By the time you read this, I will be dead. It will have been a gruesome death, as I am buried under an avalanche of Easter eggs. Death by chocolate, if you will. Like Christ, it will take me three days to rise again, carrying the weight of my guilt in my stomach. So before I get so fat that I can’t reach my keyboard, let us turn our attention to the games and projects you could help fund in April and May.
This month, we have the mesmerising and beautiful adventure puzzler Source, 2D hedonistic shooter Shots in the Dark, isometric RPG detective thriller Pixel Noir, sci-fi planet conquering RTS Hextraction, a returning Kickstarter project in the Lovecraftian 2D adventure game Mark of the Old Ones, and last but not least, sci-fi noir adventure Last Life.
Nom, nom, nom…
Project: Source
Genre: Innovative Action Adventure
Platforms: PC, PS4, Wii U, Xbox One
Funding Target: $50,000
In A Nutshell…
This game has that magical freshness of Nights Into Dreams, if Nights was recast as one of the bioluminescent jellyfish from Avatar, placed in a dark, cavernous room, and given a light gun. The story follows this beautifully-rendered firefly creature as it attempts to thwart the mysterious dark energy that is swallowing up the world.
Why Flash Your Cash?
California-based Fenix Fire is clearly onto a winner here, not only with the lush, sci-fi graphics courtesy of the Unity Engine, but by creating something that feels utterly unique in a world saturated by nearly identical games. The game promises mind-bending puzzles, vast landscapes, and mega bosses to slay with your plasma beam and energy bolts.
Rewards?
Such is the game’s popularity and word of mouth from appearances at PAX East and on Twitch TV that all the Early Bird discounts are gone, meaning the lowest pledge with which players can guarantee a copy of the game is $15. Adding $10 will also garner the synthesized soundtrack, or topping it up to $40 will include an exclusive Source t-shirt.
For those who like to have some input into games they are backing, pledge $750 or more to design your very own custom Firefly. This is limited to 25 people and is for the PC version only. Meanwhile, donations of $3,000 or more allow you to name one of the game’s zones, limited to only five players. The highest level can be reached by pledging $5,000 or more, and will allow you to meet and enjoy the company of the Fenix Fire team at the launch party. Even better, hotel costs and airfare within the US are also included, a rarity in crowdfunding circles. All these tiers come with a wealth of goodies, including a signed art book, early access to the game, and a limited edition 8″ statue of the Firefly, as well as a limited edition poster, the last two of which are signed by the entire team.
Project: Shots in the Dark
Genre: 2D Platform Shooter
Platforms: PC (Linux, Mac, Windows)
Funding Target: $500
In A Nutshell…
Shots in the Dark is like Super Metroid on steroids, with vibrant, cartoony graphics combined with a hedonistic style of gameplay and some highly skilled shooting mechanics.
Why Flash Your Cash?
Featuring over 20 weapons that you can use to shoot, fire, explode, destroy, maim, and obliterate the hordes of enemies under the glow of some acid-trip techno glowsticks as you shake, rattle, and roll through the eight dungeons, the question is why would you not want to help this game succeed.
But even if you don’t, you can still play it, because the game is actually free.
“Wait. If the game is free, what do Puddle Squid need the money for?” I hear you ask. Well, creators Kyle Nolan and Marcel Marki want to make the game as far-reaching as possible, so they need an extra cash injection to make sure it works on all PCs, as well as hopefully bring it to Linux and Mac users.
Rewards?
As it’s a free game, there are actually only three reward levels. The first, for pledges of $5 or more, will see your name adorn the Sponsors section of the in-game credits. Doubling this to $10 or more will bestow your character with the Sawfish, “an unholy chainsaw that devours everything in its path.” If you are feeling ultra-generous and pledge $100 or more, the good people at Puddle Squid will name an NPC after you. The highest tier is limited to five lucky souls, so be quick.
Project: Pixel Noir
Genre: Isometric Detective RPG
Platforms: Android, iOS, PC (Mac, Windows), PS4, Vita
Funding Target: $97,000
In A Nutshell…
If you are a fan of Raymond Chandler, then you should definitely check out SWDTech Games’ Pixel Noir, a 16-bit isometric game inspired by both old detective novels and JRPGs. It was born from a desire to create something new in the RPG genre, and the bods behind the company, Kunal Majmudar and Len Stuart, realised that noir had never been attempted. However, disheartened by private investors, who wished to take the original concept and bash it into a Candy Crush-shaped hole, SWDTech has turned to the good people of Kickstarter in order to keep its fresh and inventive idea as pure as possible.
Why Flash Your Cash?
First, the game is one of the prettiest pixelated games that has graced any edition of Kickstart This! From the unnamed detective’s office, to shady alleyways and dingy bars, the developers have managed to perfectly capture those essential elements that make a noir film or book. Added to this is the murder-mystery feel of the synthesizer soundtrack.
As well as the Detective Mode, which imitates the Eagle Vision used in Assassin’s Creed, there are also moments were the main character must duke it out. Those who are familiar with the RPG genre will immediately feel at home with the turn-based battle mode, which has been easily adapted to touchscreen mechanics for those playing the game on a phone or tablet. While the game will also be available for PS4 and PS Vita, this would have been ideal on the Wii U’s GamePad.
Rewards?
Pixel Noir has proven a popular game so, once again, all the Early Bird deals to guarantee a discounted copy of the game are gone. Donors will now have to put down $15 in order to pre-purchase a copy the game. However, this pledge offers one copy for PC, PS4, or Mac, and another copy on mobile devices, including the PS Vita version. By adding another $10 pledge to this, players will also receive the digital soundtrack, a digital art book, and a digital version of the comic book tie-in, The Mrs. and the Mark.
The top levels are very limited, with the penultimate pledge level of $1,000 only offered to one person. Choosing this tier means that your name will appear as the default name for the main detective character (although this can be edited by players). The highest pledge level of $10,000 or more is open to five donors. It essentially grants you open access to SWDTech, including invites to all future events, as well as the ownership of their first born children. Just kidding. It does, however, come with a paper crown, which will possibly be the most expensive paper crown ever conceived.
Project: Hextraction
Genre: Sci-Fi RTS
Platforms: Ouya, PC (Linux, Mac, Windows)
Funding Target: $75,000 CAD
In A Nutshell…
Players take control of a group of mercenary oil riggers (yes, they do exist) who arrive on a world that resembles Ireland’s hexagonal Giant’s Causeway. Here they must build bases to extract the planet’s resources, while at the same time battling the alien hordes that are constantly on the offensive.
Why Flash Your Cash?
Hextraction is a mashup of classic RTS games like Command & Conquer or Dune, but fused with the popular tower defence genre. As well as the main mission, the game offers RPG elements to make it more interesting, such as hand-picking your crew and choosing which corporations to work for. The game will include additional side missions that build on the central storyline, from uncovering mysterious alien artefacts to locating lost crews. Players will also encounter rival companies and do battle with them as well as with the arachnoid creatures that spawn from under the planet’s hexagonal surface.
Rewards?
For $15 CAD, donors will receive a DRM-free copy of the game, but those desperate to play it can also get beta access by adding another $5 CAD to their initial pledge. There is an early bird discount on the Corporal tier for the first 250 donors offering $24 CAD. This will gift a PDF art book and digital soundtrack, as well as a credit on developer ComboMash’s website. Likewise, the Sergeant rank has an early bird price of $34 CAD or more, again for the first 250 backers. It adds a couple of in-game items to the Corporal tier, including additional fleet skins and voting rights.
To reach the second-highest tier, Chief Operating Officer, players must pledge $5,000 CAD or more. Limited to only four people, it includes an invite to the private launch party in Vancouver, as well as granting potential designers the chance to craft an entire mining corporation to be included in the game. The top donation level of President is only available to one person pledging $8,000 CAD or more, and will see your voice being used for the Mission Captain in the game, as well adding input into the design of one of the game’s boss aliens.
Project: Mark of the One Ones
Genre: 2.5D Physics Platformer
Platforms: PC (Linux, Mac, Windows)
Funding Target: $46,000
In A Nutshell…
Mark of the Old Ones is a 2.5D Metroidvania-style physics platformer inspired by dark Lovecraftian tales. Players take control of Mogal, a creature spouting many tentacles, which allows for the inversive rope style physics gameplay.
Why Flash Your Cash?
We originally covered Jordan Brock’s pet project back in the Opulent October 2013 edition. At that stage, the game was nothing more than a tech demo, which showed the amazing promise of the game. While the project failed to reach its target, there was a lot of interest from both Kickstarter donors and private investors that has allowed the game’s development to continue until now. Gone is the human protagonist Thomas, replaced by the tentacle-clad Mogal, a creature that resembles a blue jellyfish. As it explores the underworld metropolis of Namaset, it tries to undo eons of past mistakes under the rule of Kraal, the great and eternal being that lives deep under the mountain.
Rewards?
To receive a DRM-free copy of the game, donors are asked to cough up a generous $10, although if you wish to play the game during its beta stage and help development along, raise that to $25. Adding another $10 to this will see the official soundtrack bundled into the deal.
The upper echelons of the reward tree has the Cartographer level, which is $475 and limited to 20 donors, as well as the Super Loot Level, at $825 and limited to only 10 people. The former comes with an epic-sized high-quality print of Namaset signed by the entire development team, as well as a slew of goodies and two extra copies of the game to give to friends. The latter option comes with the same physical rewards plus three t-shirts, but also includes the Producer tier, which allows you to visit the studio in Philadelphia for a day to see the game being crafted. The highest level, named after the ruling creature Kraal, asks for $2,500, and in exchange, you will be gifted a physical copy of the game, presented in a hand-crafted ceramic shrine of Kraal himself, as well as everything in the Super Loot Level.
Project: Last Life
Genre: Sci-Fi Noir Adventure Thriller
Platforms: PC (Linux, Mac, Windows)
Funding Target: $75,000
In A Nutshell…
A murdered detective is 3D-printed back to life and immediately begins an investigation into his own demise, uncovering a giant conspiracy involving corporate espionage, AI corruption, and events that lead to the destruction of Earth.
Why Flash Your Cash?
Well, if you need a mark of quality, gaming guru Tim Schafer liked the game so much he started spreading the word about it, meaning Last Life was the first game to carry the “Double Fine Presents” label. Project leader Sam Farmer and his Rocket Science Amusements label have taken a leaf from Double Fine’s own Kickstarter success story, Broken Age, by splitting the game into episodes. The funding goal will allow the first of three episodes to be completed.
The game itself is presented in a beautiful blocky art style that immediately conveys the idea of a retro-futuristic world. Focus is being placed on the storytelling, following the newly re-animated private eye Jack Parker as he explores the seedy underbelly of life on Mars.
Rewards?
For a mere $15, players will receive all three episodes in the Last Life trilogy, all of which will be DRM-free. Doubling this to $30 will see the digital soundtrack, being scored by The Tone Ranger, added to the goodie bag, along with a digital art book. This also includes a coveted in-game item, the Golden Gun from The Man With the Golden Gun.
The top tier is a very modest $1,000, and is limited to 10 donors, four of which have already been taken. Plucking for this option will see your likeness included in the game, along with a groovy sci-fi accessory of your choice, like, say, a robot chicken. The character will also carry a MarsTopian version of your name.
My keyboard is covered with melting chocolate, so I’m going to have to disconnect it so I can lick the space bar clean. While I’m doing that, please give generously to all of the games featured in Kickstart This! Without your help, these projects may not see life beyond the pages of Kickstarter.
