mighty-no-9
Latest
Crowdfund Bookie: $23 million raised in six months
The Crowdfund Bookie crunches data from select successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns that ended during the month and produces pretty charts for you to look at. The past six months have proven fruitful for crowdfunded games. In total, 186 different Indiegogo and Kickstarter video game projects earned $23,914,666 from the months of June through November. Those numbers are courtesy of 500,467 backers in the six-month period, who raised $13,173,182 beyond the combined goals of the projects to reach stretch goals that will bring games to additional platforms and grant players more content. On average, crowdfunding projects raised $128,573 in the last six months, but as we examined in our last quarterly report, these mean averages can be quite misleading. By comparison, the median, or middle number in the data set for the amount of money raised by each of the 186 projects, is $25,188. Given that only six of the projects raised at least one million dollars, and just seven more raised at least $500,000 during that time frame, we can conclude that the average amount of money raised by crowdfunding projects in the last six months is positively skewed. Similarly, the median number of backers per project was 542 (a sharp contrast to a mean average of 2,691). Future project creators should take note, then: Your average Kickstarter or Indiegogo gaming project earns closer to $25,188, not $128,573. Additionally, the data shows that strategy games like Hex and Warmachine: Tactics led the genre to the top of the list, as they earned the most money of the group ($6,901,527). Conversely, the adventure genre had the most successful projects, as 46 adventurous or narrative-driven games were funded in the last six months, such as Obduction and Armikrog. Action games had the highest number of backers (145,316), thanks especially to the highest-earning game of the group, Keiji Inafune's Mighty No. 9, which hauled in $3,845,170 thanks to 67,226 people. Head past the break to see the top-earning games and breakdown by genre for the six-month period.
Crowdfund Bookie, October 2013: Two is greater than 58
The Crowdfund Bookie crunches data from select successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns that ended during the week and produces pretty charts for you to look at. The month of October saw 172,360 people pledge $7,361,713 towards 42 successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo video game projects. To put that in perspective, that's 4,833 more project backers than the past three months combined. As discussed in our September quarterly report, some high-earning games serve as extreme samples in a month's data set. October was no different, as Keiji Inafune's Mighty No. 9 lured in $3,845,170 thanks to 67,226 backers. What's more, both Shantae: Half-Genie Hero and Hyper Light Drifter combined to account for 42,708 backers, which means these three projects had enough backers to match the number of funders in August and September combined, a two-month period that saw 58 successful projects. All three games fit into the action genre this month as well, which accounts for that category's high numbers. Without those three projects, the other four action games would have combined for only $113,876. October also saw some of the first Canada-based developers take advantage of Kickstarter's expansion to the country, which began in September. Eight projects came from Canadian developers, three of which were among the top six earning games for the month: RimWorld, The Long Dark and River City Ransom: Underground. The eight games accounted for 11.16 percent of the overall picture for the month ($821,411), so it'll be interesting to watch for the impact Kickstarter's expansion has on our crowdfunding trends. The funding platform will open up to Australia and New Zealand-based creators on November 13, as well. Head past the break for the month's breakdown by genre as well as the list of October's top five earners.
Crowdfund Bookie: Inafune's mighty $3.8 million haul
The Crowdfund Bookie crunches data from select successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns that ended during the week and produces pretty charts for you to look at. The power of Keiji Inafune's name couldn't be more evident than in this highly-profitable week in crowdfunding, which covers the Kickstarter projects for Mighty No. 9, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, Sunless Sea, DCS WWII: Europe 1944, Neverending Nightmares, Penguemic, Mysterious Cities of Gold, Hot Tin Roof: The Cat That Wore A Fedora, Data Hacker: Corruption and Neo-Victorian Skirmish Squad. Mighty No. 9, the action platformer project from the Mega Man creator earned the most money this week ($3,845,170) and had the highest number of backers (67,226). LearnDistrict Inc's educational game Penguemic: Word Domination had the highest average pledge per person of the group ($160.81). Head past the break to see the week's results and our set of fancy charts.
Mighty No. 9 concludes funding with over $4 million
Keiji Inafune's Mighty No. 9 has ceased asking for donations on Kickstarter, managing to secure over $3.8 million in a month's time. That's beyond some of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns yet, including Double Fine's $3.3 million for the Broken Age adventure game, $1.2 million for Massive Chalice, and the close to $2.3 million pulled in by Cryptozoic Entertainment's Hex. That $3.8 million figure is just counting Kickstarter donations, though. With additional pledges through Paypal, which Comcept says make up $186,380, the final amount is $4,031,550. Mighty No. 9 is perhaps best described as Inafune's spiritual successor to the Mega Man series. It's a retro-inspired action-platformer starring a robot boy named Beck who must battle a series of robot bosses infected with a mysterious virus. The game is planned for launch sometime in the spring of 2015 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, 3DS,Wii U, Mac, Linux and PC.
Mega Man 2 composer joins Mighty No. 9 as funding campaign concludes
Mega Man 2 sound composer Takashi Tateishi (above, right) has joined Keiji Inafune's team at Concept, and will help score the Kickstarter-funded Mega Man spiritual successor game Mighty No. 9. Composing under the pseudonym "Ogeretsu Kun," Tateishi's works helped define the 8-bit era, and his Mega Man 2 soundtrack is particularly memorable. If you want to sample Tateishi's creations (assuming that they aren't running in a near-constant loop inside your brain already), Wily Stage 1 is a good place to start. Air Man's a classic, too. I'm all about Bubble Man, personally. The Kickstarter project for Mighty No. 9 recently crested $3 million in pledges, and has entered its final 48 hours. In addition to previously announced releases for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, and Mac, Mighty No. 9 will also hit the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 if funding reaches $3.3 million by the campaign's conclusion.
Call out your favorite design for Mighty No. 9's co-op character
Mighty No. 9 has hit its $2.75 million stretch goal, which means the game will feature an online co-op challenge mode starring Beck (the titular No. 9) and robot pal Call, whose design will be chosen via popular vote. There are nine designs to choose from on the Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter page, and everyone - backers, non-backers, potential cosplayers, robot enthusiasts, etc - can vote between now and October 1, when the Kickstarter ends. The three most popular designs will be announced on October 1, after which they'll be colored and put up for a second round of voting, which will only be available to backers. Until then, there's a variety of designs to choose from, including one seemingly inspired by flight attendant attire and a nerdy archetype with huge glasses. Hey, we just met her, and this is crazy, but you'll decide soon: how Call will look-zy.
Mighty No. 9 adds Vita and 3DS to stretch goals
Mighty No. 9 will head to 3DS and PlayStation Vita if its Kickstarter project reaches $3.5 million, a project update revealed today. Comcept has raised over $2.6 million in its crowdfunding campaign so far, which is scheduled to end on Tuesday, October 1. Meanwhile, the campaign's previously announced $3.3 million goal would bring the game to PS4 and Xbox One, and the game will already come to PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U thanks to reaching its $2.2 million goal. Mighty No. 9 is a 2D side-scrolling platformer from Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune. The retro-inspired Mega Man spiritual successor includes a Boss Rush mode and will seek a balance between old-school difficulty and fair, modern gameplay. Comcept noted that, providing the $3.5 million stretch goal is met, Abstraction Games will be in charge of the Mighty No. 9 port to handheld systems, the same developer that brought Hotline Miami to PS3 and Vita.
Watch the first mega Mighty No. 9 documentary episode
The Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter isn't even over and there's already a documentary. Made by 2 Player Productions, who you may recognize from similar films for Mojang, Double Fine, Penny Arcade, and Sony, the first episode captures the lead-up to the Kickstarter's launch around a month ago. If it seems weird to see a documentary for something still being fundraised, bear in mind this is for Keiji Inafune's spiritual successor to Mega Man, and that it's already achieved nearly $2.6 million with four days to go. It's weirder for me to see Inafune in the famous Super Potato retro gaming shop in Akihabara, as only last week I was lucky enough to discover it/nearly lose all the money I have to it. Talking of all the money, by reaching $2.55 million the Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter cleared stretch goals for a challenge mode and an extra end stage and boss. The big stretch goal, however, remains the PS4 and Xbox One versions at $3.3 million. As it stands, Inafune's Comcept is set to bring Mighty No. 9 to PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, Mac, and Linux in 2015.
Mighty No. 9 surpasses current-gen console stretch goal
Keiji Inafune's Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter has rushed past $2.2 million, meaning is should roll out Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U versions at launch in 2015. The Kickstarter recently added stretch goals for PS4 and Xbox One versions (you know, your likely consoles in 2015) at the $3.3 million mark. With 14 days to go in the campaign, Mighty No. 9 still has plenty of time to rock out, pump up the bass and drum up support for future goals. Those include extra bosses, co-op and a lot of tantalizing "???" goals. Mighty No. 9 secured its original $900,000 funding request in three days. [Thanks, Sunny]
Mighty No. 9 reaches $2 million, lets you cut to the front of the boss line
The Kickstarter pledge drive for Mighty No. 9, Keiji Inafune's new retro-inspired 2D platformer, has exceeded $2 million. As a result, Boss Rush mode, a time-based attack mode where players fight all of the bosses in rapid succession, will be in the game when it launches in 2015. No more waiting for Mighty No. 9's hero, Beck, to navigate an entire stage before your climactic battle, boss types! Mighty No. 9 made its debut last month at PAX Prime and quickly secured its desired $900,000 in funding. If Mighty No. 9 is able to secure $2.2 million, then Inafune promises ports to Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U, while reaching $2.75 million will secure an online co-op mode for players. Finally, $3.3 million guarantees Xbox One and PS4 ports.
Mighty No. 9 adds PS4, Xbox One ports to stretch goals
Keiji Inafune's Mighty No. 9 will come to Xbox One and PS4 if the ongoing Kickstarter campaign earns $3.3 million in funding. Presumably this figure would help developer Inti Creates overcome its unfamiliarity with next-gen systems. If the $3.3 million figure is reached, all backers eligible for a download of the game may choose from Xbox One, PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, Mac, Linux or PC. Handheld ports are also on the table, though the Kickstarter post mentions that Comcept, Keiji Inafune's company overseeing production of Mighty No. 9, still has to work out some of the logistics. Comcept hopes to have an update regarding this possibility sometime next week. Mighty No. 9 was announced during PAX Prime and quickly reached its funding goal of $900,000. During our interview at PAX Prime, Inafune said Mighty No. 9 would feature some of the old-school challenge, but would still be a fair game.
Mighty No. 9 console stretch goals lowered by $300K
Among the stretch goals announced for Mighty No. 9, Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune's Kickstarter project, was a $2.5 million goal originally set in order to bring the game to PS3, 360 and Wii U. A recent update on the project's page notes that stretch goal has now been lowered to $2.2 million. Inafune said at PAX Prime that Mighty No. 9's developer is "not familiar with next-gen," explaining the stretch goal's lack of PS4 and Xbox One options. He also added that the game will be challenging like older games were while also being "fair." The Kickstarter project is currently just above $1.5 million, over $600,000 above its funding goal, and will end on October 1.
Mighty No. 9 will have old-school challenge, yet still be 'fair'
One of the chief concepts relayed by Keiji Inafune in his Kickstarter pitch video for Mighty No. 9, a new side-scrolling 2D action platform game from Comcept, was his intention to combine old and new – the classic gameplay sensibilities of the past paired with modern conventions. "Finding that balance is the true innovation of this game, I think – what makes it original," Inafune told me during a PAX Prime interview. "If you are just making an old classic style game, the formula is already set pretty much in stone and you don't need designers to try and come up with anything new; you can just imitate one hundred percent the classics. However, if you make something that's too new and doesn't have enough of the old, obviously the people who want to play these classic games are going to feel left out – some of those are the key fans who have supported us on Kickstarter." For Inafune, Kickstarter is what will drive this balance between old and new, since backers can directly engage with the creators and proclaim what they want from Mighty No. 9. Of course, one can't bring up classic gaming without talking about difficulty. The original Mega Man games are some of the toughest out there. "It will be challenging, as far as the old games were, but it will be fair and have some of the newer, modern game mechanics that allow people to – even if they die – continue to restart and basically rely on their skill and not have to backtrack and do annoying things over and over and over again," Inafune added. "But again, this is something that, with game balance, you have to continually tweak and tweak and tweak. And with Kickstarter, we'll be able to be tied into our fans and they'll help us tweak it with what's the perfect balance." Mighty No. 9 reached its funding goal a mere day after its unveiling. The Kickstarter campaign has earned nearly $1.4 million so far with 28 days to go. The game is slated to launch in 2015 for PC on Steam, but if $2.5 million is raised, Comcept promises console ports on Wii U, Xbox 360 and PS3 – sorry, no next-gen.
Mighty No. 9 stretch goals ignoring Xbox One, PS4 due to tech unfamiliarity
Mighty No. 9, the new Kickstarter campaign from Keiji Inafune, has numerous stretch goals, one of which is console ports for Wii U, Xbox 360 and PS3 if pledges make it to $2.5 million. Since the game is being developed for PC, wouldn't it make more sense to port to Xbox One and PS4? Both of which are built on x86 PC architecture. "One of the clearest reasons is that the developer, who is developing the core of the production, is Inti Creates, and they're not familiar with next-gen," Inafune told Joystiq during an interview at PAX Prime. "So with trying to learn that technology, with trying to understand a new piece of hardware, to get a new development kit, all of that comes with it an associated cost and all of that makes the stretch goal a lot more expensive." Inafune, while not alluding to any possibility of next-gen ports for the game, added that the beauty of Kickstarter is that it allows for direct interaction with the fans – to "reflexively" adapt to what they demand. "It allows us to see how excited they are, what they really want, how vocal they are about certain parts and it allows us to, reflexively, adjust some of what those stretch goals are. What we can say is we're always listening and seeing what they say, but it will forever – and this is the way Kickstarter has to be, unless you're going to be lying to the end user which is what we will absolutely not do – it has to be a balance of what the production realities are and what the fans want." Mighty No. 9, a 2D action platformer harkening back to the classic games of yesteryear, is seeking $900,000 through Kickstarter for its base financing. As of this post it's incredibly close to achieving its goal and will launch on PC through Steam sometime in 2015.
