Kickstarter Katchup - 1st September 2012
Kick It To The Development Curve
Wow, very busy winner and loser columns this week. Quite the clear-out for the column, really. And talking of which, in order to stop this becoming too unwieldy, we're being a a bit more selective in what goes in. It'll still be an eclectic mix of big and tiny budgets, but when a project is clearly doomed (like David Crane's Jungle Adventure, for instance), we're not going to chronicle its week-by-week crawl to failure. Of course we're very aware that lots of projects look shaky, then pick up at the end - we're really talking about only those that just flat-out aren't getting funded. Don't forget to read the rules before opening your wallets and purses.
The Rules
- Featuring a game in this list doesn’t mean we endorse it. We likely haven’t played, and as such can’t say whether it will be worth your cash. That’s your call.
- Letting me know about a game (which you can do via my name above) doesn’t mean it will definitely be included. Leaving links in the comments is a good way to let other readers know about projects, but please email me if you want them considered for the list.
- We only include games where pledges reach developers if the target is met.
- Projects that have reached their funding get included in the Winners list, and then aren't featured after that, to give more attention to those that are still needing the cash.
- Can those with blue wristbands please leave the Katchup.
The Winners
Planetary Annihilation - Uber Entertainment
One of the biggest targets we've seen at $900,000, and it's already well over it at $1.05m. And there are two weeks to go. They've shown that RPS readers had pledged over $30,000 by the 24th August, you enthusiastic lot. And now they're stretching up to $1.5m. (Actually, they're doing it exactly right, and only revealing stretch goals as their targets look more realistic. They look like they could eventually ask as high as $2m.)
Project Giana - Black Forest Games
Another one of those Disney endings, as a project that looked like it was going to narrowly miss its hefty $150,000 goal ended up with a mammoth $186,159.
It was inexplicably slow, but it got there. Now just over their $30,000 target, the brilliant Russian developers still have 10 days left to improve on the total.
Dominique Pamplemousse - Deidra Kiai
It doubled its pledges in the final week, meaning this deeply strange adventure is funded.
Resurrect ADOM - Thomas Biskup
Looks like people want to see development of the rogue-like start again - the $48,000 goal was nearly doubled.
Only asking for a teeny $300, it's currently almost three times that, with nearly three weeks still to go.
Mercenary Kings - Tribute Games
I've never seen a game exactly on its target before, but my first glance at Mercenary Kings this morning saw it saying $75,000 out of $75,000. Of course someone's spoiled it now by adding another $60.
I wish I'd heard of this one while it was still going, but I'm pleased to report that a project aiming to create a gaming con primarily aimed at LGBT gamers (or "gaymers" as they're brilliantly adopting) has been very successful. They were after $25k and they almost quadrupled it. The convention will take place August next year, of COURSE in San Francisco, and is naturally open to straight gamers too.
The Losers
The Other Brothers - 3D Attack.
Shadow Remnants - Shorebound Studios
Kickstarter Indie Bundle - Kickstarter Indies
Eternal Fate - Escalation Studios
The Players
Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse - Revolution Software
Goal: $400,000
Now: $346,507
Days: 21
Charles Cecil's fund-drive for a fifth Broken Sword is looking a touch successful. After just over a week it's only shy of its goal by about $50k. That's looking incredibly likely at this point, with even the traditionally slow period seeing about $15k added a day. Stretch goals will only be added once the target is met, but thankfully they're hinting that they'll be to make a bigger, longer game, rather than making the huge mistake of adding Kickstarter pledger exclusives.
Goal: $250,000
Now: $182,584
Days: 9
The Ascension and Magic: The Gathering peeps are looking to make a new, digital CCG, and for some reason it hasn't been instantly funded. In fact, with just over a week left, they still need $70k.
Flight Of The Wisp - Shane Barber
Goal: $10,000
Now: $2,973
Days: 4
Oh boy, only $200 added in the last week - this isn't looking good. However, they apparently couldn't give a shit, since they've still not updated their page since the 10th August. Accordingly, people have ignored it.
Goal: $10,000
Now: $7,651
Days: 13
Chilean developers Syrenaica are developing a puzzle tower defence game that is unavoidably similar looking to Plants Vs. Zombies, but seems to be twisting things by adding puzzle elements to play. $10 gets you the game on your chosen format, maybe by Jan next year. A couple of k has appeared in the last week, but they need a last minute surge to reach their modest goal.
Insurgency 2 - New World Interactive
Goal: $180,000
Now: $64,456
Days: 6
It's been with us forever, but it still can't find its money. A healthy $5k was added this week, but this sequel to one of the most popular mods ever is still only a third of the way there. And that's despite Total Biscuit spending 40 minutes with it:
Goal: $6,000
Now: $3,682
Days: 26
Apparently nostalgia is a genre now. But this rather cute Gameboy-inspired RPG is about two brothers searching for colour. That's a great idea. They're only after a small amount, but rather concerningly their breakdown fails to take into account Kickstarter and Amazon fees. Tsk.
Expeditions - Conquistador - Logic Artists
Goal: $70,000
Now: $52,039
Days: 11
Oh this poor project - won't people just hurry up and fund it? They've made another $7k this week, after $18k the week before, and still they're $18k short of their goal. It's hexagons and strategy, and they've just added themselves to Steam's Greenlight.
Goal: $75,000
Now: $15,960
Days: 21
An RPG inspired by table-top gaming, designed to be played asynchronously from browsers. Let's just forgive them for saying "webtop game".
Island Forge - Potential Games
Goal: $4,000
Now: $2,030
Days: 12
Finally this project is coming alive. $1,500 has appeared in the last week, and with almost two to go the very modest goal looks reachable. The idea is to tell your own tales within the game for other people to experience. The game already exists, with player islands available to see. He's only after $4k, and pledges will unlock an account for the game to the full version for various lengths.
The Epic Space Game - Edward Melville
Goal: $20,000
Now: $2,459
Days: 20
A top-down 2D shooter, that's also a sandbox MMO, and space trading game. It's after quite a big goal for a small, one-man project, but the last week has seen $2,000 pour in, and there's plenty of time left.
Goal: $180,000
Now: $3,770
Days: 22
You'd think if you were going to all the effort to create a really impressively looking space combat game, you'd work a bit harder at picking a developer name. But anyway, this is a pretty unknown project aiming for what is sadly probably a silly goal. There's three weeks to prove me wrong.
Goal: $15,000
Now: $2,001
Days: 6
Only a thousand appearing this week, making the full goal look tough with under a week left. It's 21st century farming! Or as the KS page says, "A true Epic RPG about a group of farmers". Clearly made to fill the gap left by the lack of Harvest Moon releases.
Goal: $15,000
Now: $2,554
Days: 7
In a similar situation, the same goal, the same amount added in a week, and the same time left. Aiming to be a very moddable online tactical RPG, the game will come with all the tools to create your own content for the game. So once you're done with the official game, you can play other people's creations.
Deozoa: Legends Of Eden - Ignis Studios
Goal: $78,000
Now: $9,816
Days: 25
$78k is a hefty chunk of digital change, but in early days it's already made 10 of them. It's a monster catching RPG that bears an uncanny similarity to Pokemon. Except this isn't one-on-one battles, but instead slightly more complicated combat. But, you know, Pokemon. They're after money to pay artists to animate the monsters.
And Another Thing
Magic Pixel Games have created a project called Kick Assist. Each week three indie Kickstarters (with goals under $100k) are picked, and then people vote on them. The one that wins gets $500 from Magic Pixel, and obviously some promotion (and indeed for themselves), and then the process starts over. Which seems a rather nice idea.