New adventure game from Space Quest creators + Kickstarter

[nem]

Not sure if we had a thread for this yet, since it was announced a while back.

Two Guys from Andromeda, the guys behind the Space Quest series, have teamed up after 20 years and are making a new Space themed adventure game. This is new IP, and not a continuation of Space Quest unfortunately, since that is still owned by Activision.

Anyway, the Kickstarter page is up. They're aiming for a modest 500k (I'm guessing they'll hit 2 million after all is said and done).

Kickstarter video:



Good VO talent, at least.

[Deuteros]

I wonder how long until this whole Kickstarter bubble bursts... I really shouldn't be complaining about something that's helping new adventure games by Tim Schafer, Jane Jensen or the Two Guys From Andromeda become a reality, but all of these projects popped up at around the same time and I'm afraid they may be cannibalizing each others chances and supporters. While I'm ranting, let me just add that I don't like how they all seem to be copying their predecessors' rewards structure, meaning that you won't get anything tangible back unless you pledge $100 or so.

This particular project struck me as odd since I couldn't help but remember this rather sad interview with Scott Murphy on Adventure Classic Gaming.

Do you feel you accomplished what you set out to accomplish with the Space Quest series? If the rights ever reverted back to you through some magical twist of fate, would you be interested in teaming back up with Mark Crowe and the gang for another go-around?

Overall, I feel pretty good about how the games came out. When Mark and I started the games we decided that we wanted to make games WE would want to play, and I think we did that for the most part. Would I want to work with Mark again? No, I don't think so. As I learned the hard way, Mark was not a very good partner in the long run. When he decided to go to Sierra's Dynamix division, he didn't have the decency to tell me he was leaving until we were headed to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show. The only reason he told me then was that I was inevitably going to see him talking with Dynamix management personnel about the move while we were out there. I lost a lot of respect for him, and then lost more when I learned some other things about him a couple of years later from people I am not at liberty to name who made me understand that he had loyalty to only himself. I was really bummed to learn what he was really like, or what he'd become.

When we worked on the games together and did interviews I would compliment him to the media about how great he was at what he could do with a few pixels, that he was the best in the business, but never in my memory did ever say a single good thing about what I did, and I spent a hell of a lot more time on the games than he did, not to mention the VAST majority of the writing. I was very disillusioned with him for that.

I'm glad they worked that out. I guess...

[nem]

Yes, I'm slightly worried about that. I'm hoping they haven't begrudgingly made amends just to get some of that adventure gamer $$$.

There's this prototype available now that can be played in Google Chrome. Has anyone here tried it out?

[Deuteros]

I gave that 'prototype' a whirl. It's nothing, really. It's over in half a dozen clicks, you're not missing much if you don't have Chrome and can't try it.

I'm feeling somewhat less cynical about these projects. The people involved seem to have their hearts in the right place and it's nice seeing former Sierra staff cross-promote each other's Kickstarters.

Another interesting Kickstarter is being launched in a couple of days. Aaron Conners and Chris Jones will try their hand at drumming up enough attention and support to bring Tex Murphy back for a new game! Here's the link to Project Fedora and the video that promotes its launch.

[Deuteros]

Well, Tex Murphy - Project Fedora has made it! They're a bit over their $450,000 target with eight days to go so stretch goals should probably be announced soon. Huzzah!

Things are looking a bit shakier for Two Guys SpaceVenture, though... They're three quarters of the way with only four days left. I really hope they make it.

[nem]

This is doing a lot worse than I expected it to. However, in hindsight, I can understand why -- not a familiar franchise, not much to show for the game, and the deluge of new adventure games. I'm sure the browser prototype didn't help things.

Hopefully, this will still pull through. The voice talent is great and the developers previous work has been outstanding (admittedly 15 years old now, though).

Also, concept art:

[Deuteros]

They've made it!