Update #3: Successful Encore Campaign + Pledge Manager next week
Hey rock stars!
Our Encore Campaign for Headliner on Kickstarter was a smash hit! We added 172 more band members and raised an additional $6,500! If you missed out on both campaigns, you can late pledge now on Kickstarter by following the link above.
Content we unlocked during the campaign that all of y'all will receive for FREE:
7 new Headliner cards with alternate art
4 new Musician cards
4 new Heartbreaker cards
1 new Promo Venue card
1 new Roadie based on DCC (Crawlin' Carl)
6 new additional Roadies
3 new Perk cards
We just missed out on the deluxe wooden guitar picks, but with so much more content, I'm thrilled!
If you'd like to see the game components in their nearly final form, check out this video below where I walk through all of the content for Headliner. I am very pleased with the production and we should be able to hit "print" pretty soon once I get the final digital proofs next week.
(below is an image of all the bonus content we unlocked on Kickstarter)
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Pledge Manager Update
I am planning to get the Pledge Manager up and running next week for both this campaign and the Encore Campaign. Understanding the BackerKit PM was a learning curve, but I've got a handle on it now. I will send you an update next week with the latest.
---
Gen Con is in less than 30 days! You can give our games a "like" on BGG at this link. I will be located at booth #2753.
That's all for now! I will be in touch again soon. Kick back and play!
For all backers: Scroll to the bottom of this update for your direct link to back at $1 and join the campaign if you'd like :)This will credit to your pledge manager. There is no obligation to do so.
Below is a preview at all of the bonus content we'll reveal during the campaign. The $1,000 funding goal will unlock 10 new cards! We'll have alternate artwork for our main Headliners plus 2 new Musicians and 2 new Heartbreakers. I can't wait to share more of the art and cards, which we'll reveal as the campaign progresses. Once we hit our funding goal, all cards will be added to the backer only promo. The major stretch goal is the wooden guitar picks.
Origins Preview - Giveaway Winner
We hit our goal of 50 likes for Headliner on Origins Preview! We are at 238 of the 250 required to giveaway a custom card to one backer as well! So just 12 more likes to make that happen!
Congrats to backer "Lana Greene"!
If you read this, please leave a comment letting me know which poster you'd like. Also, I will DM you to make sure you see it :)
Timeline Update
As a reminder, backers are not required to back this new mini-campaign. We are fully funded, but hoping to get more backers to our band! My manufacturer is working on the latest sample, which is scheduled to be ready around June 25. This will show off the wooden pieces and game box, etc. We have already submitted the final printing files, minus the wooden guitar picks, as those are sort of our major goal to unlock since they are the most costly. Once the Encore campaign ends and I inspect the latest samples, I'll be able to hit print pretty quickly and we'll be off to the races!
Origins 2026
I arrived in Columbus yesterday in preparation for Origins Game Fair this week. I'm so excited to demo Headliner. My updated card sample was delayed at customs, so I don't have my latest card art for this con. But we move forward. If you're at the con, be sure to swing by and say hi at booth 1714!
Kick Back and Play, - Chris from Chris Couch Games
Post Campaign Update #1: Thank you! + Pledge Manager + Conventions + More Content?
Hey rock stars!
I'm here with our first post-campaign update. Expect to hear from me at the end of each month, every month, until fulfillment is all wrapped up. Let's hit the high notes, including an Encore Campaign?!
Manufacturing Update
I've submitted the art files to Boda and received some digital proofs. This is a key part of the process as I need to review the proofs before hitting print on our official product sample. Boda will print a few copies of the sample and send my way in 2-3 weeks. If I see some changes that need to be made, the time would be then to make them. I expect this process to be completed quickly and for me to sign off on full manufacturing by by end of June/early July.
Pledge Manager Update
I've started on the Pledge Manager and the process is going pretty smoothly so far. I will be making major headway on it next week. Expect the invitation to hit your inbox towards the end of June.
Convention Season
AdventureCon I will be attending AdventureCon in Arkansas next weekend! I will not be a vendor, but will have Headliner with me. Garden Club will be part of the "Hot Games" for people to check out. I will be running an event on Saturday with my pals from The Grove to show off all our titles. If you're attending, I'd love to see you there!
Origins Game Fair I will be a vendor at Origins in Columbus, OH, from June 17-21! This will be my first time at Origins, and you can find me at Booth 1714! I will be running demos of all our games, selling our inventory of Holiday Hills, Jingle Bell Roll, and Kraken Skulls, and taking pre-orders/late pledges for Headliner, Garden Club and Petal. Please come say hi. I plan to bring extra copies of Garden Club so in case people want to check out the game and play it in the hall, they will have the opportunity to do so.
Gen Con The CCG squad will be attending Gen Con in July/August! We will be in a 20x10 in Entrepreneurs Alley area, Booth 2753. This is our first time at Gen Con, and I'm so thrilled as well as (naturally) a bit nervous. It's the biggest show, and a dream come true to be there. It costs a lot of money to go, but it's so worth it to make a dream happen. I plan to have our large scale dice tower there for attendees to win prizes, a Sunday family event with a Christmas Tree, and hopefully some more surprises! I submitted a few events for our games, including Headliner, but I will be running demos at our booth all convention!
PAX Unplugged I will have a booth at PAXU in December in Philly! I will be including a "Pick Up at PAXU" option in the pledge manager in case you plan to attend that convention and want to save money on shipping.
More Headliner Content?!
I know some of the most fun part about games replayability. Jaedon (the designer) and Blake (artist) had some really fun ideas that we wish we had been able to unlock during the campaign, including the wooden guitar pics. I received approval to launch an Encore Campaign (thematic right?) that would run on Kickstarter in June for two weeks while I attend AdventureCon and Origins.
This follow-up campaign would allow us to engage with more backers on Kickstarter, and hopefully allow us to add more FREE content to Headliner for all of you. It would also allow us to print 2,000 units of Headliner, making it better for our business in general as the cost per unit goes down. This means it's easier to get Headliner in people's hands and support our friendly local game stores with retail options, etc. But just to be clear, we are fully funded and printing Headliner thanks to YOU in this BackerKit campaign!
The Encore Campaign stretch goals could potentially unlock in the Backer-Only promo:
6 new alternate art Headliner cards
4 new Musician cards
4 new Heartbreaker cards
6 new Roadie cards
1 new Venue card
3 new Perk cards
Wooden Guitar Pics
If we hit our initial funding goal of $1,000 on Kickstarter, then we'll automatically unlock 6 new alt Headliner cards and 4 new musicians! The rest of the content we'll be aiming to unlock throughout the rest of the campaign!
You will not be required to back anything in an "Encore" campaign, you would simply just get more free stuff with your pledge! 🤘 If you want to join the comment section, I will have a $1 pledge level that y'all can pledge at which will count towards a credit in the pledge manager. Let me know in the comments if you'll join us for this Encore Campaign!
Rulebook & Sample
I completed the rulebook design for the core game and mini-expansions! We're doing the final tweaks to it, and I will send y'all a link to preview it and our How to Play video when we launch the Encore Campaign.
That's all for now. I'll be back in touch around June 15 with an update on the rulebook, pledge manager, and Encore Campaign status.
New Headliner Unlocked! + Final Hours + Origins Preview Achievement Within Reach
Hey rock stars!
WOW! What a final 24 hours it's been. We hit the 350 backer mark and the $14,000 mark! I'm so grateful to have y'all in the band. You are the real show stoppers 😎.
New Headliner Card is Added to the Backer Promo!
Thanks to all of you, we hit this awesome stretch goal!! Blake was able to whip up the art for Ned Schneebly, and we've added a phenomenal new card to add to the game. ALL BACKERS will get this for FREE included in the Backer Promo.
🤘 Poster Giveaway Winner(s)
We hit another 50-backer milestone, which means another backer wins a custom poster!
Congrats to backer "Ronny Cox"!
Also congrats to Drew for being our most engaged backer during the campaign! You have also won a free poster that will be added to your pledge!
If you read this, please leave a comment letting me know which poster you'd like. Also, I will DM you to make sure you see it :)
We'll unlock another poster winner if we hit 400 backers AND/OR 50 likes for Headliner on the BGG Origins Preview (check the achievement below). Let's do this in the final 2 hours!
📋 BGG Origins Preview - Help us spread the word
We only need 16 more likes for Headliner on BGG's Origins Preview to do another Poster Giveaway! This helps us show off the game to more people attending the convention. I've added the community achievement below, but you can click here to "like" our games on BoardGameGeek's website.
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Updates Going Forward
I will have some other cool announcements next week after the campaign closes. If you're familiar with me from past campaigns, you know that I am very transparent and communicative throughout the entire process. I want y'all to know how much your trust in me and in Chris Couch Games means. I do not take your decision to spend money with us lightly. I will honor your pledge by providing a quality product, supporting the board game community, and doing everything possible to get you the game swiftly.
Here's what you can expect from me going forward:
You will receive updates at the end of the month, every month, until fulfillment is complete.
I will keep you up to date on manufacturing process and give y'all as much behind the scenes as possible, basically a backstage pass.
I will be finalizing the rulebook design soon. My computer crashed last week, so I have to buy a new one (time for an upgrade), and it's slowed me down a bit. I will also be filming a how to play video that you can expect in June.
That's all for now! Let's finish the campaign strong, and don't forget to Kick Back and Play!
Final 24 Hours 🤩 + New Headliner Added + Poster Winner!
Hey rock stars!
We had a very eventful last few days with the campaign! We're now in the final day before the campaign wraps up tomorrow. I'm thrilled and humbled by your support thus far, but we still have a few more songs on our setlist before we walk off stage!
🎸 A New Headliner Joins the Band Soon
Thanks to everyone for voting on the new Headliner color and "van". It was a tie between Black and Blue, so I spoke with the designer and the team to make the final choice on the player color being Black. This is also because of the cool idea to bring some inspiration from School of Rock into the game. Here is a look at the art sketch and wooden school bus that we can add to the backer-exclusive promo. You'll get this and other bonuses for FREE if you back Headliner before the campaign ends tomorrow!
At 350 backers, we'll unlock Ned Schneebly! Adding this Headliner to the Backer-only promo that all backers will receive for free.
I did a bit of reworking of the quote from my manufacturer, and we will be able to add this card and meeple with 350 backers instead of the original 400! I know this will be a fun addition for everyone, and it will allow us to have another SKU we can sell at conventions in the future to promote the game.
🤘 Poster Giveaway Winner
We hit another 50-backer milestone, which means another backer wins a custom poster!
Congrats to backer "Elizabeth R"!
If you read this, please leave a comment letting me know which poster you'd like. Also, I will DM you to make sure you see it :)
We'll unlock another poster winner once we hit 350 backers AND 400 backers AND 50 likes for Headliner on the BGG Origins Preview (check the achievement below).
📋 BGG Origins Preview - Help us spread the word
We are over halfway to our goal of 50 likes for Headliner! This helps us show off the game to more people attending the convention. I've added the community achievement below, but you can click here to give Headliner and our other games a "like" on BoardGameGeek's website. Once we hit 50, I'll do another poster giveaway.
THANK YOU all so much again. I can't express my gratitude enough, and we'll be working hard to make sure Headliner gets to you as soon as possible. Let's close out the final 24 hours strong!
Final 5 Days! + New Stretch Goal Added + Geekway Recap
Hey rock stars!
We're in the final 5 days of this campaign. It's been so fun to see all the support for Headliner, and I can't wait for you to get your copy of the game :)
🎲 Geekway Recap
Last week I was able to attend Geekway to the West in St. Louis, MO. I was a vendor there with a 20x10 booth, and got to do a ton of demos for Headliner. Everyone had such a blast! We got to play games at all player counts which was great to work out those final tweaks. All went swimmingly well. I sold a good amount of Holiday Hills, Jingle Bell Roll, and Kraken Skulls, and it was great to see two of my designers Kristen Mott (Garden Club and Petal) and Marcus Ross (JBR)! Overall it was profitable, and it was so great to see people who were backing Headliner already. It meant the world to me!
Below is a pic of my booth setup, but if you want to see more pics check out my Instagram post. I'll have a cleaner booth at Gen Con and PAXU, but this was a great test run.
Final Stretch Goals
👩🎤 New Headliner Added to the Game - 400 Backers
If we can hit 400 backers, we'll add a NEW headliner to the game, included within the Backer-only stretch goals pack. This means, all backers would get this Headliner for FREE ($5 MSRP value, this SKU would include the wooden first player token and the promo card as well).
There are two news polls for you to check out. Vote on what color you'd like to see this new Headliner be, as well as their Van style. If we hit 400 Backers, I'll have Blake do some new art for this Headliner, and we'll finalize everything before we go to print in June. Leave a comment on what artist you'd like to see us embody for this new Headliner. 👀
🎸 Wooden Guitar Pics - $20k
We have our final stretch goal of hitting $20k which will unlock wooden guitar pic tokens for all backers! This would mean we need around 200 more backers to get that, which is totally possible! We have over 600 followers for this campaign, and now is the perfect time to jump in and help us hit this mark.
📋 BGG Origins Preview - Help us spread the word
We are about halfway to our goal of 50 likes for Headliner! This helps us show off the game to more people attending the convention. I've added the community achievement below, but you can click here to give Headliner and our other games a "like" on BoardGameGeek's website. Once we hit 50, I'll do another poster giveaway!
I appreciated seeing Dice Tower cover Headliner on their most recent stream. They had nice things to say and were very complimentary of the art in the game. Blake has done a bang up job with the art! As the person behind the graphic design at Chris Couch Games, my job gets easy when I have killer artists like Blake and the other folks I've worked with in the past.
S/O to all our content creators who are featured in the game! You can find a list of them on campaign page under the Wildcards Promo section. You can also enter a giveaway for a custom card pledge by visiting @tae_eat_tea's Instagram post.
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That's all for now! I'll have a couple more videos for y'all before the end of the campaign. Like this video from the designer of Headliner, Jaedon!
I know it's Memorial Day weekend, and I want to say thank you to all who have served and to those families and ones who've sacrificed, you will never be forgotten 🇺🇸 💜 . I hope everyone gets to spend some additional time with loved ones and I hope you all get to plays some games!
Our Encore Campaign for Headliner on Kickstarter was a smash hit! We added 172 more band members and raised an additional $6,500! If you missed out on both campaigns, you can late pledge now on Kickstarter by following the link above.
Content we unlocked during the campaign that all of y'all will receive for FREE:
7 new Headliner cards with alternate art
4 new Musician cards
4 new Heartbreaker cards
1 new Promo Venue card
1 new Roadie based on DCC (Crawlin' Carl)
6 new additional Roadies
3 new Perk cards
We just missed out on the deluxe wooden guitar picks, but with so much more content, I'm thrilled!
If you'd like to see the game components in their nearly final form, check out this video below where I walk through all of the content for Headliner. I am very pleased with the production and we should be able to hit "print" pretty soon once I get the final digital proofs next week.
(below is an image of all the bonus content we unlocked on Kickstarter)
---
Pledge Manager Update
I am planning to get the Pledge Manager up and running next week for both this campaign and the Encore Campaign. Understanding the BackerKit PM was a learning curve, but I've got a handle on it now. I will send you an update next week with the latest.
---
Gen Con is in less than 30 days! You can give our games a "like" on BGG at this link. I will be located at booth #2753.
That's all for now! I will be in touch again soon. Kick back and play!
For all backers: Scroll to the bottom of this update for your direct link to back at $1 and join the campaign if you'd like :)This will credit to your pledge manager. There is no obligation to do so.
Below is a preview at all of the bonus content we'll reveal during the campaign. The $1,000 funding goal will unlock 10 new cards! We'll have alternate artwork for our main Headliners plus 2 new Musicians and 2 new Heartbreakers. I can't wait to share more of the art and cards, which we'll reveal as the campaign progresses. Once we hit our funding goal, all cards will be added to the backer only promo. The major stretch goal is the wooden guitar picks.
Origins Preview - Giveaway Winner
We hit our goal of 50 likes for Headliner on Origins Preview! We are at 238 of the 250 required to giveaway a custom card to one backer as well! So just 12 more likes to make that happen!
Congrats to backer "Lana Greene"!
If you read this, please leave a comment letting me know which poster you'd like. Also, I will DM you to make sure you see it :)
Timeline Update
As a reminder, backers are not required to back this new mini-campaign. We are fully funded, but hoping to get more backers to our band! My manufacturer is working on the latest sample, which is scheduled to be ready around June 25. This will show off the wooden pieces and game box, etc. We have already submitted the final printing files, minus the wooden guitar picks, as those are sort of our major goal to unlock since they are the most costly. Once the Encore campaign ends and I inspect the latest samples, I'll be able to hit print pretty quickly and we'll be off to the races!
Origins 2026
I arrived in Columbus yesterday in preparation for Origins Game Fair this week. I'm so excited to demo Headliner. My updated card sample was delayed at customs, so I don't have my latest card art for this con. But we move forward. If you're at the con, be sure to swing by and say hi at booth 1714!
Kick Back and Play, - Chris from Chris Couch Games
I'm here with our first post-campaign update. Expect to hear from me at the end of each month, every month, until fulfillment is all wrapped up. Let's hit the high notes, including an Encore Campaign?!
Manufacturing Update
I've submitted the art files to Boda and received some digital proofs. This is a key part of the process as I need to review the proofs before hitting print on our official product sample. Boda will print a few copies of the sample and send my way in 2-3 weeks. If I see some changes that need to be made, the time would be then to make them. I expect this process to be completed quickly and for me to sign off on full manufacturing by by end of June/early July.
Pledge Manager Update
I've started on the Pledge Manager and the process is going pretty smoothly so far. I will be making major headway on it next week. Expect the invitation to hit your inbox towards the end of June.
Convention Season
AdventureCon I will be attending AdventureCon in Arkansas next weekend! I will not be a vendor, but will have Headliner with me. Garden Club will be part of the "Hot Games" for people to check out. I will be running an event on Saturday with my pals from The Grove to show off all our titles. If you're attending, I'd love to see you there!
Origins Game Fair I will be a vendor at Origins in Columbus, OH, from June 17-21! This will be my first time at Origins, and you can find me at Booth 1714! I will be running demos of all our games, selling our inventory of Holiday Hills, Jingle Bell Roll, and Kraken Skulls, and taking pre-orders/late pledges for Headliner, Garden Club and Petal. Please come say hi. I plan to bring extra copies of Garden Club so in case people want to check out the game and play it in the hall, they will have the opportunity to do so.
Gen Con The CCG squad will be attending Gen Con in July/August! We will be in a 20x10 in Entrepreneurs Alley area, Booth 2753. This is our first time at Gen Con, and I'm so thrilled as well as (naturally) a bit nervous. It's the biggest show, and a dream come true to be there. It costs a lot of money to go, but it's so worth it to make a dream happen. I plan to have our large scale dice tower there for attendees to win prizes, a Sunday family event with a Christmas Tree, and hopefully some more surprises! I submitted a few events for our games, including Headliner, but I will be running demos at our booth all convention!
PAX Unplugged I will have a booth at PAXU in December in Philly! I will be including a "Pick Up at PAXU" option in the pledge manager in case you plan to attend that convention and want to save money on shipping.
More Headliner Content?!
I know some of the most fun part about games replayability. Jaedon (the designer) and Blake (artist) had some really fun ideas that we wish we had been able to unlock during the campaign, including the wooden guitar pics. I received approval to launch an Encore Campaign (thematic right?) that would run on Kickstarter in June for two weeks while I attend AdventureCon and Origins.
This follow-up campaign would allow us to engage with more backers on Kickstarter, and hopefully allow us to add more FREE content to Headliner for all of you. It would also allow us to print 2,000 units of Headliner, making it better for our business in general as the cost per unit goes down. This means it's easier to get Headliner in people's hands and support our friendly local game stores with retail options, etc. But just to be clear, we are fully funded and printing Headliner thanks to YOU in this BackerKit campaign!
The Encore Campaign stretch goals could potentially unlock in the Backer-Only promo:
6 new alternate art Headliner cards
4 new Musician cards
4 new Heartbreaker cards
6 new Roadie cards
1 new Venue card
3 new Perk cards
Wooden Guitar Pics
If we hit our initial funding goal of $1,000 on Kickstarter, then we'll automatically unlock 6 new alt Headliner cards and 4 new musicians! The rest of the content we'll be aiming to unlock throughout the rest of the campaign!
You will not be required to back anything in an "Encore" campaign, you would simply just get more free stuff with your pledge! 🤘 If you want to join the comment section, I will have a $1 pledge level that y'all can pledge at which will count towards a credit in the pledge manager. Let me know in the comments if you'll join us for this Encore Campaign!
Rulebook & Sample
I completed the rulebook design for the core game and mini-expansions! We're doing the final tweaks to it, and I will send y'all a link to preview it and our How to Play video when we launch the Encore Campaign.
That's all for now. I'll be back in touch around June 15 with an update on the rulebook, pledge manager, and Encore Campaign status.
We had a very eventful last few days with the campaign! We're now in the final day before the campaign wraps up tomorrow. I'm thrilled and humbled by your support thus far, but we still have a few more songs on our setlist before we walk off stage!
🎸 A New Headliner Joins the Band Soon
Thanks to everyone for voting on the new Headliner color and "van". It was a tie between Black and Blue, so I spoke with the designer and the team to make the final choice on the player color being Black. This is also because of the cool idea to bring some inspiration from School of Rock into the game. Here is a look at the art sketch and wooden school bus that we can add to the backer-exclusive promo. You'll get this and other bonuses for FREE if you back Headliner before the campaign ends tomorrow!
At 350 backers, we'll unlock Ned Schneebly! Adding this Headliner to the Backer-only promo that all backers will receive for free.
I did a bit of reworking of the quote from my manufacturer, and we will be able to add this card and meeple with 350 backers instead of the original 400! I know this will be a fun addition for everyone, and it will allow us to have another SKU we can sell at conventions in the future to promote the game.
🤘 Poster Giveaway Winner
We hit another 50-backer milestone, which means another backer wins a custom poster!
Congrats to backer "Elizabeth R"!
If you read this, please leave a comment letting me know which poster you'd like. Also, I will DM you to make sure you see it :)
We'll unlock another poster winner once we hit 350 backers AND 400 backers AND 50 likes for Headliner on the BGG Origins Preview (check the achievement below).
📋 BGG Origins Preview - Help us spread the word
We are over halfway to our goal of 50 likes for Headliner! This helps us show off the game to more people attending the convention. I've added the community achievement below, but you can click here to give Headliner and our other games a "like" on BoardGameGeek's website. Once we hit 50, I'll do another poster giveaway.
THANK YOU all so much again. I can't express my gratitude enough, and we'll be working hard to make sure Headliner gets to you as soon as possible. Let's close out the final 24 hours strong!
WOW! What a final 24 hours it's been. We hit the 350 backer mark and the $14,000 mark! I'm so grateful to have y'all in the band. You are the real show stoppers 😎.
New Headliner Card is Added to the Backer Promo!
Thanks to all of you, we hit this awesome stretch goal!! Blake was able to whip up the art for Ned Schneebly, and we've added a phenomenal new card to add to the game. ALL BACKERS will get this for FREE included in the Backer Promo.
🤘 Poster Giveaway Winner(s)
We hit another 50-backer milestone, which means another backer wins a custom poster!
Congrats to backer "Ronny Cox"!
Also congrats to Drew for being our most engaged backer during the campaign! You have also won a free poster that will be added to your pledge!
If you read this, please leave a comment letting me know which poster you'd like. Also, I will DM you to make sure you see it :)
We'll unlock another poster winner if we hit 400 backers AND/OR 50 likes for Headliner on the BGG Origins Preview (check the achievement below). Let's do this in the final 2 hours!
📋 BGG Origins Preview - Help us spread the word
We only need 16 more likes for Headliner on BGG's Origins Preview to do another Poster Giveaway! This helps us show off the game to more people attending the convention. I've added the community achievement below, but you can click here to "like" our games on BoardGameGeek's website.
--
Updates Going Forward
I will have some other cool announcements next week after the campaign closes. If you're familiar with me from past campaigns, you know that I am very transparent and communicative throughout the entire process. I want y'all to know how much your trust in me and in Chris Couch Games means. I do not take your decision to spend money with us lightly. I will honor your pledge by providing a quality product, supporting the board game community, and doing everything possible to get you the game swiftly.
Here's what you can expect from me going forward:
You will receive updates at the end of the month, every month, until fulfillment is complete.
I will keep you up to date on manufacturing process and give y'all as much behind the scenes as possible, basically a backstage pass.
I will be finalizing the rulebook design soon. My computer crashed last week, so I have to buy a new one (time for an upgrade), and it's slowed me down a bit. I will also be filming a how to play video that you can expect in June.
That's all for now! Let's finish the campaign strong, and don't forget to Kick Back and Play!
