Qunify is raising money for its social game business in a novel way. It is offering to immortalize investors in a comic book in exchange for a $100 investment.
The San Francisco company’s artists will create a custom comic book character in the likeness of the investor in exchange for cash. The strategy is aimed at getting investors who are passionate about the company’s products. Those who pledge $1,000 get not only a custom hero but also a life-sized cut-out to match.
Qunify’s first comic fantasy game, Clash: Rise of the Heroes, is debuting next month on Facebook. It’s an online collectible card game in a superhero universe, aimed at both hardcore and casual gamers. Right now, the game has 75 characters. But players can also create their own superheroes or arch villains.
Qunify was founded in 2009 by twin brothers Josh and Daniel Quick as well as their cousin Dylan Cannon (the company also has seven other workers). The game is nearly finished, but the company needs more investors to get it done. It has both multiplayer and single-player options.
There are bigger rivals out there. Challenge Games, maker of Warstorm, was recently acquired by Zynga. Digital Chocolate also recently created its Nanostar platform for social games. Unlike Warstorm, Qunify offers the ability to battle your friends in a Pokemon card-style Flash-based game in real time. You can also star in your own comic book as part of the game’s campaign mode, where you cannot go forward until you beat the enemy in each chapter. To date, the company is self-funded. So far, about 30 investors have stepped forward with a total of $3,000.
It may turn out to be a hit, or it could be a small cottage business. With Facebook, you never can tell. But the collectible card business is certainly booming, and it’s moving online. Whatever the outcome, you have to give Qunify credit for its clever fundraising.