Crowdfunding Corner – March 2016
Bob’s March update of Crowdfunding Corner. See the latest campaigns, and review the table of all "classic" adventure games that have used Kickstarter and Indiegogo, along with their status.
Greetings and welcome to the world of crowdfunding.
If you are new to crowdfunding and aren’t entirely sure of what I am talking about, then scroll to the bottom of this page where you will find an explanation of this new and exciting phenomenon.
The table below lists all of the “classic” adventure games I have identified at Kickstarter and Indiegogo along with their status. If you should find any that I missed or find an adventure game at another crowdfunding site, please send me the info so I can include it (bobw at justadventure dot com).
Note, this table only contains those campaigns that have succeeded or are still active. But just because the funding drive fell short, it doesn’t mean that the project is dead. Many times the project will either try again (HM Spiffing) or just go it alone with a smaller goal (making just Chapter 1 rather than the whole game, as 7th Guest III did).
If you would like to see us follow other types of games such as FPS or RPG, you are more than welcome to assemble additional tables for them. Just send the completed tables to me at bobw at justadventure dot com and I will make sure they are included. Oh, and thank you for volunteering :-).
First, a moment of silence for those campaigns which did not make it. They have been removed from the table.
And now, here are the latest campaigns, many of which are still active…
“Knights and Bikes is a co-op or single player action adventure game. Inspired by games like Earthbound and Secret of Mana and films such as The Goonies, we would like to take these, along with of our favorite childhood memories, and channel it all through our years of experience making games.
“In Knights and Bikes, you can play as Nessa and Demelza on their quest for the truth behind the medieval legends of Penfurzy, an island on the fast track to financial ruin and literal destruction. Recruit a party of creatures from all walks of life, enlist and inspire deflated islanders, and embark on an adventure to find the hero the island so desperately needs.”
“A new surreal first person exploration adventure. Get lost in miraculous worlds and experience a true journey beyond time and space.
“Remember your being and remember your abilities which are hidden in ancient structures. Structures that will challenge your mind with anomalous puzzles. Wander freely through these lands and beyond to find yourself. And finally discover the truth, the past and the future of places, you never believed would exist…”
“You visit the asylum as an urban blogger when you are captured by Dirk- a psychopath who locks you inside and wants to play hide and seek. As he intends to carve you up with a machete if he finds you, you need to find a way to escape. Dirk knows the asylum like the back of his hand and can hear you – so you need to be on the top of your game if you’re going to survive.”
“A rogue astronaut is sent to the moon on a secret mission to save humanity from extinction.”
Actually, this look fairly interesting.
“Follow Null on an epic adventure; In a retro virtual reality experience previously only possible with the power of your imagination.”
You live and work in the city. But the city isn’t just full of life – it is alive. And now it is in danger.
Read the complete campaign page. The is a significant effort and I hope they make their goal.
“Pinstripe is a 2D adventure game about an ex-minister named Teddy who must explore Hell in search of his daughter Bo, who has been kidnapped by a strange entity claiming to be God.”
This is a one-man project who raised his $28,000 goal on the first day. It looks like he will make his fifth stretch goal before the campaign is half over. Definitely check this one out.
“You play Lancelot, the sexiest Knight of the Round Table.
God gave you a noble quest: go find the Holy Grail, put some booze in it and celebrate the biggest party England has ever known!
But the Grail is hidden deep in a dangerous place, where all men are gay and women have hair under their arms: the Kingdom of France!
It’s Monkey Island meets Monty Python’s Holy Grail”
Nostalgia: Two Worlds | One Soul
“Nostalgia (title subject to change) is a project that aims to blend visual novel with adventure gameplay. We were influenced by games such as Phoenix Wright, 999 and Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward. In terms of setting, books like Brave New World provided us with further inspiration.
In Nostalgia, you play as Alice, a child kidnapped and forced to take part in Project Nostalgia, a chain of experiments conducted to confirm the existence of an alternate universe. Other victims her age wanted nothing more than to escape. Alice, however, suffered from family abuse before her capture, and this science facility could in fact be a new home for her.
12 years later, the victims managed to flee from the facility. Some simply wanted to move on, while others thirsted for revenge. Meanwhile, their counterparts in the alternate universe were screaming to be let loose. Alice must pick a side, and she only prayed her decision would not anger her alter ego.”
“Mainlining is a hacking game, mixing dark and dry humour with gameplay that echoes old school point and click adventures. Following the government’s introduction of the BLU Pill Act and the Secret Intelligence Service’s reintroduction of MI7, all online personal data is accessible by the powers that be.
Mainlining questions techno-ethics and whether it is acceptable for an organisation to have the power to look at personal data. What if someone else got the key to that?”
Here are projects which do not fit the classic adventure genre, but which I think are really cool.
They have their own table underneath the big one. If you know of any projects which you think are worthy of inclusion, please let me know in the comments or via email.
in this field indicates that I think this game is worthy of special attention. It is a personal pick.
Crowdfunding Page | ; | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game Homepage | Developer Homepage | Mainlining | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reviews |
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Start 00/00/00 | End 00/00/00 | Complete 00/00/00 | Start 02/26/16 | End 03/26/16 | Complete 10/31/16 | Start 02/25/16 | End 03/25/16 | Complete 12/31/16 | |||||||||||||||||||
Get it Here |
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Jean-Baptiste de Clerfayt | Pinstripe | A Place for the Unwilling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 02/17/16 | End 03/17/16 | Complete 10/31/16 | Start 02/17/16 | End 03/17/16 | Complete 08/31/16 | Start 02/16/16 | End 03/16/16 | Complete 04/30/17 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Gregory Wade Conway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 02/15/16 | End 03/15/16 | Complete 12/31/16 | Start 02/07/16 | End 03/07/16 | Complete 08/31/16 | Start 02/05/16 | End 03/05/16 | Complete 06/30/17 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Start 02/03/16 | End 03/03/16 | Complete 04/30/17 | Start 02/01/16 | End 03/01/16 | Complete 10/31/16 | Start 01/07/16 | End 02/06/16 | Complete 04/30/16 | |||||||||||||||||||
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De Feet 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 01/01/16 | End 01/31/16 | Complete 03/31/16 | Start 11/18/15 | End 12/17/15 | Complete 03/31/16 | Start 10/16/15 | End 11/25/15 | Complete 12/31/16 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Wajdi ManaiA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 10/07/15 | End 11/17/15 | Complete ??/??/?? | Start 10/07/15 | End 11/16/15 | Complete ??/??/?? | Start 10/05/15 | End 11/06/15 | Complete 05/31/16 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Start 10/05/15 | End 11/06/15 | Complete 09/30/16 | Start 10/03/15 | End 11/08/15 | Complete 06/30/16 | Start 10/03/15 | End 11/02/15 | Complete 03/31/18 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Paper Clip Entertainment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 10/01/15 | End 11/16/15 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 09/30/15 | End 10/31/15 | Complete 09/30/16 | Start 09/24/15 | End 12/01/15 | Complete 12/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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East District 46 | Jakob | Jakob | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 09/11/15 | End 11/12/15 | Complete 11/30/16 | Start 09/10/15 | End 10/11/15 | Complete 12/31/16 | Start 08/20/15 | End 09/21/15 | Complete 11/30/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Alexander Hagelstein | Attic Door Productions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 08/01/15 | End 09/01/15 | Complete ?????? | Start 07/28/15 | End 08/27/15 | Complete 01/31/16 | Start 07/21/15 | End 09/05/15 | Complete 10/31/16 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artem Vodorez | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start 07/23/15 | End 08/22/15 | Complete 02/28/17 | Start 07/17/15 | End 08/16/15 | Complete 05/30/16 | Start 07/12/15 | End 08/12/15 | Complete 03/31/16 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Zadbox Entertainment | Gwan Moon High Achool | AWE Studio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 06/03/15 | End 07/18/15 | Complete 03/31/16 | Start 06/05/15 | End 07/05/15 | Complete ????? | Start 06/03/15 | End 07/03/15 | Complete 11/30/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Start 05/31/15 | End 07/01/15 | Complete 05/31/16 | Start 05/26/15 | End 06/25/15 | Complete 06/30/16 | Start 05/11/15 | End 06/05/15 | Complete 09/30/16 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Cherrymochi Game Studio | Katie Chironis |
| The Gates of Charon | McGlone | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 05/11/15 | End 06/10/15 | Complete 10/31/16 | Start 04/27/15 | End 05/26/15 | Complete 04/30/16 | Start 04/27/15 | End 05/30/15 | Complete 07/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Robyn Tong Gray | Quest for Infamy King’s Challenge Fortress of Fire | Brilliant Shadows | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 04/27/15 | End 05/27/15 | Complete 05/31/16 | Start 04/03/15 | End 05/03/15 | Complete 11/30/15 | Start 04/03/15 | End 05/18.15 | Complete 06/30/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Start 04/01/15 | End 05/25/15 | Complete 02/29/16 | Start 03/17/15 | End 04/26/15 | Complete 06/30/15 | Start 02/27/15 | End 04/13/15 | Complete 12/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Nupixo Games | Playism Games | Goetia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start 02/25/15 | End 03/27/15 | Complete 04/30/16 | Start 01/24/15 | End 02/23/15 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 01/19/15 | End 02/20/15 | Complete 10/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Skullz 2 | Feliks Balzer | Medieval Madness Sale | Oded Sharon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 01/09/15 | End 03/09/15 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 12/28/14 | End 02/01/15 | Complete 03/31/15 | Start 12/11/14 | End 12/16/14 | Complete 12/21/14 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Oded Sharon | Scraps | Fredrik Strom | Dog Business | Kyle Marcarello | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 12/11/14 | End 12/16/14 | Complete 12/21/14 | Start 12/02/14 | End 01/01/15 | Complete 12/31/16 | Start 12/02/14 | End 01/19/15 | Complete 03/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Ron Gilbert & Gary Winnick | Ryan Green & Josh Larson | Kevin and the Infamous Machine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 11/19/14 | End 12/18/14 | Complete 06/31/16 | Start 11/12/14 | End 12/12/14 | Complete 10/31/15 | Start 11/12/14 | End 01/29/15 | Complete 09/30/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Mariusz Szypura | HM Spiffing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 11/04/14 | End 01/04/15 | Complete 07/31/15 | Start 11/04/14 | End 12/28/14 | Complete 01/31/15 | Start 10/16/14 | End 11/21/14 | Complete 09/30/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Outpost 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 10/08/14 | End 11/07/14 | Complete 05/31/15 | Start 10/04/14 | End 11/03/14 | Complete 03/31/15 | Start 09/06/14 | End 10/06/14 | Complete 07/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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desolate | InkBit | Kreative Spill A/S | Kona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start 08/31/14 | End 09/30/14 | Complete 07/31/15 | Start 08/21/14 | End 09/20/14 | Complete 12/31/14 | Start 08/07/14 | End 09/06/14 | Complete 04/30/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Duke Grabowski: Mighty Swashbuckler | Ape Law | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start 08/07/14 | End 10/06/14 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 08/05/14 | End 09/05/14 | Complete 02/28/15 | Start 08/05/14 | End 09/20/14 | Complete 06/30/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Art1 Art2 Art3 Art4 Art5 Art6 Art7 Art8 Art9 Art10 Art11 Art12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start 08/01/14 | End 08/09/14 | Complete 04/30/16 | Start 08/01/14 | End 08/31/14 | Complete 07/31/15 | Start 07/30/14 | End 08/30/14 | Complete 10/12/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Start 07/22/14 | End 08/21/14 | Complete 12/31/16 | Start 07/11/14 | End 08/10/14 | Complete 06/30/15 | Start 07/09/14 | End 08/08/14 | Complete 05/28/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Nick Pittom | Alexander Kuvshinov | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 07/08/14 | End 07/28/14 | Complete 01/31/15 | Start 07/03/14 | End 08/03/14 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 06/01/14 | End 08/01/14 | Complete Yes | |||||||||||||||||||
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Lyle Cox | Amund Farifteh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 05/30/14 | End 07/01/14 | Complete 03/31/15 | Start 05/07/14 | End 06/06/14 | Complete 08/31/14 | Start 05/06/14 | End 06/05/14 | Complete 02/28/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Sam Farmer | Tomas Mariancik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 04/10/14 | End 05/10/14 | Complete 07/31/14 | Start 04/10/14 | End 05/09/14 | Complete 05/31/15 | Start 04/07/14 | End 05/07/14 | Complete No | |||||||||||||||||||
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Fictorirama | Amazu Media | Julian Churchill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 03/12/14 | End 04/12/14 | Complete 04/11/15 | Start 02/21/14 | End 03/23/14 | Complete 12/31/14 | Start 02/11/14 | End 03/13/14 | Complete 07/31/14 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amazon Apps Store Google Play Store | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tim Follin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start 02/11/14 | End 03/23/14 | Complete 01/31/15 | Start 02/07/14 | End 03/09/14 | Complete 08/31/14 | Start 01/03/14 | End 01/17/14 | Complete 04/30/14 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Kristian Fosh | ROM: Read Only Memories | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 11/20/13 | End 12/22/13 | Complete 10/14/14 | Start 11/18/13 | End 12/15/13 | Complete 07/31/14 | Start 11/13/13 | End 12/13/13 | Complete 09/30/14 | |||||||||||||||||||
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The Ballads of Reemus 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start 11/04/13 | End 12/07/13 | Complete 08/31/15 | Start 10/17/13 | End 11/16/13 | Complete 10/15/15 | Start 09/19/13 | End 10/19/13 | Complete 06/30/14 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Candle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 08/27/13 | End 09/27/13 | Complete Yes | Start 08/27/13 | End 09/26/13 | Complete 2015 | Start 07/19/13 | End 08/16/13 | Complete 01/31/14 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Alum | Killmonday Games | Ghost Encounters: Deadwood | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start 07/10/13 | End 08/19/13 | Complete 05/15/15 | Start 06/30/13 | End 08/30/13 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 06/26/13 | End 08/05/13 | Complete 12/31/13 | |||||||||||||||||||
Amazon iTunes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Lost Bits | Screwy Lightbulb | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 06/20/13 | End 07/10/13 | Complete 07/31/13 | Start 06/18/13 | End 07/18/13 | Complete Act 1 | Start 06/03/13 | End 07/03/13 | Complete No | |||||||||||||||||||
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Laney Berry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 06/01/13 | End 07/01/13 | Complete Yes | Start 06/01/13 | End 07/01/13 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 05/30/13 | End 07/11/13 | Complete 12/31/14 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Start 05/28/13 | End 06/27/13 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 05/25/13 | End 06/29/13 | Complete 00/00/16 | Start 05/03/13 | End 06/02/13 | Complete 10/31/13 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Start 04/18/13 | End 05/18/13 | Complete 12/31/13 | Start 03/18/13 | End 04/17/13 | Complete 03/31/14 | Start 02/25/13 | End 04/01/13 | Complete 12/31/13 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Start 02/08/13 | End 03/10/13 | Complete 11/30/14 | Start 01/29/13 | End 02/28/13 | Complete 12/31/13 | Start 01/19/13 | End 02/18/13 | Complete 12/31/13 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Start 11/23/12 | End 12/23/12 | Complete Yes | Start 11/21/12 | End 12/21/12 | Complete 03/31/12 | Start 11/14/12 | End 12/14/12 | Complete Yes | |||||||||||||||||||
Rising Sun: Episode 1 | Josh Mason | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 11/05/12 | End 12/05/12 | Complete Yes | Start 10/26/12 | End 11/25/12 | Complete 10/30/13 | Start 09/25/12 | End 10/05/12 | Complete 01/31/13 | |||||||||||||||||||
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MS Paint Adventures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 09/06/12 | End 10/06/12 | Complete 12/31/12 | Start 09/04/12 | End 10/04/12 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 08/23/12 | End 09/22/12 | Complete 04/30/13 | |||||||||||||||||||
MS Paint Adventures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scope Creep | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 08/20/12 | End 09/19/12 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 07/09/12 | End 08/09/12 | Complete Act 1 & 2 | Start 07/03/12 | End 08/02/12 | Complete 09/30/12 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Jack Houston and the Necronauts | Carlos Coronado | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 06/25/12 | End 08/09/12 | Complete 12/31/15 | Start 06/15/12 | End 07/16/12 | Complete ????? | Start 05/29/12 | End 06/60/12 | Complete 05/31/13 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Karen B Wehner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 05/15/12 | End 06/05/12 | Complete 11/30/13 | Start 05/15/12 | End 05/16/12 | Complete 04/22/14 | Start 05/14/12 | End 07/13/12 | Complete ????? | |||||||||||||||||||
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The Curse of Shadow House | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 05/11/12 | End 06/10/12 | Complete 11/30/12 | Start 02/28/12 | End 05/31/12 | Complete ????? | Start 02/08/12 | End 03/13/12 | Complete 10/31/13 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Narratavius Story Engine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 11/07/11 | End 11/27/11 | Complete 01/31/12 | Start 10/29/11 | End 12/11/11 | Complete 06/12/12 | Start 10/17/11 | End 11/02/11 | Complete 12/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Stage 2 Studios | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 10/17/11 | End 12/01/11 | Complete 01/31/12 | Start 09/16/11 | End 10/24/11 | Complete 06/06/14 | Start 05/09/11 | End 06/08/11 | Complete 12/31/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
Lifeless Planet |
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Cardboard Computer | Hadean Lands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Start 01/07/11 | End 02/06/11 | Complete 12/31/12 | Start 11/01/10 | End 12/06/10 | Complete Yes | Start 09/15/10 | End 10/15/10 | Complete 11/15/10 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Start 09/14/10 | End 10/29/10 | Complete 2016 | Start 09/14/09 | End 11/01/09 | Complete Yes | Start 07/19/09 | End 08/18/09 | Complete 12/31/14 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Crowdfunding Page |
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Game Homepage | Developer Homepage |
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Reviews |
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Crowdfunding is a relatively new resource which helps independent developers raise funds for their projects. Developers launch a funding drive, people who like the project pledge money towards it and if enough money is pledged then the project takes off. The two sites which fund the most game development are Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
Game development has become a very complex and expensive endeavor. To create a top-notch professional game requires programmers, artists, musicians, actors, engineers who understand the nuances of shader algorithms and particle physics, and so on. Where do independent developers get those kinds of resources?
Historically, they would go to a publisher who would give them an advance (a loan based upon expected sales). But there were several problems with this paradigm.
First, they would have to convince the publisher that their game would be popular. Then the publisher would impose a deadline for the developer to deliver within, whether they thought it was finished or not. And frequently the publisher would retain legal rights to the game.
Crowdfunding gets around these problems by eliminating the middleman and going directly to the players. If the players want the game, they will put up the money to develop it. Any deadline is self imposed by the developer so they can release it only when they are satisfied with it. And the developer retains all rights to the game.
The players also win. They get to decide which games get published, not some faceless executive. Also, by pledging early they can get exclusive bonuses such as signed artwork, tee shirts and even inclusion in the game itself. But mostly, they win by getting better quality games which are not released until they are truly finished.
There are difficulties as well. The publisher normally takes care of advertising and promotion. With crowdfunding it is totally up to the developer to get the word out. They may have the greatest game idea since tic-tac-toe, but if nobody knows about it then nobody will pledge towards it.
There is also no guarantee that the developer will actually complete the game. There has been the occasional scam where the developer just took the money and ran, but fortunately these are rare. So you will want to decide just how trustworthy the developer is before pledging, not just how honest they are, but do they have the ability to actually finish what they start.
What happens when a really cool looking game doesn’t make their goal? Find the game’s website or facebook page. Many times a project will continue, just without the help of Kickstarter.
What happens when you find out about a great game, but missed the campaign? Find the game’s website. Most developers allow backers to come late to the game via PayPal, although the rewards may be limited (i.e., you can still get the tee shirt, but the signed posters are no longer available).
What if the game is finished and already released? Check to see if it is for sale in the JustAdventure+ Store. If not, go to the game’s website for details. You may be able to purchase it through Steam, Humble Bundle, GOG or however the developer decides to distribute it. You would just lose out on the exclusive backer goodies.
Getting involved in a crowdfunding campaign can be a lot of fun. Check it out. WARNING: Kickstarter campaigns can be even more addicting than eBay auctions!
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