Defender of the Crown for Intellivision Kickstarter

[Carl Mueller Jr]

I know of two successful kickstarters for back in the day consoles (there might be more but I've not looked).

 

Atari 2600: Star Castle :-

http://www.kickstart...600-star-castle

 

NES: Cheetahmen II:The lost levels :-

http://www.kickstart...the-lost-levels

 

What they both have in common is that they involve programmers that worked on projects back in the day so people have a much stronger connection/affinity to them. Most of the backers in both cases opted for a physical cart reward option. In my mind that just makes them a paid upfront pre-order.

 

Having said that David Crane's recent kickstarter didn't even come close to to being funded :-

http://www.kickstart...gle-adventure-0

 

So having a name in the industry is no guarantee that you'll get the funding.

 

Programming for retro consoles isn't really a commercially viable option. It would be brilliant if it was, but you have to face reality. We've discussed it before here :-

 

http://www.atariage....mming-homebrew/

 

Anyway good luck if you go down the kickstarter route. You'll need pretty of good publicity, a compelling video and probably a good 3 months to get the funding.

 

 

Thanks for the link to Star Castle! This is essentially exactly what we want to do, and for nearly exactly the same amount of cash. Basically, we would be selling the game at different reward levels, and get paid upfront for our work. The brilliant thing is that we can distribute the ROM without having to worry about piracy – because we're getting paid for the entire run we expect to do.

And by the way, DZ. This does not make it a career. The material costs would be at least half of that… Even if the programmer made $10,000, it would likely take him a minimum of eight months full-time work. That's still chump change. If you don't have passion for the work, you're still not going to take on such a project.

Carl

[DZ-Jay]

 

 

Thanks for the link to Star Castle! This is essentially exactly what we want to do, and for nearly exactly the same amount of cash. Basically, we would be selling the game at different reward levels, and get paid upfront for our work. The brilliant thing is that we can distribute the ROM without having to worry about piracy – because we're getting paid for the entire run we expect to do.

And by the way, DZ. This does not make it a career. The material costs would be at least half of that… Even if the programmer made $10,000, it would likely take him a minimum of eight months full-time work. That's still chump change. If you don't have passion for the work, you're still not going to take on such a project.

Carl

 

You don't have to tell me, I never suggested it was a career. As a matter of fact, my comment actually said how this line of work is a labour of love, and could never be a career.

 

I expended thousands of hours on my game. I know there is absolutely no way that I could ever be paid back for my effort. The strain on my personal life also will never be remunerated.

 

I think you may have misunderstood the spirit of my comment. I wish Willy the best of luck with his Kickstarter campaign, I sincerely do. I just think this particular niche market is much too small for that sort of goal.

 

That said, I'll be more than happy to be proven wrong. I would love to see more games made for our favorite platform, and Defender Of The Crown looks like a very good game.

 

-dZ.

[Carl Mueller Jr]

No problem. I was just trying to make the point that although we are taking a professional approach, we don't really expect a salary equal to what we could easily receive at a "real job". It's because we love the work and the Intellivision that we are here. They're very clearly more profitable avenues we could be exploring. Personally, if I could get $10,000 for eight months of solid programming on the Intellivision, I would be more than happy with it, even though I could receive three times that working at almost any other type of programming job.

The fact that Star Castle was able to receive over 20,000 proves that this should be possible. As far as I know, Star Castle isn't even a game with a very big following, when compared to something like DK Jr. or Ms. Pac-Man (both of which I would love to kickstart).

Carl

[pimpmaul69]

No problem. I was just trying to make the point that although we are taking a professional approach, we don't really expect a salary equal to what we could easily receive at a "real job". It's because we love the work and the Intellivision that we are here. They're very clearly more profitable avenues we could be exploring. Personally, if I could get $10,000 for eight months of solid programming on the Intellivision, I would be more than happy with it, even though I could receive three times that working at almost any other type of programming job.

The fact that Star Castle was able to receive over 20,000 proves that this should be possible. As far as I know, Star Castle isn't even a game with a very big following, when compared to something like DK Jr. or Ms. Pac-Man (both of which I would love to kickstart).

Carl

didnt the guy that made star castle show it off then took all the money and run?

[+evg2000]

didnt the guy that made star castle show it off then took all the money and run?

Nope, if you check the update from the kickstarter project he is shipping the carts now. Just updated a little over a week ago:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/698159145/atari-2600-star-castle/posts/302206?ref=activity

[Games For Your Intellivision]

I would like to hear some ideas of what people think would be good reward levels.....attach a dollar amount to the suggestions.

[pimpmaul69]

 

Nope, if you check the update from the kickstarter project he is shipping the carts now. Just updated a little over a week ago:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/698159145/atari-2600-star-castle/posts/302206?ref=activity

Hmm. I swore at some time he threw a big hissy fit and said he wasnt going to make them and wanted 5000 for the cart he had.

[+GroovyBee]

Hmm. I swore at some time he threw a big hissy fit and said he wasnt going to make them and wanted 5000 for the cart he had.

 

Nope! I suggest you search for the Star Castle threads on AA and read up on it.

[DZ-Jay]

No problem. I was just trying to make the point that although we are taking a professional approach, we don't really expect a salary equal to what we could easily receive at a "real job". It's because we love the work and the Intellivision that we are here. They're very clearly more profitable avenues we could be exploring. Personally, if I could get $10,000 for eight months of solid programming on the Intellivision, I would be more than happy with it, even though I could receive three times that working at almost any other type of programming job.

The fact that Star Castle was able to receive over 20,000 proves that this should be possible. As far as I know, Star Castle isn't even a game with a very big following, when compared to something like DK Jr. or Ms. Pac-Man (both of which I would love to kickstart).

Carl

 

So, wait, is this going to be the "Fund Carl Mueller Jr.'s development effort on Defender of the Crown" Kicksterter campaign?

 

-dZ.

[Carl Mueller Jr]

So, wait, is this going to be the "Fund Carl Mueller Jr.'s development effort on Defender of the Crown" Kicksterter campaign?

 

-dZ. K

 

I haven't committed myself to working on Defender of the Crown, but I might consider it if there's enough demand. But at any rate, I hope to Kickstart my future projects. I'm a little past "devote-every-waking-hour-to-a-project-and-then-hope-someday-somebody-actually-buys-it" phase of my life. I'll do the work, but only if there's demand for it. I don't see why that wouldn't be fair…

[Intymike]

I haven't committed myself to working on Defender of the Crown, but I might consider it if there's enough demand. But at any rate, I hope to Kickstart my future projects. I'm a little past "devote-every-waking-hour-to-a-project-and-then-hope-someday-somebody-actually-buys-it" phase of my life. I'll do the work, but only if there's demand for it. I don't see why that wouldn't be fair…

 

With quality you showed in your recent works you should have no problems to get enough backers for your next project!

[Carl Mueller Jr]

With quality you showed in your recent works you should have no problems to get enough backers for your next project!

 

Thanks, I appreciate the compliment!

By the way, this could be a very good way of having DK Junior and Ms. Pac-Man eventually made, AND officially licensed. If we can show the companies there is enough interest, it should be easier to draw their attention and license the games.

As I mentioned above, we can also supply ROM images since we're getting paid in advance and don't have to worry about piracy affecting our sales.

I definitely think Kickstarter is the way to go for me.

Carl

[+GroovyBee]

we can also supply ROM images since we're getting paid in advance and don't have to worry about piracy affecting our sales.

 

You do realise there are two versions of Star Castle made by different people. The one on kickstarter sold 400+ cart copies whilst at the same time a ROM image and its source was given away free by cd-w (and helpers).

[nukeshed]

I would like to hear some ideas of what people think would be good reward levels.....attach a dollar amount to the suggestions.

 

One thing to make sure is that you have a base level 'Pay X Dollar, just get the damn game', so if you have an idea of what it would sell for, you can use that as a pre-order/interest detection mechanism.

[Games For Your Intellivision]

The game would be $50 US plus shipping.

[Fushek]

I haven't committed myself to working on Defender of the Crown, but I might consider it if there's enough demand. But at any rate, I hope to Kickstart my future projects. I'm a little past "devote-every-waking-hour-to-a-project-and-then-hope-someday-somebody-actually-buys-it" phase of my life. I'll do the work, but only if there's demand for it. I don't see why that wouldn't be fair…

 

It's been mentioned before that if a programmer was already in line to the job (especially one with a track record and something to show off aka D2K), it would be easier for people to buy into the Kickstarter campaign.

 

Say, for grins and giggles, you commit to the project for purposes of the Kickstarter. The Kickstarter gets to promote a proven programmer which will likely boost interest. IF the Kickstarter succeeds, then you have the "demand" in the product that would be necessary for your involvement. If it DOESN'T succeed, then you are able to drop your commitment to the project, no harm, no foul.

 

Either way, you win (or lose all depending on your point of view ).

[Intymike]

The game would be $50 US plus shipping.

 

$20 for the ROM image

$60 for the game (cart, box, instructions, overlays)

$100 game incl. some goodies (poster, sticker...)

$150 numbered and signed box (100x)

$250 backer is mentioned in the instructions booklet (20x)

$500 name of the backer in the game (5x)

$1000 a diner with the developer

[Fushek]

$20 for the ROM image

$60 for the game (cart, box, instructions, overlays)

$100 game incl. some goodies (poster, sticker...)

$150 numbered and signed box (100x)

$250 backer is mentioned in the instructions booklet (20x)

$500 name of the backer in the game (5x)

$1000 a diner with the developer

 

That's a great start. The main recommendation that I would make is to have a lower entry point than $20. Most that I see start with a $5 or $10 that typically amounts to little more than a donation, but that may be the only entry point that people are willing to go. Perhaps with the $5 or $10 level you get a coupon good for that amount OFF the game when it arrives?

 

$10 for a $10 off coupon towards a cartridge purchase

$20 for the rom (and all previous awards)

 

60 to 150 like IntyMike said (assuming "and all previous awards")

 

For the higher dollar awards, that's where the motivation becomes tricky, IMHO. I know for myself, that a collector's edition would probably be the high point for me and I don't care about seeing my name in the instructions booklet (but maybe that works for others). Ideas for the higher awards:

 

An Easter Egg in their honor!

A Knight named after them or a loved one!

A custom title screen for their cartridge!

Original notes/documentation signed by the author.

[nukeshed]

I like that, though I feel the ROM image should be cheaper, or *ahem* DRMed in a way that should one leak, you could find out who did it.

[+TrekMD]

Agree with Fushek. This would need a lower entry point like most of the Kickstarters. It is a "donation" level, so to speak.

[Troy_Whelan]

$150 numbered and signed box (100x)

 

...and the number and signed edition would need to have some unique content above what the "standard" game has.

[Games For Your Intellivision]

We could do a clear shell, LED lit shell... One that would NOT be available to the general public.

[+cmart604]

We could do a clear shell, LED lit shell... One that would NOT be available to the general public.

 

Now you're talking. I think mirroring some of the similar kickstarters that have been successful is certainly not a bad idea. If Carl is willing to do it for $10K it certainly makes it more likely to succeed (plus the obvious benefit of having his talents on this project). I'll certainly be willing to put up a decent chunk of cash towards this if it happens, as I feel this game really needs to see the light of day on the INTV.

[stc2009]

I would be interested in a "special edition" that also had a standard (unboxed) cart, so you have something to play without using your SE copy. (I don't have CC3 to put a rom onto)

[Carl Mueller Jr]

This is sounding really good. One thing we do need to check is if Arnauld will be expecting payment as well.