Make My MMO: Crowdfunding December 29, 2013 - January 11, 2014
Was 2013 the year of Kickstarter? Whatever you think personally about the funding model, you can't argue with the fact that over $480 million was pledged through the crowdfunding platform in the last calendar year. That's definitely one hunk of change! But whether or not that figure translates into a tidal wave of awesome games has yet to be seen; the jury will remain out until even more funded games actually release and players get to experience what they backed.
As for specific MMO news this past fortnight, the bulk of it involves new titles vying for a slice of 2014's crowdfunding pie. The CCG War of Omens has already grabbed a piece; it met its goal and has moved on to stretch goals for the last couple of days. Other hopefuls include more two space strategy games. Learn more about all of these, as well as the news from the funded front, right here in Make My MMO.
Dream a little dream, get a little green, and before long you'll have your very own MMO... at least that's what these developers are hoping! Games seeking funding to make their plans a reality are listed in this section.
Antilia (Right Brain Games): Kickstarter campaign ends January 28, 2014
Fantasy sandbox with unique animal races (with dragons coming soon)
Skill-based with fishing, cooking, crafting, and player housing
Citadel of Sorcery (MMO Magic, Inc.): Open donations, no end date
A vast, dynamic world where nothing is set in stone and each player will experience the game in very different ways
Gloria Victis (Black Eye Games): Open donations, no end date
Fantasy medieval setting with a classless system and unrestricted character development
Realistic weather system
Neo's Land (NeoJac Entertainment): Open donations, no end date
A sandbox where the community decides development by round table discussions
Massively news: Voxel-based building demo available
Novus AEterno (Taitale Studios): Kickstarter campaign ends January 27, 2014
Persistent sci-fi MMORTS
Appearance of investors led to relaunching Kickstarter with a lower goal
Each backer who re-pledges gets a Ring Planet
Met its goal
Space Unfolding: Kickstarter campaign ends January 18, 2014
Cross-platform space sim with planetary travel
Open alpha version available now
Tales From The Strange Universe: Kickstarter campaign ends January 31, 2014
Browser-based sci-fi/fantasy strategy game
Galaxies run three to six weeks then restart
Build industry, train military, conquer stars and planets, form alliances, trade resources
Six races (including dragon and robot)
The Repopulation (Above and Beyond Technologies): Kickstarter campaign ends January 27, 2014
Sci-fi sandbox looking to add more features, from mounts to traveling shops to space flight
Also running a Steam Greenlight campaign
Three-hour Q&A livestream
Universe Rush (Kercus Holding): Kickstarter campaign ends February 3, 2014
Cross-platform space strategy combining space battles, console-level graphics, and long-term strategic multiplayer in an evolving environment
Evolving economy
War of Omens (Fifth Column Games): Kickstarter campaign ends January 13, 2014
CCG set in dark fantasy world
Backer beta is live
Met its goal
Success has its privileges, like a spot in this section! Games that have reached their crowdfunding goals and are in current development are listed here. Once a game reaches the closed testing stage, it will move to the hallowed halls of Betawatch.
Camelot Unchained (City State): Official site
- Recent news: The Trials of Nuada Airgetlám Part IV & Part VCity of Titans (Missing Worlds Media): Official site
Embers of Caerus (Forsaken Studios): Official site
Epic Space (EpicSpace.net): Official site
- Recent news: Wargames are liveEver, Jane (3 Turn Productions): Official site
Face of Mankind (Nexeon Technologies): Official site
Greed Monger: Official site
- Recent news: Alpha updateHEX: Shards of Fate (Cryptozoic Entertainment): Official site
- Recent news: Year's first update; patch 820 breakdownPathfinder Online (Goblinworks): Official site
- Recent news: CEO defends subs; socialization dev blogShadowrun Online: (Cliffhanger Productions) Official site
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues (Portalarium): Official site
- Recent news: New Year update; writing contestStar Citizen (Cloud Imperium): Official site
- Recent news: Designing the MISC Freelancer ship;StarCraft Universe (Upheaval Arts): Official site
The Mandate (Perihelion Interactive LLC): Official site
Like few platforms before it, Kickstarter puts the power to determine the fate of fledgling MMOs in the hands of gamers themselves. Which will live and which will die? Check the pulse of all things crowdfunded in the MMO-sphere with Massively's MJ Guthrie every two weeks in Make My MMO. And for a look at non-MMOs in the crowdfunding realm, don't forget Joystiq's Crowdfund Bookie.