Download or DVD?
over 9 years ago – Mon, Jun 01, 2015 at 10:02:54 AM

I want to clarify the differences between receiving the books and animated series via download and via the Signed DVD set.

The Books

The book PDFs will be similar no matter whether you receive them via download or on the DVD disc. Via download, you will receive three files, one for each volume of the book set.

If you're getting the DVD set, the first disc of that set will have those three files on it as well. However, we're only talking about 2-3GB of data there, and a DVD holds about 4.5GB of data. It is not my intention to waste that space, so I will be filling it with as much digital content as I can.

A lot of the old wallpaper images are included in the books for posterity, but the first disc of the DVD set will include them as digital files too, so you can actually use these images as desktop wallpapers if you wish. I have also decided to include a digital copy of the Applied Education poster on the DVD, so that you'll have a copy of that to enjoy forever.

The Animated Series

Thanks to our first stretch goal, all pledge tiers $35 and up will be able to download all twenty-four episodes of the Ctrl+Alt+Animated Series. These downloaded episodes will (likely) be .mp4 format, 360p.

Discs 2 and 3 of the Signed DVD set will also include all of these episodes, separated into season 1 and 2 respectively. However, these are fully authored DVDs. That means you can play them on your TV right out of the gate, and they include menus, English subtitles and any commentary tracks I recorded for these episodes back when they were first released, and the videos are 480p. They are not simply the downloadable files slapped onto a data disc.

I hope that helps clear up the differences between these two formats.

Also, while I am currently only guaranteeing that the Book file downloads will be in PDF form, I will be investigating converting to a format like .cbz as well. If I can offer them in that format, I will. I just can't commit to it l until I've had a chance to work with it this summer.

48 Hours Left!
over 9 years ago – Sun, May 31, 2015 at 08:28:53 PM

We now have less than two days to the end of the campaign. This will serve as the first of two final reminders: Double check your payment information. Kickstarter will begin charging pledges after the campaign closes on June 3rd... if your pledge is declined, I will not be able to do anything to help you resecure your spot later on.

I'll send out one more reminder at the 24 hour mark.

Now, this is probably a little overdue, but with all the stretch goals we added over the course of the campaign, I figured it couldn't hurt to make sure things were as clear as possible before we wrap up here. So I made this little chart which shows exactly what is included with the default pledge tiers:

Obviously this does not take into account any Add-Ons you may have increased your pledge amount to obtain.

Also, I wanted to point out that as of this moment, we are now the second-highest funded Comics project of all time on Kickstarter. Pretty cool :)

Oh...
over 9 years ago – Sat, May 30, 2015 at 06:19:01 AM

So, this is really embarrassing, but I just noticed there was a typo in the final stretch goal. It's supposed to say $600,000. The 5 and 6 keys are so close together, it was an honest mistake. On the bright side, we're now in the home stretch to unlocking those final pages! Only 100k to go! Keep up the good work!

I am kidding, of course. :D

The final stretchgoal has been unlocked! I can hardly believe it, it seemed so far away when I initially posted it, and yet here we are. You guys are amazing.

You've done your part, and now I will do my part. Book Two of the Box Set will now have 376 pages, up from 368. Those additional pages will include what amounts to eleven brand new comic strips detailing what happens after "Endings... and beginnings."

This extended ending will only ever be available through print and digital copies of this collection; it will never be uploaded to the website. I am so thrilled to be able to do this for you all, who have made this campaign more successful than my wildest dreams.

Plushies and Blankets
over 9 years ago – Fri, May 29, 2015 at 01:38:12 PM

As I mentioned in a previous update, a little while back the store that handled all of the Ctrl+Alt+Del merchandise went belly-up. They shut off their shopping cart, and they've been in the process of closing down and liquidating their stock. I've worked out a deal to rescue a handful of my favorite items, and I will be offering Kickstarter backers first dibs.

First is the 12" Zeke plushie.

The next picture will give you an idea of his relative size, though it needs to be noted that my copy is actually the factory prototype, and the colors for the production piece are a little darker as shown above.

 I've also managed to get the last of the Winter-een-mas fleece blankets. These are 5'x4', and make a great throw or wall decoration.

No more of these plushies/blankets will ever be made, and I don't have many, so they are limited in quantity (which is why I can't simply offer them as a Kickstarter add-on). After the campaign is over, when you receive your pledge manager, you will have the opportunity to add these to your order (and pay for them at that time). You do not need to add funds to your pledge now.

The Zeke Plushie will be offered alone for $10 + shipping. You can also purchase a "Snuggle Bundle" which gets you the plushie and blanket, for $15 + shipping. The blankets will not be offered alone, because I have far fewer of them than I have plushies.

Shipping costs for the solo Zeke Plushie: US $6, CA $8, International $12

Shipping costs for the Snuggle Bundle: US $10, CA $12, International $20

Final Week!
over 9 years ago – Wed, May 27, 2015 at 08:22:23 AM

We are in the last six days of the campaign, and we are steadily trucking towards our huge, final stretch goal!

I wanted to touch on a couple of points that I've been asked about a lot the past few days, the first of which regarding Add-Ons and Kickstarter.

If you would like to purchase some add-ons for your tier, you need to pledge the additional funds manually. So for example, if you've pledged for the $80 tier because you want the books, and you live in the US, your pledge amount will be $95 ($80 for the tier and $15 for shipping).

Now let's say you want the new Applied Education poster as well, which is $15 shipped within the US. You need to manually increase your pledge to $110 ($80+15+15). After the campaign has ended, you will receive a pledge manager survey, that will identify that you have a $15 credit above and beyond what was required for the tier you chose. You'll then have the opportunity to specify how you want that credit used (in this case, you would select that you wanted the poster).

Kickstarter does not have a built-in feature to handle add-ons, which is why it's a little less than intuitive. But either way, don't panic about it too much. If you receive your pledge manager after the campaign, and realize that your math was off, or you forgot that you wanted an extra sticker sheet or whatever, the pledge manager will allow you to pay for the difference when filling out your survey.

The second point I wanted to mention regarding the end of the campaign is payment processing, and I will put out another reminder right before the campaign ends. Kickstarter does not charge for your pledge until the successful campaign has closed. This means they will begin collecting pledges after June 3rd.

Before June 3rd, I highly recommend you double check your payment/credit card details, because if your pledge is declined, there is nothing I can do to help you. Your spot/Kickstarter rewards are gone and I cannot guarantee you a book. So just be aware.

In closing... here's another up close look at a panel from the Applied Education poster: