Kickstarter campaign launches on 4th Feb

[GodzillaX8]

Just a quick comparison to Shadowrun's kickstarters, to put this campaign into some kind of perspective.

At the same time frame in the Shadowrun: Hong Kong campaign, they were $237,000 higher in funding.

The last 8 days have averaged less than $13K per day. In the same period of time, Shadowrun: Hong Kong was earning $20.6K per day in their campaign.

The original Shadowrun Returns Kickstarter's worst single day performance was just under $24K, it averaged $70K per day for the entire campaign. That campaign ended at $1.8M. Since Underworld's is at about $37K per day with 2 more weeks of miserable days ahead of it (barring some serious momentum shifts), it'll be a pipe dream to even hit $1M.

This campaign has almost completely sputtered out.

[Mr. Tibbs]

I said I would up my pledge if Eric Brosius was on board. Chris Siegel responded with:

You never know...they do live right down the street here...
Eric is pretty much a suuuuper genius for audio design.

Edit.

The campaign is going fine. Shadowrun Returns was one of the first huge campaigns back when there was nothing but goodwill for Kickstarter. Harebrained, like Inxile and probably Obsidian if Pillars delivers, won't have any problems running future campaigns. They have a huge fan base that already uses the platform.

When Underworld crosses the base level it will get a boost, and it will get a massive push in the last days. Look at STRAFE. It hovered under 80K for the majority of the campaign. In the last few days it's increased by 50k. It will likely make it's goal, despite looking like a stalled campaign.

I wouldn't be surprised if Otherside already has outside funding. Like if there's enough interest shown on Kickstarter, investors will pony up additional funding? That's pretty common. Kickstarter acts as both a PR campaign and as a guarantee of general interest.

[Twist]

Yeah, I think they've got a few more aces up their sleeves.

[Renzatic]

This campaign has almost completely sputtered out.

Hardly. They're not breaking any records, but they're far from failing. Just because it's not doing as well as some campaigns doesn't mean it's an abject failure.

I wouldn't be surprised if Otherside already has outside funding. Like if there's enough interest shown on Kickstarter, investors will pony up additional funding? That's pretty common. Kickstarter acts as both a PR campaign and as a guarantee of general interest.

I'm sure they do, plus whatever they've been able to throw into the mix themselves. What we're seeing here is them padding out their funds to be able to push it that much farther. Even if the Kickstarter were to fail, they'd probably still be able to go ahead and make the game, though not as comfortably as they would have with all this extra cash.

[GodzillaX8]

Shadowrun Returns was one of the first huge campaigns back when there was nothing but goodwill for Kickstarter.

A huge campaign with a metric ton of hype, a huge well-known IP, and a time when people were more generously backing Kickstarters only made $1.8M. That's the point. I can't see this making $1.2M or even $1M the way it's been going. I'd love to be wrong, though.

The campaign obviously won't fail, I just don't see it hitting most of the stretch goals.

[Mr. Tibbs]

The campaign obviously won't fail, I just don't see it hitting most of the stretch goals.

I don't think it would be outrageous for them to hit 900K, possibly even clear a million. Maybe they won't unlock everything but it's way too early to call this campaign a wash. For a 2015 Kickstarter campaign they're doing really, really well. We don't know how Otherside will handle the stretch goals after the campaign ends. Maybe if pre-orders are strong they'll unlock a few tiers?

[Renzatic]

We might not get the editor (unless they do post kickstarter donations, like whatshisface said earlier), but we're getting the regardless. So, hey...

QUIT BEING BUZZKILLS, PEOPLE! GAW!

[Starker]

We might not get the editor (unless they do post kickstarter donations, like whatshisface said earlier)

You know, it really isn't out of reach. A concerted fan effort to spread the word, people rising their pledges, pressuring outlets for more press coverage, getting a prominent youtuber of a geek celebrity to give a shoutout -- these are all still possible. With the average pledge being 55$, you'd probably only need to scrape up ~2000 additional backers* to nudge it over the million mark.

* in addition to the current trend, that is

[Shinrazero]

I've been trying to put the word out as much as I can, among my own circles. This is the very first KS I've ever backed.

[Starker]

Yeah, I've been trying to get the word out too. As history has shown, an editor is crucial for the longevity of a game like this and brings in a ton of additional value. And this time these will be polished tools.

[Vae]

I've been trying to put the word out as much as I can, among my own circles. This is the very first KS I've ever backed.

A fine first Kick, my friend...

Yeah, I've been trying to get the word out too. As history has shown, an editor is crucial for the longevity of a game like this and brings in a ton of additional value. And this time these will be polished tools.

Mark my words...there will be an editor, regardless of the final Kickstarter total...In this particular scenario, there simply is too much strategic value for it to be forsaken.

Yet, knowing this truth should not dissuade one's efforts...quite the contrary, it should entice one to give even more.

[Mr. Tibbs]

Comments on the Kickstarter page sounds like they already have some money lined up and the 600k is what will allow them to get the rest of the way.

600K came from budgeting what it would take to deliver the core, single-player PC game. Keep in mind that OtherSide raised some investment last year, so we’re not starting from scratch.

Mentioned earlier today, but to say again, we brought in some investment last year into OtherSide, so we're not starting our budget from scratch. The 600K is the additional funding we need to deliver the core PC game.

We would love to reach one or several of the stretch goals beyond this of course.

[Twist]

I'm kind of puzzled there isn't more enthusiasm for this on TTLG. I mean, this place literally wouldn't exist if it wasn't for these guys.

Any chance a moderator or administrator could put a banner at the top of the forums encouraging TTLGers to check out this sub-forum?

Would it be okay if I posted something in the Thief FM sub-forum? I'm pretty sure many of the most active members there never visit any thread outside of that sub-forum, and many of them don't really pay much attention to recent gaming news. I think at least some of them might like to know that the founder of Looking Glass, the Lead Designer of the first 2 Thief games, the Project Director of Thief 2 and the voice of Garrett are all working together again on a new and independently-developed immersive first-person RPG with a Thief class.

[nickie]

Shadowcat has posted in ThiefGen but you're very welcome to post in Fan Missions too. I'll ask about a forum-wide announcement.

Is there anywhere on the kickstarter page that tells you what you can pay your donation with? I didn't see anything.

[Goldmoon Dawn]

regardless of the final Kickstarter total...In this particular scenario, there simply is too much strategic value for it to be forsaken.

Yeah, this isn't exactly some fly by night exploding kittens here. These guys are industry *legends*. Now, lets not forget that Richard Garriott is heavily involved in this project. People here really think he is going to let it fall short? The guy spent 30 million to go to the moon!

[Brethren]

I can't believe I'm actually going here, but what the heck...

Now, lets not forget that Richard Garriott is heavily involved in this project.

I've seen a quote by Garriott on the Kickstarter page, basically showing moral support for the project. I've heard they will share some lore and fiction between Ascendant and Shroud of The Avatar. Is this what you consider to be "heavily involved?" Because I haven't seen anything to indicate he'll have anything to do with the actual design of the game, or that he'll provide any kind of financial backing.

[Twist]

"Heavily involved" may be a bit of an exaggeration, but there's a video interview out there where Garriott expressed the desire to provide more than moral support to OtherSide; he didn't say anything specific, but he suggested his team might provide some technical and art support if needed.

I also wouldn't be surprised if he not only was one of the people pledging $10K, but also provided some extra funding above that level.

Still... "heavily involved" might be a bit heavy handed.

And I know this is being a bit pedantic and defensive, but as many eye-rolls as the Exploding Kittens kickstarter has caused, those guys aren't "fly-by-night." The Oatmeal is an immensely popular and well-established web comic and whether you like it or not, its author Matt Inman just happens to be a master of internet memes. Plus, it's exploding kittens.

[Vae]

I'm kind of puzzled there isn't more enthusiasm for this on TTLG. I mean, this place literally wouldn't exist if it wasn't for these guys.

Considering this is a form of an LGS revival, and being this is TTLG, I think it appropriate to create an "Underworld Series" forum with the corresponding sub-forums:

Underworld Series

--- Underworld Series General Discussion
--- Underworld Ascendant General Discussion

and eventually...

--- Underworld Fan Missions

[Goldmoon Dawn]

I can't believe I'm actually going here, but what the heck...

I guess we roll the dice. If Shroud's "sister" game doesn't make core funding, and Garriott et al *doesn't* pitch in, who knows! Im just saying man... that's where the dice roll comes in. Fans have been known to lynch him in the past, know what Im sayin'. Im certainly not the only remaining hardcore og (original gamer) out there. The two games are intertwined, that's heavily involved.

Its called speculation.

Plus, it's exploding kittens.

Granted.

[Mr. Tibbs]

https://twitter.com/TimStellmach/sta...73826422349824

I was wondering how long it'd take me to extract the original Ultima Underworld level geometry. Answer: not long.

[Mr. Tibbs]

Excuse the double post. In Underworld's 12th update, Otherside confirmed that Terri Brosius has joined the project! Dire Fairies won the vote.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...scendant/posts

[skacky]

Stephen Russell AND Terri Brosius. My goodness.

[Shinrazero]

Eric should be along anytime now, right? I would up my pledge on that announcement.

[Jason Moyer]

Can't wait for the Kickstarter for the next Rolling Stones tour.

[Goldmoon Dawn]