Game News Tortured Hearts goes Kickstarter for $300k

[SubBassman]

You seem to vary between 'Guys you have no idea how many man hours are needed to create the graphics and code required, we need moneyz' and 'Ok we have no graphics or coding done, but the game is half finished, honest'.

These seem like mutually exclusive statments to me.

Update coming soon showing some "evidence"...
Stay tuned.

 

[mindx2]

I'm sorry to say but this has "epic fail" written all over it. I hope this won't be the new trend with Kickstarter and we start to see a backlash. We'll start seeing more wanna-be cRPG makers (everybody and his uncle with a "cool" idea for a game) jump on the bandwagon as a way to get free/ easy money for the next GIGANTIC, MEGA-AWESOME, TOTALLY COOL, SUPER-DUPER cRPG (trust them, they've had this in their heads since 7th grade when creating their own Uber-D&D campaign)!!

We may be able to spot the scams/ rip-offs/ wanna-be game-makers/ etc. but the less informed or connected gaming public may not. Does that even matter? Will this negatively impact the generally good/great ones that will come later? Will funding "fatigue" kick in?

All I know now is that just jumping onto Kickstater and declaring you've got a great game without much of anything to show (outrageous funding goal, lousy initial presentation, no clear vision, lots of "promises" of more info on the way trust us, uninspiring tier levels, little to no grass-roots buzz, etc.) will get you 65 backers, less than $1,200 and 8 comments on your Kickstarter front page after the first day (week?) of going live.

This whole thing just screams unprofessional, fanboy dreaming to me.

 

[SubBassman]

mindx2

This is what we can afford at the moment.
If you read some background information, you may change your opinion about this wannabe thing.
Nevertheless, we're going to show you guys a few things. It's not spectacular, but it proves
my honesty.

Listen to felipepepe... he changed his mind...

 

[SerratedBiz]

Dude, if people don't believe what you're saying so far, it's very unlikely they'll start believing you because you say -more- things.

Stop talking. Start showing.

 

[SubBassman]

Dude, if people don't believe what you're saying so far, it's very unlikely they'll start believing you because you say -more- things.

Stop talking. Start showing.

Working on it.
It took me 5 hours to grab the screens of all areas. Then some video editing...
Now I can hardly see.
I hope the page will be updated today.

 

[SubBassman]

Until then, here's a banner that represents the original graphic concept:

http://rpgames.hu/blogimages/r/rpgames/gallery_317/1_original.jpg

Unfortunately, the artist Csaba "Max" Zsilvölgyi, died. You can find his grave in
the game.

We kept his logo design in memory of him.

 

[EG]

Until then, here's a banner that represents the original graphic concept:

http://rpgames.hu/blogimages/r/rpgames/gallery_317/1_original.jpg

Unfortunately, the artist Csaba "Max" Zsilvölgyi, died. You can find his grave in
the game.

We kept his logo design in memory of him.

You know . . . if her tits were bigger and she called me "My liege", I might be willing to give you some money . . .

My condolences regarding Max and I apologize for making light of his work.

This, I can't agree with: "Since almost every imaginable plot scenario and character has already been used and overused to the point that cliches are unavoidable ..."

 

[SubBassman]

EG

"This, I can't agree with: "Since almost every imaginable plot scenario and character has already been used and overused to the point that cliches are unavoidable ...""

It's kinda true. Prove me wrong.

 

[EG]

EG

"This, I can't agree with: "Since almost every imaginable plot scenario and character has already been used and overused to the point that cliches are unavoidable ...""

It's kinda true. Prove me wrong.

Prove to you that over the past 20 years we've gone in the inverse direction, decanting varied characters and scenarios into a small handful of stereotypes? Eh, I don't gots to prove no things -- particularly if it might jeopardize my original statement.

 

[DwarvenFood]

Looks like you've gone about it the other way around, first you should have come here to the fanbase and explain the project maybe get some input on how to do things, then prepare a proper Kickstarter page, with thought out tiers and content, and then try to generate some media attention for it. Now it's going the way of the tactical shooter, that is on a resurrection device already and things are looking bleak.

 

[Carlos' Bitch1]

Release Ultimate Newcomer then come back to me.

 

[Burning Bridges]

Why are they calling this a "A Video Games project in Phoenix, AZ" when the developers are Hungarians in Budapest?

Am I eligible to start a Kickstarter project?
To be eligible to start a Kickstarter project, you need to satisfy the requirements of Amazon Payments:
Be a permanent US resident and at least 18 years of age with a Social Security Number (or EIN), a US bank account, US address, US state-issued ID (driver’s license), and major US credit or debit card.

probably just have to have a crew member based in the U.S. start the kickstarter as an american project

It means that if you want to demand an account of your money, your business partner will be Mrs. Lenore Hoehl:
http://www.kickstarter.com/profile/1424869054
She is the only liable person as far as I can see here.

This is a serious flaw in Kickstarters terms of service. By making the rather silly requirement that only citizens of the US can start projects, they have practically ensured that a lot of people will "affiliate" with an average US person to cirumvent the terms. The legal implications have not been realized, but could create serious butthurt in the future. For example if the person has died in the meantime, or is a bum, or in any other way not accountable.

Some developers rather renounce large parts of their revenue, than consider such obscure schemes. e.g. Xenonauts Chris England (UK) expressed that he will rather go to the much less know IndieGoGo.com

I'm not really interested in potentially having a very large sum of money go through the bank account of someone who I don't know.

http://www.goldhawkinteractive.com/...-Xenonauts-Kickstarter-and-Public-Build/page4

Before I invest into dozens of upstart kickstarter projects, this is a thing that I would keep an eye on. As it seems large sums are administered without complete security.

 

[CappenVarra]

So, if you don't mind a suggestion out of the blue, I think it would be very easy to improve this Kickstarter campaign.

So you have a massive NWN mod, and want to raise money to port it to Unity? Why not release the NWN mod then? Or, let's say, just the first 25% of the mod (which can become the demo version sometime in the future)? Some people still have NWN around, and a lot of people are familiar with installing NWN mods... Not to mention that a lot of your potential customers are from that scene. And since you're selling your game based on the story etc., people who like the start of the story will be anxious to see the rest of it and are more likely to contribute.

Then people can't tell you you're just talking and have no proof - everybody who wants to see what the project is about and evaluate the potential can download the preview mod and that's that. Then you make clear that the money will go into porting the content from NWN to Unity, and everything is clear. Somebody doesn't want to install NWN to check it out? Then they have no right to complain.

And yes, I can see how close association with an old engine might put some people off, but if you make your Kickstarter clear that the money is for porting the content to a newer engine, that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Spectacle]

I believe it's Amazon Payments that requires a US bank account, and since kickstarter is dependent on their delayed payment system, they have to require the same. I'm not sure how indiegogo does it using paypal, do they charge and then refund?

 

[Burning Bridges]

Anyhow, a different kind of face in the RPG scene.

 

[Burning Bridges]

I believe it's Amazon Payments that requires a US bank account, and since kickstarter is dependent on their delayed payment system, they have to require the same. I'm not sure how indiegogo does it using paypal, do they charge and then refund?

We have to examine the terms of service as soon as possible. I absolutely plan to put money into kickstarter but also know that I'll need some sort of sieve.
As it looks right now I might often rather give the money to charity.

Am I eligible to start a Kickstarter project?
To be eligible to start a Kickstarter project, you need to satisfy the requirements of Amazon Payments:
Be a permanent US resident and at least 18 years of age with a Social Security Number (or EIN), a US bank account, US address, US state-issued ID (driver’s license), and major US credit or debit card.

There you have it. If you find some bum with a bank account, ID, and credit card, but without any other collateral, you can drive kickstarter projects into the ground without any risk for yourself. On the other hand, if you're honest but your "partner" embezzles the money, it can ruin your own reputation for good.

 

[Seven-headed Gentleman]

I believe it's Amazon Payments that requires a US bank account, and since kickstarter is dependent on their delayed payment system, they have to require the same. I'm not sure how indiegogo does it using paypal, do they charge and then refund?

Indiegogo money is always delivered even if the project doesn't meet its goal, so no need to refund.

 

[Spectacle]

Aha. They're hardly an alternative to kickstarter then. The whole point of kickstarter is that people can safely pledge their money knowing that they won't be charged unless enough money is raised to actually complete the project as planned.

 

[SubBassman]

Burning Bridges


Actually, we know each other since 2006. We haven't teamed up for this kickstarter project.

 

[latexmonkeys]

So you have a massive NWN mod, and want to raise money to port it to Unity? Why not release the NWN mod then?

He has released the mod and quite a while ago. In two parts:

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Modules.Detail&id=3799

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Modules.Detail&id=5347

They do seem pretty massive actually with about 150- 200 hours worth if the game length listed is accurate.

 

[SubBassman]

So, if you don't mind a suggestion out of the blue, I think it would be very easy to improve this Kickstarter campaign.

So you have a massive NWN mod, and want to raise money to port it to Unity? Why not release the NWN mod then? Or, let's say, just the first 25% of the mod (which can become the demo version sometime in the future)? Some people still have NWN around, and a lot of people are familiar with installing NWN mods... Not to mention that a lot of your potential customers are from that scene. And since you're selling your game based on the story etc., people who like the start of the story will be anxious to see the rest of it and are more likely to contribute.

Then people can't tell you you're just talking and have no proof - everybody who wants to see what the project is about and evaluate the potential can download the preview mod and that's that. Then you make clear that the money will go into porting the content from NWN to Unity, and everything is clear. Somebody doesn't want to install NWN to check it out? Then they have no right to complain.

And yes, I can see how close association with an old engine might put some people off, but if you make your Kickstarter clear that the money is for porting the content to a newer engine, that shouldn't be a problem.

The mod is hacked so that we have less problem with conversion, the original scripts don' work at all. I'm using my own character development system for instance and my own character sheet via conversation. Combat doesn't exist either.
I don't want to spend a lot of time on balancing something I'm not gonna use.

 

[SubBassman]

So you have a massive NWN mod, and want to raise money to port it to Unity? Why not release the NWN mod then?

He has released the mod and quite a while ago. In two parts:

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Modules.Detail&id=3799

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Modules.Detail&id=5347

They do seem pretty massive actually with about 150- 200 hours worth if the game length listed is accurate.

They are different games.
The story of the kickstarter project is just loosely based on those mods.
You don't need to play them to enjoy this stand-alone game.

 

[CappenVarra]

Oh, ok then, thanks for the clarification

 

[SubBassman]

Knotanalt

Dude, this is my last post for you until you change:
Stop being a jerk...
I've had enough trolls during the last decade, so behave yourself or just go away.

 

[latexmonkeys]

They are different games.
The story of the kickstarter project is just loosely based on those mods.
You don't need to play them to enjoy this stand-alone game.

I thought you mentioned that you'd completed a prototype for the kickstarter game in the NWN toolset, are the Tortured Hearts mods not the prototype then? Also, did you complete those NWN modules alone or with a team? Just curious, because they look pretty impressive.