[KR155E]

After the interesting details of how Hyper Fighting was funded came to light, numerous people have expressed their interest in crowdfunding another commercial-quality homebrew title.

In this thread, I would like to test grounds and get an idea to what extend you guys would be willing to support a game project. Please use the poll to give everybody a rough idea what kind of financial funds could be raised and don’t hesitate to also post your personal take on the subject. 🙂

Let’s assume the hypothetical situation that two or three developers and designers team up in order to create a new Virtual Boy game like this action platform game I mockup up here: http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=31595#forumpost31595

In order to quit day jobs to work on this project full-time, these people would need a budget of at least $50,000 and start a Kickstarter campaign after creating an impressive initial prototype.

Would you pledge and how much?

Assume that the high tiers would allow you to get personal things placed in the game, like a grafitti message, log entry, a background object you designed or something like that, while the limited 10,000 tier would essentially make you a co-producer, getting regular builds of the game, being in touch with the team all the time and having a voice in game design direction.

Also please note that none of the tiers would include a physical copy of game, but a limited complete-in-box release might happen later and backers would be first in line for it.

• This topic was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by KR155E.

Put me down for at least $100; that should cover a couple of simple games (cough-Battlezone-cough), and I second the “starfox/zero-racers” idea. I’d love to have a game which exploits the “link cable”.

I’d be willing to donate again, if a second (good) game was proposed.

🙂

I would defintely support a crowdfunded VB game, the amount of money would depend on the type of game and also if a release on cartridge will be available for those who supported it.

I think crowdfunding a Virtual Boy game would work. There are so many great ideas for games and I am sure that we could easily put together enough money to support a handful of new games.

I have to be honest, I was very excited until I read the last line about none of the tiers receiving a full copy of the game, even if a high tier was donated? That does seem a trifle unfair but still a new VB game is an exciting proposition so I would donate $5, a lot more if we got a copy of the game for our funds.

[L___E___T]

Here’s the thing – I get why a CIB release is not part and why it is not offered – all sorts of advantages to that.

However, you’re missing out in the ‘no-brainer’ impulse factor that having a CIB in there would bring.
More people would back it because it is almost no risk, you’ll have lots of resellers wanting in of course if you do (which has both pros and cons I should note).

I would support with $100 without a CIB, but at least double that if there was a CIB, but it would need to be a genuine target (albeit not a certified promise) from the start.

If you know that your captive audience is relatively low in numbers, then you need to receive as much investment as possible form each individual, and a CIB target release (at least a soft-promise) is the most direct way to go.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 5 months ago by L___E___T.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 5 months ago by L___E___T.

i truly believe that only the hardcore fans of this console, mainly those on this site, would consider tossing $100 at a digital game. indy games are usually under $15, most are in the $5-7 range. AAA titles (like Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night/Mighty No. 9) were $28 and $20 respectively.

i fear that asking $100 for the digital tier would only get the campaign laughed at.

I think the notion of a crowdfunded CIB VB game is still too niche too succeed. I imagine a digital download (and maybe a port to that OTHER VR system everyone likes) will garner more attention.

Perhaps there is a way to get CIB manufacturing costs down though?

What about a $50 digital download option? Then make a CIB option at like $200-$250. There’s also the option of limiting the amount of CIB tiers. Limited numbers really bring in more interest.

$50 to me sounds fair, but if it’s something I’d want to play, like donkey kong or a real finished mario, then $100 or more might find its way from my wallet.

the game being produced would have to be pretty amazing. something that pushed the VB to the next level. a generation-3 type game. it would need to be top-notch professional, lengthy, and extremely fun. you would need a few team members who have made and released a game for profit. you would also want a crowdfunding campaign manager who has completed a few successful campaigns. having an Indy-friendly publisher involved (Team 17, etc), wouldn’t hurt either. i’m saying all this, not to be a deterrent, but while bringing up the point that this would be a “flag ship campaign.” if it failed, no one would try another VB game release this way.

in my opinion, i can’t see a VB game commanding those pledge levels. $50 for a digital copy (maybe)? $200 for a CIB (never)? even if resellers got in on the action, not many gamers are going to shell out $300 (or whatever markup they put) for a new VB game in the box. not when new NES, SNES, GENs, etc, comparable releases are going for $40-100 CIB. Some of those have to offer bonus collectibles to reach that price point. These games are usually also only released in limited runs, and just for the hardcore retro fans. they don’t command a reason to have a more commercial sized release (1,000+ CIB? – just doesn’t really happen).

i still think the best course of action is to wait for VR to hit the market and see where it goes. if VB EMUs get ported to VR headsets then there will be a bigger market for a game released in a digital format.

i’m basing my opinions on years of video game crowdfunding support and on the fact that no one has stepped up to announce any type of new release. lets say a zelda-like game similar to the SNES LTTP was announced in a 75% complete form. or a cavestory-like (metroidvania) game of similar scope and originality was announced? or something that just makes the most of the VB like a FPS similar to the likes of XIII (PS2)? I would get pretty excited and my opinions would shift, especially if there was a demo to try.

the ability to put a large game on cart is do-able. i recall reading that the FB+ board (used for all the recent CIB releases) could accommodate a game up to 32mb. the only thing that has been holding us back is the connector. currently they are taken from old stock (usually virtual baseball — correct?). i think the best course of action would be a $100-150 tier for an amazing game released CIB (with some extras). one major reason for asking this price would be to clearly state that a 3rd party connector design is being used so that no VB games will be sacrificed in the process. this isn’t so much to appease collectors and preservationists, but to let all interested gamers know that the campaign can indeed meet the demand!

even if a crowdfunding campaign never happens, it is an interesting idea. one that has sparked this thread and some great conversation.