[Meier]

I don't expect I'll throw in personally but the $75 tier seems like a nice value if you're interested since iPhone cases usually cost $30-$40 as is.

[dark10x]

that's precisely the point of the WL2 kickstarter though. Until DFA, BF didn't know what to do with the "desire to make a sequel". KS made it happen. Your dismissal of it as "Too many Kickstarters are playing on peoples nostalgia without anyting to show" is completely off base. say there's no KS. what is ryan payton going to do to get his game done? Talk of him making a game has been going around for ages; since he left kojipro. so what we're seeing now is that result. Pretty sure there was already a plan. This is opportunistic. * whats next? Avellon's kickstarter is "Too many Kickstarters are playing on peoples nostalgia without anyting to show". It will be a new thing and it will be exciting and it will get support.

I don't see why there can't be enough room for both types of Kickstarters.

I find more value in this type of Kickstarter than that of Wasteland 2, however. If Kickstarter can help them finish the game then I'm all for it.

[Pachterballs]

500.000 for an iOS only game seems really steep. Maybe not as far as the development budget itself goes (although it definitely skirts the upper edge), but as a Kickstarter goal compared to other projects. Other projects have cast a wide net with multiplatform (PC, Mac) development from the start + the promise of additional platforms (often Linux, iOS and Android) if certain thresholds are reached and it seems like that's been a winning formula so far. So not sure how well this will go, but obviously the best of luck to Payton and the studio.

in the japanese translation KS article on GamaSutra; someone posted that a budget of half a million would fund 3-4 mid tier iOS games. Thats 125k/project. This 500,000 seems like silly money.


@ meier. iphone cases probably cost 3 dollars to make.

[dark10x]

in the japanese translation KS article on GamaSutra; someone posted that a budget of half a million would fund 3-4 mid tier iOS games. Thats 125k/project. This 500,000 seems like silly money. @ meier. iphone cases probably cost 3 dollars to make.

Infinity Blade 1 cost 2 million and this seems even more ambitious. I think you're underestimating what it takes to create a game like this.

[Meier]

in the japanese translation KS article on GamaSutra; someone posted that a budget of half a million would fund 3-4 mid tier iOS games. Thats 125k/project. This 500,000 seems like silly money. @ meier. iphone cases probably cost 3 dollars to make.

Oh yeah, they definitely make obscene profit on them, but that doesn't change the fact that a standard hard-body (which I am guessing this is and not silicone) case is at least $30-$40 to the consumer on average.

FWIW, I think in this case, they're trying to make an absolute upper echelon iOS game so it costing the price of a few mid-tier games isn't entirely surprising.

[Chinner]

looks like touch arcade and slide to play haven't posted anything about this yet. should get a boost once they do.

[Femmeworth]

A Kickstarter for an iOS game? I've seen everything now and I don't like it.

[Jasper Avenue]

Backed. Hope they meet their goal.

[heringer]

looks like touch arcade and slide to play haven't posted anything about this yet. should get a boost once they do.

Yeah, this needs more coverage, as the trailer is very effective in selling the project.

[Sloane]

Pitch looks great but iOS-only and June 2013? Hmm...

[Haunted]

in the japanese translation KS article on GamaSutra; someone posted that a budget of half a million would fund 3-4 mid tier iOS games. Thats 125k/project. This 500,000 seems like silly money. @ meier. iphone cases probably cost 3 dollars to make.

Well, they're not going for mid-tier here, that much should be clear from their pitch. And I've seen 150.000 EUR iOS projects that I would barely call mid-tier. Much depends on the development environment (time x manpower x location).

That said, these kinds of budgets are going to be the norm rather sooner than later. Advancement in tech (iOS devices getting close to consoles in power) comes with a price, and the ballooning dev costs for AAA console games are arriving on mobiles as well.

[Neuromancer]

I thought there was no way to deliver free codes on iOS, that's what a lot of the other Kickstarters say (Shadowrun for example).

[dark10x]

that's precisely the point of the WL2 kickstarter though. Until DFA, BF didn't know what to do with the "desire to make a sequel". KS made it happen. Your dismissal of it as "Too many Kickstarters are playing on peoples nostalgia without anyting to show" is completely off base. say there's no KS. what is ryan payton going to do to get his game done? Talk of him making a game has been going around for ages; since he left kojipro. so what we're seeing now is that result. Pretty sure there was already a plan. This is opportunistic. * whats next? Avellon's kickstarter is "Too many Kickstarters are playing on peoples nostalgia without anyting to show". It will be a new thing and it will be exciting and it will get support.

If you put your own money behind a project in order to create a working prototype that demonstrates what the game is going to be you run the risk of being labeled an "opportunist"? Are you suggesting that a Kickstarter is only valid if you haven't actually completed anything? Should Kickstarter only be reserved for brand new projects that have yet to actually begin? That certainly seems to be what you are suggesting.

I want to see more Kickstarters that actually show legitimate promise. The whole thing seems more viable when the developers in question already have something underway.

You seem to think the typical developer/publisher relationship would be adequate here but who's to say any publisher would pick this game up especially as an iOS project? I'm sure they've already tried that avenue.

Furthermore, perhaps they simply want to maintain their freedom and involve the community. I don't see the problem here. They're being very upfront about the project and what they've been working on and it has real promise.

[yami4ct]

I thought there was no way to deliver free codes on iOS, that's what a lot of the other Kickstarters say (Shadowrun for example).

Not typically, no. In the past, developers have been given a limited amount of codes they can use to give away a game for free. I guess the Camouflaj guys have worked out a way with apple. I'm going to guess and say most likely through extra free codes. I can only hope this paves the way for other developers who want to work on iOS to be able to give the game as a kickstarter bonus.

[The_Darkest_Red]

You seem to think the typical developer/publisher relationship would be adequate here but who's to say any publisher would pick this game up especially as an iOS project? I'm sure they've already tried that avenue.

Based on Ryan's appearance on Weekend Confirmed this is exactly what happened. The game was pitched to a number of publishers but none of them were willing to take the risk because of how unproven a game of this scale is on the iOS market.

To me this is the perfect type of game for Kickstarter because it's taking a lot of unusual risks.

[Vibri]

Infinity Blade 1 cost 2 million and this seems even more ambitious. I think you're underestimating what it takes to create a game like this.

Source?

I read Infinity Blade was entirely a team of five people over 100 days? In man hours that`s around $200k. IB2 maybe double that?

[ArjanN]

in the japanese translation KS article on GamaSutra; someone posted that a budget of half a million would fund 3-4 mid tier iOS games. Thats 125k/project. This 500,000 seems like silly money. @ meier. iphone cases probably cost 3 dollars to make.

Mid-tier iOS game = bad flash game you played for free on the internet 5 years ago.

This is clearly way more ambitious.

[Vibri]

If you put your own money behind a project in order to create a working prototype that demonstrates what the game is going to be you run the risk of being labeled an "opportunist"? Are you suggesting that a Kickstarter is only valid if you haven't actually completed anything? Should Kickstarter only be reserved for brand new projects that have yet to actually begin? That certainly seems to be what you are suggesting. I want to see more Kickstarters that actually show legitimate promise. The whole thing seems more viable when the developers in question already have something underway. You seem to think the typical developer/publisher relationship would be adequate here but who's to say any publisher would pick this game up especially as an iOS project? I'm sure they've already tried that avenue. Furthermore, perhaps they simply want to maintain their freedom and involve the community. I don't see the problem here. They're being very upfront about the project and what they've been working on and it has real promise.

QFT.

[szaromir]

Asking enthusiastic iOS community for $500k is madness because there's no such community. I mean, I know many core gamers play games on their iPads but there's no sense of enthusiastic people really attached to that platform comparable to PC.

[The_Darkest_Red]

Wow, huge jump just now. Dat $7500 pledge.

[snap0212]

Asking enthusiastic iOS community for $500k is madness because there's no such community. I mean, I know many core gamers play games on their iPads but there's no sense of enthusiastic people really attached to that platform comparable to PC.

I'd argue that they're not targeting the iOS community. They're targeting gamers, lots of whom own an iOS device, because they know Ryan Payton, know his work, and are willing to invest some money to play a good game on iOS.

I really don't think this is meant to be played or kickstarted by the Farmville and Angry Birds-crowd. It's the gamer-crowd they're going after.

[Sloane]

I really don't think this is meant to be played or kickstarted by the Farmville and Angry Birds-crowd. It's the gamer-crowd they're going after.

Question is, does the "gamer-crowd" want real / serious games on iPad? If this was (also) a PC game, I'd back it in a second, but for iDevices I'm kinda hesitant.

Then again, I guess they'll make it. On Kickstarter, 500.000$ doesn't sound like that much money anymore.

[szaromir]

I'd argue that they're not targeting the iOS community. They're targeting gamers, lots of whom own an iOS device, because they know Ryan Payton, know his work, and are willing to invest some money to play a good game on iOS. I really don't think this is meant to be played or kickstarted by the Farmville and Angry Birds-crowd. It's the gamer-crowd they're going after.

Yes but how big is that group compared to the people who already play regularly core games on PC (and are invested in them)?

On top of that, actually knowing that Payton worked on MGS4 is very discouraging.

[Goldmund]

Question is, does the "gamer-crowd" want real / serious games on iPad? If this was a PC game, I'd back it in a second, but for iDevices I'm kinda hesitant.

Do you really think there'll be another device left to play games on come 2013? Come to your senses.

[ArjanN]

Question is, does the "gamer-crowd" want real / serious games on iPad? If this was (also) a PC game, I'd back it in a second, but for iDevices I'm kinda hesitant. Then again, I guess they'll make it. On Kickstarter, 500.000$ doesn't sound like that much money anymore.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if one of the future updates confirms a PC version though.

Do you really think there'll be another device left to play games on come 2013? Come to your senses.

Heh.

Source? I read Infinity Blade was entirely a team of five people over 100 days? In man hours that`s around $200k. IB2 maybe double that?

It was at least 12 people for 5 months.

[Dunbar]

Can I get just the journal? Because that thing looks cool as hell.

[hank_tree]

I put in my $125 anyways. That's a couple of dollars for each episode of the Kojima Productions Report :)

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

Question is, does the "gamer-crowd" want real / serious games on iPad? If this was (also) a PC game, I'd back it in a second, but for iDevices I'm kinda hesitant. Then again, I guess they'll make it. On Kickstarter, 500.000$ doesn't sound like that much money anymore.

The iPad is great for certain games. For example, I'd kill for Fallout 1 & 2 on the iPad.

[Sallokin]

Does kickstarter allow you to change your pledges easily? I pledged 75.84 (dat 8-4 bump) but I kind of want the collector's edition plus the iphone case.

[Salaadin]

On top of that, actually knowing that Payton worked on MGS4 is very discouraging.

Curious to know where this is coming from. As I understand it, Paytons involvement in MGS4 resulted in the more "western" controls and camera which were some of the better things about that game.


As far as the "gamer crowd" argument goes, I think the fact that this thread exists and there are people pledging money towards Republique proves that there is at least a small gamer crowd open to these types of games on iOS. It might not be 500,000 dollars worth but I guess we wont really know that until the deadline.

[Pachterballs]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if one of the future updates confirms a PC version though. Heh. It was at least 12 people for 5 months.

Infinity Blade 1 cost 2 million

2 million
2000000
/12/5

each member of the team was on $33333/month?

[Kusagari]

Does kickstarter allow you to change your pledges easily? I pledged 75.84 (dat 8-4 bump) but I kind of want the collector's edition plus the iphone case.

Yeah, you can change your amount whenever you want before it ends.

[Buttonbasher]

This looks awesome. I'm totally in.

[Ulairi]

I just trade up my iPhone 4S for the Lumia 900 so I won't be pledging anymore because they haven't announced any plans to port it to the other mobile platforms. I don't see it hitting $500,000 based on the iOS platform but I'm sure they'll get enough press that they'll receive some bridge funding and will be able to release the game.

[LiK]

superbrothers just tweeted this. I guess it relates to some conversations here.

@the1console S:S&S EP's original schedule was eight months, it took twice that long to get it done. We went way over budget for an iOS videogame at 250K.

[CrunchinJelly]

So there is no way to donate 99c and just get the game?

[Sloane]

The iPad is great for certain games. For example, I'd kill for Fallout 1 & 2 on the iPad.

That's a bit different though, I'm interested in Baldurs Gate and The Last Express for iPad, too, but, you know, just to play them again. Not sure how I feel about a completely new game. I'd prefer having it on another platform too but maybe that's just me.

[Chinner]

shouldn't this be moved to off-topic?

[Sloane]

So there is no way to donate 99c and just get the game?

Does this look like a 99 cent game to you?

[Wario64]

So there is no way to donate 99c and just get the game?

$10 is the minimum threshold to get the game. You can pledge 99 cents for no incentive

[Digishine]

Ryan Payton huh? well he got my support.

[StuBurns]

The logo has taken the little triangles out of the letters to decorate the logo, just like they did with MGS4, seems kind of lazy.

[dark10x]

superbrothers just tweeted this. I guess it relates to some conversations here.

Considering how much more Republique appears to be doing (hiring voice talent, using high-end audio studios, motion capture, more complex gameplay, etc.) I can see the budget rising well beyond S&S.

[Gowans]

This is up against a few things.

It's on iOS
New IP
Unproven Dev
Mid 2013
Unclear on transparancy / Story for donors to follow during dev (especially with such a long dev time)

Fingers crossed for them.

I think clearing up the dev story with a monthly doc episoude at a $15 donation would help a tonne. (along with, early access, beta, tech demo build access).

[Corto]

Hope this succeeds. Very gutsy choice of platform. The hybridization of genres and the production values made it very appealling to me. Pledged.

[LiK]

Considering how much more Republique appears to be doing (hiring voice talent, using high-end audio studios, motion capture, more complex gameplay, etc.) I can see the budget rising well beyond S&S.

I agree

[Zeouterlimits]

Hmm.

I'm in for Ryan (and the concept). I trust him.

$500k. Believe?

[Franklinator]

This looks interesting. $10 does seem a bit expensive but I'll probably donate anyway.

[Dog Problems]

That Journal and the larger book is really nice. I'll probably go for that but I'm unsure if this will actually be funded. :-\

Trying to stay optimistic.

[Aaron]

Someone should change the title to make it clear this is a kickstarter. I didn't know until it was mentioned in another thread. I went in for the journal. I'm a sucker for those kind of things.