Josiah’s letter to the community
Hey supporters -- Josiah here, art/audio guy for what used to be Worlds Beyond.
Yeah, 'used to be' -- There's some big news I have to deliver to you guys, and it's not entirely pleasant. Due to some recent events in my life that I'm not comfortable discussing, I've realized that I can't commit myself to this project in a way that's fair to you guys or Ruben. I know it's hard to get across in a way that doesn't sound like I'm taking the easy way out or being lazy, but what this project demanded from me I am not able to provide. The stress became too much for me, personally, to handle and it's become clear now that the only option is to quietly back away from this project and go our own separate ways.
The game's engine and editor will continue to be developed by Ruben as his own project (He can elaborate more on that if he chooses), and there is a good chance that I'll continue to develop Worlds Beyond by myself on my own time, but I will definitely be taking a break for a while.
I'd just like to make it clear that this decision is my responsibility. I'm not good at dealing with pressure, and it's clear that I wasn't able to keep up with what was expected of me. That wasn't fair at all to Ruben, who is a brilliant programmer and has shown me understanding and patience through this -- but ultimately, it's best for both of us if it ends this way.
The Kickstarter project will be cancelled and all pledges returned. I'm very sorry that I wasn't able to keep up my end of the bargain here. Hopefully, the future will see better luck for our individual projects.
Thank you all very much for supporting us while this project lasted, you've been amazing.
Ruben says:
It's been a lot of weeks and months and years, and a LOT of work trying to get this thing to happen, trying to make it actually really happen. It can not work without Josiah, but I am not really content to just quit entirely...
I won't be working on Worlds Beyond, but I'll be taking the engine that I've been developing and continuing work on it.
If anyone wants to stay in touch you can e-mail me at rubenATbridgeunitorzoDOTcom. I wish there was some way I could make this happen but I just can't do it alone and I have no choice...
:/ peace...
175
Backers
$4,518
pledged of $20,000 goal
Funding Canceled Funding for this project was canceled by the project creator on September 22, 2012.
Funding period
Aug 27, 2012 -
Oct 5, 2012
- First created · 3 backed
- Ruben Rodriguez 134 friends
- Website: bridgeunitorzo.com
Pledge $5 or more
3 backers
Every little bit helps! You’ve just put your name in the credits of Worlds Beyond. In addition, you’ll receive a special “Contributor” badge on our forums.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $10 or more
94 backers
Congrats on your pre-order of the digital version of Worlds Beyond! We’ll also put your name in our credits, and Josiah will mention you in his letter of resignation at his kitchen job as one of his reasons for leaving. You are helping us achieve our dream, after all! Also includes the $5 tier reward.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Pledge $25 or more
46 backers
You’ll get a high-quality digital copy of the game’s soundtrack on release, which you’ll also be able to drop into one of the game’s content directories to improve the game’s audio quality to audiophile levels. Also includes the $5 and $10 tier rewards.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Pledge $50 or more
19 backers Limited (1 of 20 left)
We really appreciate your generosity! For this donation, you get to design your own NPC (Non-Player Character) which we’ll put either in a town designed specifically for Kickstarter supporters, or somewhere else in the game world. Josiah will create your NPC’s custom sprite and you get to write your own line(s) of dialog! We retain veto rights depending on content. Also includes the $5, $10, and $25 tier rewards.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Pledge $100 or more
5 backers Limited (10 of 15 left)
Same as the previous reward, except it comes with a special bonus -- Josiah will create a custom character portrait, displayed in dialog with your NPC, based on your own face! Clear, neutral expression photograph of your face required for reference. We retain veto rights depending on content. Also includes the $5, $10, and $25 tier rewards.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Pledge $120 or more
0 backers Limited (50 of 50 left)
Receive a limited-edition Bridge Unit Orzo shirt! Also includes the $5, $10, and $25 tier rewards. Includes $100 tier if available.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $130 or more
1 backer Limited (9 of 10 left)
You get to design one of the game’s common monsters! You design the look of the monster, either through text description or concept artwork, and we’ll create the in-game sprites based on your design and bring it to life! We retain veto rights depending on content. Also includes the $5, $10, and $25 tier rewards.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Pledge $150 or more
2 backers Limited (98 of 100 left)
You’ll get to play the game early, in its beta form, and help us test Worlds Beyond as part of our Beta Testing team! Also includes the $5, $10, and $25 tier rewards.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Pledge $250 or more
2 backers All gone!
For this level of generosity, you deserve a little notoriety. You’ll become either the shopkeeper or innkeeper of our town for Kickstarter supporters, complete with your own custom dialog portrait based on your face (Optional). Clear, neutral expression photograph of your face required for reference if portrait is desired. First come first serve to choose between inn and shop keeper! We retain veto rights depending on content. Also includes the $5, $10, and $25 tier rewards. Includes $120 tier if available.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Pledge $300 or more
0 backers Limited (3 of 3 left)
You get to design one of the game’s boss monsters! (Due to the story already being mapped out, it will likely be fairly unconnected to major plot events) You design the look of the boss, either through text description or concept artwork, and we’ll create the in-game sprites based on your design and bring it to life! We retain veto rights depending on content. Also includes the $5, $10, and $25 tier rewards. Includes $100, $120 and $130 tier if available.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Pledge $500 or more
0 backers Limited (50 of 50 left)
Receive a limited-edition cloth “Map of the Known World” featuring artwork of the world of the game. Also includes the $5, $10, and $25 tier rewards. Includes $100, $120 and $130 tier if available.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Congratulations on your promotion to Mayor! You get your own special NPC with custom portrait by Josiah (optional - Clear, neutral expression photograph of your face required for portrait reference), placed in a special town for Kickstarter supporters, plus you get to work with us to design the entire town. We retain veto rights depending on content. Also includes the $5, $10, and $25 tier rewards. Includes $120 and $130 tier if available.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Pledge $2,000 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
Wow! You get to join us on the Bridge Unit Orzo team to design an entire sidequest storyline for Worlds Beyond, including events, characters, plot, and rewards. (To refrain from divulging main game story details, it must be fairly self-contained -- We will find a place to incorporate it) We retain veto rights depending on content. Also includes the $5, $10, $25, and $100 tier rewards. Includes $120 and $130 tier if available.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013
Comments
Creator randalthor on September 24, 2012
I apologize in advance for the long winded, rambling nature of this post.
I'm not going to lie. I'm really disappointed. I'd even go so far as to say I'm depressed by this news. It felt like this Kickstarter was just starting to pick up steam. I thought it was actually going to get funded.
On the other hand, I can't blame you for cancelling the project. I can sympathize with the whole stress thing. I'm terrible at handling stress. I sometimes even have mild panic attacks at work. I'm a hard worker. But only when I'm at work. When I'm not a work, I'm the laziest person you'll ever meet. When I was back in high school, I would routinely procrastinate on long term projects. Stuff that I was supposed to be working on for weeks or months, I would start and finish the night before it was due. I just couldn't motivate myself to do any work until the day before it was due.
I can't even begin to image what the stress of making a game must be like. And to work on it from home. If I was making a game, from my house, I would probably tell myself that I'll work on it as soon as I get to the next save point in whatever game I was playing. But then I would just find something else to distract me. All the while feeling guilty and overwhelmed.
And then to have all these people expecting you to make a game. I'm stressing myself out just thinking about this.
Sorry to hear about you and Ruben breaking up. I hope you guys both find success in life and stay in touch with each other.
But please don't give up on making Worlds Beyond! Your well being and the well being of those close to you should come first, before the game. But, maybe just take a break from the game and revisit it some time in the future, a couple months from now.
If Kickstarter was too stressful for you, then you don't have to do another one. Maybe it was the money, deadlines, and pressure from us backers that made it too much for you. But it doesn't have to be that way. Why not continue working on the game, here and there. In small manageable, bite sized, chunks. No deadline. No pressure..It'll be done whenever you feel it's done.
Or even if you decide not to work on the game and move onto other things, please still keep us informed. You can still post updates on this Kickstarter, even after you cancelled it, or it failed to meet it's funding goal. Maybe just drop us an update on how you're doing once every month or 2.
Maybe it didn't work out because you were trying to fight the end boss too soon. I suggest that you stay at an Inn and relax and recover. Then you should go fight some turn based battles and do some level upping. Find better amour and weapons. And don't forget to stock up on items. When and if you decide to fight that final boss again, you'll have me and all your old backers in your party. We'll be able to attack the boss 176 times before he even gets a turn.
I still believe in this game and I still believe in you. Best wishes and good luck in the future. You'll always have friends here from this Kickstarter.
Creator GaymerCon on September 22, 2012
Really sorry to hear this - hoping the best for both of you moving forward
Creator JuanitaD-Obsidian Goat of AGL589 $7.77+8 on September 22, 2012
I am really sorry to hear this. I wish both of you the best and whenever either of you is ready to tackle another KickStarter, I'll be willing to back you again. Best of luck to both of you.
Creator Jelly Paladin on September 22, 2012
Josiah: Best of luck with whatever you do in the future. If you come back to Worlds Beyond one day, I'll be there all over again.
Ruben: A lot of people have ideas for RPGs, but far fewer also have the technical skill to implement them and even fewer also have the time. An RPG's engine is the core of everything, so if you keep developing it then I'm sure someone will want to team up with you. This isn't the end of your road by any means.
Creator Gameosaurus on September 22, 2012
sigh...
Creator Ryan Szrama on September 22, 2012
Sorry to hear it, guys.
Creator Dirk Schlobinski on September 22, 2012
Well, that's sad news. The game looked quite promising to me.
Creator Yinyamina and Trexrell on September 22, 2012
You guys were really grabbing momentum. It's really sad to see this project get canceled as you guys helped our project out a bunch. Since it was a 2d retro game similar to ours we were really rooting for you. You guys were doing it at such a high level with the funding you were accumulating. I was sure the game would be a master piece. Good Luck and I really hope you to see this get made someday.