Feature: Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 13th April

Yikes I'm really worried about Cult County, I wonder if it would of been better off it just stuck on the 3DS...Earthlock: Festival of Magic looks real promising, love the art style, I'll keep an eye on for next year!

Hex Heroes, guys. It just needs a little push.

Renegade Kid should've realeased Cult County with a trailer, I think the lack of it made the project loose its momentum and well, it looks unlikely to be done now. It's such a shame.

Hex Heroes can definitely make it. I only backed two Kickstarter games until now, Lobodestroyo and Earthlock, and both gained substantial momentum in the last few days. Will pledge to Hex Heroes this week; let's hope others do the same!

I'd also really like to support Tom Sparks, but the Wii U stretch goal is way unrealistic as of now.

EDIT: Also, as much as I'm not a fan of first-person games, Cult County shows potential. I dig the stylized graphics, and trust Renegade Kid to deliver a great experience. Too bad the initial goal is so hefty. I hope some big-name publisher picks it up to allow it to be made.

I really want Cult County but the target is just too high. I hope they find a way to do it in another way.

Screw kicstarter after all projects Ive funded had two that actually delivered.

The scum at star command $151k pledged & funded for a pc game delivery August 2012.
Strange it is on bloody itunes (there is an irony there somewhere) & play but April 2014 the people that funded your bloody game zero 0 sweet FA.

So screw everyone on kickstarter until they start building in some responsibility to backers. How about if it goes over the initital backing they dont get the rest of the money till they actually deliver.

I love the going for the Nintendo vote please back us & if we reach goal honest we will release it on wii u & 3ds. (where you have to pay for it again).

Why not have an option where they will supply you said game on wii u 3ds via a new invention called a download code. (serious guys that is cutting edge stuff. If unsure what a DL code is just google).

Rant over.

peace love to anyone except apple windows 8 & kickstarter.

Also Don't forget https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/649312251/skullforge-the-hunt

Which has WiiU in the initial goal and looks like a solid action RPG

"Tom Sparks and the Quakes of Ruin — Wii U included as $210,000 stretch goal [approx $1,400 of $50,000 target reached, 18 days to go]"
$160000 more is never going to happen let alone $50000 some of these Kickstarter stretch goals are just silly.
To bad Cult county and Hex heroes are losing momentum.

Thanks for the updates! I'm really happy that Earthlock made its goal, it's definitaly one of my most anticipated Kickstarter games! I'm also backing Hex Heroes and Twisted Fusion, so hoping they make it as well. (And I might back APEXICON as well, but it looks like they'll make it without my help, haha.)

I really wish the Wii U stretch goals were a little more achievable on some of these. I really like the look of Cosmochoria, for example, but the $150k is intense, (especially considering the main goal is only $10k o.O)

@tebunker Thanks for sharing Skullforge as well! I didn't even see that one on Kickstarter. I just backed it too, since I like the genre and Wii U is included in the primary goal

Just backed Cult County, Hex Heroes and Apexicon!

I supported Hex Heroes, but it seems a bit tough that it will make it. Maybe I will increase my pledge to get a copy of Kirkhope's soundtrack.

I like to make my kickstarter contributions via Amazon, so I was turned off to see that Twisted Fusion won't allow it, presumably for using pounds instead of dollars.

Tom Sparks looks fantastic ? Why cant Nintendo support more this game looks ace.

Man I really want hex heroes to make it, but my phone just broke today!!! I'm going to have to pay for repairs, most likely to be roughly equivalent to the £30 I'd pay to get this on Wii U

You forgot to mention that thanks to Paypal, Earthlocke made it to the Orchestrated Soundtrack Stretch Goal.

Happy earthlock managed to make it this time and going to pledge on hex heroes, but disappointed cult county is not looking very likely

I'm hoping Flying Hamster II makes it, but it doesn't look likely. After watching the video, Twisted Fusion does look kind of cool.

I'm glad Earthlock succeeded in funding. Now all I need is to wait another year... >___>

The thing is, developers are taking note of how easy it is to take advantage of Kickstarter to fund their projects, and we're seeing a flood of new games asking for crowd funding. I was ok with it when it was just one game here and there, but I'm not willing to fund the entire indie community.

I backed Mighty No 9, Shantae Half Genie Hero and Earthlock Festival of Magic. Only the best of the best. I feel bad for those games that will never make it, but that's why publishers exist. If they believe the game is THAT good, partner with a publisher and bring it to market. If you're going to crowd fund, you better make sure it's a really good game, because there's a whole lot of mediocrity out there. I mean, it's hard enough convincing gamers to buy your game when it's a finished product on sale in the eShop, much less when it's concepts and promises.

I'll probably get shot down for this, but I don't like the way the 3 PC games I've backed have turned out. The developers claimed they ran out of money even though they had reached their goals up to 1.5 times over, so they split the full game and released it in 2 halves. To rub salt in the wound they then made the 1st part available to non-backers and began selling it before the full game was available to the backers. I don't mind them selling it to non-backers, but not before the backers have played the whole game, and not using it to fund the rest of the game so the backers can then play it.

I refuse to back any more until promises can be made that budgets will be properly made and adhered to, otherwise it's a joke of a way to develop a game, and joke of a way for a gamer to buy.

@JaxonH With that said, you need to realize that ALL projects needs some sort of funding. Some devs can use their company assets to fund or get a publisher to fund, but smaller devs do not have these luxuries. With crowdfunding, developers have the ability to make bigger games without bankrupting themselves.

However, as @Anguspuss eloquently noted, not all Kickstarters are necessarily good. Not all projects may finish and there is the risk of a developer running away with the money. Kickstarter DOES have some legal contractual aspect to projects, but I don't know how effective these measures are.

With that said, tread carefully when backing projects. I've backed two projects myself, and both are looking very likely to happen without a hitch.

Great cult country and hex heroes the two games i want to be made for the wiiu and there chances are unlikely except if they get momentum.

Laughs Renegade Kid has a large fanbase? Where?

@Unca_Lz First time I have ever been eloquently noted.

what really hacks me off is the updates you get sent on what they are doing on the ios/android version.

There is always a risk but to get a game funded for pc & mac then just make it for another format is a bit of a two fingered gesture. Didnt gearbox do same thing to sega.

But when you see the shaq fu game etc asking for money. Im not a basketball person but I did hear of him when he played im sure he maybee made a few $ playing basketball.

Start giving 3ds & Wii U download goals as a starting point then maybee its worth while. But as a stretch goal then you have to actually buy the game. Me thinks not.

You know, no one is talking about JetGetters but that $80,000 goal isn't all that far off. I'm not exactly thrilled to see another Kickstarter project dangle the Wii U is the far-off port but that doesn't mean the game doesn't look cool. Give the trailer a watch. I love the presentation:

No ReVen?

@Kodeen

Well actually it was one other - Broken Sword 5. The other game that I backed, Moebius, strangely was the only one that didn't and it was the one that needed the least amount of funding of all three. Broken Age needed the most, incidentally.

I wonder if there are just too many projects and the developers are asking a little too much?

Shoot. Looks like JetGetters is going to have to be on my Steam list instead. Oh well.

Hex Heroes is practically the only one here we can definitely reach quickly (aside from Twisted Fusion). It just needs a little more support and get it's name out there even more!

I think the main issue with many of these games not getting enough funding is the lack of involvement with the online community. Games like Mighty No. 9, Shovel Knight, and Shantae got theirs names out EVERYWHERE on like every gaming website and were really responsive with the fans and backers. Because I've barely heard anyone speak about games like Tom Sparks or Flying Hamster, and from the looks of it, it's because they just don't seem to get that into their own advertising.

I don't pledge projects that only have Wii U as a stretch goal. If it's part of your core goal, then I'll jump on board in a heartbeat, but without a firm commitment to Wii U from the get-go, they'll get no support from me.

Glad to see Earthlock funded. It looks cool. I don't participate in kickstarters, as i prefer to be 100% sure that i actually get to play the game i'm paying for, and the only way to be that sure is for the game to actually be released. Also, i wait for reviews and player opinions too on games like these, as some ideas look really good in trailers and/or in theory, yet aren't quite as good in execution. I look forward to playing Earthlok if/when it releases so long as it plays as good as it looks it should.

Also it is sad to see Cult County not making it. I like Renegade Kid and was hoping this would hit WiiU, but even though many 3DS/WiiU owners know them for their work, most PS/XB/PC players i talk to have never heard of them. Not only that, but a goal of over 500k is a bit much for an indie game's initial funding goal. It sucks, but thats how this stuff works... Maybe they'll just go back to developing it for the 3DS like they originally intended?

Please support the our Oozengard Kickstarter.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1644169243/oozengard-ooze-boost

We are currently participating in the Nintendo Of America Indie program.

Very slim chances on most of these games. Are we seeing the beginning of the end for Kickstarter, or just WiiU Kickstarter games?

There have been a few articles in the recent weeks showing how funded kickstarter games are not being finished. Remember, donating money is no guarantee you will get a game. You are handing over money to someone with the HOPE they feel like making the game they said they would.

I feel bad for Renegade Kid... but I honestly want to see less of devs asking customers to essentially "pay it forward." Especially with the ones that don't show gameplay. No one should ever give money to a game with no gameplay. It's all just a pipe dream at that point.

The only thing I contributed to on Kickstarter was Half-Genie Hero. And I think it's going to remain that way.

Aww you guys missed this one. I'm excited for this one!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2039811773/the-girl-and-the-robot?ref=live

I backed Earthlock so I was excited when they hit their goal. I hope they can hit a few more of the stretch goals through Paypal because those look pretty cool. This is going to be a good game.

Go back Hex Heroes, guys! I backed it like a week and a half ago, I want to see it funded so badly. This is the kind of game that the Wii U was made for.

If I had money to spare I'd probably back regularly but the way things are I'm not willing to give money away happily. More so given how many crowdfunded games turn out to be what they promised.

Flying Hamster II looks very interesting... Just like Shovel Knight! I hope to get both sometime!

So basically, not a lot coming to the WiiU then!

I don't mind Kickstarter anymore, just bring us the games and if they're good we'll buy them, period.

Again, I report that Armikrog. is moving along at breakneck speed, and will be on the Wii U eshop later this year!

@Jazzer94

The fact the core game is on Unity for 50,000. Why does it cost them $200,000 to port it to Wii U? Its within Unity, porting is a snap when the engine runs natively on a system.........

The fact is they are only using Wii U owners to exploit the game drought.... Picture a villain from any cartoon saying "These idiot Wii U owners are so desperate for games that they will pay my $200,000 ransom". Because let's be honest that's basically why they added a stretch goal that is 4x bigger than the base of the game. Dev kits are rather cheap for indie devs, Nintendo has very low licensing fees for indie devs, the approval process is getting praise.

Porting from Unity to Unity is a fairly easy process, multiple devs have praised how easy it is to port tier Unity game to Wii U, so there is no complex developing needed. The gamepad is no different than programming games to use two monitors, such as on PC, so even a first year programmer can do it, but even easier the support for the gamepad is built into Unity already, so there no in depth programmer required..... These devs are just trying to take advantage of Wii U owners. A Wii U stretch goal for a game made in Unity should cost no more than $10,000 where the entire game is funded for $50,000. I hope their kickstarter fails for this behavior. They are the EA of indie developers.

@ricklongo what will happen is that stretch will fail (and it should fail), but they will bring the game to Wii U anyways as it's too cheap to do so to ignore the eshop. It will be already fully funded and created within Unity, they won't be able to ignore it, it's like leaving free money on the table.

@Anguspuss I have no personal interest in Star Command, but your post interested me, so I looked into it.

You claim they promised "delivery" of the PC game in August 2012, but that looks like when their kickstarter ended to me, so the PC version has been in development for about a year and a half. A little long maybe, but it looks to be under active development.

And you complain about the mobile version, but that was the original planned version! Their first kickstarter was for the mobile version, and the second kickstarter which you backed was for the PC version. So of course the mobile version was done first. There is even a complaint on kickstarter blog from someone who backed the mobile version about the second kickstarter.

Overall, you complains about Star Command seem a little baseless. They delivered their mobile title from their first kickstarter. They missed release dates, but if that was a problem for you then you probably shouldn't have backed their PC project before while they were still working on the mobile version.

I'm already backing Hex Heroes as my first kickstarter support (sign up because of that game). I hope it can reach its goal in time.

I think I'm gonna have to go out the way and support Hex Heroes myself

I really hope Hex Heroes make it. Sounds fantastic!

Also, I just contacted the authors of another intersting project: Dahlia.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/team5d/dahlia?ref=discovery
It's developers told me they plan on adding support for Wii U if it gets funded, and added that information to it's FAQ. Have a look, it sounds very nice!

Yes guys, go back Hex Heroes! YESSS!!!

Worth noting that JetGetters somehow rocketed past its funding goal last night, so it has three days to pull in a little less than $30,000 to get on the Wii U. Not unheard of at all, and the community is full of Wii U guys.

@Anguspuss
I'm sorry to hear that you haven't had any luck with the medium. I've only funded one project so far (Dreamfall Chapters), and thankfully they're well on their way to delivering. My only recommendation is to never back anything by individual developers, and be extremely careful about who you back in general.

I want hex heroes to be funded SO BADLY!!!
That having been said, Cult County's lack of financing is worrying. Kickstarter's golden days are well behind it at the moment, with all the high-profile failures and people getting unnecessarily cocky with stretch goals and financing. Kickstarter will have increasingly less relevance for the future of gaming, which is a bit of a shame.

I'm not sure Kickstarter will fade to irrelevancy. But the days of every halfway decent idea getting funded are definitely over, which is a good thing. I think it will remain a fantastic resource for small development studios.

@Arkaein @element187 , A $200K stretch goal to port to WiiU is a bit ridiculous. As a solo indie developer myself there is no reason to request that degree of funding unless you don't plan on keeping it indie. I will likely be doing some form of crowd funding later on once I have more of my game 'Ex Oblivione' fleshed out to appease the "but there is not concept art/screen shots/videos" people. Even then, I would never dream of asking for more than $10k.

Hey guys i wanted to comment on this - I'm the developer of Cosmochoria. Originally I wasn't sure what was required for a WiiU port and at the advice of a colleague had estimated the cost of hiring a programmer to essentially port FROM SCRATCH the Cosmochoria code. That being said, I've actually been recently accepted as a WiiU dev and learned through reading documentation, forums, etc that actually the porting process is quite doable even with my own abilities. Because of this I have actually lowered the WiiU stretch goal to $25,000, so we're essentially $9,000 away now.

Unfortunately I didnt see this thread until just now and the new WiiU goal has already been announced today. I wonder if there's a way to contact the original author and have the entry for Cosmochoria updated with the new stretch goal?

Thanks so much for checking the game out anyway, I deeply appreciate the interest, honest feedback and support.

Some of them look like mobile games. Why on wii u?