Harebrained Schemes - January 13th Launch
 

In-case you have been living in an area with internet Harebrained Schemes announced last month they will launching a new Shadowrun Kickstarter.

Well we now know the date due to a new twiiter post.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7AdO4-IIAAgCod.jpg

More information.

I will be backing this. Loved Shadowrun Returns and Dragonfall, so this is one I am greatly anticipating.

Me to I just hope they get more funding this time. They also don't have to spend time making a new engine as the Director's Cut version was a good update.

I don't believe they will receive the same level of funding they did last time.

I don't see why not as their track record speaks for it itself. Is it because gamers are complaining once again about them using kickstarter to fund development? o_O

As I have head that excuse many times already on other sites.

PS: Joxer I know your reading the thread and will say something about phone games.:roll:

Yeah kickstarter has actually reached out to and convinced previous successful fundraisers like Larian to consider using the platform again citing a multiplicative effect. New backers backing a video game project in particular were found to be exceptionally likely to back multiple other projects afterwards. Succesful video game projects ultimately end up helping find support for other smaller projects basically. There was an article on it a while back, I think Larian even mentioned it at one point when changing their mind about possibly doing another kickstarter. Can't find it now though.

The vocal minority will hit the kickstarter and fund it but the average consumer that wanted a Shadowrun game for nostalgia reasons won't. It will probably be successful but I expect something like $800k to $1.2 million this time. They would be silly to ask for more.

Yeah I remember reading that article with Larain. I just don't understand the logic behind the idea of not supporting a developer again if they were successful.

As it was started as a model to fund games without needing publishers.
Thanks for the reply ForNein, and it sound possible so I can't deny it might happen.

I only backed the Shadowrun Returns campaign at the $15 level, for which I received both the GOG and Steam versions of Shadowrun Returns and Dragonfall (Director's Cut) so I feel like I got a huge return on my "investment". Sure there were some bumps along the road; SRR was rather short and linear and (initially) had a very limited save system… But Dragonfall ended up being one of my favorite RPGS of all time.

I would definitely like to contribute a bit more this time around; unfortunately I'm really trying to save up as much as possible to find a new place to live… But these chummers have earned my nuyen.

I'll be there for this one. I'm sure I'll be at least doubling my previous pledge, if not more.

I was not a KS backer but bought both games on Steam on release day. This time I will not make the same mistake and be a proud backer :)

I'll be interested to see what their plans are for this release, as well as their initial price goal.

Really depends on what they have to offer. If it is something similar to Dragonfall it could land around 1.5-2mil but if they expand the scope or the pitch is particular good I could easily see it going 3m+. Only problem is some people are probably thinking they can just wait and pick it up when it is on sale. I'm probably just going to throw in 50 dollars or so.

I'll be backing again.

It will be interesting to see how this kickstarter goes. Is this the first well known successful game campaign to come back to kickstarter for the sequel? It's the first one I'm aware of (double fine adventure and massive chalice was a different type situation IMO).

I hope they get more than last time. I would not be surprised to see it go either way. If I had to guess I agree with ForNein that they may get less. Why? Could be too soon (I bet a lot of people have yet to play 1&2 with today's backlogs), could be some kickstarter fatigue, could be like ForNein said and people already got their shadowrun fix and don't need another.

You're right on there, one of the best returns of any kickstarter game I've been in. Not that cheap prices are my reason for backing ;)

Either way, I am in, hope that they reach their funding and further improve the series.

Which brings me to:
I only played the Release Version of DragonFall. What were the significant changes in the engine in the directors cut version?

Yes they updated how combat works and made managing skills easier. I remember they posted a few kickstarter updates last year about what they updated.

Update: I went through the database here are the links.

1. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects…s/posts/959972
2. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects…s/posts/968034
3. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects…s/posts/975556
4. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects…s/posts/983136

Will happily back it, especially since the engine is already in place now. If they continue to expand the game systems (better companion building/equipping), I know I'll get my money's worth.

I'll back it if they keep improving the game's systems (inventory, party management, etc). If it turns out to be a stand alone DLC, I won't back it this time. I'll wait for the release to see if it's worth buying. We should stop pre-ordering games if we want to reverse the tide of buggy, broken, glitchy game releases.

I agree with you but SRR and Dragonfall is none of those games.

I bet the game will be minimum $20 this time, KS games for $15 seem rare these days.

Daniel.

Depends on how much they want for it at release. And this again is also dependent on how big the game is.
If it has has much content as Shadowrun Returns and Dragonfall together (or maybe SR+ half of Dragonfall) I gladly pay 20$, if release price is about 5$ higher than that.

But 20$ for another short campaign…well…might as well pass and get it at release, maybe even in a release sale.

I doubt this (or any consecutive Kickstarter from the same studio) will get as much attention/funding.

Kickstarter is based on fanciful dreams of what you want in a game without all the disappointments that naturally arise. The second time around, you may have some diehards still backing, but many people simply won't pay attention based on their prior tepid reception.

And yes, "WTF, they need Kickstarter again"? also plays into it.

I likely won't be backing.

Torment: Tides of Numenera was the 2nd KS from inXile entertainment, and they got about 1.2 million more than they did for Wasteland 2.

Daniel.

Yeah, but that was a different franchise AND Wasteland 2 wasnt even released yet AND it was still during the "spring" phase of kickstarter.

But it was a consecutive Kickstarter from the same studio. :p

Daniel.

If I could, I would rescind my Torment pledge based on inXile's lackluster handling of the Wasteland II launch. Still, it's apples and oranges as Kordanor has stated: my previous comment was regarding human psychology of unrealized aspirations for a product you [partially] fund, leading to a lack of desire to fund further development. Wasteland 2 was not yet published so such dreams of fancy had yet to be dashed when the Torment Kickstarter happened. And it did so during the Kickstarter craze… which I would argue has died down significantly.

Yes It's called human stupidity and it never ceases to amaze me. I will continue to back any project I find interesting, and don't see myself stopping anytime soon.

So they still have my pledge and haven't disappointed me yet. :)

Personally, it is also about seeing a studio grow, learn from its mistakes and past games. Each time putting out better and better games. Perfection doesn't exist (except for me). Sure that's not kickstarter specific, but you are a lot closer to the process.

I will certainly back this. Haven't backed their previous game or heck okayed them. But I like what I saw from them and haven't backed something since torment.

I will be backing this….I'm not sure the moronic reasoning that if one was successful why should they go back to kickstarter. What it does for them is take a lot of the ri9sk out of developing the game with many sales already done and confirmed. Anything they make afterwords is bonus. its a win for those backing and the company, I'm not sure why that is hard to see.

As long as I like the game concept, I don't have a problem backing an indie studio that has already had a successful Kickstarter.

Can't see how this could be true in the strictest sense. If Larian kickstarted an Original Sin sequel they would easily double their pledges, probably triple it. The problem is they most likely are not going to use kickstarter, so in a way I guess you are correct :)

I'm not sure about this Shadowrun 3, it could go higher, it could go lower. I guess we will see in a couple of days time. I will be backing it this time despite not backing the original, but I did purchase them both - so I guess there are going to be some new backers to replace the ones that drop off.

I'll back them again just due to the fact that we need more non-fantasy RPGs.

However, there is no way I am going to give the same high dollar pledge. This time I will be in for the minimal amount. Maybe grab an early bird special.

I'll back again and probably for a little more. I'm probably alone on this but I was kind of hoping that they would use Larians engine for their rpg.

Understandable why they wouldn't given the development time they would need to put into it ~ to get all the systems we have now. wistful sigh But they would gain so much from Larians engine, not to mention the layers of interactivity it has. Oh well I can dream.

Why hasn't joxer said anything about phone games yet?

Sure back from me, I liked all two games so far.
But I will likely not pledge as much money as last time (the shirt is pretty cool).

It's not an insta-back for me. I played and enjoyed both Shadowrun Returns games (being a backer), but I've seen some very good and extensive mods for them, so a new game from the developer would have to offer something different, otherwise I'd rather play the free user created campaign mods.

Am I wrong that the first time they got funded they created a completely functioning game engine and editor (since improved), and that this time all they need to create is content? You'd think in that case the money would go A LOT farther.

I like to reward companies that do the consumer right. I consider the director cut as doing the consumer right. On top of that I actually found the games fun to play and not horribly expensive. Conclusion I should back them.

I think how well it does will depend a lot on the amount of media coverage the KS gets, more than anything. The games were actually received pretty well. SRR has a 76 on Metacritic, DF: DC has an 87 and most of the user reviews there and elsewhere seem to be in agreement with that. Moreover, one of the biggest criticisms of SRR was the save system, which was eventually rectified with a patch. But all the people who liked their games certainly aren't going to back if they don't know about it. If all the sites that gave DF positive reviews think this KS is newsworthy, it could do pretty well. They deserve to break Torment's record, and while that probably won't happen I hope they are able to get enough to sustain and even expand their company to continue making Shadowrun games and perhaps even other RPGs for years to come.

Aside from the fact that I really love Dragonfall, the other thing I really love about HBS is that they seem to be striving to constantly improve. They have been humble enough to admit that their games aren't perfect and actually take players constructive criticism into consideration. Even when people have been a bit unreasonable with their expectations or downright nasty, it seems like they're looking for what they can do better, rather than just being defensive / dismissive. Compare that to several of the other developers who have recently released KS games and then actually blamed people for being too harsh in reviews, and "costing them the sales they need" to actually finish their game.

There have certainly been a few bumps in the road. "Dead Man's Switch" was fairly short and too linear (although it also had a lot less filler content than many longer RPGs). There was the limited save system and their initial deal with M$ that would've had any future SR games be Steam exclusives. But HBS learned from their mistakes and fixed the problems. They even did the Director's Cut with Dragonfall turning it into a standalone and giving it to everyone who had the expansion for free.

So yeah, I'm going to back the drek out of their next game. I expect they'll probably have some pretty interesting stretch goals as well.

So today's thze day. Let's see! :)