When news broke last week that the brains behind computer game Myst were crowdfunding to raise cash to develop a new game, CBR team members who have played Myst were delighted.
Personally, I haven’t played it but I know that it was extremely popular and I can well imagine there will be plenty more people around the globe who hope that the Kickstarter crowdfunding project is a success.
If Cyan Worlds reaches its target of $1.1m the games developer hopes to develop a game called Obduction, which it describes as the ‘spiritual sequel’ to Myst. The game would then likely be released in the summer of 2015.
Currently, there are 25 days left until the crowdfunding deadline and more than 8,000 backers have pledged about $45,000. It’s a pretty hefty sum of cash to raise, though, and it’s touch and go as to whether the target will be reached but I’ll keep a keen eye on it.
There are plenty of other computer games that come to fruition thanks to crowdfunding schemes.
For example, Comcept sought to raise $900,000 to create 2D action platformer video game, Mighty No. 9. When the crowdfunding project closed on October 1 this year, an impressive $4,031,550 had been amassed.
Other projects have faired less well, unfortunately.
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In June 2013, Precursor Games failed in an attempt to raise the required fund to develop Shadow of the Eternals, a survival horror game and ‘spiritual successor’ to Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. The company had hoped to raise $1,350,000 but was backed with just $284,000. In August Precursor Games had another bash at raising the funds, setting a lower target of $750,000. Again, it didn’t go according to plan with only $323,950 pledged. In September, the project was sidelined indefinitely.
So crowdfunding has produced some success stories and as well as tales of misfortune. There are already 8,000 gamers who hope that Cyan Worlds story will have a happy ending. For the next 25 days we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed.
