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RPG-maker Obsidian is working on a Kickstarter project, apparently planning to follow the lead of Kickstarting gaming success story of Double Fine.
When asked about the project on twitter, Chris Avellone of Obsidian tweeted:
“No news yet except we’re still working on it.”
Obsidian has had some tough times lately, including a round of layoffs, but they are the developer of the upcoming South Park: The Game, and they also created the great Fallout: New Vegas and other awesome RPGs over the years, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with for Kickstarter. Although, I think Kickstarter-mania in gaming is getting a little ridiculous.
- NEWS: Layoff hit Obsidian
As a gamer I love Obsidian (and Double Fine for that matter) for their support of the kinds of games I enjoy playing, but it's not like they are unknown developers who need help getting funding for their first games -- they both have long track records and any number of successful titles on their resumes. Why do they need the money of gamers to get to their projects started, again?
The whole idea of Kickstarter is to crowd-source funding for niche products or people starting out, but it's getting perilously close to just a way to kickstart the work of already successful companies. I wonder why EA and Activision shouldn't use Kickstarter for the next Call of Duty or Mass Effect. If I were Bobby Kotick, I'd make sure and make a kickstarter before I started the next COD, because hey, free money.
Source: VG 247
All of the best people are following Stephen Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.
Comments are Closed
Comments
Displaying 1–12 of 12
WantHL2e3
I also don't like this trend Stephen. While I like the idea for indie titles that I know I'm getting into, I'm afraid that big companies will find a way to abuse this. Maybe not in it's present format, but somewhere down the line. There's no way I'd spend money on a game unless I have a good idea about what it is, or if I receive some of the profits like other investors would.
SteveB
Oh my GOODNESS I hope it's a new Arcanum game. I know it's a stretch, but plenty of Troika employees have come and gone through Obsidian over the past few years, with Tim Cain being hired on as Senior Programmer in the last few months.
They've all said in the past that they'd love to make a second Arcanum, and the first game STILL has a healthy community playing it (and modding it), so it's be a nice fit to see it resurrected as a Kickstarter funded game.
skinjob
I would back an old school rpg like Planescape or Temple of elemental evil. I have trouble trusting Obsidian after Alpha Protocol, and when they made Fallout 3 have even more glitches. but if they keep it simple looking I think they could make it very good.
CoffeeMaker
Getting Ridiculous? hmmm... let me check BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/tech nology-17535660
"... Why do they need the money of gamers to get to their projects started, again?"
New IP! That they own themselves, not own by publishers.
And also put the fate of the game on gamers' hands, not board of chairman who doesn't even play games.
rifleshoot
well, for one thing, point and click adventures are not exactly a huge market anymore. so doublefine wants to eliminate some of the risk involved in such a venture and kickstarter allows them to make a product that has a smaller demand with a smaller amount of risk. without kickstarter, they would not take on this risk and the game they wanted to make would not be created. The kickstarter program is a way for game developers to say "if you want the game made, you have to contribute." i do think however, that the developers should say that if you donate x-amount of dollars, you get a copy of the game. This is all simple economics, something you obviously dont understand.
branbeno7
I think using sites like this is a great idea. This way of funding is going to blow up. It makes the job much easier when you dont have to go to a publisher to give you money to make a game. Its less hassel i would like to see a major company get funded like this. They would be able to make a game their own way and not have to worry about the big guy upstairs coming and tearing down or even canceling the game. Just my opinion.
Mystyr_E
Hopefully this means Obsidian can make smaller games but they're actually finished. They're fine storytellers and all (I even think they're better than Bioware) but my god, have they ever shipped a game that wasn't buggy? Maybe something less demanding is what they need
Piccolojr
On the topic of the actual article, I'd have to say that the Kickstarter method typically seems to be used to get funding or games fans would like to see be made. Obviously, this could be easily taken advantage of, but I think people know what they're getting into. If the larger publishers started doing this, I don't think they'd get much of a response, unless it was something really enticing (Mirror's Edge 2 :P). Obsidian's alright by me.
inferno959
I agree that it's getting a little ridiculous but only because they're trying to get funding from gamers for games that they could probably get (or already have) the funding for elsewhere. If a big name company was told that they couldn't make a game a certain way (For instance Infinity Ward telling Activision they want to make Chibi COD with no blood and rainbow guns or some crap) using kickstarter to make it would be okay because it would let them do what they want to create it, since it's not Activisions money and would also show the kind demand for a game like that.
Thogin
I dont' think anyone with an IQ above 90 and plays video games would give any money to the Evil Ass-ole, and Act-my vision any money....
so they can make a game to take more money
vaajtswv
So I think Obsidian is an small, indie game company that needs the support from its fans because they have very little investors? And they don't have capital to fund new projects?
Is Kickstarter the new welfare for big gaming companies? Bobby Kotick should jump all over this. Zero risk game development.
dukeletoatreides
Maybe they should go back to school before they start another project so they don't F this one up like they did Fallout New Vegas.
Displaying 1–12 of 12