Rock, Paper, Shotgun

By John Walker on August 11th, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

A very busy week in the Katchup, with a piling of projects succeeding, another pile falling short, and more new additions than ever before. So grab your wallet, empty out the contents, and start throwing it all at your screen.

The Rules

• Featuring a game in this list doesn’t mean we endorse it. We likely haven’t played, and as such can’t say whether it will be worth your cash. That’s your call.
• Letting me know about a game (which you can do via my name above) doesn’t mean it will definitely be included. Leaving links in the comments is a good way to let other readers know about projects, but please email me if you want them considered for the list.
• We only include games where pledges reach developers if the target is met.
• Beer and wine: fine. Wine and nitroglycerine: problematic.

The Winners

Defense Grid 2 – Hidden Path

I’m calling this one a winner, even though as I write it’s $250 short of the $250,000. I suspect it’ll have gotten there by the time this posts, with three days left on the clock. It’s all a bit confusing on their page what this quarter million dollars gets you. Immediately, it’ll be an eight level expansion for the original, the KS implying that a full sequel doesn’t happen until they hit a full million. But I’m reliably assured that those who’ve pledged $15 will be getting a copy of the full DG2 when it’s eventually completed. I can’t help but imagine the incredibly confusing way they set this all up can’t have helped with getting the pledges a name like this possibly could have reached.

OddVille – Michael Rains

Only after $540 to get some necessary software, this attempt to make a 3D game set in the 16bit world of the Atari, is more than funded at $641.

Perch – Aaron Neugebauer

The endlessly climbing physics platformer was after $1,500. In its last day it’s made it with $1,657 in its pot, and just a few hours to gather any last bonus pennies.

Jetpack 2 – Adept Software

As I’ve been suggesting, by attrition as well as appeal, there will now definitely be a sequel to the classic platformer. Just 94 bucks over its goal as I write, there’s still another four weeks left for this to see how much it can go over its $10,000 finish line.

Jack Houston And The Necronauts – Warbird Games

The stop-motion point and clicker flew past its goal of $56k, finishing yesterday at $64,256. They’re aiming to get the game out by the end of next year.

Tales Of Fallen London: The Silver Tree – Failbetter Games

A sequel to the enormously popular Tales Of Fallen London browser game reached twice its funding in 48 hours. With 22 days left they’re currently on $25,674, even though they only asked for $10k. They’re going to have to add some more stretch goals, too, since their last one is at $26k, which adds a backer-exclusive story for the game.

The Losers

Super Techno Kitten Adventure – 21st Street Games

The most disturbing and brilliant Kickstarter video we’ve yet seen wasn’t enough to raise a mammoth $100,000 for a company that I’m fairly sure will have a story to tell. This was their last hope to keep Techno Kitten going, they said, so getting only a tenth of the way there is a pretty sad tale.

OURFIG – JohnSam

Only after six thousand bucks, it seems a shame this shaky-but-interesting-looking adventure could only get just over halfway. They’re going to keep developing, and then return to KS when they have a playable demo.

Bad Dudes 2 – Pinstripe Games

Not even scratching the surface of their attempt to make $80k for a reinvention of the peculiar and well-loved Bad Dudes arcade game, the team say they’re now looking for alternative sources of funding, and the licensing from G-Mode is still in place.

The Players

Knock Knock – Ice-Pick Lodge

Goal: $30,000
Now: $23,852
Days: 31

Pathologic devs Ice-Pick have added another $4,000 to their total this week, leaving them with just over $6k to raise and a month to do it – I’m fairly certain this will get funded, and can’t wait to see what mad direction they’ll head in with it.

Wicked Crush – Billy Monks et al

Goal: $15,000
Now: $3,909
Days: 4

There are only four days left to see this funded, and it does seem like it should be. A platformer RPG where every dungeon level is designed by another player, with treasures scored if you finish someone’s level, or if your level kills another. A hub world above gives you a reason to earn in-game money from such endeavours, letting you spend it on equipment, and indeed abilities to make your dungeons deadlier. It’s a brilliant idea, and it only needs another $11k to do it. $10 will get you a copy of the game later this year.

Shadow Remnants – Shorebound Studios

Goal: $75,000
Now: $5,002
Days: 20

A turn-based tactical RPG, looking like it was developed for Gamecube (please understand that’s a good thing). You can see a ton of footage in its pledge video on the site, and they’ve netted themselves $4k in their first full week.

The Other Brothers – 3D Attack

Goal: $50,000
Now: $13,724
Days: 18

An episoodic family platforming adventure game thing, in yet more retro pixels. (Their saying “they’re” going to bring it back might reveal a slight lack of research.) But it does look absolutely lovely. $15 pledges are needed for a copy this Winter.

Bad Planet – Red Fly Studios

Goal: $575,000
Now: $43,059
Days: 5

Adding on three grand in the last week seems like it should be impressive for this comic conversion, featuring him off of Hung, and Hellboy, but it barely makes a dent in their ridiculously overambitious goal. There are five days before this doesn’t make it. And they haven’t bothered updating this week at all.

Project Lodus – Leviathan Interactive

Goal: $50,000
Now: $20,861
Days: 3

Despite adding on a very impressive $8k in the last week, the cyber-punk, co-op, action RPG, with heavy emphasis on the co-op, is going to need a big push in the next three days to more than double its pledges.

Eternal Fate – Escalation Studios

Goal: $200,000
Now: $10,535
Days: 20

Two gaming vets, who’ve both worked at id, Bethesda and various other companies, have started a small indie studio intent on making an online action RPG. They describe it as a combination of Torchlight/Diablo and Call Of Duty/Battlefield. $8,000 was raised this week, but they’re only 5% of the way there. Things are going to have to step up over the next three weeks.

Songmasters: The Music Wars – Matthias Crévieaux

Goal: $25,000
Now: $14,820
Days: 7

Crévieaux said he first started making this game when he was a kid, a world where music is magic (hello Phonogram), which he’s now hoping to craft as a Flash-based web game. It’s far too complicated to explain in this space, so have a look at the video:

Insurgency 2 – New World Interactive

Goal: $180,000
Now: $55,882
Days: 27

This week has seen a colossal $30k raised, no doubt partly thanks to their revealing 8 minutes of in-game footage. But there’s still an awfully long way to go in the next four weeks for the sequel to one of the most popular mods ever made.

Wisp – Overzealous Studios

Goal: $4,000
Now: $1,324
Days: 7

I really wish a better video had been made for this, talking about the game rather than their bank accounts. Only $300 was added this week, meaning their last seven days is going to need a big push to see the pretty puzzle platformer getting the money it needs.

Flight Of The Wisp – Shane Barber

Goal: $10,000
Now: $1,092
Days: 25

Then there’s the other wisp-based game, also a puzzler, also on Kickstarter. In this game you’re a ball of energy that takes on the nature of other elements in the game. Go through mist and you’re that, for instance, all used for solving puzzles. It’s a really smart idea, and have a listen to the excellent music.

Dominique Pamplemousse – Deidra Kiai

Goal: $9,500
Now: $2,154
Days: 21

A stop-motion musical detective adventure. In black and white. It’s one of the most esoteric projects I’ve seen in a while. Take a look at the page to see exactly just how strange this is.

Expeditions – Conquistador – Logic Artists

Goal: $70,000
Now: $11,840
Days: 32

Danish dev Logic Artists’ tactical RPG-cum-strategy is driven by its 16th century Spanish storyline. Packed with hexagons and history, it’s added on an amazing $10k this week. There’s still a long way to go, and it’d be good to see some more enthusiasm about that in the updates. Currently there’s, er, none. But they have made clear that the Desura release of the game will be DRM free, so that’s good news.

Super Motherload – XGen Studios

Goal: $50,000
Now: $15,644
Days: 7

These poor guys – their offices were horribly flooded during this Kickstarter’s run, and more bad news is inevitably reaching them by tomorrow as this one fails. Perhaps the original Motherload isn’t as fondly remembered as they hoped. Their most recent update is a wonderful example of how it should be done, honestly discussing their unlikely chances, while still expressing huge gratitude for the support they received.

Pursuit Of Power 2 – Precision Games

Goal: $70,000
Now: $697
Days: 10

A real-time strategy Kickstarter that needs some attention. It seems very unlikely it’ll get its funding from nothing in ten days, but hopefully people will follow the link and learn about the project.

Echoes Of Aeons – Alchima Studios

Goal: $50,000
Now: $7,582
Days: 5

A 2D RPG that seems to take a big combat inspiration from classic arcade side-scrolling fighting games, along with adventure games and classic RPGs. Despite raising a good chunk, they’re still a long way short with only five days left. There’s a ton of info on their page.

Shadowrun Online – Cliffhanger Productions

Goal: $500,000
Now: $321,262
Days: 3

This must be agony for Cliffhanger – in the last week they’ve raised a phenomenal $100,000, but it’s still looking very unlikely that the MMO reinvention of Shadowrun will make it. They need another $180k in three days. It’s been done before, however.

Rack n Ruin – Tyler Hunter

Goal: $30,000
Now: $2,637
Days: 20

A top-down action adventure RPG, in which you play a baddie with an unfortunately propensity for destroying worlds rather than conquering them. This is his last chance, as you attempt to explore and puzzle your way to world domination.

Project Gianna – Black Forest Games

Goal: $150,000
Now: $59,952
Days: 20

$15k raised in a week is no small feat, as a group of former Spellbound developers look to make a serious sequel to 1987′s The Great Giana Sisters. Originally a Super Mario knock-off that was forced from sale after Nintendo pointed out that it was basically their game, this remake looks nothing like Nintendo’s game, with a unique (and gorgeous) look, and a world that can be “twisted” to transform it. A copy of the game in the Autumn comes with the $10 pledge.

Kickstarter Indie Bundle – Kickstarter Indies

Goal: $45,000
Now: $4,086
Days: 18

An indie bundle in reverse. The idea here is to pledge money to help nine indies finish their games. Various pledge levels reward you with full copies of their previous games, along with all these games when they’re done. $20 will net you the lot.