Couchpotato: Thank you for agreeing to answer a few questions in your busy schedule. So my first question would have to be how is development coming along for the game? Any setbacks or other problems?
Jiri Rydl: Sure there are problems, like in any software development process :-] For instance we postponed early alpha access from September to October. But we also were able to move into new offices, hire 50 new people and build our own motion capture studio in last six months, so its obvious we fight some minor issues every day. But the coffee machine is working :-]
Couchpotato: The last update announced the Alpha is targeted for October can you briefly talk about what will be included?
J.R.: As we already mentioned on Kickstarter, this is more or less a technology demo with some basic principles to see. You will be able to walk around small village with a few NPC to watch their day/night routine. It is the starting environment for future updates with horse riding or swords fights.
Couchpotato: Congratulations on achieving the $2 million dollar stretch goal for better voice-overs. A few of our members think the money could of been spent elsewhere, What do you guys think?
J.R.: It is just one of our stretch goals, it doesn't mean that we spent two millions for hiring George Clooney :-] It means that we can try to reach some more worldwide known names to help us with the voice overs. Some backers are already sending their recommendations who they would like to hear, thus you can see that it is important question at least for some of them.
Couchpotato: I was curious if you guys have had any publishers contact you after Daniel Vavra wrote earlier this year that none of them where willing to publish your game?
J.R.: The publishers are still in touch with us, but we dont need each other right now - we have the production costs covered and the game is not ready for publishing :-] But we can talk about possible cooperation in the future again.
Couchpotato: Since your game was one the bigger kickstarters funded this year can you share some your experience with crowd-funding, and maybe give a few pointer for smaller indie developers?
J.R.: Spend a lot of time with the research of both successful and unsuccessful campaigns, invest some money to selected projects to experience the process, prepare all of the updates ahead and be ready to answer a lot of questions during the campaign!
