I mentioned this in the last Kickstarter thread, but it seems more and more interesting projects keep popping up on Kickstarter. Rather than create a new thread for each one, I figured I'd just create one thread for all the projects. Additionally, I'd like to post smaller Kickstarter projects that might not have gotten attention otherwise. If you're unfamiliar with Kickstarter, it is basically a way to "crowdfund" a project (not just video games, but that's what I've focused on). With the rewards, it more or less ends up as a $15-$30 preorder, which if you get enough of them, can really help a studio put together a game. Note that you only get charged if the project meets it goal (which also means they get no money if they don't reach their goal). I think it has been around for a while, but it has gotten a lot of attention recently, especially after the success of Double Fine's Kickstarter project: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=215070 IIRC, this is easily the most ever raised for a Kickstarter project (correct me if I'm wrong). Since then, Brian Fargo and inXile Entertainment launched a project for Wasteland 2, which has also been very successful: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=216669 Developers seem to be excited about this opportunity, and several more projects appear to be in the works. For example, this was just released today: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GodOPoyNIYg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Tex Murphy! I've seen some rumors about Chris Avellone/Obsidian possibly doing a "old-school" RPG (ala Planescape Torment), although not much more than rumors at this point. For fans of games from the 80s and 90s which have "gone out of style" (or rather, publishers have lost interest in), this may be very exciting times. Along with all those projects, I've seen a few other interesting projects on Kickstarter. Feel free to share your own: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/64409699/ftl-faster-than-light http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stoic/the-banner-saga http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/seltaire/americana-dawn (freeware, but I liked what I saw) http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/atomicchimp/feebles-fable http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1432779589/aura-tactics http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/355932838/crowdsourced-hardcore-tactical-shooter
An interesting idea by Brian Fargo (who started the Wasteland 2 Kickstarter project): http://www.kickingitforward.org/ Wasteland 2 is currently at ~$1.5M too. They've also started taking funding via Paypal (for international users...or just anyone without a credit card I guess).
Update on Wasteland 2 project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/wasteland-2/posts/199078 The potential for the project keeps growing. Currently at ~$1.85M, so probably a good bet that they'll hit the $2.1M mark (still have 14 days left I think). Fargo had an interesting interview (well several actually, but I'm mentioning one): http://www.ripten.com/2012/03/27/br...mal-publisher-treatment-and-having-fun-again/ Small excerpt: If you missed the news, Obsidian hasn't been all that healthy lately (and I'm sure projects like New Vegas didn't help). On to other projects. I think most of the projects I linked to in the OP have been funded, or are currently above their goal. The "hardcore tactical shooter" game is still under its goal though, and only has a few hours left. It is pretty close though, so maybe it will make it. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/355932838/crowdsourced-hardcore-tactical-shooter ***Edit: Since I wrote this, the project has raised more that its goal. Good for them. *** A recent project that has stirred up some attention (not necessarily good) has been a Kickstarter project for Class of Heroes 2 (a PSP JRPG): http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1272149684/class-of-heroes-2-deluxe-for-the-psp-system Unlike other projects, this game has already been developed (has been out in Japan for a while), and in addition to that, it will be localized and released for the PSP no matter what happens with the Kickstarter project. The project itself will only guarantee a physical, "deluxe edition" release (the game is only planned for a digital release), although hitting the goal will also lead to improvements in the localization. A much harder sell than other projects, especially since the reward tiers are not as "friendly" as other games. Whereas other projects would often give you the game for $5-$20, CoH2 will not be yours unless you pledge $59 or more (and then, it would only be the physical UMD release, so Vita/PSPGo/etc., gamers will likely not approve). This has more to do with how difficult it is to handle PSN releases though (i.e., if this was a PC release, they'd likely throw in digital codes at lower release tiers). They finally added a UMD+Digital release at the $100+ tiers (plus other goodies), but still not ideal unfortunately. I went ahead and supported the project (I enjoyed CoH1, even though it gets mixed reactions it seems), but I'm not too confidant it will succeed. I would like to see more console projects involved on Kickstarter (Sony/MS/Nintendo need to open things up for developers IMO), plus see some more projects involving Japanese developers. If this were to succeed, I could see some Japanese-developed games that would normally not be localized for the US possibly be localized in the future (pretty easy to have a Kickstarter project and basically get preorders for a game, and see if that would justify expenses). Unfortunately, this project could lead some in Japan to ignore Kickstarter, despite its success elsewhere.
Thanks for starting this thread- I'm really inspired by what's happening in the game dev community via kickstarter, and I hope this is just the beginning. I donated to Wasteland 2 and Takedown, and I look forward to playing them.
Thought this was another project that looked good: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/460275866/valdis-story-abyssal-city Already reached its goal (not surprising since it looks great), but still has 25 days left to raise more money.
Leisure Suit Larry Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1451923705/make-leisure-suit-larry-come-again IIRC, the project might be a little misleading since I think the game was being worked on anyway (think it was announced a while back). Still, fans should be happy I guess. Couple more projects that seemed interesting to me: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sandswept/the-dead-linger http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1065983707/delaware-st-john-4-asylum-of-the-lost The first seems interesting for obvious reasons (i.e., zombie sandbox game). I had never heard of Delaware St. John, but sounds like an interesting series. Scanning over some reviews for the previous games, seems like has some potential. Seems like nice visuals, very spooky, etc., but has the kind of issues you'd expect out of a game with limited resources (e.g., not long, could use more polish, etc.). Has anyone played the games before?
Posting from my phone and too lazy to put the links, but there is now a Kickstarter for a new Shadowrun (by original creator, single player and all that), and for a new game (or 3) by Jane Jensen (worked on Gabriel Knight, King's Quest VI, etc.). I'll post links later, but you can probably search and find them easily.
The links I said I'd post, but never did: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1613260297/shadowrun-returns http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1005365109/jane-jensens-pinkerton-road-2012-2013-csg Shadowrun is almost at their goal, although the Jane Jensen project isn't doing quite as well (hope it picks up...probably should have just said she'd make Gabriel Knight IV or something). Wasteland 2 has more funding goals (since $2.1M seems certain at this point). Basically "more and more" stuff, although if they hit $3M, they'll release a mod kit.
~8 hours to go for the Wasteland 2 project. Including PayPal funds, they're coming up on $3M. Note that it was at $3M that they said they'd try to provide mod tools to the community (I could see them doing it anyway, but $3M was the "high" goal from a little while back). Going to be tough, but they might be able to hit it. "Live green light party" (ala Double-Fine I guess): http://www.twitch.tv/inxile_entertainment If you haven't checked it in a while, they changed up the rewards a bit, so make sure to check them out if you were on the fence (either about giving any money or giving more money).
2 new noteworthy projects. Carmageddon: Reincarnation http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stainlessgames/carmageddon-reincarnation Developed by the original creators I believe. "Two Guys SpaceVenture - by the creators of Space Quest" http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spaceventure/two-guys-spaceventure-by-the-creators-of-space-que Also, a reminder for some projects ending soon: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/732317316/starlight-inceptiontm http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/486250632/republique-by-camouflaj-logan http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1005365109/jane-jensens-pinkerton-road-2012-2013-csg edit: BTW, to add to the last project, it sounded like Jane Jensen was working on getting the rights back to Gabriel Knight so she could work on a 4th game. So excited about that opportunity.
As promised - here is our Kickstarter project from Peezocker. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1869102574/conquest-2-vyrium-uprising-rts-fans-unite Thanks, DD
My friends and I played the crap out of Conquest: Frontier Wars when we were younger. Crazy stuff. Good luck to you sir.
More updates. Republique, Jane Jensen's Project, and Grim Dawn have all recently succeeded and done pretty well: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/486250632/republique-by-camouflaj-logan http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1005365109/jane-jensens-pinkerton-road-2012-2013-csg http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crateentertainment/grim-dawn Not sure if I ever posted about Grim Dawn. I got to it a bit late. It is a new ARPG (or "Diablo-esque game") from the guys who did Titan Quest I believe. Looks really good, and also seems somewhat unique (Victorian time period apparently...though with demons/monsters and magic and all that stuff). Was hoping Jane Jensen's project would get a bit more (there was a stretch goal @ $450K for added dialogue and all that stuff), but still happy that it went well. Here's the Tex Murphy project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/texmurphy/tex-murphy-project-fedora BTW, if you backed the Double-Fine project but haven't watched any of the documentary vids, I recommend checking them out. Really good stuff. Here's the first episode, which is freely available for everyone: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZMbQRnoxZ2E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> edit: One thing that I really like about these projects is how the devs seem to be so supportive of each other. I received an update from the Space Quest project, informing its backers to support Jane Jensen's project during its final hours. Reminds me about what Fargo had said a little while ago (lots of his developer friends were supportive and backing his project, but not a single one of his publisher friends helped out).
Well, since there's already a thread for this, I may as well post it here instead of making a new one. FarSight Studios, makers of the awesome "The Pinball Arcade" for iPhone, iPad, PS3 and 360, really really want to bring the Twilight Zone table to their product, and preserve this great game in digital form forever. So many physical pinball machines are falling apart every year due to being so high-maintenance, it's great to see a company with this much passion for what's becoming a lost art. However, they've run into one problem: licensing. While FarSight will pay for all development costs themselves, that ultimately means nothing if they can't acquire the licenses necessary to bring the table to players. Oh, but here's the real icing on the cake: If they exceed their goal? The extra money will go towards acquiring MORE licenses, like for the awesome Star Trek: The Next Generation table! Hey, it's better than shelling out thousands of dollars for a physical table, right? Here's the link to the Kickstarter--they're already raised about 30% of the funds necessary, but they still need your help! I've donated $20 already. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1067367405/pinball-arcade-the-twilight-zone Here's the pitchfilm: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LruHUjxaXG8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The SpaceVenture project (I call it the Space Quest project) is ending soon (16ish hours at this point): http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spaceventure/two-guys-spaceventure-by-the-creators-of-space-que Was a little worried about whether they would make it, but they hit their goal a little earlier today (I think? or maybe yesterday). Tex Murphy project also ending in a few days: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/texmurphy/tex-murphy-project-fedora Also at their goal already, but shooting for 30% extra of original goal (more/better characters, live orchestra, more places, etc.). I've been going through some of the old Tex Murphy games, and they are really good IMO. I only played a bit of UAKM as a kid, so didn't remember much when the project started up. Really looking forward to the next game now (especially given how Overseer turned out).
