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Update #16: Code Hero's Prepax Crunch & A Video Show about Indies & Kickstarting

Posted on March 31

Hello Code Heroes! We've been crunch crunch crunching the new version of Code Hero in preparation for PAX East Boston!

We're going to have a booth with Kickstarter in Room 103! We're readying the Internship program as part of our broad push into schools starting with AMSA Charter School in Boston April 10. 

Here's more details: http://primerlabs.com/node/2888

The Code Heroes TV Show

We're also going to be releasing the first episodes of a show about our creative process, our Kickstarter experience and the experiences of our Code Hero community members, interns and fellow indies. People keep asking us for advice about how to do Kickstarter and indie development successfully. We had no idea but we somehow succeeded and learned a lot, and we'll share everything we figure out as we go along! Some of our friends have launched some amazing Kickstarters and we've been working at IGN offices now with other indies from the Indie Open House. Here's one that is going to EAT YOUR BRAINS!

ARG Zombies!

I just pledged $250 to ARG Zombies! (I get a shirt and to design a custom mission in the game. It will haunt you. You will fear it!) 

ARG Zombies is a game where you slay and feed on the zombies / brains of your real cohorts all over the streets of your city! We've backed them as have Gameful, Jane McGonigal and Two Player Productions. This is a game that gets people out to socialize. What could bring people together like eating each others' brains? I think the game is super fun and I look forward to eating your brains too.

Check out their Kickstarter and pledge away!

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      njt on April 1

      Well, better late than never :). I can't wait to see the new and improved game!

Update #15: Code Hero Army enlistees to be issued Mecha!

Posted on March 6

Code Hero is part of a whole community of indie game developers that collaborate at Noisebridge.net hackerspace, and our good friend Nick Shapiro's game Mecha Galaxy has launched their Kickstarter on Facebook! 

As a giant mecha geek who played BattleTech tabletop, painted miniatures, and still listens to the MechWarrior 2 soundtrack, I would be remiss in my duties to the Code Hero Army if I did not issue all enlisted personnel a squadron of personal fighting Mecha!

Back MechaGalaxy's kickstarter to receive your beta code, join the Mecha Galaxy Army on Facebook, enlist in the "Code Hero Army" faction within the game. 

Load up your custom mecha forces to get some glory in the name of spreading code literacy throughout the Galaxy! Our mission is to liberate the people of the Illyrian Hegemony, a tyrannical aristocracy that oppresses its common citizens by censoring their Internets to prevent them from learning to code! Together, we shall set minds free!

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      Mark McDonough on March 6

      Ignore my previous comment, if we can get alpha access to a non-facebook version I'll pay.

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      rockhowse on March 6

      Just bumped you guys over $3500. Can't wait to rock it out with my legendary hero =)

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      Shawn Wood on March 16

      hmmm... link in above post goes to a 404:
      http://www.kickstarter.com/wymeditor_iframe/Noisebridge.net

Update #14: WE DID IT!

Posted on February 24

WE DID IT! THANK YOU TO ALL OUR BACKERS!

We raised $170,954 with 7459 backers which combined with our direct sales on the CodeHero.org store and private donations puts us at over $200K in total funding! This will be enough to start building Code Hero into a DRM-free offline friendly single-player game AND a multiplayer MMO where everyone can learn to code, create and play together!

We will continue to publish Updates about the progress of Code Hero on Kickstarter and via PrimerLabs.com Email Updates as we release new versions of the game and have news on the shipping of your rewards.

If you're seeing this before you got a chance to pledge, you haven't missed your opportunity to participate!

For those who missed the Kickstarter, you can now continue to buy Code Hero on our store! 

We will continue to honor the same pledge levels as on the Kickstarter, so you haven't missed out on becoming an intern, the 1K12 Code Hero School package or the $1776 Senator & Congress Challenge chance for a public official to get Code Hero for a whole state!

http://www.primerlabs.com/codeheroprivatebeta

We welcome you to our main site:

http://www.primerlabs.com

You can learn all about Code Hero:

http://www.codehero.org

Thank you press!

Code Hero got a phenomenal amount of support from the press who carried our story as it evolved and really went the extra mile to show that the game media supports indies like us and cares about games that can change the world!

Press that would like to talk to us can email press@primerlabs.com.

WHAT'S NEXT:

Full Postmortem

We'll be sharing a detailed look at how this all transpired just as soon as we figure it out ourselves!

The Code Hero Documentary Series

Video from the origins of the project to our Kickstarter celebrations to the making of the project as we march ahead with you the code hero army community as participants in a creative process! 

(If you'd like to help shoot or produce or contribute to the story as a guest on the show, let us know!)

The Next Betas:
Goodbye buggy prototype & programmer art,
hello revolutionary gameplay features & visuals!

We will be announcing our plans for the next big beta releases soon! Expect a big leap in quality as founder Alex's programmer art gets replaced by the work of the amazing Farbrauscher Gizmo and the code gets rewritten from the ground up by our new team of elite code ninjas.

World Changing Pledge Rewards:

We've got some actually life-altering and world-changing rewards that are about to happen! 

From 7459 new people now playing the game itself (over 8000 total) to
61 students enrolled in Gamebridge Unityversity to
9 interns signed up to become part of the Primer Team to
6 K12 schools that are about to be among the first to roll out Code Hero
2 $10,000 pledgers who took it to the limit to back us & get their own custom levels,
these pledges will change the world.

The pledges people took are more than just rewards, they're going to change one life and career and school at a time in ways we'll be watching closely as they ripple forwards into the future!

(And you'll also get your sweet loot! We'll have more deets on the awesome T-shirts and boxed games with auto-updating USB editions so you can get it before some mythical "final release" and more soon!)

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      Ettore Gislon on February 26

      I am so hyped about this game! Can't wait! It's been some time since I felt real hype, I am touched ç_ç

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      Adam Sawyer on February 28

      Really like the concept and execution of the game. It's like a modern day mathblaster

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      Jason Zimmerman on March 14

      Hey, for those that paid 42 dollars for the game, how do I receive it and when does it get shipped?

Update #13: Mojang's Minecraft Jeb interviewed in Code Hero Cubia: Learn how to make Minecraft-like worlds!

Posted on February 24

We're releasing tonight at midnight an edition of the game with Minecraft creator Jeb in it! 

We're also releasing a preview episode of our meeting Jeb and Leo and Notch at Minecon where they invited us to exhibit in the indie showcase!

It will be the first episode of our documentary series about making Code Hero. We're grateful for their support and official blessing of our including our interview with Jeb in Code Hero for a level called Cubia that teaches you how to make your own Minecraft-like game worlds! 

Jeb will talk about how he became a game developer, how he came to Mojang to work on Minecraft and what his dream hack and how it would amaze him if the player could take on this game development challenge and be the first to prove that you belong on the Real Artists Ship!

Spread the word on Twitter and Facebook and by Facebook and face-to-face so we can reach $200K this midnight and make a world where today's gamers become the game developers of the future!

Update #12: The final hours

Posted on February 23

Thank you all for your support!

We had many questions about the 1,337 Unityversity Founding Intern Level. 

If you have any interest in this level read this FAQ. 

FAQ:
1. Can I do this if I am not in San Francisco?
Yes we will be doing our mentorship via Skype Video chat and other online communication mediums. If you are in San Francisco, you can come to our office and get mentorship and advice.

2. How long does it last?
The internship is a minimum of 4 months, but there is always the opportunity to continue,  depending on your progress, and completion of goals.

3. Will we help you with your own game?
Yes we will provide you training beyond what Code Hero already teaches you.

4. Will I contribute to the game?
Yes challenges and goals will be directly related to the progress of the game. You will be given the opportunity to create pieces like doors, lighting or much larger components all depending on your skill level, and how fast you progress.

5. How many hours, can it be after hours?
You can put in as much or as little time as you want. If you want once a week or on the weekends to contribute, that's fine if you want it to be a full-time project we will work to give you a steady stream of projects to work on.

6. Will I have access to the source?
We give developers modular pieces of the code, so they can develop the individual levels or pieces they need. You will get to see the inner workings.

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      Anders Schou on February 24

      So, where can we learn more about this?
      I'm currently an intern at LEGO, developing concepts, while also making them interactive trough UNITY3D. Can i contact you somehow, to discuss it even further?
      Trixxr@Trixxr.com
      //Anders Schou - Denmark.
      (Congrats with the successful backing!)

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      ZeLroy Parts on February 24

      hay, i know i'm probably going to be your slowest learner with this game D: so i was thinking, can you add an option to get lesions / help at a latter point in time with you guys, i plan to learn this stuff and then boggle my way though as much as i can to make this game idea that's been bugging me for the past two years, and i can see myself wasting a good 5 years getting the feel i want down before i show any of it to someone els but i will say the initial stage would be like the sim's but with control over your hero , there will probably be forums and other stuff like there is now for unity, but it would be nice to know i can do something and get a skype call and someone can tell me why the sky keep's falling in or something

7,459
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Funding Successful

This project successfully raised its funding goal on February 24.

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2726 Backers

$1+ Starving Hacker Name Your Price Edition Preorder for beta access and name your price for $1 or more to save on the $31.37 full game release! You get early access to the game at your price! You help fund the development of Code Hero Code Hero Private Beta is now available in beta preorder. Buy it now to support our development and you get to download the betas and receive the full game when it ships! Buy your copy of Code Hero and be first to get it! You can now preorder Code Hero to receive the private beta and guarantee first access to new versions till the gold master game ships! What you get with the game: A game that teaches you how to make games An account on the Code Hero online community network to share your achievements and collaborate on projects with others Digital download whenever you need to. All reward levels include the benefits of the previous levels.

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

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2896 Backers

Elite Hacker Name Your Price Edition You are an elite hacker and will receive the full game along with exclusive access to enter the mysterious in-game 1337 club for any purchase prices above $13.37.

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

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472 Backers

Elite Hacker Preorder Editon You'll get secret in-game rewards to be announced soon for preordering the full-priced game You help fund the development of Code Hero even more by paying what its worth

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

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1217 Backers

Elite Collector's Edition You get the digital download AND the boxed USB version! The Collector's Edition comes on a special USB drive in a book box signed by Alex Peake and the whole developer team with a scroll full of codefoo secrets. You also get a CODE HERO T SHIRT!

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

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47 Backers

Elite Founding Pupil Edition Pay $100 or more to massively help fund the development of Code Hero and you'll get membership in our founding supporter's club Invitations to special events UNITYVERSITY TUITION: A one-on-one live online mentorship session with one of the developers of Code Hero for yourself or a person you gift it to.

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

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14 Backers

Elite Hacker Founding Apprentice Edition Visit the Primer Labs HQ and meet the developer team! UNITYVERSITY TUITION: A week of daily one-on-one live mentorship sessions with the developers of Code Hero or a person you gift it to.

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

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6 Backers

1 K12 Code Hero School: Give your children more than a game: Give them programming peers that will engage and inspire each other. A parent, teacher, student, administrator or entrepreneurial youth can pledge to give a school of their choosing a special school-wide Code Hero access. All their students will receive school accounts for Code Hero. Teachers will be trained by the Code Hero team to be able to mentor students who can mentor each other. Code Hero School will feature advanced metrics and collaborative gameplay that will allow teachers to integrate it into making projects for every subject and class in the school. Art classes can produce game art for history projects that become simulated historical worlds with math class showing how engineering created disruptive new industries that economics class analyzes for modern parallels [HINT HINT]. Check out http://www.HackTheFuture.org and http://www.primerlabs.com/unityversity to see how we teach large groups of kids already to make and present games on their first day. NOTE: PETITIONERS WELCOME. You can pledge at this level to petition your school to try it: Call them, ask them if they will accept it on behalf of all their students. This doesn't require a school approval process or a strategy session: It just opens the door for a new kind of education through games that kids actually want and enjoy! UNCONDITIONAL GIVING: If you can't get a school to accept, you can give it directly to the students of the school to form a Code Club to provide the power of one good example: a school where every student can code fluently and create games as group projects as easily as presentation posterboards and science fair exhibits. Every state needs at least one representative that will take up this challenge to show there is no state that is not ready to become an economic powerhouse, that there is no district that can't emulate Silicon Valley, and that there is no school that can't become a flourishing entrepreneurial hotbed of student-created startups!

Estimated Delivery: Apr 2012

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9 Backers

FOUNDING INTERN UNITYVERSITY TUITION: Join Primer Labs' team to be a part of Code Hero's development! Founding Apprentices get ongoing personal mentorship for yourself or a person you gift it to. You'll learn how to help create Code Hero as an intern apprentice on the Code Hero development team. You get one-on-one training to learn the ropes and master Unity game development, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to contribute to a game that changes the world. Exemplify the empowerment of becoming a game developer first-hand through your involvement in the project. PROMOTION: We'll feature any games you create on our site and help you promote your creations and kickstart your career as a game designer!

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

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0 Backers • Limited Reward (51 of 51 remaining)

$1776: SENATOR HERO: ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF REVOLUTIONIZING EDUCATION FOR YOUR STATE! Every Senator or Congressman who accepts this challenge will bestow a K12 Code Hero School License for every student in every school in their state or district. Make a statement to the world that your constituents all deserve to have the power of code and that code is the key to American prosperity. Show that you are taking action to revolutionize education by making learning to code a universal part of gaining full literacy as an informed and empowered citizenry of a country that will continue to lead the 21st century! NOTE: PETITIONERS WELCOME. If you are not a Senator, you can pledge at this level to petition your representatives: Call them, ask them if they will accept it on behalf of all their voters. This doesn't require a school approval process or a strategy session: It just opens the door for a new kind of education through games that kids actually want and enjoy! If you can't get a Representative to accept, you can convert this to a 1 K 12 pledge and give it to one school in their district to provide the power of one good example: a school where every student can code fluently and create games as group projects as easily as presentation posterboards and science fair exhibits. Every state needs at least one representative that will take up this challenge to show there is no state that is not ready to become an economic powerhouse, that there is no district that can't emulate Silicon Valley, and that there is no school that can't become a flourishing entrepreneurial hotbed of student-created startups!

Estimated Delivery: Jul 2012

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0 Backers • Limited Reward (6 of 6 remaining)

INTERN ON A PAX: Join the Primer Labs team as an intern AND fly with us to Penny Arcade Expo East!

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

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1 Backer • Limited Reward (29 of 30 remaining)

INTERN ON A PLANE: Help Build Code Hero & Celebrate in Berlin At Our December 2012 Launch Party! You will not only become an elite hacker founding apprentice entitled to personal internship training working alongside Code Hero creator Alex Peake at our headquarters, you will also get to fly the hacker skies with us and Hackers On A Plane to attend the December Chaos Communications Congress 2012 in Berlin as a member of the Primer Labs team. Celebrate the first true hacker New Year with Code Hero and Primer Labs! Berlin's New Years tradition is called Sylvester and it is utter insanity that you must experience for yourself. We'll promote your game career and put you in the game as a character and part of the story!

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

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0 Backers

INTERN ON A SHOW: We will shoot a miniseries of 3 episodes of our ongoing documentary TV show about you and your evolution from your arrival at our as a new recruit to your apotheosis as a game development master at year's end! Apprenticeship with Alex Peake + training in 3D game art, writing and game design to make you an all-around game development superhero.

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

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2 Backers

A CUSTOM GAME SCENARIO OF YOUR CREATION: Elite Founding Funder You become a Code Hero character in the game who can teach millions of players in a custom game challenge designed with you as a part of our team. This is the ultimate interactive advertisement and soapbox for whatever you want to teach people about. If you want to join Code Hero's intern team or sponsor someone, turn your dollars into millions of minds transformed by funding Code Hero's development!

Estimated Delivery: Feb 2012

Project By

Alexpeakefrostruder.large

Connected as Alex Peake (1379 friends)

I founded Primer Labs to make Code Hero, a game that teaches you how to make games so you can make games that teach everything else to make all knowledge playable.

I cofounded Hack the Future to provide mentoring events for young future hackers. I'm a member of Noisebridge SF and Hacker Dojo MV hacker spaces.

I also founded Tactical Corsets, high-function fashion hero gear.

  1. primerlabs.com
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  5. alexpeake.com