kickstarter.com
A few weeks ago I wrote an article about how 'Exploding Kittens' had broken Kickstarter records by reaching $4.7 million, far exceeding their original $10,000 fund.The campaign ended at 9:00 p.m. EST today and records have been shattered as they closed with $8.7 million and 219,000 backers. Unbelievable! Congratulations to the incredibly talented team! I can't wait to receive my deck.
Kickstarter’s most backed campaign in history has raised $4.7 million (and counting) with 120,167 (and counting) backers. With 21 days to go, it’s likely the total amount will surpass $5 million as you can literally watch the numbers go up in front of your very eyes. This project crushed its initial $10,000 goal, reaching 100% funding in 20 minutes and 1000% funding in less than an hour.
What could possibly have generated this much attention and funds in just 9 days since it’s January 20 launch? X-ray glasses? A virtual gaming pod? Underwater breathing apparatuses (apparati?)? Actually, it’s a deck of cards. Not just any deck of cards, however. A deck of cards with EXPLODING KITTENS!
According to their Kickstarter page, ‘Exploding Kittens’ is a “highly strategic kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette” created by Elan Lee, Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal, and Shane Small. "Players take turns drawing cards until someone draws an exploding kitten and loses the game. The deck is made up of cards that let you avoid exploding by peeking at cards before you draw, forcing your opponent to draw multiple cards, or shuffling the deck."
A card game that has generated this much attention (every major news outlet and tech website has written an article about it), and is entertaining and well illustrated is sure to gain a cult following similar or greater than that of 'Cards Against Humanity,' which also got its start through a successful Kickstarter campaign. The kid-friendly Exploding Kittens Deck is $20, while an ages 30+, NSFW Deck, which includes a deck of bonus cards that are “too horrible/incredible" to include in the kid friendly version, is $35. You can back the project, here. Estimated delivery is July 2015.
Not entirely sold? Watch the video below.