Gakondo Playing Cards by Rwandan designer

[Decknowledgy]

Now there is also the question of which joker to use?
Here are three options, and could folks tell him which one you prefer?

1. Character:

2. Back design color swap (the one in the middle is the back design):

3. Customized suits style:

WhatsApp Image 2019-07-11 at 14.46.42.jpeg (42.56 KiB) Viewed 10298 times

[RichK]

Joker #1.

These have improved greatly from first drafts.

[Harvonsgard]

While Maxime is working on the KS launch for the 2nd edition along with a collaborator, his design house has came up with this EPIC promo for the first edition which sold massively in Rwanda!

The quality and content of this promo is UNRREAL and unmatched...

Why is the video gone? I liked it.

Joker No.1 without a doubt. Simply because I prefer characters on the jokers. While the progress is nice, I feel like the newer versions are a tiny notch too close to comic book illustrations. I would prefer if he would go a tiny step back in the dircetion of the first draft. The King of Spades for example looks more sophisticated to me and more into the direction I would prefer than the Jacks and the jokers, if that makes sense. I guess it is the outlines, the Jacks and the joker have thicker outlines than the King.

[Decknowledgy]

Why is the video gone? I liked it.

He wanted to make some improvements and more specified cuts into the trailer, so he took it down. As for the feedback on the jokers, he'll be watching the thread, so keep it coming!

[Räpylätassu]

Nro. 1 Joker is the best. This is looking great, it has improved so much!

[wingedpotato]

The newest court illos are SO GOOD! So much more polished and dynamic. I am on the fence no longer. And Joker #1 for sure.

[STLBluesNut]

Joker 1 and I do like the courts much better.

Sent from my Galaxy 8 using Tapatalk

[niyomax85]

Thanks guys for your Feedback,

Glad you guys like the new look, here is how the box will be looking.

https://ibb.co/2Sg7723" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This next edition is Called "Zahabu" which means gold in kinyarwanda.

And each character will have a fiction back story ( we wanted to take a fiction angle coz these new characters will
be used in a fiction Comic book based on rwanda history, that we are going to release in the next few months) and that's why we choose to take this direction.

So please feel free to suggest anything that you think could be constructive and also
that you would love to see in this version.

[Decknowledgy]

Glad you guys like the new look, here is how the box will be looking.

https://ibb.co/2Sg7723

[Decknowledgy]

Sneak peek for what is the current design approach by Maxime:

[wingedpotato]

Nice! Prefer the faded background design for the courts, but really like having a different pattern for each suit. Could go either way with the words along the edges. Can't wait!

[niyomax85]

Note, @Decknowledgy had suggested this to.
i'm looking for a way of fixing that.

[Brian]

Joker #1 here as well. I like this a lot, will definitely keep an eye out for the kickstarter!

[niyomax85]

THE KING'S NAME IS FICTIONAL CHARACTER NAME THAT WE CREATED WHICH WAS INSPIRED
BY THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF RWANDAN KINGS.

Name: Ntare / King of Spades
Age: 46
Height: 1.94m (6ft 3’’)
Character: Brave, Strong, Wise

 Ntare was the greatest King the Kingdom had ever seen. He was born during a storm, some say that his bravery and power came from the thunder and lightning that wrecked the sky during this fateful night. His name itself bears a significant meaning, intare means lion in Kinyarwanda. Much like a lion watching over this pride, Ntare watched over the Kingdom with care and pride. The legend says that he was born holding sorghum (amasaka) on the one hand and maize () on the other, a symbol that the elders (abirus) foresaw his reign to be long and prosper.

Indeed, they were right, at a very young age he mastered the arts of poetry (name), warfare and sports He was especially good at High Jumping (gusimbuka urukiramende). When the time came for him to be King, few were happy to see the former King’s most-favored son take the crown. Especially in a time when the Kingdom was under attack in the North. However, his charisma and military might brought peace and prosperity throughout the Kingdom.

[niyomax85]

300gsm blue core paper, 54
cards/deck, 63x88 mm size
Tuck Box: 350gsm black specialty paper
Printing: CMYK offset printing,
custom design, 4C+metallic gold ink for both card face and card back
Finish: butter finish for cards both sides, linen
finish for the cards, golden foil for the box face
side, embossing on the tuck box
Packing: 54 cards are put in the box, cello- wrapped for the box.

[niyomax85]

@Decknowledgy

THE KING'S NAME IS FICTIONAL CHARACTER NAME THAT WE CREATED WHICH WAS INSPIRED
BY THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF RWANDAN KINGS.

Name: Ntare / King of Spades
Age: 46
Height: 1.94m (6ft 3’’)
Character: Brave, Strong, Wise

 Ntare was the greatest King the Kingdom had ever seen. He was born during a storm, some say that his bravery and power came from the thunder and lightning that wrecked the sky during this fateful night. His name itself bears a significant meaning, intare means lion in Kinyarwanda. Much like a lion watching over this pride, Ntare watched over the Kingdom with care and pride. The legend says that he was born holding sorghum (amasaka) on the one hand and maize () on the other, a symbol that the elders (abirus) foresaw his reign to be long and prosper.

Indeed, they were right, at a very young age he mastered the arts of poetry (name), warfare and sports He was especially good at High Jumping (gusimbuka urukiramende). When the time came for him to be King, few were happy to see the former King’s most-favored son take the crown. Especially in a time when the Kingdom was under attack in the North. However, his charisma and military might brought peace and prosperity throughout the Kingdom.[/quote]

[niyomax85]

Screen Shot 2020-01-23 at 11.21.11.png (382.76 KiB) Viewed 9470 times

Golden foil for the box face side.
Embossed tuck box Packing

[Decknowledgy]

300gsm blue core paper, 54
cards/deck, 63x88 mm size
Tuck Box: 350gsm black specialty paper
Printing: CMYK offset printing,
custom design, 4C+metallic gold ink for both card face and card back
Finish: butter finish for cards both sides, linen
finish for the cards, golden foil for the box face
side, embossing on the tuck box
Packing: 54 cards are put in the box, cello- wrapped for the box.

Wooooo!!! Finally!!!
Glad to see the transformation of this deck coming to life

Btw, this is WJPC specs, right?

[niyomax85]

@decknowledgy thanks for being part of this journey with Gakondo, yes indeed the printing company that we used this time was WJPC.

[Decknowledgy]

Is there a release date on Kickstarter? If there is, I think it's a good idea to move to the New and Custom Decks section to start advertising for these beauties

[niyomax85]

I doubt , that we will be able to kick start, but we will keep the UC community updated if there is any.
thanks

[BaconWise]

I will actually be in Zambia this April, so I will just drive up north a bit to pick these up in person. They should be ready, right?!

These look fantastic and I have loved watching the evolution. Simply stunning, so I hope there will be some way for us collectors to get our hands on these in the future.

[JackBrutusPenny]

To Ted or this fellow from Rowanda, I can't help much with other crowdfunding platforms but after completing my first campaign on KS I was invited to a sit-down meeting by the KS team in Japan. I'm sure their customer service can help give advice if you intend to go with this platform, but if you would like me to ask someone more directly then let me know and I'll try to put you in touch, or speak to them on your behalf.

[niyomax85]

i would really appreciate it , if i'm able to kick start the next deck , but also i'm open to other platforms that are community based.

[EndersGame]

Kudos to Maxime (and also to Decknowledgy for all the support he gave) for producing these Gakondo Playing Cards.

I just watched the presentation and Q&A that Maxime did at last month's 52 Plus Joker event. You can view it here:



It's well worth looking at, and gives real insight in the thinking that went into the Gakondo series, and the Dark Continent deck. There's some real depth of thought behind all the design elements of Dark Continent, and I love how it figures important elements that shaped African history.

I also love how each deck in the Gakondo series corresponds with a different coloured cow. How many different decks in this series are there so far?

[Decknowledgy]

Kudos to Maxime (and also to Decknowledgy for all the support he gave) for producing these Gakondo Playing Cards.

Thanks for the shoutout, EndersGame!

It's been a pleasure discussing playing card knowledge with Maxime, and it also showcases how well he listens and hopes to learn from the community. I just feel bad that I wasn't able to show up for his recent presentations due to in-real-life commitments, but I trust that the community has reacted well to his projects and likes the way he's so genuinely engaged with his own projects.

[EndersGame]

He speaks of you very highly, Ted, and you obviously have really stepped up in supporting and helping Maxime. Well done sir!

[EndersGame]

300gsm blue core paper, 54
Finish: butter finish for cards both sides, linen

It's already been mentioned that these specs are from WJPC.

Most people opt to print using black core paper, so it's unusual to see a choice for blue core paper instead. How did that turn out, and how does the blue core paper stock compare with the usual black core paper stock?

And is blue core stock also being used for the upcoming Dark Continent deck, or is that using black core stock?

[Harvonsgard]

Blue core to my knowledge is the cheaper option.