A New World - advice sought

[Dale]

Some of you already know that I have a new game in production called A New World. The game is a traditional Historical Turn-based Strategy game based on the era 1500-1950. The aim is to take a European nation through the eras of discovery, colonisation, industrialisation and Imperialism and emerge as a Super-Power.

The game is unique in the TBS arena, but if you've played games such as SSI's Imperialism series, Sid Meier's Colonization/Civilization and Paradox Interactive's games (Europa Universalis, Victoria, Hearts of Iron) then you are already very familiar with the concepts in the game. The focus of the game is primarily on European Imperialism and Industrialisation, where diplomacy, trade, science, politics, infrastructure and combat all work together to help the player achieve the game's two primary goals.

The game will be a joint production of BRR Games and Base75. The game will be primarily a PC/Mac game with both single and multi player modes, but the potential for tablet versions (iPad, Android, Win8) is very high. Utilising a new MP engine written specifically for this game, players will be able to conduct multiple MP games at the same time, on multiple devices.

Advice sought:

We are considering using Kickstarter (or similar) to assist in funding the "polishing" phase of the game. This is where the graphics, sound, music, localisation and even the engine are polished and fine-tuned to produce the final retail quality product. Part of the funds will also be used for marketing and beta testing.

My questions (there are only two of them so don't fret) to you dear reader are simply:

1. From the limited info I've been able to give you here, have you become interested enough to "check it out further"?
2. In the event of a Kickstarter (or similar), what rewards would YOU like to see offered?

Thanks very much for your time and comments.

Dale

 

[Nintz]

1. Honestly, no. I know you do good work (played a few of your Civ mods) and I know I like that style of game. My problem is that I don't understand how the game you are describing is different from, say, Victoria 2. Outside of a longer time frame. If you're going to go in that direction, I think more details would be required. Less "fluff" more "meat and bones" if that makes any sense. What makes this game worth playing, outside of "We are like Civ/Paradox". That's not much of a reason typically. Mostly because Civ and Paradox usually do those types of games better. I would be far more interested if you had thorough descriptions of game mechanics, or even a gameplay video to share. Not a huge multi-hour presentation, but like a 5-10 minute clip. That's could just be me of course, but I find it difficult to get excited at ideas, I like tangible products far more.

2. Modding ability is a no brainier. DRM-free version if applicable, preferably a Linux version as well. Local MP, such as LAN. More detailed and fleshed-out systems. I would prefer all of this in the base, but if you need to break it up into different sections, so be it.

 

[warpus]

Yeah, I would love to see some screenshots and some details as to how exactly this game differs from EU3, civ, or whatever. What makes it unique?

 

[Maniacal]

I just want to see armies that make some sense, no stacks of just archers without properly infantry support and so on or armies that somehow stretch across a continent.

 

[Dale]

Whilst I appreciate the comments, and can understand how question 1 might not be answerable with the limited info I gave, I'd like to focus everyone back on question 2:

- What sort of rewards would you like to see on a kickstarter campaign?

 

[Joecoolyo]

I assume for rewards, the most "no-brainer" ones would be access to alpha/beta testing, as well as ability to directly talk with the developers and help iron out issues/balance things/whatnot.

 

[Maniacal]

2. A cloth map.

 

[Quintillus]

More or less what Nintz said. In regards to (1), the info available really is too limited right now to pique further interest. I'd be interested in seeing some in-game screenshots, and perhaps a gameplay video, but there isn't enough out there yet to convince me that this is going to make it into a game and beyond prototype/idea stage. (Though you do have a promising background with Civ mods making it to the light of day)

This would probably also help in avoiding the pifalls that Civitas' Kickstarter ran into, where people were suspicious of it because there wasn't much in the way of in-game material to show at the time.

I like Nintz's ideas for (2). The one thing I'd discourage is the sort of reward like, "A city will be named after you" or "You'll be listed prominently in the credits". IMO this cheapens the game a bit when solely money is the reason for this. Maybe it does draw in more funding, but I'd rather not have it, and would actually intentionally donate less to be below the threshold for such a "reward". On the other hand, I'm OK with in-game references that aren't based on money (such as the cities of Apolyton and Thunderfall in Civ3).

I might be interested in it longer-term; there just isn't enough out there to make me follow it now.

 

[Dale]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Obviously, the "no brainer" ones like:
- in credits
- alpha/beta testing
- multiple copies
- no DRM copy
will be in. It's the extras rewards.

Do people like physical rewards? I know Jon was pressured into offering a physical boxed version for one of his rewards halfway into his KS.

 

[Nintz]

I don't mind physical rewards, but I don't have any particular desire for them myself. A hard version of the game would be appreciated by certain segments of the population, at the very least.

 

[civvver]

1. A demo would probably be the only thing to get me interested. Too many games out there to play to get attached to one in development.

2. Nothing you can offer would make me want to contribute except more savings down the line like free dlc or something. I buy games on sale and never pre-order, which is sorta what kick starter is, pre-pre-ordering.