Kickstarter projects are quick to mention any star members of the production team, and when you've got one as big as the acclaimed Yasumi Matsuno on-board, it's pretty understandable. Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians will be the most ambitious title to date from developer Playdek, which is previously known for a slew of iOS games. Currently aiming for a minimum goal of $600,000, it's one that Final Fantasy fans may want to keep an eye on.
Matsuno is famous for his work with the Tactical RPG genre, which has reached Nintendo platforms with titles like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on GBA, Tactics Ogre on SNES and alternatively MadWorld, which he wrote. His most recent appearance on Nintendo systems is through the excellent Crimson Shroud on the 3DS eShop.
Staying true to the genre, battles here will take place on a grid-based 3D landscape, with profession-based units and plenty of deep mechanics to make the most of. The story is set over the course of a seventy-seven year conflict told through a variety of perspectives, with a chance for players to take part in the war that will decide the fate of whole empires. There's plenty of information on the Kickstarter page, but unfortunately there are definitely a few concerns as well.
For a project self-touted as 'multi-platform', this really only boils down to an initial release on iOS, Android and PC/Mac platforms. There's no mention of any console releases and handhelds have been relegated to late stretch goals. If we want to see it on 3DS then the downright baffling goal of $2,800,000 will have to be met for the privilege. By that point the game will have a hefty amount of additional content as well, begging the question of how much will be left out if these goals are not met? Past-colleagues that worked with Matsuno on major projects have also been lined up to assist, but again this will be under the conditions of a stretch goal.
Fire Emblem's success is 2013 has played a role in opening up an audience eager for more from the genre, so it would be a pity to have this one bypass 3DS owners completely. Are we unreasonable to expect it for less, or do the stretch goals need some legitimate adjustment in this case?
Let us know what you think of the situation in a comment below.
Comments 28
Really not interested.
So they're putting PS Vita ($1.8m) way ahead of 3DS ($2.8m)?
It's a high asking price for either of which anyhow.
A million bucks to put it on a handheld device? Ah LLLL na. I wont be surprised if it doe sent make those goals. Which is a shame because this is made by the same guy who made Tactics Ogre on the VC and I'm hearing good things about that game which I'm planning to buy soon.
I'd really like to care about this, but almost 3 million for a 3DS game that is a port of a freaking iOS game? Talk about a sham.
People seem to fail to understand Kickstarter. If they raised 3 million, they'd be putting it on a lot of platforms with a lot of extra content. The 3 million wouldn't be just to fund the 3DS version.
I'll be donating. I love Matsuno's games so much, and there's no drawbacks to playing a strategy RPG on an iPad. No buttons required. Touch works better. I'm pretty sure it's gonna raise a LOT of money so maybe the 3DS version isn't as unlikely as you'd think.
I just wonder why the Vita stretch goal is so much earlier than the 3DS goal. Nothing against the Vita, but the 3DS install base is way way higher. To me at least, it would make more sense to port to the system that could get you the most potential sales first.
I don't support crowdfunded projects. If this makes it to the market, I'll consider looking into it. 2.8 million seems unlikely.
I think people are kind of overusing/abusing crowdfunding. Video game projects in general don't seem to meet with very much success (at least from what I've seen).
Read an interesting article on another Nintendo website- shan't advertise it here- that gave a load of advice on how to build and maintain a successful crowd funding campaign, suffice to say that video/ their campaign in general doesn't seem to follow any of the recommendations. Personally thought the video was terrible, I'll be surprised if they meet 600,000, let alone 2. 8 million for 3ds, I could certainly be wrong though. Guess it all depends on how many gamers are prepared to back a project on the strength of Matsuno's name.
If it comes out for the 3DS, I might get it. iOS and Android can go to hell. And 2.8 million is a joke.
Sometimes it feels like Extortion whenever a person/developer mentions Kickstarter.
Am I just jaded or does a seven minute video of a few dudes talking about some games they liked and a couple pieces of concept art really not that impressive? Shouldn't they have a little more to show before they start the crowd funding campaign? With someone like Matsuno on payroll, surely there's some cash laying around that they could have gotten started on at least some storyboards or something.
And yeah, the stretch goals seem a little weird. The 3DS install base is like what 10x that of the Vita. Then again, it really seems to me that it wouldn't be a complete game until the $2.8mil stretch anyway.
wow... 2.8 mil...I don't support these anyway but it is surprising to see such a high number. But yeah, I am not really a fan of the kickstarter because really, it doesn't offer much of a risk to the developer as they will be profiting day one of their sale. Some maybe even before it starts to sell. But I feel with no risk, means there will be less effort put into the game because there is no risk involved at all so they won't need to go that extra step just to make it that much better.
Also, I'm not quite understanding the $900,000 stretch goal. It says that at that amount, two translators will be brought on. Translating from what to what is oddly unspecified, and both of the translators are noted for their experience in translating from Japanese to English.
So... is this game being made natively in Japanese? Or English? And what does that mean for American backers if only $800k is raised?
The 3DS stretch goal seems way too high, and I don't really think this is the kind of game I'll enjoy playing on a cellphone.
I'm not playing their game. If they are going to demand $3mil just for a 3DS port, then I'll just skip it. It seems they're just trying to cash in on the Mighty No. 9's success by including a well-known (to people that are not me) developer in their project.
@Noboty Exactly.
2.8 mil. stretch goal? Screw that. It doesn't cost that much to make a 3DS port.
$3 million for a 3DS port? No way. Just plain not happening.
It would take so little for this to catch my interest but those platforms — forget it.
@mikeymaster2001
Vita has a a high attach rate for games deapite having a small install base and its easier to run games on the system compared to the 3DS. Otd a reason why a lot of unity games come to vita but 3DS. Plus putting it on Vita would allow them to get the game to PS3/4 quickly of they decode too.
@CaviarMeths The thinking behind it could be that there's going to be a lot more people backing it to a higher stretch goal. Which, if true, kind of stinks and prioritises a money grab over the game reaching where most people would be able to appreciate it. I've backed 6 projects so far on ks so I like crowd funding in general but I think something reeks about this one...
The order of the stretch goals is ridiculous, why isnt 3ds positioned just after vita? Instead it's $1m later with a load of non essential stuff before it. Quite simply because they want to screw as much money as possible out of nintendo gamers, and those who donate probably wont even get to see a 3ds version of the game.
@Peach64 the problem is that it seems like the 3DS stretch goal is up there just to get more backers and also that they have done nothing but some artwork despite being much bigger than your average small kickstarter company.
Feels like they said "hey, instead of risking our money we can get funded for free!"
I am interested in the project. The 3ds port is what I hope it reaches but if it gets backed at the $600K mark (which it will reach in about 2 days I say).
While a lot of people complain about the 3ds goal being higher then the Vita goal. The engine for the game could be harder to code for the 3ds then the vita. There could be a lot of reasons that we don't know.
@Peach64
That's about the nicest post I've ever read from you. Actually being a shining light in a sea of angry 3DS owners LOL.
The pledges are rising fast though. Maybe, just maybe, it will meet most if not all of it's stretch goals.
@brandonbwii You're assuming that Peach64 is backing this for her 3DS. ;P
I think the reason why the Vita version is a lower stretch goal is because adapting the game to the Vita hardware is much easier for a touch/mouse based interface, regardless of the engine. The entirety of the Vita's screen is touch, and multitouch, just like an iOS/Android/PC, so it wouldn't require changing in game assets and design to work with a dual screen setup where you need to have assets split between different areas with different functionality.
They have updated the stretch goal for 3DS to 1.5m now. That should be reachable.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...