About this project
Saturday Morning RPG
$10,361
175
GOAL UPDATE: We've set a new goal of $10,000 to try and reach by the end of the campaign. If we can reach that goal, we plan to buy the new iPad to optimize the game for the device's high resolution display. All the support so far is going to help us tremendously as we begin work on the game's third episode, which we are slating for release at the end of May. Any extra funding we can get will seriously make our lives easier. We really appreciate your help!
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Welcome Back to Saturday Morning Cartoons!
Saturday Morning RPG is a role-playing game with a fresh concept. It's not some complicated 40-hour epic, it doesn't have whiny androgynous characters, and it isn't stuck in some kind of cliche medieval or sci-fi setting. Saturday Morning RPG is an episodic role-playing game infused with a heavy dose of nostalgia featuring influences, parodies and references to all your favorite 1980's Saturday morning cartoons and pop culture icons!
In Saturday Morning RPG you play as Martin "Marty" Michael Hall, an average high school student, who has been miraculously granted the ability to channel magic out of everyday objects. This power was gifted to him on behalf of a mysterious benefactor known only as "The Wizard". The game takes you through various settings where you will explore and collect objects, which can then be unleashed in battle. When these objects are used in battle, a magic power rips forth from some key element of its aesthetic or nostalgic value. For example, if Marty uses a transforming robot action figure (we call them "Botchangers" for legal reasons, of course), that figure causes him to transform into a semi-truck and barrel through the enemies. Below you can see Marty in action with the "Sword of Unknowns", a collectible item from the game's first episode.
Why SMRPG is Different...
The game plays like a traditional turn-based Japanese RPG with influences from Paper Mario and Pokemon, but unlike the vast majority of games in the genre, SMRPG keeps players engaged even when they aren't attacking. This is done through an active defense system requiring player input at precise moments to block enemy attacks, which in turn replenishes Marty's magic. Player action is also required for certain attacks -- for example, Marty's "Joystick" object will sometimes require the player to actually play a classic game of video tennis. Most of the time, though, these specialized attacks will just have the player going through a quick mini-game.
These objects are stored in Marty's notebook (inspired by Mead's legendary Trapper Keeper notebooks), which is decorated with Scratch N' Sniff stickers that are also collected during Marty's journey through these different cartoon worlds. The player gets to choose what stickers to apply to their notebook which are then scratched (in a randomized order) immediately prior to battle for righteous power ups and/or enemy handicaps. Stickers range from common to ultra rare, so make sure to explore thoroughly to find the best stickers! You can also collect different notebook covers where the stickers are applied for permanent stat enhancements and add customization to your notebook with original retro art!
Get Some Ear Candy
Perhaps most awesomely, the game has a full soundtrack by composers Vince DiCola and Kenny Meriedeth.Vince was the composer on Rocky IV and Transformers: The Animated Movie while Kenny has been involved in the musical scores for over 200 popular cartoons and shows like Duck Tales, X-Men, Power Rangers, Full House, etc.
For those who aren't sure how awesome this all makes Saturday Morning RPG's soundtrack - look no further than this track. It's in Saturday Morning RPG!
Where to Find SMRPG
The game is being built in Unity to eventually be released across multiple platforms. PC, Mac, iOS, and Android are our current top priorities with the lead platform being the iOS touch devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod) with Android devices soon to follow. With the newest updates that are coming to Unity, we can even bring the game to you criminally neglected Linux users!
We're planning to start releasing the game with the delivery of "Episode 1", which will be completely free as an introduction to the series. "Episode 2" will be released simultaneously. We hope to release several episodes throughout 2012 as "Season 1".
On the topic of the episodes, each episode will last anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours in length. This will depend entirely on the player and how much of the optional content he/she pursues. The episodes are completely re-playable with a New Game+ option, and all statistics and items are fully transferable between episodes. On top of that, every episode can be played in any order. You can start playing on Episode 5, then play Episode 1, and then play Episode 8. It doesn't matter -- just like a real Saturday morning cartoon!
Why We Need Your Help!
We've been hard at work on the game for about a year now and we've exhausted our initial round of funding (which we received through the indie game incubator, Joystick Labs). We need you, the fine benefactors of Kickstarter, to help us finish the game. We don't need much (we're fine eating ramen), but we need to pay some bills. The more cash we can generate through your gracious donations, the more playable content and swift eye candy we can add to the earlier episodes of the game. Be a hero and help us bring this gaming gem into your loving hands!
Swag Giveaways to Awesome Donors
Here's a preview of the custom NES for top dollar contributors. Custom, flashy, and made just for you!
Here is what the poster print (available to anyone pledging $30 or more) will look like:
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- (45 days)