Rage Cards - Classic memes on playing cards *Kickstarter*

[mlosondry]

Hi everyone,

I would like to share something with you guys. I once had a dream, one in which I make a deck of standard playing cards, but each card features an image, one of the most famous Internet rage comic memes.

There are certainly enough image to spread across 52 separate cards, so all I need is the money to produce them. Luckily for me, I managed to print out 100 decks thanks to local investors. Now, I'm seeking more funds to really get this deck out there. My project got popular pretty quick on Kickstarter and I'm really close to make all of your (and mine) memes playing card dreams come true.

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The people who pledged $9 will get a pack of the cards at a special rate, with early shipping. A pledge of $14 will net 2 packs of cards, while a pledge of $24 or more will net you 4 packs of cards with shipping included. A pledge of $30 or more gets you 6 decks and $48 will get you 12 decks. Pledge $300, and they will allow you to receive 1 of the only 20 exclusive Rage Cards gold edition sealed and carefully put in a premium custom golden box as well as a certificate of authenticity with the approved signature by the founder himself.

As of this writing, the project only has $1,755 pledged with 65 backers. You can check out the project for more informations, or donate some funds, over at Kickstarter. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/81 ... ying-cards

[theCapraAegagrus]

No.

[mlosondry]

Why not? I think these looks fantastic!

[theCapraAegagrus]

Aside from just being hideous and done before? Too many red flags.

[mlosondry]

I promise nothing like these were produced before The design is way more complex than it looks. Feel free to check by yourself and visit my campain!

[PipChick]

ummm... just FYI, the creator of Rage Comics, Carlos Ramirez, - aka, the guy that actually designed most of the images you're just copying and pasting onto these cards for profit - has copyright over those images and, while I'm sure he's totally chill on them being shared all over the internet by anyone as they have been for over a decade now under the fair use doctrine that allows others to use his copyrighted work for explicitly non-profit purposes, he's probably not cool with you using them without his permission & obtaining licensing for use in this KS project.

I'm not saying that he's definitely gunna go after you and your small little project to enforce ownership of his copyright & collect royalties for use of HIS original creative work - even though he has in the past on others that tried profiting off his images... but he's most certainly well within the legal framework to do so if he felt so inclined... just sayin'...

So, if I were you, I'd be more concerned with the unauthorized use of those images and the copyright infringement you're committing with this project more than anything else because you can't just copy and paste images from the internet for your product - that's stealing. period.

[vedus]

This could be a stunning, jaw dropping design and this

Printed by a major games printing and manufacturing giant in the gaming industry

Would absolutely kill the entire thing for me. I want playing cards from reputable playing card manufacturers, not unnamed game manufacturers.

That aside, this isn't a stunning design. It's an also-ran along with all the other meme ideas that popup on kickstarter every four to six weeks. It's not a great idea and it's not a great execution.

[mlosondry]

Thank you for advice! Yes of course I am aware Carlos Ramirez is the original creator however he has copyrights only on the Trollface. I totally agree with you, copy-pasting someone else's work is stealing and is unacceptable. I would never use the Trollface without Carlos's consent and this is why the Trollface is not part of Rage Cards.

I invite you to take a look at my kickstarter campaign and I'm sure you'll be able to see all the work that had to be done in order to make this deck possible. I can reassure you, its way more complicated than just copy pasting images

I'm sorry I couldn't have a reputable playing card manufacturers to produce Rage Cards, trust me I would love to make that happen. On the other hand I'm really grateful I managed to have a deal with a printing compagny even if it's not a well known one

[PipChick]

Thank you for advice! Yes of course I am aware Carlos Ramirez is the original creator however he has copyrights only on the Trollface. I totally agree with you, copy-pasting someone else's work is stealing and is unacceptable. I would never use the Trollface without Carlos's consent and this is why the Trollface is not part of Rage Cards.

'Trollface' is the only image that he formally applied for federal registration but ALL images created in a digital form qualify automatically under 'common law' copyright and are legally protected whether or not they've been federally registered by the creator himself... And, IIRC, the creator/owner of his images is not required to do so to still enforce copyright and seek royalties nor does it exclude those images from illegal infringement in use for profit without the creator's permission...

also, you agree that copy-pasting someone else's work is stealing and wrong, but still do it anyways regardless...

[mlosondry]

Thank you for sharing the information! I appreciate your help and will keep that in mind for the next steps of my campaign

[PipChick]

on a totally unrelated but positive note; I do really like your promotional vid on the project page lol

[mlosondry]

thank you sooo much *virtual high five*

[rousselle]

FWIW, here's the most infamous previous attempt at an internet meme deck that I recall. Notice that this one didn't fund:



And, here's another one that leaps immediately to mind. This one did fund, and it's another one that claims it's the first of its kind:



I don't know why Derp Deck cancelled (perhaps because it didn't look like it would fund?), but the second one came under fire after it shipped because it had very few distinct memes being referenced and the quality of the finished product was not well received at all.

This deck may do it better, design-wise. Gunning for a non-top-tier playing card manufacturer does not bode well for addressing the quality issue. But, IP is absolutely a concern. I hate to be pessimistic or negative when it comes to someone's earnest attempt at creating a worthwhile deck, but this project is going to face an uphill battle, and I hope that the project creator spends some time reading through this site and looking at what playing card collectors look for and what other designers take into consideration when they put together a successful project. Perhaps this project creator has an excellent deck in them that could benefit from some love and attention. If so, I'd like to see *that* deck. Very much so.

Food for thought.

[PipChick]

there was also this meme deck that was successfully funded the first time in 2017 around but not for a 2nd printing in another campaign last year...


and these were others from over the last few years that have also failed to reach funding... rip




So no; unfortunately the concept of a meme deck is neither new nor original... and take a look at the last two projects in particular; they look pretty darn similar to yours and goes to show that this idea has been conceived many, many times before - even right down to such similar approaches to it's copy-paste design aesthetic - but have still failed to in getting support and actually being realized...

I think the problem with this concept - besides not being all too attractive and coming across as kinda amateurish because, well, that's exactly the manner and means by which memes were created in the first place - is that the popularity/trends of particular memes come and go at such fast rate that even by the time the deck is produced, it's already super dated and no longer holds it's novel appeal. I guess for some, perhaps a deck like this could possibly appeal as a deck not too unlike to owning a time capsule of internet pop culture, but..., like..., why...? what's the point?

I dunno; I just can't imagine this meme concept every really taking off regardless of how well executed it may be done it's design... I guess it's just not for me

[macstrat]

I kinda like the Derp Deck. All the others look like something I would find at my local gas station.

[CupcakeBaron]

I'm raging over how lame this deck is. Sorry not Sorry.

[mlosondry]

Wow thank you for the researchs guys!! I really appreciate that I did saw these projects and I think they failed mainly because of a lack of effort. Almost all of them didn't printed one single deck and most of them didn't even put up pictures. I think that's what made the diffrence with Rage Cards. Sure, Meme Playing Cards was funded but they used the same 13 memes on all 52 cards with a simple back image along in a equally simple box. Rage Cards was made with 52 different memes, 1 for every single card! The back image is a detailed display of all rage comics and it's packed in a complex designed box. I agree, rage comics are over-dated but Rage Cards is more like ''vintage classic'' deck. Of course, not everyone likes rage comics/memes but so far, this project received a pretty positive response overall. Feel free to visit my campaign and thank you again guys

[theCapraAegagrus]

The only reason that your campaign will be a "success" is because of your low funding goal. The deck itself will not be a success, based on poor design, and poor manufacturing selection. Both of my comments regarding "being done before" and "red flags" have been addressed in full detail by others (thanks friends).

[ALR]

Well, that was a little surreal...

A Kickstarter tried to promote his new deck and was (but in the most polite and genteel way) comprehensively ripped a new one for it being badly designed, ugly, and un-original, given lessons in copyright law, schooled in card history with exhibits and statistics. And the promoter THANKED them...

Then I saw the Canadian flag. Some stereotypes are lovely...

Refreshing to see an internet exchange not degenerate into a slanging match, but no matter how polite everyone is being, you shouldn't ignore the copyright issue just because you think you are too small a fish to fry.

I may also be mistaken, but doesn't Kickstarter have a rule against raising funds for products that already exist (you defend the ridiculously low target of $100 because the first 100 decks are "already on the way") ?

[MagikFingerz]

ALR: Agreed on all points. Welcome to the forums, btw!

[mlosondry]

hahaha thank you yes! we, canadians, are always over-polite Here's the idea behind that 100$ goal ; 100 decks were already printed as a sample and for web-marketing. Now, if the campaign collects enough funds for a larger batch (1000 decks), that batch would be printed. If the campaign doesnt collects enough funds, the 100 decks should cover all the pledges

[CupcakeBaron]

So you're essentially using KS to sell the decks you already have and possibly print more? Yikes.

[mlosondry]

Sorry for the confusion, I will try to clarify.
I'm collecting funds to print a 1000 decks batch that will be sold on various websites after the campagin is over. The 100 decks already printed will cover the pledges just in case the campaign doesnt collects enough funds. As we speak, the campagin is already over 2000$ which means that second batch will be printed. Apologize again for the confusion

[ALR]

So offering an already existing product is not a contravention of Kickstarter rules ?

Surely setting a realistic funding goal that is sufficient to print the 1,000 decks you wanted is the "cover" that the crowd-funding model offers ? If you don't get the required funds, no money changes hands at all.

As an earlier poster said - so many red flags.

[mlosondry]

I see what you're saying but I will try to explain again and make it very simple. Let's just say this campaign is to fund a second print of 1000 decks of Rage Cards. Just like many other playing cards projects did, a ''second print'' project is permitted on Kickstarter. I hope it's more clear now and I apologize for the misunderstanding

[ALR]

That's an awful lot of explaining you had to do for something "very simple".

"Let's just say" that a "second print of 1000 decks" is a long way from where you started, which was a "Limited edition (only 100 decks printed)" and you went the extremely scenic route to get there.

You have now secured more than 100 backers - does everyone from the 101st receive the second edition (of 1,000) instead of the first edition (of 100) ? Or would the second edition of 1,000 be exactly the same as the first 100, so everyone receives one of 1,100, instead of the Limited Edition of 100 as promised ?

I think it is clear that you are selling 100 decks of your already printed cards, and using the proceeds to fund your next edition. Nothing wrong with that - perfectly sensible business plan, but you should not be doing it on Kickstarter. And you should definitely not be claiming a LIMITED EDITION of 100 when you fully intend to print 1,100. And you should absolutely not be concealing that fact from your backers, as you did in your response on your Kickstarter comments page 4 days ago: "Considering the amazing support, we MAY END UP having to print more than 100 decks..." (capitalisaion is mine).

But you are funded, so this is all moot... best of luck with your next project.

[mlosondry]

I see you visited my campaign and I thank you for that! Yes at this point I will have to print more than 100 decks to cover all the pledges. I'm sorry again for all the confusing. Thank you for the support and have a wonderful day

[ALR]

Please be clear, I do NOT support you or what appear to be your dubious business practices (which I suspect are intended to be confusing) - I was just being polite and trying to end this exchange. Check MY flag...

[PipChick]

well, with all things considered, this entire exchange has been unexpectedly delightful lol

Please be clear, I do NOT support you or what appear to be your dubious business practices (which I suspect are intended to be confusing) - I was just being polite and trying to end this exchange. Check MY flag...

And, I like this new guy ^ (btw - Hi, new guy - glad to have you! welcome! )

I think it is clear that you are selling 100 decks of your already printed cards, and using the proceeds to fund your next edition. Nothing wrong with that - perfectly sensible business plan, but you should not be doing it on Kickstarter. And you should definitely not be claiming a LIMITED EDITION of 100 when you fully intend to print 1,100. And you should absolutely not be concealing that fact from your backers, as you did in your response on your Kickstarter comments page 4 days ago: "Considering the amazing support, we MAY END UP having to print more than 100 decks..." (capitalisation is mine).

yes, it's most definitley a clear case of (ab)using the KS platform for resale rather than actual funding purposes; and that, along with the blatant careless disregard of copyright laws/respect for others' creative property & the dubiously misleading representation of the deck's actually exclusivity in an attempt to, what I can only assume, appeal to collectors in claiming it as 'limited' when it's now clear that it won't in fact be if/when the creators go ahead with the second printing... , all makes me can't help but have a pretty low opinion of these creators and this project, regardless of the actual deck and of how charmingly polite they've been in facing and responding to some hard criticisms - which is commendable, but still doesn't deflect from some pretty huge principled issues and red flags...

Just to also be clear; we all appreciate creators coming here to graciously listen to our concerns and answer our questions in an effort to better clarify their projects, but I'm sorry to say, I also don't support much of what you're doing and how you're going about to do it in this particular project...

But for those backers of yours that do, please just do right by them.

[mlosondry]

I saw your flag and hello from Canada Even if you don't like my project I thank you anyway for your constructive comments! Actually everyone here have been really helpful by giving tips or doing for research. And you took your time to visit my campaign! So the least that I can do is thank you for that