Following on from part one of our look at the Kickstarter projects that have caught our attention so far, we’ll now continue with the second and final part. The following projects are listed in our S-up-port section.
A trend is appearing where most of the successful projects we’ve backed in 2013 haven’t reached their release dates, yet which is normal for modern video game development. It’s easy for the excitement of a Kickstarter project to fade once the clock stops ticking and the funding goal has been reached, and you soon realise that the number of titles you’ve backed is enough for several months worth of entertainment.
Lengthy waiting times aside, we’ve had a blast with Kickstarter so far and found the experience refreshing compared to published games that keep you in the dark until they finally hit the shelves. Let’s continue with the list shall we?
13. Lightpack
Backed: June 2013
Developer: Woodenshark
Platforms: Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, PC
Backer: Phil
Lightpack was the first hardware project that we backed, the idea behind the device is to extend your TV screen onto the wall behind it adding some immersion to whatever it is you’re watching. Production and shipping to backers of the first version has been delayed so I haven’t received my Lightpack yet for review. Creator Woodenshark raised $500,784 – well over their original $261,962 goal which goes to show the popularity of the idea.
14. The Long Dark
Backed: September 2013
Developer: Hinterland Games
Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC
Backer: Kim
The end of the world has arrived in this first-person survival simulation set in the Northern wilderness that emphasises exploration in a stark, yet hauntingly-beautiful post-disaster setting. We’re very excited to see how this one turns out as there some interested game mechanics planned with night and day requiring different skills to survive, as well as the weather conditions having an impact on gameplay. Funding completed on 16 October 2013 with $256,217 pledged over their original $200,000 goal with a release date of October 2014.
15. Massive Chalice
Backed: June 2013
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC
Backer: Kim
From the creators of Psychonauts and Brütal Legend comes Massive Chalice, a tactical fantasy game that combines the strategy of running an empire with the skill of fighting epic battles to determine the fate of your legacy. The project raised $1,229,015 which is well over the original $725,000 goal and has a release date of September 2014.
16. Monochroma
Backed: July 2013
Developer: Nowhere Studios
Platforms: PC
Backer: Kim
Set in an alternate universe during the 1950s, Monochroma tells the story of a boy and his brother. One day they witness something awful: a crime committed by a massive corporation that makes their money from building and selling robots to the city dwellers. Alone in the rain, the two boys must survive around six hours of devilishly clever puzzles in order to save their world from tyranny. Funding for the project was successful on 24 August 2013 with $84,644 raised of the $80,000 goal but has missed its release deadline of December 2013; currently there is no news of an updated date for when Monochroma will be available.
17. Neverending Nightmares
Backed: September 2013
Developer: Infinitap Games
Platforms: Linux, Mac, Ouya, PC
Backer: Craig
Neverending Nightmares has a little bit of a unique twist to it: this psychological-horror is inspired by creator Matt Gilgenbach’s own battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and his daily fight with depression. We were lucky enough to get some of Gilgenbach’s time to answer our questions in our preview article which will tell you more about the story behind the game. We weren’t the only gamers to be interested in the project as it completed successfully on 30 September 2013 with $106,722 over the $99,000 goal and a release date of August 2014.
18. Obduction
Backed: November 2013
Developer: Cyan
Platforms: Mac, PC
Backer: Kim
Obduction by the creators of Myst and Riven is a new immersive adventure game that harks back to the spirit of the original Cyan games by returning that unique feeling of exploration and puzzle-solving. It will feature stunning landscapes, a deep storyline, engaging characters, dramatic soundscapes, and challenging yet intuitive puzzles. This isn’t a small project with $1,321,306 funding received on 16 November 2013, well over the original $1,100,000 goal, and a release date of mid-to-late 2015.
19. OZombie
Backed: July 2013
Developer: Spicy Horse
Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC
Backer: Craig
Not all Kickstarter projects are successful of course, but some just aren’t given the chance. Unfortunately this alternate version of L. Frank Baum‘s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz universe wasn’t meant to be, even though it was steadily reaching it’s funding goal of $950,000 it was sacrificed to make way for the now successful Alice: Otherlands short film project. Game designer American McGee pulled the plug on OZombie 15 July 2013.
20. Pandora: Purge of Pride
Backed: May 2013
Creator: High Class Kitsch
Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC
Backer: Kim
Pandora: Purge of Pride was the first finished product that we received from a Kickstarter project, a game about a woman named Pandora who has unknowingly unleashes the Seven Deadly Sins on her mansion. Unfortunately developer High Class Kitsch has unleashed an eighth new sin on the world in the form of this game, and we were thoroughly disappointed with this title as our review will tell you. Luckily that hasn’t stopped us from backing other projects as our S-up-port page shows.
21. Playing With Fear
Backed: November 2013
Developer: Ant Carpendale
Platforms: Video
Backer: Kim
The first documentary feature film we’ve backed, Playing With Fear dissects the art, craft and community of horror video games and their recent increase in popularity. Unfortunately the project ended 30 November 2013 with only £14,853 of it’s £25,000 goal but creator Ant Carpendale is considering a slimmed-down and more manageable re-launch this spring. To read more about what was planned, check out our preview article featuring an interview with him.
22. Precinct
Backed: July 2013
Developer: Jim Walls
Platforms: Mac, PC
Backer: Craig
Yet another failed project, Precinct comes from the mind of Police Quest creator Jim Walls and was intended to be an adventure where you would have to follow real by-the-book police procedures when solving crimes and arresting suspects. Unfortunately the project was cancelled on 6 August 2013 as it was clear it wouldn’t reach the funding goal, and was then replaced with a crowd-funding campaign on the official website that also ended up being cancelled shortly after.
23. Prison Architect
Backed: June 2013
Developer: Introversion Software
Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC
Backer: Phil
Prison Architect is evidence that Kickstarter isn’t always the best solution for obtaining crowd-funding. Developer Introversion Software of Uplink and Darwinia fame has so far raised $10,803,475 for their prison management simulation game via their opened-ended campaign that uses backer tiers in the same way as Kickstarter. After getting my hands on the game at Rezzed 2013 and experiencing the opening sequences I bought a copy of the alpha version on the way home. Updates to the alpha version are released monthly but a release date hasn’t been announced.
24. Pulse
Backed: March 2013
Developer: Team Pixel Pi
Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC
Backer: Craig
Pulse is a first-person survival game in which the lead character is blind. Now this doesn’t mean you’re going to be left staring at a blank screen – far from it – as players use a method similar to echolocation to locate their way. We found the idea very intriguing and backed it instantly, with the project completing successfully on 12 April 2013 earning $80,977 of the $75,000 goal. Look out for the release of Pulse in November 2014.
25. The Realm
Backed: April 2013
Developer: Atomhawk Design
Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC
Backer: Kim
Set in the distant future in a world reclaimed by nature and steeped in myth, The Realm follows a headstrong young girl named Sarina. She leaves the safety of her village to go on a quest to discover a cure for her sick mother and along the way she meets Toru, a giant stone golem. Despite the beautiful art design and setting of this adventure game, the project was unsuccessful and ended on 22 May 2013 with only £94,527 of the required £195,000 goal. Without being able to raise enough money for the development of this title, Atomhawk Design haven’t been able to make any financial progress and so sadly we may never get to see Sarina and Toru’s adventure.
26. Road Redemption
Backed: April 2013
Developer: DarkSeas Games
Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC, Wii U
Backer: Phil
As soon as I saw Road Redemption it instantly reminded me of my days playing Road Rash on my Sega Mega Drive when I was supposed to be doing my homework. According to the developer Road Redemption takes the motorcycle combat-racing gameplay pioneered by the Road Rash series to the next level with counters, parries and more weapons than ever before. There hasn’t been many updates on the development of this title and we’re yet to see any gameplay footage beyond the original trailer but work is still in progress with a closed beta due April 2014. A total funding amount of $173,803 was raised when the project ended 12 May 2013 over the original goal of $160,000.
27. Stasis
Backed: November 2013
Developer: The Brotherhood Games
Platforms: Mac, PC
Backer: Kim
Stasis is a 2D isometric, point-and-click adventure game set in the distant future on a desolate spacecraft. John Maracheck must interact and solve puzzles to save his family but – as if that wasn’t difficult enough – he’ll uncover horrific experimentation, illicit research and find himself drawn into an ever-deepening mystery. The visual design for this title is rather impressive, and when we got our hands on a copy we instantly knew this was a game worth backing; you can read more about it in our preview article. Progress on the game is moving fast since the project completed 07 December 2013 with $132,523 pledged of the $100,000 goal, currently the release date is set to August 2014 and we cannot wait to see the final version.
Honourable mention: SpecialEffect
Backed: September 2013
We discovered charity SpecialEffect at Eurogamer Expo 2013 as we were impressed by their aims to put fun, inclusion and confidence back into the lives of people with disabilities by helping them to play computer games. They are the only UK charity that is devoted to helping everyone, whatever their disability, enjoy video games and leisure technology, kickstarting their rehabilitation, self-esteem and inclusion. We wanted to get more involved and so we are now contributing to the cause by taking part in their 24-hour gaming marathon GameBlast.
On 22 February 2014 we’ll be sitting down with The Dad, Gentleman Geek for 24-hours of non-stop gaming as part of team Gamely Giving to raise as much money as possible. See what we have planned for the day here, make a donation to our Just Giving page and join us next month for the fun packed day via the Twitch.tv stream.
So that completes our look at what the 1001-Up.com team have backed and supported so far, we’re always on the look out for unique video gaming projects that deserve some attention so be sure to email us with anything interesting out there. If you’re a developer please don’t hesitate to contact us for interviews to promote your work within our 1001 Future section.
As always, let us know what you think of this list in the comments section below.
