Roth Rejoices: Maia Makes Mega-Money

Three cheers for the small god. A couple of days ago things looked a wee bit shaky for Simon Roth's Dungeon Keeper and Dwarf Fortress-inspired god game Maia, but a flurry of Kickstarting over the weekend has seen it beat its once faintly ridiculous-seeming £100,000 target and reach the esteemed status of A Thing That Is Happening.

What caused the game to bring in some £60,000 in its last few days? Well, perhaps it was assorted new coverage across the web, from both the old fogies of written words and the young people of YouTube. Perhaps it was a bunch of other indies heroically donating copies of games, including Project Zomboid, Death Ray Manta, VVVVVV and Revenge of the Titans, to a bundle available to those who pledged £56. Perhaps a sinister man in a sharp suit with a vague smell of sulphur told developer Simon Roth he could have the money in exchange for his immortal soul.

But it's almost certainly because my cat was watching me while I put our interview with Roth and the CMS, and then went and told all her kitty friends. Cats have enormous god complexes, after all. (Speaking of which, anyone who opts for the new £303 funding tier can have their cat or - hiss-spit- dog digitised and added to the game).

So, glad tidings I think. Congratulations, Mr Roth. I'm personally very taken with the project and was disappointed when it looked like it wouldn't meet its target just a few days ago. It's now at some £115k, with about 50 hours left on the clock if you want to get in on the pre-funding/glorified pre-ordering action.