we can start working logistics on our end.
Chinese Language Inventory
We found a small amount of Chinese Pampero inventory in the US! If you would rather change your pledge to CN, then message me directly, either here on KS or at [email protected]. A few things to note:
- Project Verne will not be in CN, but rather in whatever other language you chose. Note that the only localized components in Project Verne are the rulebook, player reference, and box.
- First come, first-served, though you get priority if you happen to be in the US or CA. We have about a dozen copies of the base game and Clear Skies expansion AND JUST ONE Nature expansion
- Shipping price will not change. Your items will ship from the US, but to keep things simple, the price will be the same as whatever you would have paid to receive the products in language you previously chose.
- I would like to sell full sets only - all three games (or two games once someone claims the first set).
