Hi just letting people know I have created an indiegogo campaign (uk version kickstarter) for my online action RPG Elemental World the reason I made it is because I have reached “developer hell” where progress has almost stopped due to no funds and no scripters etc. The game is almost ready for alphas but I need that last push to get a server going hire programmers etc to fix code update scripts etc.
This game is one of my life goal which I gave up everything I could to reach the point it is now such as no TV for last year(save money on electricity),no heating during one the coldest winters in the uk didn’t learn to drive or get car etc and just need that extra boost to get it finished.
My goal for the game when its fully complete is a game that is not the same generic RPG where its kill xyz collect abc etc and also has something for all players and is highly customisable. Some example are people who like adventure can do mini games such as treasure hunt, quest etc builders can craft custom items from basic nuts and bolts to full sized planets and monsters. Those who are more in it for combat there will be arenas,different ways of play such as first person,3rd person RTS etc depending you play preference (each has advantage and disadvantages).
I would alpha sell the game on steam,desura etc but it probably wouldn’t get past there requirements right now as to buggy and no server to run the game on yet.
The “rewards” for the kickstarter are copy’s of the game,clothing,pets,mounts figurines etc and for the premium and collectors copy’s they will have there own special boxes and bonuses such as artwork book,miniatures posters etc.
If this gets fully funded/beats goal I can hopefully hire some top people who can get game out for Christmas and maybe attract sponsors and get the support so the game continues braking even/slight profits to keep game alive over the next few years.
The team:
Me/Daniel Bishop: Low grade modeller,script editor (where I can),level designer,head of the company,story writer and every other post needed right now
Paul Hadcock: Character modeller,animator+rigger and texture person (has only just started helping)
This is the link to find it Igg.me
I know most you probably don’t care any more from the flood of kick starters etc but its my dream game I’m building and I have to try everything to try make it succeed.
Thanks for reading
My opinion is you are too negative and point out all the problems in your project and hint you need money to buy solutions.
You need to edit the video to the good parts and no more that 120 seconds and storyboard your project.
Better yet, here is a nice presentation of a reasonably original game that is hyped up quite well and even with that it looks like they’re not going to get funded despite a more reasonable goal of $50,000.
Their game is basically in the can so I suppose the $50,000 is ad budget, hardware budget for ports and testing, and software optimization and licensing. Certaining it’s very good advertising and a good selling point to have gotten your project funded on Kickstarter. They look like students at WKU and so probably need the money to buy real software licenses rather than use the SW they downloaded over usenet (kidding).
I don’t know these people or have I pledged myself even though they are in Bowling Green and I’m in Somerset. I only saw it because Kickstarter shows me stuff near Somerset, KY. I’m just showing it being it looks like a nice product with a nice presentation and will still come up short on funding. That said, I’ve no doubt they’ll still manage to publish.
Thanks for the advice and for the most part I do need money to fix the stuff since need to buy/hire a server for alphas and get set up,upgrade some the software for better performance etc as well as no one seems to help unless money involved or they end up giving up half way leaving me behind schedule etc
I am working with my modeller now to do things to try raise bit money such as sell extra models or make cinimatics/trailers etc for the game but there still in development
And I point out the problems to stop the other people just going problem here etc and also to help show them where it needs the most improvements etc
I’m going to be honest here, you REALLY need to lower your goals . It appers that you don’t even have a dedicated programmer , and MMORPGS are some of the most expensive games to make . To actually make one right is going to cost well over a million dollars , and for what , to enter an overcrowed market place . Start small , make a fun single player game, make it short , and build from their .
Your never going to get 200k , and even if you did that wouldn’t be enough to finish a MMORPG ( the programmers alone are going to take 100k plus just to get it work right ) .
I’m not saying this to be mean , but it would be far more fun to make a very short term project and see it complete , then to shoot for something you just don’t have the skill to do .
Personally I just finished up a very simple app for a friend and I feel great( taking a break from BeatQuest since the finner aspects of beat timing are stressing me out )
Im only trying to get it to alpha’s so its a matter of hiring a programmer and networker to edit and upgrade the code so it runs smooth i have all the basics in its mostly get rid of bugs etc and my games going to be different so players don’t have to sit AFK in middle town to sell there stuff
Also i am only aiming at something that covers costs not 1mill people+
Also if you hire the good programmers at 30k per year i can easily get alphas done in budget
Why would anyone play your game over the dozens( if not hundreds) of competitors .
A million is a VERY low estimate . What good programmers are working for 30k a year ?
But fine don’t listen to me ,— I’m not saying give up, just work on something easier , a short single player RPG for example
Hiring good programmers, system administrators, and what-not is chance no matter what salary is offered unless you know one you want to hire and their skill set already.
I wish you luck though. Redo your fund raiser: cut the video to the best 120 seconds (or record some more), storyboard your game, and try to raise $5000 rather than $200,000 and make the release date Christmas 2013. If you gather up one or two key workers that $5000 will go a long way if you’re careful (and all the dev is done as a team and as percentage based moonlighting). It doesn’t need to be so extensive or fancy as the example as I showed earlier but at least improve your chances for success.
Have even the $1 pledges get a signed postcard with game art on it and listed in the credits.
Every successful ‘indy’ fundraiser or ones that have raised more than say, $5000, I’ve seen have basically went to these fundraisers after the product was ready or very, very near ready and so they were able to create good presentations.
Pledgers have a shot of believing those goals if your presentation is nice but $200,000 to finish a game that you don’t have the workers for is less likely.
And Keith has a point you need a lot of time to finish this. It you start now you can complete a simple Halloween game (big in the US) or something for Christmas.
Even if im paying someone 50k a year if there good enough programmer they should be able to build most things in few months to basics just look at the experienced users here who build games in a few days/week
And after alphas it should be stable enough money wise to advance on its own
Also its going to be better then the generic rpgs as its not just go kill 10 bears talk to bob etc it will have some activity for every sort player and mix gamers together.
Also i realise by the time i reach full release etc i will probably be into a million but a basic alpha can be done for what i budgeted for in the kickstarter even if its only basic for now