June
We're going to start our meaty monthly updates here, similar to how we do it on our first Kickstarter campaign.
What's New
Two weeks left. We're at 320%. You guys are simply amazing! Thank you so much! Before we started this campaign I told the guys "We can probably make $6k if we're lucky." and here we are, still in disbelief.
Stretch Goal One ($12,000)
We're calling this Kloud for now.
The idea is simple: a universal game save system. Play the game from a device, continue playing from another. Scenarios where this might be useful:
- Finished playing on the PC and want to continue your progress on your iPad.
- Reinstalled the game and wish you could continue where you left off.
- Installed a new Studio Kontrabida game (maybe Rival Threads Part 2). If Part 1 save file exists on your Kloud account, unlock a hidden feature.
- Unified leader boards.
The concept isn't really new, but we've yet to see a truly multiplatform implementation (correct me if I'm wrong).
Way, way, way back in the PSX days while playing Lunar Silver Star Story or Legend of Dragoon, after spending half a day playing on the couch, I wished I could play a little bit longer while in bed but at the same time, be able to continue where I left off. At the time, it wasn't possible with the technology we had. Today, with tablets and mobile phones capable of delivering console quality performance, this should be the norm, specially with RPGs, the ultimate time sink.
That's why we imagined and designed Last Class Heroes from the ground up as a multiplatform game. The experience has to be consistent no matter where you're playing and thanks to all of you helping us hit the first stretch goal, we can now deliver a single progression system.
The money will be used to commission a web developer to create the web portal and to move to a web host that'll be able to accomodate the expected high traffic.
Proof of Concept:
We were really excited in implementing this feature so we went ahead and created a tech demo.
For now, it just saves and continues the game from the last map visited. We saved the game on Mac and continued our progress on Windows. It doesn't save the coordinates yet so we walked to the same spot for demonstration's sake.
This feature will totally be optional and can be turned on and off anytime. Some people won't always be connected to the internet so it will still save locally and simply keep a copy of the file online (if you choose).
We're currently testing on mobile but yes... it works! And it's awesome.
Stretch Goal Two ($15,000)
A web comic series.
We've contacted two of our friends, one of which has worked professionally on Manga and another who works as a freelance inker/colourist featured on western comics.
We haven't gotten any commitments from them so until then, they'll remain anonymous. However, expect the same level of detail and quality.
Published author Chris Lewis Carter will write the script. Speaking of Chris, his monthly series, Camp Myth, just got funded! The update section contains some new art from Studio Kontrabida's very own, Jay Camay.
We've actually decided to go beyond this web comic series and produce smaller/shorter exclusive content for our Web Portal. Again, it's still very early and we'll update you once everyone's committed to the cause.
We're really excited to get started on these! We'll keep you posted.
Stretch Goal Three ($20,000)
We had a lengthy discussion on what this should be. Initially, we wanted to set a goal which would allow us to obtain access to an Xbox 360 dev kit + Unity Pro 360, but after asking around, in summary, the answer was "If you need to ask how much it's going to cost, then you can't afford it.". Fair enough.
Same story with the Vita.
However, there's also the option of rewriting the game on Microsoft's XNA to publish directly to Xbox Live Arcade, but it's something we don't want have the resources to pull off at the moment. I developed a fighting game back in college that had mechanics similar to Samurai Shodown using XNA but never really looked into publishing via Live Arcade, so our information here's probably outdated.
That being said, we've decided on an attainable stretch goal that would benefit everyone instead.
More playable characters.
Originally, I planned to have at least five playable characters but trimmed it down to two after realizing how much work it would be to fully design, animate and develop play styles and skill trees for each one. Take note a single character means a human and a marionette. So two playable characters actually means working on four things.
Instead of having just Sebastian and Maya, we'd like to add at least three more playable characters, complete with their own fully realized backstories, voice acting and unique marionettes.
This will add significant gameplay value and a longer gameplay time.
* * * * * * * *
That's it for now! More info soon! I've already missed my promised update time so I'll end this here. :D
As always, thank you for your continued support of Studio Kontrabida.
684
Backers
$24,812
pledged of $5,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Jun 5, 2012 -
Jul 10, 2012
(35 days)
- 2 created · 48 backed
- Leonardo Molar 585 friends
- Website: kontrabida.ca
Pledge $1 or more
8 backers
Two Kickstarter exclusive Last Class Heroes HD wallpapers for your desktop and your name in the credits!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $5 or more
167 backers
The above plus a copy of the game for mobile devices (All versions. iOS and Android) and a Sebastian toy template! Print and create as many as you want (See "About this Project" section for sample)!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $10 or more
26 backers
The above plus a digital copy of "The Puppet Master" short story. A great introduction to the wonderful world of Marionettes penned by short-story veteran Chris Lewis Carter (http://chrislewiscarter.com/) See "About this Project" section for more info. Also included: A selection of three short stories from Chris Carter's Kindle collection, "An Overly Pleasant Apocalypse" (PDF and Mobi)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $16 or more
271 backers
All of the above plus a digital copy of the game for Mac and PC.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $25 or more
128 backers
The above plus a copy of the game for your desktop once it comes out (All versions. Mac and PC) and a digital copy of The Last Class Heroes art book (Full colour. 28+ pages. See "About this Project" section for more details).
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $50 or more
35 backers
The above plus a copy of the full soundtrack from professional composer, Luke Thomas (http://lukethomasmusic.com/). See "About this Project" section for samples. Also, you'll receive a full colour poster (12" x 18"). Choose from three designs. Plus a digital copy of all three designs! Shipping/Handling already included
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $90 or more
10 backers All gone!
The above plus your own in-game shout out! Your message, logo or art on a bulletin board, a poster, or a notebook! Zoomable and presented artistically. (Limitations apply. Please see details in the "About this Project" section under rewards or contact us.) You'll also receive a limited edition Rival Threads shirt! (Choose from two designs). Shipping/Handling already included
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $150 or more
4 backers Limited (6 of 10 left)
All of the above plus a hard copy of our art book. (8" x 11", full colour, 28+ pages). Shipping/Handling already included.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $180 or more
12 backers All gone!
Custom Character Package: The above, EXCLUDING art book ($160 package) plus your own character in the game! Created to your likeness or someone else's with your own dialogue! (Limitations apply. Please see details in the "About this Project" section under rewards or contact us.)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $240 or more
8 backers Limited (2 of 10 left)
This is the Custom Character package ($200 package) INCLUDING the printed art book. Shipping/Handling included.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $300 or more
7 backers All gone!
This is it. The ultimate package. All the rewards listed above including both t-shirt designs and all three posters and a super limited hard copy and digital of "The Puppet Master" full colour children's storybook and animations. Written by Chris Carter and illustrated by Ryan Quizon. Shipping/Handling included.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $500 or more
6 backers All gone!
Be credited as an "Executive Producer". (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2175234/fullcredits#cast) All of the rewards but with a specially signed copy of the art book from our core team members! A copy of every single game our team will be making beyond "Last Class Heroes" on every platform they're made for. A special spot in the credits for yourself on each game. A personal art request, guaranteed full professional quality, Last Class Heroes related or not. And our undying gratitude. :)
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
Comments
Creator Leo from Studio Kontrabida on July 6, 2012
@Harold: Thanks for the love. Would love to hear more about your team, so we can keep track of your work, too!
Creator Zendoart on July 5, 2012
it felt so good to donate to this team i have a team just like this and when i saw this project not only the originality made me want to donate but the power and spirit of the team good luck and i hope my team can do this well both on our kickstarter and in the action rpg industry =D.
- Harold
Creator Leo from Studio Kontrabida on July 4, 2012
@Calvin: Oh man! Sorry I'm only seeing this comment now. It will most definitely be pushed back a bit to accomodate these new additions unfortunately. Hopefully, not by much. Adding more playable characters will definitely take a significant amount of work.
Creator Calvin Chou on July 1, 2012
Would the new characters be added after the games expected release in October or would it be pushed back a bit to accommodate the animating and designing the new additions?
Creator Leo from Studio Kontrabida on June 27, 2012
@Grégory: We're happy to see you here again! We always look forward to your input. You've also dealt (hopefully positively) with Chris and Jay on their own Kickstarter project so expect the same excellent treatment on the comics. I've got a foolproof plan on implementing the additional characters. I'll leak more info as we make progress.
@David: Exactly what I want to go for! We'll see what we can do. Funny thing is, my colorist has already committed. We're just waiting for the illustrator(s). This is a big undertaking so it'll take a lot of planning.
@Silvernis: Thanks! I hope people find it useful! I can't wait to play this myself. Haha.
~Leo
Creator Silvernis on June 27, 2012
I'm strictly a PC guy, but the whole cross-platform connectivity thing is pretty cool. I'm also totally stoked about the idea of more playable characters. Can't wait to play this! ^_^
Creator David Hannah on June 27, 2012
So for the 15,000 dollar goal I think it might be cool to feature a colored Manga comic so it kind of merges the East/West aspect and you guys might be able to publish it making your world even more popular.
Just giving an idea
Creator Grégory Bernal on June 27, 2012
I'm really happy to see this project gets so much love. Because it (and you!) deserves it! So much talented and amazing people working on this great concept, and equally awesome backers believing in it and making it possible, will with no doubt give birth to a wonderful game!
Each of these stretch goals really looks tempting. The Kloud feature to port our progress from a platform to another is a very good and convenient idea (even more since I intend to get an iPhone at some point haha)! About the comic... Chris Carter will take on this story as well heh? That's just wonderful! I can't wait to hear about the artists next and if it can be made I'm really looking forward to it! And the extra characters would be great, it would extend the game's replayability value and give other points of view on this story (since to my understanding it's already the case with Sebastian's and Maya's character differences). It might be a tedious work to include extra playable characters though so for now I'll refrain my enthusiasm a bit, but I sincerely hope these stretch goals can be achieved! :)
Thanks for this update!
Creator Leo from Studio Kontrabida on June 27, 2012
@Maxim: I updated the front page with the actual stretch goal. I forgot to put the amount in the actual post. I'll update it now.
Don't worry, The stretch goals are just there simply as goals. We had to list them down because people wanted to see them. Like sabata2 mentioned in the comments, people are more likely to support the project beyond the goal if they see something worth supporting. One way or another we'll get all these listed features in even if we only barely hit the latest stretch goal. We already have more money than we originally asked for and we also have some of our own stashed away so we'll definitely make all of this happen. :)
Creator Maxim Bardin on June 27, 2012
As you already mentioned 320% of the goal already been achieved.
I'm sure that most people would prefer more characters to webcomic and universal savegame feature.
You made those stretch goals but never wrote how much money we will need to get them.
Creator Leo from Studio Kontrabida on June 27, 2012
@Erik: Thanks Erik! Glad to have you around for a second time as well! It's always great hearing from people who supported us from the very beginning. You guys supported us when few did, even when we only had a crude video, a bunch of concept art and an unproven team. It's a very satisfying feeling hearing from you guys. Positive or negative.
- Don't worry the game will be DRM free. ;) You can install it as many times as you want.
- That's what I'm planning with XBLA/PSN, too. We'll just focus on the platforms we originally listed and worry about consoles later. ~Leo
Creator Erik Ottosen on June 27, 2012
Thank you for making this happen! Proud to pledge a second time... Now I think it, I should've probably asked if I can make the game copy from the second time a gift for someone....
Then again, I went for a higher-rank pledge this time too so, yeah.
Anyways - when it comes to Xbox Live, once you finish the game up, if it turns into a hit, try contacting Microsoft then - they might be willing to offer support, particularly if you make the console release an XBLA exclusive.
Creator Leo from Studio Kontrabida on June 27, 2012
@JiMMaR: The reason why we wanted to put in voice acting was because of Lunar SSSC! We even saved the outtakes for the ending, like in SSSC. Those were hilarious! We even wanted a cool opening song like in Lunar, but that's probably not happening. We love all of Working Design's translations. The PSP Lunar from XSeed isn't half bad either.
Creator Jimmar on June 27, 2012
ok ... I didn't know you guys played Lunar SSSC !!
this game will be awesome XD
Creator Leo from Studio Kontrabida on June 27, 2012
@ThVortex: I feel exactly the same way! I'm also backing multiple projects, some of which I've already lost track of because they rarely update their kickstarter blog and when they do, it's one short paragraph. :( ~ Leo
@David: YES!! :D
Creator David Long on June 27, 2012
SO MUCH AWESOMENESS!!!! can't wait!
Creator ThVortex on June 27, 2012
I just want to say thank you for continuing to use Kickstarter for your project updates even after the campaign is over. A lot of projects only use their own private forums for updates once they get funding. I'm backing multiple projects and it's a lot easier to see all my updates in one place.