Shadowgate pledge update and more on game progress!
Happy New Year!
We hope that 2013 has started out well for y’all and we definitely wanted to give you an update on all things Shadowgate!
Development Update
Obviously we start with the most important info! Our awesome programmers have been working diligently on making sure we use the right gaming engine to deliver a great first-person adventure product. To that end, we have decided to use the Unity platform and have begun working on the ‘Point and Click’ scripting architecture for the game (lovingly called PAC). Unity will not only allow us to create the game we envision but also develop it for multiple platforms. I am sure that the news of using Unity will bring up the question of a Linux version. We are looking at making a Linux version BUT only after we fulfill our goals of delivering on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. We'll keep ya updated on progress as we go :)
Additionally, we are making good headway on artwork, UI and game design. In fact, we have taken your comments, requests and insights to heart and are re-working a number of things based upon that input as well as hitting our Towers stretch goal. Which means more rooms and more puzzles. Oh, and we promised something about seeking the Black Axe and those pesky goblins so those things are also being designed into this version of the game as well!
Stretch Goals and Pledge update
As we mentioned in the last update, we brought in a bit over $137,000 with around $5,000 in pledges failing. Total PayPal donations have totaled around $3500. That means we are at $135,500 – which puts us off of the Catacombs stretch goal by $4,500. There’s still time to tell your friends about the campaign (probably the best way to push us towards that Stretch Goal) or, if you are interested in adding to your own pledge or purchasing an add-on, you can do this from the Zojoi paypal site. We anticipate the PayPal option will probably be up and running for another three weeks or so as we need to finalize the rewards in a timely fashion. Speaking of...
Rewards
Well, it has taken some time to organize all of the pledges and decipher your responses but we think we have most of it down now. However, some of you will be receiving additional emails from us asking further questions about your pledges since some of the information just wasn’t there or Kickstarter didn't provide to us (game preferences, t-shirt sizes, etc.) So be expecting that. Please reply as soon as you can since we plan on ordering all the shirts, posters and bumper stickers at the same time and that time will be soon!
Other rewards will be going out as they become available. For example, a good number of you pledged extra for the ports we did from our early Sherlock Holmes games. We will be sending out DRM-free keys from Desura.com very soon. (Yes, we did also try to get the games on Steam and Gog.) Kenny is also making excellent progress on the staffs!
We have also been finding time to play test the card game every week with Coleman Charlton and that is going very well. In fact, it looks like we may be adding cards (see the image below) as we continue tweaking the rules to balance the game and provide a better experience. This is still going to take some time so if you ordered the game, hang in there - we will ship it when we are sure it’s done! :)
Project we Like
We would be remiss in not telling you about a project that we like currently running on Kickstarter: Anima: Gate of Memories. We love anime (Go Totoro!) and this game looks like it's shaping up to be a beautiful RPG. It has less than 4 days to go and could use your help getting to their 90k goal so be sure to check it out!
That’s it for now! Thanks again and as always, feel free to email us at contact@zojoi.com if you have a question!
The Zojoi Team
3,468
Backers
$137,232
pledged of $120,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Oct 26, 2012 -
Nov 25, 2012
Pledge $10 or more
999 backers Limited (1 of 1000 left)
Early Bird - INITIATE: The FINISHED SHADOWGATE GAME like you've never seen before via DIGITAL DRM-free download for Windows or Mac. Plus a five-pack of our favorite WALLPAPERS in tons of resolutions.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $15 or more
1145 backers
INITIATE: The FINISHED SHADOWGATE GAME like you've never seen before via DIGITAL DRM-free download for Windows or Mac. Plus a five-pack of our favorite WALLPAPERS in tons of resolutions.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $30 or more
183 backers
NOVICE (Addition): We've decided to ADD a few more things to this digital tier! If you have already pledged to the Novice tier, you will get these rewards as well! If you want to pledge to the Novice tier, you can pledge to either $30 tier to get all the rewards. First, we're adding a 2014 digital wallpaper calendar "THE WORLD OF SHADOWGATE" in a boat load of resolutions. This 14 month calendar (going back to November of 2013) will feature the many fantastic locations outside the castle - all illustrated by Chris Cold. (NOTE: We will also provide each illustration without the calendar overlay for convenience.) Second, we are offering you a DIGITAL VERSION of the cloth MAP in many resolutions as well!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $30 or more
377 backers
NOVICE: An awesome tier featuring the digital, DRM-free, haunting Shadowgate SOUNDTRACK by composer extraordinaire Rich Douglas. You also get the 60 page DIGITAL BOOK "The Art of Shadowgate" illustrated by master painter Chris Cold. Your name will also be added to the Shadowgate website as an official backer! Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $45 or more
59 backers
ACOLYTE: NOTE THAT THE SECOND $45 TIER IS NO LONGER VALID. The first reward is a series of exclusive commentary videos. These streaming and/or downloadable videos will walk you thru the game while the Zojoi team shares insights, notes and humorous stories from design to art to audio. It's a must have for players that like to know the inside stories behind the games' development. The second reward is a digital COMIC HINT/WALKTHRU featuring all the rooms within Shadowgate in illustrative form!
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $60 or more
216 backers
APPRENTICE: Take this EPIC Shadowgate title on the go with your very own digital iOS or ANDROID TABLET version. Plus, your name PERMANENTLY etched digitally in the final game credits! And all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $95 or more
210 backers Limited (290 of 500 left)
Early Bird - ADEPT: The game ships in a never-to-be-made-again COLLECTORS BOX created specifically for displaying the game in all its glory. And what's inside? A retro CLOTH MAP of the Shadowgate world, of course! You'll also get a full-sized Shadowgate POSTER that will blow your mind! Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Add $15 to ship outside the USPledge $100 or more
38 backers
ADEPT: The game ships in a never-to-be-made-again COLLECTORS BOX created specifically for displaying the game in all its glory. And what's inside? A retro CLOTH MAP of the Shadowgate world, of course! You'll also get a full-sized Shadowgate POSTER that will blow your mind! Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Add $15 to ship outside the USPledge $130 or more
121 backers Limited (129 of 250 left)
Early Bird - ENCHANTER: You get the CARD GAME "Quests of Shadowgate", created specifically for the Shadowgate universe by MIDDLE EARTH Collectible Card game designer, Coleman Charlton. We'll also include EXCLUSIVE Jair and Lakmir cards that will NEVER be created again! Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Add $15 to ship outside the USPledge $150 or more
7 backers
ENCHANTER: You get the CARD GAME "Quests of Shadowgate", created specifically for the Shadowgate universe by MIDDLE EARTH Collectible Card game designer, Coleman Charlton. We'll also include EXCLUSIVE Jair and Lakmir cards that will NEVER be created again! Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Add $15 to ship outside the USPledge $200 or more
42 backers
DRUID: A cool, 60+ page SOFTCOVER BOOK "The Art of Shadowgate", featuring dozens and dozens of room and character illustrations to impress your friends. You also get the OFFICIAL backer T-SHIRT featuring the Shadowgate logo! Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Add $15 to ship outside the USPledge $500 or more
14 backers Limited (136 of 150 left)
MAGICIAN: We ship you an exclusive 18" STAFF OF AGES replica made of resin from master craftsman Kenny Hudson. You also get upgraded to the HARDCOVER version of "The Art of Shadowgate." You'll also get a LIMITED EDITION physical SOUNDTRACK from Rich Douglas! Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Add $15 to ship outside the USPledge $1,000 or more
2 backers Limited (23 of 25 left)
SORCERER: Love fantasy? Science Fiction? Artist Chris Cold will create a personal, original, DIGITAL ART COMMISSION just for you! Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $2,500 or more
3 backers Limited (12 of 15 left)
MAGUS: This is it! Be the envy of Shadowgate fans everywhere with a FULL-SCALE 72" STAFF OF AGES made of resin and featuring a beautiful blue calcite sphere (Other-worldly power sold separately). Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (4 of 4 left)
WIZARD: Become one of the legendary CIRCLE OF TWELVE wizards featured in the game. You get to help name the wizard and create a back-story and skill set for this character. Your creation shall be featured in the library and other locations within the magical keep. Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $7,500 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
ARCHMAGE: We'll FLY YOU OUT for a weekend with Shadowgate creators Dave Marsh and Karl Roelofs in beautiful Virginia. You'll get to help brainstorm future Shadowgate titles as well as play QUESTS OF SHADOWGATE with Coleman Charlton. We'll visit Jefferson's Monticello, play board games and enjoy hours of wiffle ball home-run derby in Dave's backyard. You get all this plus previous rewards. (Domestic backers only).
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
Comments
Creator The Evolutionary on February 16
I know your main platform is priority and respect that you've started with it, but I really, REALLY, want Linux. I'm fed up with MS Windows and Windows 8 is the final straw for me. Please not this Wine stuff ; mixed results. If it is done in Unity 4 it can be done in Linux with relative ease (some testing is needed of course).. Just supported 2 games with Linux as a core goal (Asylum) that is an open source engine/api and Dreamfall, which is guaranteed to be Linux as the stretch goal is guaranteed with 22 days to go at 900k. Windows 8 (windows 7 was bad enough with all the memory need to power prebuilt monitor/spyware/protected media path services, pinging home to MS every hour....etc, etc) will drive more people to Linux for gaming with increased lockdown for developers, driving users to its precious App store....Its a slowly accelerating trend recognized by even the big names now big announce by Steam/Valve ad others) so ideally for all concern it should be not so much a "if" its out for Linux but "when". Don't forget Ouya either, it made 8 million last year, coming out this summer.
Creator Sven_Q45 on January 17
Ah, ok. I hope mine worked fine?
Creator Zojoi on January 11
@Sven - Well, it worked but not everyone filled out the bits we needed to know.
@Karashata - If we do the Linux build, you will def be able to swap it out. We'll keep you informed :)
Creator Karashata on January 10
I'm glad to hear there is possibility of a Linux version in the future, even if it is after the other versions aimed for with this project. I am curious, though, will those of us using Linux who pledged on this project but chose another platform (ie. Windows, to possibly run through Wine) as our reward be able to get the Linux version free of charge or will we have to buy it separately..?
Creator Sven_Q45 on January 10
What the survey didn´t work? Or did I misinterpreted that?
Creator Adri on January 10
Yay, it would be awesome if you eventually released a Linux version. I love Shadowgate, so I couldn't not support this project, but I'm a little sad that I'll have to rely on Wine to play it.
Creator Tomimt on January 10
Unity devs must be happy from this situation as well. There's some pretty high level projects that chose to use Unity over Unigne for an example.
Creator Andreas on January 9
Well, in addition to that, Unity costs scale well with the company size, and you trade visual quality for way faster development than any other 3D engine I've seen so far. It's a natural choice for Kickstarter projects.
Creator Serena Nelson - Hero of the AGRM on January 9
And another game decides to use Unity. I'm not surprised considering the sheer number of platforms it supports.
And I'm looking forward to seeing my rewards. Looks like I'll have to create a Desura account for the Holmes games.