So I just discovered a game on kickstarter: Republique.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/486250632/republique-by-camouflaj-logan

After watching the video, I'm shocked that this game isn't getting the funding it needs, and will probably crash and burn. It looks stunning. With 13 days to go and less than a third of the cost raised, my only conclusion is that it's got lost in amongst the onslaught of other Kickstarer projects, or that Kickstarter fatigue has set in. I know there are now thousands of startup games, but here are the reasons I think Republique is different:

1. Innovation. The game follows a hero who the player does not control. The player takes on the role of an omnipresent computer hacker, manipulating technology around the actual protagonist to help her escape from the enforcers of a brutal fascist regime. The gameplay videos make this look like a smooth, enjoyable and intelligent experience.

2. Professionalism. The trailers have been well put together, the voice acting seems superb, the animation is top notch for an indie project. The story (what has been revealed of it) is intriguing and the artistic style of the game looks top notch. The people behind this will do very, very well in the industry if we let them, and they don't get shot down now.

3. Fun. The game looks fun. Goddamn good fun. On the iOS, PC and Mac as well! The only reason I'm fired up enough to try and promote it myself (I only discovered it 5 minutes ago) is that I really, really want to play it!

So why is it flopping at the moment?
Are we sick of Kickstarter?
Are there too many studios doing the same now?
Is it just that nobody has any money left after paying for Order of the Stick reprints and the Doublefine Adventure Game? If so, it's a shame that the only projects getting awareness on kickstarter are the ones from established developers peddling nostalgia, when the platform is perfect for innovative new startups like Camouflaj.

Are you sick of hearing about kickstarter? Do you just think the game looks crap? Are you hoping someone else will fund it and you can pick it up cheaper later (or, shcok horror, pirate it)?
Discuss.

EDIT: having returned to the page I found it's not $5000 they need, it's $500,000. Also it appears they've got quite a lot of coverage.

Perhaps I'm wrong, and it's not that people aren't pledging, it's just that the devs are asking for more than is reasonable to expect? New poll options added.

Well, it has already been done for one. I've played a game before that was basically this and it wasn't very amusing then. I also don't have any touch based devices, nor do I want a game developed for one.

I think that this concept could be executed well, but not sure that this is the way to execute that concept. Also not sure IOS is the best platform for this sort of thing.

I saw the page a week or so ago, thought it sounded interesting, then I noticed the part about it aiming to bring a more serious game to touch-based devices. I don't have an iPad. I have an Android phone (which the game won't be released for anyway, at this point) but I don't play games on my phone, and I don't want to.

There's a PC version, but putting down money for a PC port of a game designed for portable, touch-based devices doesn't seem like particularly good idea to me. Maybe others share my opinion, and there aren't enough people out there with ipads/iphones who want this kind of game?

they are after $500,000 and say it will cost around $1 million to make and they hope they can fund the rest. while its an interesting concept its a risk. im another who is wary of a pc port of an ipad game

reminds me so much of an old game on the amiga. you were a hacker and would active things like cameras and doors for the person to navigate the level.

for me though in the end haha im broke after wasteland 2, shadowrun returns and grim dawn kick starters. on top of all those im pledging for dead state when its released

I'm reluctant to invest money on ports, nomatter much they promise that the gameplay won't suffer.

Reminds me of Lifeline on the playstation. At a guess I'd say it's because it's a non-portable game on the iphone. By non-portable I mean you wouldn't want to be seen playing this game in public, unless you're fond of talking to yourself.

Republique was just announced for Mac and PC. Also I wasn't aware it had been done before-could you let me know the name of the game if you remember? It seems like an intriguing idea to me.

I just looked up Dead State, and I understand your point, that's something the whole gaming communities wanted for years! Ok so it seems a lot of people are saying they've seen Republique-style gameplay before, which is interesting as it seemed entirely new to me, which is why I was so disappointed when it looked like they wouldn't make the funding!

Also, having checked up and seen that Tim Schafer & Double Fine only asked for $400,000 to make their adventure game, I am now tempted to say that $500,000 is way too high a price and they should scale down. Still though, it seems to be going to good use as the graphics and animation look pretty sweet.

I'll be interested to see how this plays out. What puzzles me is what happens if they don't make it? It looks from their studio updates that the game is already more than partially developed... will they just go shopping for a publisher instead?

One to watch, for me at least.

I've already backed Wasteland 2 and The Dead Linger. I doubt I will be funding anything else until I see some results.

P.S. Go check out The Dead Linger!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sandswept/the-dead-linger

the reason those games raked in millions is yeah nostalga and games have been wanting them for decades in some cases. while republique looks interesting it doesnt have that grabbing power

Maybe their are a lot of people out their like me that do not feel that this title is interesting at all. That is why I didn't invest at all.

wow Someone pledged 7,500 on it

Stealth game for Apple devices? Pass.

Fr]anc[is:
Dude, plenty of people are funding this. 132k is nothing to sneeze at for something without a lot of gamer cred already behind it. They just don't realize nostalgia (I don't mean that in a bad way, gotta clarify with the way the internet likes to jump to extremes) is mostly what's supporting the big kickstarters like Double Fine, Wasteland, and Shadowrun.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.

lacktheknack:
Because we had "The Experiment" ("Experience 114" to the European plebs) already. And while I very much enjoyed it, I think I was literally the only one. It was widely considered high-caliber trash.

I'd go so far as to say that Republique looks like a straight ripoff.

EDIT: I lied. On second thought, it's not a straight ripoff. "The Experiment" wasn't action-stealth, but I have no idea how on Earth an action-stealth version of the Experiment would be playable.

maddawg IAJI:
Well its not actually innovative as its been done before (as early as the 1990s actually and it was actually a pretty crap video game and I can't for the life of me remember its name),

Seems like there's a lot of stuff like this going around! Damn, I better check these games out then. But fair enough, I immediately rushed off proclaiming how original the idea was, seems the majority say it's not so much. Still though, I like the concept, and if all these other versions of the same idea are were as uninspiring as you guys claim then it's to be hoped that this game gets made, and hopefully fares somewhat better.

(A): People are sick of Kickstarter.

(B): It was first announced as an IOS game, a platform that doesn't have a very big community of "Dedicated" video game players.

(C): While having people that have worked on some great games, There's no "Big Name" that's associated with the team or project. People donated millions to the new Double Fine adventure game and Wasteland 2 because they were to be spear-headed by Tim Schafer and Brian Fargo respectively, two people who have proved that they can make good games.

(D): While just a suspicion, people are becoming weary of Kickstarter projects of this type. Why does the game already look like it's in a Post-Alpha/Beta state when the developers are asking for money?

Spark Ignition:
So I just discovered a game on kickstarter: Republique.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/486250632/republique-by-camouflaj-logan

After watching the video, I'm shocked that this game isn't getting the funding it needs, and will probably crash and burn. It looks stunning. With 13 days to go and less than a third of the cost raised, my only conclusion is that it's got lost in amongst the onslaught of other Kickstarer projects, or that Kickstarter fatigue has set in. I know there are now thousands of startup games, but here are the reasons I think Republique is different:

1. Innovation. The game follows a hero who the player does not control. The player takes on the role of an omnipresent computer hacker, manipulating technology around the actual protagonist to help her escape from the enforcers of a brutal fascist regime. The gameplay videos make this look like a smooth, enjoyable and intelligent experience.

2. Professionalism. The trailers have been well put together, the voice acting seems superb, the animation is top notch for an indie project. The story (what has been revealed of it) is intriguing and the artistic style of the game looks top notch. The people behind this will do very, very well in the industry if we let them, and they don't get shot down now.

3. Fun. The game looks fun. Goddamn good fun. On the iOS, PC and Mac as well! The only reason I'm fired up enough to try and promote it myself (I only discovered it 5 minutes ago) is that I really, really want to play it!

So why is it flopping at the moment?
Are we sick of Kickstarter?
Are there too many studios doing the same now?
Is it just that nobody has any money left after paying for Order of the Stick reprints and the Doublefine Adventure Game? If so, it's a shame that the only projects getting awareness on kickstarter are the ones from established developers peddling nostalgia, when the platform is perfect for innovative new startups like Camouflaj.

Are you sick of hearing about kickstarter? Do you just think the game looks crap? Are you hoping someone else will fund it and you can pick it up cheaper later (or, shcok horror, pirate it)?
Discuss.

EDIT: having returned to the page I found it's not $5000 they need, it's $500,000. Also it appears they've got quite a lot of coverage.

Perhaps I'm wrong, and it's not that people aren't pledging, it's just that the devs are asking for more than is reasonable to expect? New poll options added.

Put money in to wasteland 2, want to see how this pans out before I put money into another such project... not a fan of blind faith.

Also, too many of these things cropping up in too short a space of time, without much time to see how well this sort of system works.

EDIT: Also, lol their $10'000 tier basically makes you pay to do a part of their job (QA and getting critique). Free dinner sounds good, but I'm sceptical anyone would bother to invest that much in one go.

Well, honestly I hadn't heard about it until you brought it up. I think it looks really interesting (second-person gaming is always a bit tricky), probably because I haven't played any of these other games that people are comparing it to. Unfortunately, I have no way to donate funds or get my money online in any way. All I can offer is moral support.

It doesnt look bad, but 500,000 is a bit much. I could see 200,000 or so for a game like this, but half a million is just a tad much for a new IP. If all your doing is affecting the area around the character, its basically just a choose your own adventure book in real time.

The idea is cool, but im sure they could produce the game for far less then they are asking.

I have a hard enough time donating to charities as it is. Small companies participating in this whole Kickstarter ordeal need to realize that it's just a fad, and as soon as one of these studios churns out a shitty game, it's over for the entire thing.

I'm impressed that it's an iPhone game, but then again... it's an iPhone game.

V8 Ninja:
(A): People are sick of Kickstarter.

(B): It was first announced as an IOS game, a platform that doesn't have a very big community of "Dedicated" video game players.

(C): While having people that have worked on some great games, There's no "Big Name" that's associated with the team or project. People donated millions to the new Double Fine adventure game and Wasteland 2 because they were to be spear-headed by Tim Schafer and Brian Fargo respectively, two people who have proved that they can make good games.

(D): While just a suspicion, people are becoming weary of Kickstarter projects of this type. Why does the game already look like it's in a Post-Alpha/Beta state when the developers are asking for money?

Hmm..it's A isn't it. I'm going with A. Joking aside I agree with most of them save some of the wording for A. I would say there is too many going on right now. Yes it's good these people can make the games they want to and the people who want them will pay for it but still. There's a ton of high profile ones happening right now and everyone wanting to jump on the bandwagon as fast as possible. Also wouldn't D help reassure people? Most people against Kickstarter right now don't like many of the high profile games having nothing to show for it. It could just be they need money to pay people's wages.

When I first saw it it was being pitched as an iOS game, and I went "lolno" at that, because if I am going to help fund a game I want to be able to kick back with my keyboard and mouse and be able to enjoy it fully, and I am not fond of the idea of a potentially crappy PC port.

It strikes me as an interesting idea, but the developer made it very clear in his video that this is a game for iPhones and iPads so anything else is secondary. As an Android user and PC gamer unfortunately that means I have no real reason to bet on this because even though they are creating a port, it will be just that a port. The game play is clearly designed for the player to touch devices and hack them, not for a mouse to rapidly travel across the screen.

It's a shame that he bet so big on this and might lose it all, but who knows maybe he get someone like Zynga or Rovio to help him out. Assuming they don't think he's a clown for gambling with his house like this.

Well they put a shotgun to their face making it iOS first, they haven't really consider what market is lurking the kickstarter pages, ya they came around now but damage done, their hype is gone.
And the kickstarter hype is also quickly running out, candle that burns twice as bright and all that.
Also 500k may look a bit too high for people to get into but the price is perfectly fine if you understand production costs, you do need for your workforce to eat, and for a game of this caliber they are probably scratching the bare minimum.

At the end of the day the simple fact is not everyone will get their money, people do have a limited supply and as with everything only the most popular kids will get attention.