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[T]

Terrablox - First Prototypes

[Bongo Bill]

Is that squeaking an off-camera bird, or are the blox really that loud?

[Ziiro]

Pretty sure that's a bird, based on when it happens.

[Mongrel]

The one thing that worries me about the second iteration is the possibility for wear destroying the adhesion. 

[Lottel]

That's when you buy NEW blocks.





EDIT: And honestly, if I got to use these blocks enough that there's enough where for that to happen, I'd consider myself a happy man. For that means I've got to build lots of dungeons for lots of games.

(Also it'd take a while for that to happen with normal use, I'd say)

[Defenestration]

Is that squeaking an off-camera bird, or are the blox really that loud?

He has two cockatiels, one of which is especially annoying that refuses to land anywhere but on my head if I'm in the room.

[the asshole you hate]

The one thing that worries me about the second iteration is the possibility for wear destroying the adhesion.

That's another thing that makes the faintly beveled edges superior. As the areas of contact wear, the blocks merely push closer together, extending the life of their connectivity.



T, I noticed you don't hold one block up and see if the other will stick to it with the dovetail models. Is that because it would slide off? In that case, the tree can't be built. I'm a little leaning toward 'so fucking what if I can't build blocky trees' on that one myself, however.

[Rico]

It's never too early for marketing! I notice your YouTube video has no real introduction spiel to your product, and the video information only includes a link to your page. This is bad! You are making people who might be interested do unnecessary work to find out about your product.

[T]

T, I noticed you don't hold one block up and see if the other will stick to it with the dovetail models. Is that because it would slide off? In that case, the tree can't be built. I'm a little leaning toward 'so fucking what if I can't build blocky trees' on that one myself, however.

Yeah, the dovetails just slide apart if you pick one up. Really, I was fine with not being able to build overhangs myself,since I mainly want them for hills and walls, but it seems like being able to build ceilings, caves, trees and so on would be a good thing.

[Kayin]

Also consider that dovetails are probably more annoying for mass disassembly.

[Classic]

The ease of assembly and disassembly of a 9 blox cube is probably a big thing to consider before you settle on something.

EDIT:

I don't know how much refinement you have room for, but that sweet spot of motility and durability could be tough to find.

[MadMAxJr]

Hello there person marketing a gamer product!  I worked five years in hobby game retail and have a fair understanding of your target audience and have some comments and questions.

You're showing this product off here and on youtube.  Do you have any kind of intellectual property protection on this yet to keep other people from stealing your idea and marketing it as their own?

This looks like a product with broad appeal.  Possibly to RPG players and wargamers alike.  They may be a bit on the tall side for wargamers to use them, elevation and blocking line-of-sight is a factor that varies in importance from system to system.  If blocks of half-height were available that might broaden the appeal.

What kind of product kits would hypothetically be available for this?  In my opinion, a $10 starter kit that gives you enough to build a single dungeon room would be a great entry product.  Just enough to show off what it can do and act as a gateway product for the budget-conscious.  Then a $25-30 base kit and eventually a $50 premium kit (Containing a unique color or oddly shaped piece perhaps).'  (Production costs will surely affect these values, and I know you're not going mass retail anytime soon.)

This product would need a means of standing apart clearly from other product solutions such as the previously mentioned Heroscape hexes, dwarven forge, cardstock printable terrain (Microtactix for example).

I'm curious where this is headed.  I'll keep an eye on it.

[the asshole you hate]

You're showing this product off here and on youtube.  Do you have any kind of intellectual property protection on this yet to keep other people from stealing your idea and marketing it as their own?

I'm the only person whose ideas are legally steal-able in this thread, because I am directly saying I don't want any credit. Right now I am saying it and for all future posts I make in this thread, amen legalese. He's got his posted to IndieGoGo which provides proof that it was his idea. At least that's how it would probably go down in a lawsuit. And you can bet IndieGoGo saves all records of postings just in case of exactly that exciting situation.

[T]

A patent is really expensive, and this isn't copyrightable. But worst case scenario is I'll basically get grandfathered in and still be allowed to sell them, since I have proof of when I came up with idea and I can't find anything even remotely similar to them already existing. And I'm pretty sure that even though I've "published" depictions of the item, I haven't published actual specifications, so I can still patent it in the future.

[MadMAxJr]

Okay, you've at least looked into the matter and it's simply a matter of the costs.  Thumbs up, you're on the ball and seem enthusiastic about your product.  I'm going to show it to two midwest hobby store owners and see if I can gather any additional feedback for you.