We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

MEET THE DEMO

Update #8 · Jun 30, 2012 · 10 comments

Hi everyone! We’re closing in on three weeks left, and as promised we’re starting to ramp up the update schedule. Our gratitude goes out to those who have bumped up their pledges in the last few days. Like us on http://www.facebook.com/Digitilus , retweet https://twitter.com/alskyjacker and join us, won’t you?

YOUTUBE IS A WONDERFUL SERVICE

Before we get started...

*** Click HERE to view at full size ***

These are the before and after images on the Shaarkarian fleet vid: before, compression to H.264 at 135 mbps, and after, Youtube’s recompression into potato format. Okay Youtube is fine - they can’t reasonably serve a 2.6 gig file. We’re just saying the stuff you’re watching is secretly EVEN BETTER!

We prepared 100+ screenshots to let you estimate the real quality of the Shaarkarians in all their deadly beauty - check our Gallery

CARGO PINATA

The demo is a love letter to our detailed demolition system, where everything can be broken down into components and/or blasted into chunky kibble. But as a sandbox the demo mission has a few rough edges - aliens yelling, stuff happening, people trying to murder you, etc. We therefore present the CARGO PINATA, stripping out everything from the demo mission but a nice big freighter ripe for the blasting.

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE! We like our youtube videos, but we also want you to try it out for yourself. It’s like our Spaceship Disassembly app (check our Update #2) - if you could disassemble it with EXPLOSIONS. You can download the level HERE. To patch it into the demo, just unzip and copy everything over the existing files in your Skyjacker demo installed directory, then run the batch file (start_ytg_transport.bat) included to get into the extra level.

New soundtrack is available to hear/download as always:

PSA #2 - SKYJACKER FLIGHT MODELS

The demo also defaults to an arcade-like flight model that casually disregards physics. Skyjacker has multiple flight models with different behaviors, including others with inertia and momentum; in the final game your flight model will depend on the wings you have installed, but for the demo, you can swap between them with the VBNM keys. The moar you know! Our backers put this video together to highlight the differences and/or screw around with a music video - enjoy above, or install the demo and try it on your own.Great music of the Russian rock band АКВАРИУМ supports incredible capture. Thank you, Veav!

GALACTIC IDOL

We’ve heard your feedback about the voices in the demo. Some aren’t sure it’s even English. :) They’re in-house placeholders destined to be replaced by professional voice actors. Here’s what our demo bible has to say - meet the VOICE PHRAZES SPREADSHEET

The text itself is also destined to be polished up in localization, but it’s a pretty good idea of what we’ll be AIMING for.

There are five voices present in the demo, six if you include the Robot. Here’s an idea: if we can get at least 5-6 backers with microphones, we’ll immortalize your voices as an optional mod for the demo, and (as long as the Kickstarter succeeds) we’ll figure out a prize for those who helped out on top of whatever you’ve pledged. On top of that, we could well end up offering you a speaking role in the final game. What do you say?

HARDCORE MODE

Working on it! Rebalancing numbers is easy, it’s the AI that takes some work. The speed is the most sensitive issue here - the “pilots” have to prioritize collisions and targeting and things they want to defend while maneuvering. Right now when we make them react faster, they start to lose focus, so Dmitriy is troubleshooting that. We’re aiming for next week on this.

SKYJACKER IN THE PRESS

  • RockPaperShotgun  - RPS gives us some love again this week, with our final fleet vid out there for everyone to see. We seriously couldn’t have made it where we are without their support, and they’re getting all the exclusives they want, up to and including naming rights to Eugene’s haircut :)
  • Murrobs Plaza - Skyjacker in Finland? Tervetuloa, kiitos paljon!
  • GamerSector - Thanks for sharing, guys. We’ve got plenty of other footage where that came from so keep checking in.

KICKING IT FORWARD

Retrovirus - Another in the realm of “not quite a space game”, Retrovirus is the love child of Tron and Descent, featuring six degrees of freedom, a co-op campaign, multiplayer modes and mod tools, and a playable alpha available for download. You can find literal hours of gameplay in their updates - they can definitely deliver on their promises - and they gave away FOUR THOUSAND copies of their earlier game to drum up support... but their Kickstarter ends July 7th and, somehow, they’re still languishing at 20% of their 75k goal. The game drops at $15, or $30 to beta it up. Please go show them some Skyjacker love!

Knight Hunter - isn’t a space game at all in fact, but they still have common ground with Skyjacker; a criminal underworld setting, vehicles with heavy weapons, a dev team in California and ambition in spades. The genre of “muscle cars with guns” hasn’t seen much love since Interstate ‘78, and just like space games, it’s up to us to tell publishers there’s a demand. Knight Hunter is $15 for the game and $30 to beta - if you ever plugged quarters into Spy Hunter, now’s the time to remember why.

MOMENT OF ZEN

Comments

    1. Dgtls_web-logo_sqr_03_600x600.small

      Creator DIGITILUS on July 2, 2012

      Thank you, Anton! :D We are doing all our best for this. SKYJACKER has a lot of content to show and a lot of interesting things to let you experiment with. We love our "game-baby" and this let us do all such things. And we hope people will appreciate our hard work too :D

    2. Eladrin_wizard_90.small

      Creator Antonidas|Archmage of the Obsidian Order on July 2, 2012

      Every update raises excitement tenfold! :)

    3. Skj_avatar2_128x128.small

      Creator Veav on July 1, 2012

      Aww shucks, thanks. :) Amazing work in the game that lets me take that kind of video really!

    4. Avatar_asp01_x256.small

      Creator Gavin Phoenix on July 1, 2012

      Amazing work in that video @Veav!

    5. Dgtls_web-logo_sqr_03_600x600.small

      Creator DIGITILUS on July 1, 2012

      @ Tim - btw, first proposal to realize voice record was gotten in 35 minutesafter update, and first real record was sent to us in 1 hour later. We are trying to attract people to generate their own content, to enable their creativity, to make their creative contribution into this game project. I guess, not so many games let do this for their players. We do.

    6. Skj_avatar2_128x128.small

      Creator Veav on July 1, 2012

      @Tim The idea is to dub one of the characters in the demo. There are five distinct personalities - the veteran, the jock, the stoner, the chatterbox, and the soldier - but it's not easy to tell through the gravel and distortion. There's probably 2-3 dozen lines involved for each (check out the document, or just poke around the sounds\localization\en directory).

    7. Binaryghost.small

      Creator Tim O'Shea on July 1, 2012

      So, what are you looking for with the "Galactic Idol" section? What would you want the backer to say? Simply out of curiosity, mind you… :)

    8. Images.small

      Creator Alan Murphy on June 30, 2012

      Looking good guys!

    9. Dgtls_web-logo_sqr_03_600x600.small

      Creator DIGITILUS on June 30, 2012

      Agree! We were unable to ignore such great work :)

    10. Kosh.small

      Creator Koshinator on June 30, 2012

      That Moment of Zen video was brilliant....

2,890
Backers
$128,238
pledged of $200,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on July 23, 2012.

Funding period
May 25, 2012 - Jul 23, 2012

  • Pledge $5 or more

    8 backers

    WALLPAPER SET: A large collection of Skyjacker wallpapers for your PC, Mac, tablet or mobile device, along with our heartfelt thanks. We appreciate your contribution!

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
  • Pledge $10 or more

    5 backers

    SOUNDTRACK PACK: As the Wallpaper Set, plus: the complete game soundtrack (DRM-free digital downloadable version, 320k or lossless). Take Skyjacker on the road!

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2013
  • Pledge $15 or more

    1146 backers

    COMPLETE EDITION: As the Soundtrack Pack, plus: THE GAME in all of its unearthly beauty on PC or Mac (DRM-free digital downloadable version). Walk the ruthless path of Ael-Skyjacker, the lone human in a galaxy of conflict, as he tears apart the stars in search of fame and fortune. Sabotage, assassination, robbery, grift - all in a day’s work! This includes everything - all cutscenes, voiceovers, missions, and content.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
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    322 backers

    COMPLETE BUNDLE: A bundle of two Complete Editions, for you and a friend. Every bundle contains a spare of everything that isn’t physical; in this case, you’ll receive two wallpaper sets, two soundtrack packs, and two Skyjacker games to play together. Or maybe you want one for your PC and one for your Mac? We can do that.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
  • Pledge $25 or more

    325 backers

    COMMUNITY EDITION: As the Complete Edition, plus: exclusive access to the beta release of the game and its private discussion community. We'll keep you in the loop and include your feedback in the game creation process, and we’ll grant you the title of Beta Tester on all our forums, public and private. You’ll also get the PDF version of the Skyjacker artbook, with 100+ pages of concept art - detailed illustrations of alien races, planetary habitats, designs and technology, and extras left on the cutting-room floor.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
  • Pledge $35 or more

    50 backers

    COMMUNITY BUNDLE: A bundle of two Community Editions. You’ll receive two PDF artbooks, two voices in everything we do, two early downloads of the game in progress, and two logins with the title of Beta Tester on top of the Complete Bundle.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
  • Pledge $40 or more

    609 backers

    SETTLER EDITION: As the Community Edition, plus: all future content we make for Skyjacker for free, forever! We already have post-launch plans for an EXPANSION PACK of a few dozen additional missions where you step out of the shoes of humans and become the aliens - on both sides of the conflict. Smash the planetary colonies in the name of the pirate brotherhood, or fight to the death for the honor of your race! (Check out the FAQ for more details on the expansion pack.) Of course, we’ll promote you to the title of Settler on all our forums, so everyone knows you’re not afraid of commitment.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
  • Pledge $60 or more

    105 backers

    SETTLER BUNDLE: A bundle of two Settler Editions. You’ll receive two of everything Skyjacker in the future (as long as it’s digital), on top of the Community Bundle. Since you’ll both be beta-release backers, you’ll get in on the beta release of future content too. Pretty nifty, huh?

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
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    89 backers

    PIRATE EDITION: As the Settler Edition, plus: special thanks in the game credits as a Skyjacker supporter! We'll thank you by name, or the name of your choosing (subject to editorial approval). And we’ll upgrade your title to Pirate on the forums too, so everyone can shiver in terror at your presence. But here’s the best part - we’ll take all the downloads and put them on a professionally-packaged, pressed DVD. Then we’ll put it into your hands. No firewall in the world will stop you! (All physical items are exclusive to the campaign, and ship free within the US; please add $15 to your pledge for international shipping.)

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
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    80 backers

    CAPTAIN’S EDITION: As the Pirate Edition, plus: one t-shirt of any design. Protect your frail human flesh from the dangers of space! We’ll also ship you a limited edition print of the game poster in full size (36” x 24”) for your bedroom, barracks, hangar or gun cabinet. But what’s a Captain without a crew? We’ll give you TWO downloads of everything. All rewards from this point forward are bundle packs! This includes 2x beta releases, 2x forum handles, 2x wallpapers, 2x soundtracks - everything that isn’t physical. And we’ll thank you both in the credits, in even BIGGER letters, and on the forums with the even SNAZZIER title of Captain. We’ll thank you right now, just for reading this! Thank you!

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
  • Pledge $150 or more

    71 backers

    COLLECTOR’S EDITION: As the Captain’s Edition, plus: we’ll go even further. We’ll put together a physical game box for all this loot, with the soundtrack on CD as well as the game DVD. It’ll be personally signed by Eugene Zhukov and the rest of the team leads, unless you ask us not to. In fact, we’ll sign everything we can get our hands on; the jewel cases, the poster, even the t-shirt (and those aren’t easy). Of course you’ll still get your downloads, so you can leave the box in mint condition.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
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    17 backers

    WOLFPACK EDITION: As the Collector’s Edition, plus: we’ll hook all your friends up too by giving you FOUR downloads of everything and sending you FOUR Portable Skyjacker USB drives, each preloaded with the Complete Edition game. We’ll set you all up with the title of Privateer on the forum, and for the credits, we’ll thank all four of you by name, under the clan name of your choice and billed proudly above the Captains. Added bonus: we'll send out a second t-shirt of any design!

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
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    10 backers

    MEMEPACK EDITION: As the Wolfpack Edition, plus: we’ll add your message to the credits as your clan motto, anything you like (subject to editorial approval; keep it around Twitter-length, please). Plug your website, propose to your girlfriend, throw out your favorite quote, or make us spout memes and in-jokes at everyone who plays!

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
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    8 backers

    HARDCOVER EDITION: As the Memepack Edition, plus: the hardcover Skyjacker art book. Yes, we’ll sign it with pride! We’ll wrap it up in a third t-shirt of any design, a total of three, and call you out in the forums and credits as a Broker. Then we'll further acknowledge your financial acumen by putting your name in the game, as the designation of a weapon, part, planet, or ship (we’ll make sure it’s something you like). You’ll be a part of the Skyjacker universe from here on out.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
  • Pledge $1,200 or more

    5 backers Limited (95 of 100 left)

    BOSS EDITION: As the Hardcover Edition, plus: our designers will draw YOU, in full space pirate regalia. And then we'll put it on an exclusive jacket of your very own! Materials and exact design to be determined - but it'll be nice. We won’t try to sign this one. While that’s happening we'll attach your name to a character in-game (or leave it as a designation, your choice), and elevate you to the regal position of Boss on our forums and in the credits. Don't worry about the cost of shipping; even if you're outside the US, we'll take care of it. Nothing but the best for the Boss.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
  • Pledge $5,000 or more

    1 backer Limited (9 of 10 left)

    EPIC EDITION: As the Boss Edition, plus: we'll put you in the game. We'll animate YOU in 3D as the subject for a CUSTOM PLAYER CHARACTER. This includes your face and proportions, a personal logo, and the highest category of criminal community rating in the game. Only you can play as this character (we'll give you a secret code to activate it) but other players can hire you as an NPC, so they'll get to enjoy it too! You will be known across the skies as a true Hero... or a Villain, your choice.

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
  • Pledge $10,000 or more

    1 backer Limited (3 of 4 left)

    LEGEND EDITION: As the Epic Edition, plus: with your permission, we'll use your character in our promotional campaigns. You'll be on our posters, in our trailers, and on whatever other media we produce. Your name will, in fact, be Legend. Furthermore we cordially invite you to come hang out with us in Los Angeles, CA, USA. We're from Russia - we know how to party. (Please contact us directly to make personal arrangements before the end of the campaign.)

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2013