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[Doffen]

Funded! $178,193

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/171497873/earthlock-festival-of-magic

Goal: $150,000
Deadline: April 12. 2014

An original turn-based role-playing game set in a world of machines and magic, a world that stopped spinning thousands of years ago.

On Umbra, a planet that mysteriously stopped spinning ages ago, war is brewing. As desert scavenger Amon, you must stop the coming war by unlocking the mysteries of Umbra and prevent an ancient, magical cult seizing the power.

• Volume 1 in the Earthlock™ series
• Release platforms*: PC/Mac/Linux, Wii U, Xbox One, PS4.
• Greenlit for Steam in October 2013
• Release date: Q1, 2015 on PC, Mac and Linux. Q2, 2015 on Wii U, Xbox One and PS4.
• Early Concept Demo available for download: PC - MAC - Linux

• Rich, non-linear story
• Turn-based combat (No Active Time Battle)
• Combat pairs (Allows more variations to your battle team)
• Grow your own ammunition (Organic crafting)
• Build and improve your home base
• Environmental Puzzles
• Gorgeous Overworld with a retro feel
• No random encounters (Monsters visible at all times)
• Play as Male or Female protagonist (You can switch at any time)

COMBAT:

The battle system goes back to the roots of the genre with its no-nonsense turn based combat, but there are several refreshing twists to the formula. One is the pairing system. Instead of separate characters, your party is made up of pairs where each pair is composed of a warrior and a protector.

The warrior uses consumables such as ammunition and items, while the protector can perform spells like healing and shields. Instead of standard magic points, spells cost Support Points, which build up when the pair receives damage.

Choosing your warrior and protector combinations is key to finding the right tactics. Special pair actions and character stats change according to the pairings and will greatly affect the way you play in combat. As players get hold of more consumable types, the ability to chain elemental effects will encourage the player to have a good variety of ammo at their disposal.

MEDIA:

Video:
Early Alpha Playthrough
Earthlock Combat Clip
Crafting Harvesting



Kickstarter
Official site
Facebook
Twitter

 

[gngf123]

This looks pretty fun, hope it reaches its goal.

 

[Throwaway123456789]

Are kickstarter threads like these okay?

 

[gngf123]

Are kickstarter threads like these okay?

We have Kickstarter threads all the time, I don't see what is any different about this one?

 

[wrowa]

I hope the second try is more successful than their first attempt. Delivering the game, even if it's just the first episode, for just 150k on all these platforms seems rather ambitious, though.

 

[Durante]

I backed the first (failed) KS for this, and I think I'll back it again.

Are kickstarter threads like these okay?

Sure, why not?

 

[mclem]

Art style looks more like Brothers than I remember the original KS doing.

 

[GunBR]

Going back to the discussion of this thread, this is definitely a western JRPG.

And the game looks great, gonna back it

 

[69wpm]

Already backed this morning when I woke up. Looks good and I hope they succeed this time.

 

[Doffen]

Are kickstarter threads like these okay?

Why shouldn't it be? I find it to be an interesting project with potential, and though some other GAF'ers also would like it.

I'm also not connected to this project. Except for being a backer.

I hope the second try is more successful than their first attempt. Delivering the game, even if it's just the first episode, for just 150k on all these platforms seems rather ambitious, though.

They will get additional founds from The NFI in Norway.
Not a lot, but together with the Kickstarter it should cover the expenses.

 

[Kouriozan]

Oh, yeah, I remember that game, hope the kickstarter will do better this time.

 

[OneUh8]

This looks super cool. Like the art style. I hope it gets more than it needs.

 

[Impeccable]

Keep kickstarting awesome games on my behalf, people.

 

[SkeptiMism]

Been interested in the game for a long time already. Really hoping it'll have success in kickstarter this time.

 

[JDSN]

Those are some terrible strech goals.

 

[mclem]

Are kickstarter threads like these okay?

I think self-promotion is regarded as a no-no (at least, not without clearing it with a mod, there may possibly be exceptional circumstances). General independent discovery of a project, though? Go for it.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

UI graphics need to be redone but the game looks interesting enough.

 

[Canis lupus]

More turn based games are always welcome.

 

[Dolor]

• Release platforms*: PC/Mac/Linux
• Greenlit for Steam in October 2013

I will be picking it up then when it comes out.

 

[Instro]

Seems like something I would back, I'll have to read through the kickstarter first. Thanks for posting about it, I feel like even if they can just get enough to cover the kick starter, a game like this hitting early access on Steam down the road would do quite well.

 

[Stumpokapow]

I think it looks really good so far and I'd definitely be willing to check it out when it releases.

But personally, I see red flags:
1) Previous failed KS for what is essentially the same game with a higher funding request.

2) Announcing ahead of time that this is "Volume 1" in a franchise and that "You will be able to download Volume 2 & Volume 3 of Earthlock if and when they are released. We estimate that it will take about 6-12 months to develop each sequel. Please note that we cannot guarantee the release of these Volumes." for higher tiers, while noting that "chapter II and III won’t necessarily need their own Kickstarter to be a reality." -- so what if Volume 1 does not do well and then Volume 2Chapter II needs a KS, but doesn't make it? I guess people funding at those tiers should be ready to assume that even if they are entitled to the entire game, they're only funding the first episode.

3) $150,000 is not remotely enough to fund the studio until the release date (even without subtracting fulfillment costs for all the rewards they're promising, which could eat up a pretty substantial portion of their funding depending on how --and that's assuming they make the release date, which few of these projects do--meaning they're relying on external funding, meaning it's entirely possible that they meet the KS funding requirements but external funding falls through and backers are left with no game when funding dries up. What if investors get gunshy or government funding doesn't come through?

4) 6 target platforms, they don't have "approval" from any of the console platforms--does this mean they're not licensed developer for those platforms?, and they only have a 3 month window from the original PC release and the console release. That's pretty tight and I think there'd be a very real risk that even if the PC version comes out fine, the console versions will be delayed or might not happen.

As a result, I would classify this as a somewhat high risk KS.

 

[69wpm]

4) 6 target platforms, they don't have "approval" from any of the console platforms--does this mean they're not licensed developer for those platforms?

That is weird, I saw a white Wii U controller in the video. Didn't get a good look at it but that might have been one from the dev unit, unless they just bought a basic console for the video? I also remember this game showing up in one of the early Nintendo Directs (from around August 2013 I think).

 

[Burt]

Game looks great. Gonna take a run at the demo before I pledge anything though. Hope that $15 tier doesn't fill up too fast.

 

[Anbec7]

I hope this gets funded.
I'll see what I can give to this

 

[Oddduck]

4) 6 target platforms, they don't have "approval" from any of the console platforms--does this mean they're not licensed developer for those platforms?, and they only have a 3 month window from the original PC release and the console release. That's pretty tight and I think there'd be a very real risk that even if the PC version comes out fine, the console versions will be delayed or might not happen.

I think they were approved as licensed Wii U developers.

http://www.nintendo-insider.com/2013/05/08/snowcastle-games-approved-as-licensed-nintendo-developer/

 

[Doffen]

As a result, I would classify this as a somewhat high risk KS.

 

[Justice_Bolt]

This game look awesome! Backed.

 

[Doffen]

New pledge tiers (Wasn't available when I backed wtf?)

Early supporter: $15 - Digital copy of game, Beta invite and Support credit.
Early Earthlock Sequel: $100 - Alpha invite, Volume 2 & 3, Digital copy of game X3.
Object Designer: $200 - Volum 1 & 3, design an object, Digital copy of game X4.

18% backed.

 

[jediyoshi]

Nice to see it shaping together quicker than last time

4) 6 target platforms, they don't have "approval" from any of the console platforms--does this mean they're not licensed developer for those platforms?, and they only have a 3 month window from the original PC release and the console release. That's pretty tight and I think there'd be a very real risk that even if the PC version comes out fine, the console versions will be delayed or might not happen.

They're approved for the Wii U to some degree, they've had devkits since last year.

edit: missed the earlier response

 

[Banjo-Kazooie]

Ya it's a risk, but I couldn't help myself from backing

 

[tebunker]

We have personally invested everything into this game. We have gotten great support from the Nordic Game Program and the Norwegian Film Fund. We have awesome investors who believe in us, and the last piece of the financial puzzle is you, the player.

You would think that some folks would read before posting.

I almost want to back this, almost. It had generated buzz at PAX prime, that's when Nintendo signed them up, they were one of the first free Unity indie devs.

 

[Doffen]

Earthlock today got granted another $200.000 in government funding (edit if they reached the funding goal in Kickstarter.
The project has previously received $300.000 in government funding.

According to the developers this game will have a total budget of $1.228.304

 

[Justice_Bolt]

Earthlock today got granted another $200.000 in government funding (edit if they reached the funding goal in Kickstarter.
The project has previously received $300.000 in government funding.

According to the developers this game will have a total budget of $1.228.304

Wow great news! I really hope it get funded. I want more turn- based RPG for PS4.

 

[Haunted]

Are kickstarter threads like these okay?

Only if the project looks good/interesting.

And while this does look fairly slow and the project as a whole has some... aggressive scheduling as Stump pointed out, I think this qualifies. Western-made, JRPG-inspired, turn-based strategy on PC should definitely be a thing that exists.

 

[Doffen]

34% backed. It has surpassed the previous canceled Kickstarter by $2.000.

 

[Durante]

I agree that this is quite a high-risk kickstarter (particularly the re-launched version), but at the very least they seem persistent about wanting to make this thing.

 

[Justice_Bolt]

At this rate, this game is funded for sure. We need more game like this. Spread the word.

 

[SkeptiMism]

Almost 73k now out of 150k.

It's slowed down quite a bit as expected, but still 19 days left so it should make it assuming they get a boost towards the end as kickstarters typically do. They need some more publicity though.

 

[Doffen]

Halfway there. Will be interesting to see if it succeeds.

AMA:

We will be doing an AMA on www.reddit.com/r/iama tomorrow Wednesday at 5pm EST (GMT -5). We invite everyone to come on over and ask us anything. Ask us about the game, about the kickstarter project, about developing games in Norway, about our hobbies or anything else at all.

The more who come and ask questions the better the AMA will be, so tell all you know who might be interested!

Hope to see you there! =)

 

[Miles X]

Less than $38k to go with 5 days!

 

[Banjo-Kazooie]

~36K to go with 4 days left. This is going to be a close one...

Backed it a couple weeks ago, I hope it makes it.

 

[Doffen]

ID@Xbox just tweeted about the Kickstarter.
It's going to be a close run the next 4 days.

 

[ZSaberLink]

I hope it makes it too. 32K left in 3 days and 22 hours or so... Hope there's a huge push at the end or something...

 

[Justice_Bolt]

I really hope we make it! Less than 30k to go. 3 days left.

 

[Miles X]

Ramping up now, less than 19k to go with 60 hours on the clock.

 

[Mithos]

Seems like it will make it.

almost at 144k/150k now and 50 hrs left.

Would be shocked if it didn't, hasn't even hit the 48 hour mark yet and is only 6k away.

I guess I made the wording in a bad way, meant it as, Seems like they made it.

 

[Miles X]

Seems like it will make it.

almost at 144k/150k now and 50 hrs left.

Would be shocked if it didn't, hasn't even hit the 48 hour mark yet and is only 6k away.

 

[SwiftDeath]

This one's going to make it

 

[Anbec7]

Almost there c'mon GAF

 

[Miles X]

Funded, with 45 hours to go!

Hoping they reach the deeper crafting stretch goal.