Cipher Prime's Summer Scrapbook
Why, hello there Backers. Cipher Prime Team here, reporting in. Sheepishly late.
Hope you are all doing wonderfully! And thank you for being so patient with us. We've been answering your emails but haven't done a backer-wide update in several months. We're remedying that now.
First, we apologize for being stuck in our development caves for so long. But these have a been a busy few months! Here's what Cipher Prime has been up to. It's Splice-heavy and Duet-lite, but we're going to flip that around!
May:
- Finished up Splice development for Mac/PC.
We started Splice in in the Fall of last year, and after a few hiccups we pulled it together and finished it up. We are pretty proud of it; it's a beautiful game and it's also meant to provide the second half of the money we need to fund the development cycle for Duet (the first half coming from the Kickstarter!). Finishing up development mainly consisted of testing the game, polishing the experience, and preparing the game for sale.
- Splice won for Best Puzzle Game in the Intel Level Up 2011 Contest!
A pleasant little surprise for us was having Splice win the Intel Level Up 2011 contest's puzzle game category! They even gave us a VIP ticket to E3 2012 to go show off Splice as part of their showcase; Nikko went to L.A. as our representative!
June:
- Splice was released on Steam!
This was a super stressful week for us, but we were able to get the game up and ready for Steam. We also spent a lot of time trying to market the game; a tough task for a company of our size, so it was pretty time-consuming. Otherwise, it's our third Steam launch, and it was nice to get it done!
- Splice updated on Steam.
July:
- Splice selected as part of the PAX 10 Showcase!
July brought us another surprise, because PAX selected us as one of their Indie PAX 10 showcase games! Part of the prize was four free exhibitor passes to one of the biggest gaming conventions out there! At the end of August the Cipher Prime Team will be out in Seattle, so if you're attending PAX Prime, be sure to drop by our table!
- The Cipher Prime Team is one Aaron larger than it was!
- Splice ported to the iPad.
August:
- Splice standalone version updated and Mac App Store version developed.
- Splice is an Indiecade 2012 Finalist!
- Finally: Laying the groundwork for Auditorium Duet.
Auditorium Duet
On the Auditorium-side, we've started working on networked multiplayer gameplay, and we're working on replicating many of the original Auditorium's mechanics. One of the most interesting parts of this will be figuring out how we're going to be handling the visual effects, given the differences between Unity development and Flash development.
On the Kickstarter-side, we're going to be contacting each of the individual backer tiers directly with news about their rewards! Obviously we're a little late with rewards, and we'll try and get out an updated schedule. Game development (and software development in general) can get messy and unpredictable, but we'll try our best and we'll be as open as we can about progress. Don't hesitate to ask us questions!
Bonus!
We also talked with Steam and finagled 2,037 coupon codes for a 66% discount off of Splice (normally priced $9.99). If you missed the launch sale or Steam's Summer Sale, and you'd like to get a discount copy of the game for yourself or a friend, please email andrei[at]cipherprime.com and let us know you'd like a special backer discount code!
Edit! Backer Discount Code Instructions
You're supposed to use discount codes the way you use normal Steam codes:
- Click the "Add A Game" button on the Steam interface (it's in the lower left corner of Steam's interface--the actual software, not the website).
- Select the "Activate Product on Steam" option.
- Follow the prompts to enter the code.
- You should then receive a message saying that a discount will be applied to your Steam purchase of Steam.
- Play the game and have fun!
2,037
Backers
$71,061
pledged of $60,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Feb 28, 2012 -
Mar 30, 2012
- First created · 16 backed
- William Stallwood 733 friends
- Website: cipherprime.com
Pledge $5 or more
85 backers
A huge "Thank You" and your name will be listed in the credits of Auditorium Duet.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $15 or more
859 backers
You get a finished copy of Auditorium 2: Duet for PC/Mac. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $20 or more
102 backers
A PDF guide with strategies and solutions for all of Auditorium Duet's acts, in both single-player and multiplayer playlists. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $20 or more
61 backers All gone!
You get a finished copy of Auditorium 2: Duet for PC/Mac. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $30 or more
171 backers
An exclusive Auditorium Duet T-shirt, as well as exclusive Dev Note Access, which will include frequent progress reports and the ability to comment on the development of Auditorium Duet. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $30 or more
243 backers
The Duet Pack! You get an extra copy of the completed game! It is a game meant for two, after all! Feel free to gift the extra copy to any of your friends and family. You also get Dev Note Access. (Note that you only get the $30 T-shirt reward or the $30 extra game reward, but each does include the reward tiers above $30.)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $30 or more
10 backers All gone!
Exclusive Dev Note Access, which will include frequent progress reports and the ability to comment on the development of Auditorium Duet. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $50 or more
184 backers
Backers at this level get a custom Supporter Edition of Auditorium 2 : Duet with a special single-player Act and multiplayer Act. You'll be able to play these sets of levels with friends on release and show your promoter status. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $80 or more
103 backers
A full-length mp3 soundtrack to Auditorium Duet, plus the accompanying sheet music in pdf format. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $100 or more
53 backers
Become an official Beta Tester and get a chance to help shape the game in it's infancy. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $125 or more
2 backers All gone!
An exclusive Auditorium Duet T-Shirt. Design still under consideration. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $125 or more
36 backers
A framed print. These will be high quality prints of either the gameplay or concept art. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $200 or more
35 backers
You will receive a custom hand-made Duet Supporter Plaque! Optional: we will put your photograph alongside your name in the credits in a very cool way. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $500 or more
3 backers
$500 dollars? Really? Who can give out this much money? This is so unbelievable that anyone who gives us $500 won't get anything special except for a mega-thanks and all the reward tiers below. But really, $500? That's crazy! If you're ever in Philly though, let us know and Dain Xavier Saint will make himself available to give you an hour long massage. He's done some amateur masseuse-ing on the side, and he works hard for his money. This will be followed by tea and a meal with the tea, all prepared and cooked by Mr. Saint himself, who is also an amateur chef. Then, post-dinner entertainment will incude a brief juggling show performed by Mr. William Stallwood with piano accompaniment by Dain X. Saint, who is no amateur pianist. Optional: you can then hang out and play Starcraft with us, no matter what league you're in (we're only silver).
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)
A custom one-of-a-kind print, designed by Will Stallwood, OR a custom song, composed by Dain Saint. They will work with the backers to select a theme or inspiration for the final design or composition. Plus the above rewards!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $2,000 or more
1 backer Limited (1 of 2 left)
Okay, aside from being immensely grateful to you, let's be completely honest here: you probably don't need cool swag if you can give us $2,000. What we'll do instead is stroke your ego. We'll skillfully photoshop your face onto a portrait of any artistic milieu you like (Renaissance? Impressionist? Cubist?), make a large wall poster print of it, and then frame it. And then it will grace the walls of the Cipher Prime Studios from now until the end of time.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
Comments
Creator Michael Chang on August 24, 2012
Sad that you guys will be dropping the DRM-free version of Splice, but well aware that y'all need to make a living and y'all have only so much time on your hands to get Duet out the door.
Creator FloppieCawk Flickr on August 24, 2012
I was waiting for splice the moment I saw you guys playing it in the video for the auditorium duet kickstarter. Bought it from steam as soon as it was available. To tell you the truth I was more excited about splice than I was for auditorium duet. It is such a brilliant game. I love puzzle games that make me think so much my head starts spinning, and the music is phenomenal. You need to make more games like splice or more levels for it. maybe even a splice 2. I am addicted to that game and all of your games in general. Don't ever stop making puzzle games!!!!!
Creator Jeremie Lariviere on August 24, 2012
The iPad version will be cool!
Very popular, based on this project's funding :-)
Creator Cipher Prime on August 23, 2012
@ Jörn
Woot! Thank you! =)
@Josh, @ Rirath
Apple only gives out 50 codes per update, which means we're limited in how many we can give out. We have to consider press review copies, copies need for contests, etc. What we'll do is keep a list of people interested, and if it's short enough we'll give out iPad codes. We can't make any promises though. Otherwise the Steam version discount is still definite for everyone!
@Rirath
Yes, a level editor is something we would love, but we have to balance our time. The level editor is unfortunately both the coolest and most difficult to implement feature we'd like to include!
Creator Rirath on August 23, 2012
I haven't played Splice and intend to wait for the iPad version - but a "Splice level editor integrated with the Steam Workshop" would certainly make me double-dip. Hopefully not tabled for good.
Creator Jörn Huxhorn on August 23, 2012
I bought Splice on launch day. ^^
Creator Josh Ward on August 23, 2012
I would love a code for Splice on the iPad when it's on the app store! (: