There’s a lot of cool game-related crowdfunding campaigns going on right now, including some that are almost done:
Hive Jump by Graphite Lab
RD Ash hipped me on to this one, and it’s not hard to see why he was so hyped about it.
Hive Jump is one part Spelunky, one part XCOM, and all parts alien ass-kicking. You and your friends assume the role of JUMPERS, and blast your way through subterranean alien hives in run-and-gun 2D platforming action. Kill aliens, avoid traps, collect resources, and defeat the hive queen lurking at the bottom of the hive to complete the JUMP.
This game got its basic funding, but is trying to hit some stretch-goals before its deadline this Friday night. The game’s 2-D visuals use Sprite Lamp to dynamically light all of the game’s beautiful pixel art assets. It’s amazing to see this technique finally being put into action, especially with a game like this.
Boy and His Pup (by More Fire Games)
Boy and His Pup is an Action Tower defense game about the struggle to survive in a world that has been over-run by supernatural evil. Its a game that tells a compelling story challenges players to strategize and make decisions that ultimately lead them on a daring journey against supernatural creatures. You will play as “Boy”, in which he must defend himself and Pup, against the constant punishment of a supernatural horde. Boy’s companion “Pup” will execute commands and provide guidance where necessary. You must, Collect, Build, and Fight to stay alive!
Besides the intriguing play mechanics (no pun intended) and art style, the whole story concept has this classic ’80s-’90s feel that would also make a great all-ages comic book. No tower defense game has ever gained my interest as fast as this did and I hope this game can get made!
Beep: A Documentary History of Video Game Music & Sound by Ehtonal
Video games have come a long way from the days of the beep: full orchestras, surround sound, interactive music and large teams of people collaborating to bring you an amazing experience. Help us to document and share the historical changes in video game sound from the beep through to today.
Relive the moments of your childhood, and hear the stories behind the songs and sounds of your favourite games from the people who created them.
Help us to give the composers and sound designers throughout game history a chance to tell their own stories, to share the truly amazing things that they achieved.
One of the best reasons why this project needs to be funded comes straight from the gamesound.com website:
BEEP is also the first step in important archival work that will mean the stories behind the songs and sounds of games don’t get lost. We have a really unique opportunity in that nearly all of the people who worked on video games are still alive. We can’t go back and interview Beethoven or Max Steiner or Carl Stalling, but we can document game music and sound history right now, and then it’s there for all the people in the future who might have questions.
the Fine Young Capitalists game campaign:
I talked about it in the last update post, but all five of these games look and sound like great ideas and it’s even better that they want to raise money for charity. One of the games is a platformer with a very interesting premise, so anyone visiting this sort of site would be probably be interested in that.
As much as I joke about starting “the ScrollBoss Kickstarter to Raise Money to Give to Other Kickstarters Because I’m F@#$ing Broke Now, Help a Brotha Out” project, I’m serious about wanting to help these projects more than the few bucks I’m spreading out to each project. The best I can do is to help spread the word. Give if you can and remember that Hive Jump’s campaign ends tonight, September 5th!