Obsidian Entertainment Kickstarter: Project Eternity

[Tagaziel]

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/obsidian/project-eternity

Obsidian Entertainment and our legendary game designers Chris Avellone, Tim Cain, and Josh Sawyer are excited to bring you a new role-playing game for the PC. Project Eternity (working title) pays homage to the great Infinity Engine games of years past: Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment.

Project Eternity aims to recapture the magic, imagination, depth, and nostalgia of classic RPGs that we enjoyed making - and playing. At Obsidian, we have the people responsible for many of those classic games and we want to bring those games back… and that’s why we’re here - we need your help to make it a reality!
Project Eternity will take the central hero, memorable companions and the epic exploration of Baldur’s Gate, add in the fun, intense combat and dungeon diving of Icewind Dale, and tie it all together with the emotional writing and mature thematic exploration of Planescape: Torment.
Combat uses a tactical real-time with pause system - positioning your party and coordinating attacks and abilities is one of the keys to success. The world map is dotted with unique locations and wilderness ripe for exploration and questing. You’ll create your own character and collect companions along the way – taking him or her not just through this story, but, with your continued support, through future adventures. You will engage in dialogues that are deep, and offer many choices to determine the fate of you and your party. …and you'll experience a story that explores mature themes and presents you with complex, difficult choices to shape how your story plays out.

We are excited at this chance to create something new, yet reminiscent of those great games and we want you to be a part of it as well.

I pledge allegiance to the developers of Obsidian Entertainment, and to the quality for which it stands, their games under the Sun, inimitable, with awesome and goodness for all.

Short of Obsidian getting the contract for Fallout 4, this is the best news this year. And it made me giddy. Really, really giddy, like when I held Fallout: New Vegas in my arms.

It's not even twenty four hours in and it's already nearing 900 000 American dollars. I'm off to shooting down UN planes and looting crates to divert funds for this most righteous cause.

 

[Eejit]

That's cool, but why does Obsidian need a Kickstarter?

 

[Tagaziel]

To make a project that's entirely their own, without publisher interference? To establish an original IP? To make something awesome on their own terms?

They need a Kickstarter for total creative freedom.

 

[Krynn72]

To make a project that's entirely their own, without publisher interference? To establish an original IP? To make something awesome on their own terms?

They need a Kickstarter for total creative freedom.

Yep. Pledged $35.

 

[Lucid]

I expect this to be nothing short of the greatest RPG of our generation.

 

[Stigmata]

Short of Obsidian getting the contract for Fallout 4, this is the best news this year.

Did this actually happen or is it just a hypothetical for comparison's sake? Either way, I'm fairly pumped for this.

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

Backed by Felicia Day, most likely starring a role for her. Automatic gay. She looked like a cancer patient in Dragon Age 2. If they have a character modeled after her I won't be bale to play without laughing until I die.

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

Did this actually happen or is it just a hypothetical for comparison's sake? Either way, I'm fairly pumped for this.

That is 100% speculation and almost definitely bullshit. Sawyer confirmed this, I know distantly / Facebook. Wisconsin ftw?

 

[Tagaziel]

It's an exaggerated comparison. I may have unintentionally misused the expression.

Intended meaning: Fallout 4 by Obsidian would be the best news this year, but since that's not known, Project Eternity occupies the spot for "best news this year OMFG."

 

[Krynn72]

So they got funded in less than 24hrs. Here's their stretch goals.

We are excited to announce the first stretch goals for Project Eternity!
1.1 million, Base Goal – Achieved!
Base game includes three races, five classes, and five companions. We have ideas for these, but we want to hear your opinions on what you'd like to see. Stay tuned to Kickstarter, our website, and our forums to join in on the conversation.
1.4 million, New Playable Race, Class, and Companion!
Expands your options for character creation and adds a companion of the new class.
1.6 million, a Mac Version of Project Eternity and The Story Grows!
We've listened and we’ll make a Mac version of the game at this tier. We're also going to add a new major storyline along with new quests, locations, NPCs, and unique loot (special histories everyone?).
1.8 million, New Playable Race, Class, and Companion!
The options grow for your main character and the roster of your motley crew expands with the addition of a new companion from the selected class.
2.0 million, Player House!
Get your own house in the game that you can customize, store equipment in, and where your companions hang out, or, as the elves say, "chillax".
2.2 million, a new Region, a new Faction and another new Companion! And, dare we say it... ? LINUX!
Great news, everyone! For the Tarball Knights of Gzippia out there, we'll be adding Linux support!
Also, the world of Project Eternity grows in a major way with the inclusion of a whole new faction and the territory it holds. This adds new NPCs, quests, magic items, and hours of gameplay. And yes, you got it, another companion.
2.4 million and beyond! Coming Soon!
We've been listening to your feedback, and have the following announcements:

• DRM Free: We are looking into it! Please check back for updates.
• Digital Only Tiers are coming!
• PayPal is coming asap. Please be patient!
• New $5k Tier. We are looking into a new $5k tier since it sold out so quickly! We are looking into equivalent alternatives.

Thank you fans!
Obsidian

 

[Stigmata]

It's an exaggerated comparison. I may have unintentionally misused the expression.

Intended meaning: Fallout 4 by Obsidian would be the best news this year, but since that's not known, Project Eternity occupies the spot for "best news this year OMFG."

Way to get my hopes up

Anyway it's amazing how quickly this kickstarter has hit its first funding goal. I don't think they'll have any problem hitting the 2.2+ million mark. And at that point they'll make a Linux version to which I can only respond:

Spoiler

STEAMBOX

 

[Lobster]

I pledged $35. Obsidian deserve a chance to prove themselves without a publisher getting in the way, especially after that awful Metacritic nonsense with New Vegas.

I have to wonder how they go about budgeting the project though. How does an extra $300k create a new Race, Class and Companion? Do they just hire more artists, or is there a time factor involved?

 

[Stigmata]

Most likely a combination of both. The artists and programmers need to be paid, and new races and whatnot are generally not the kind of content that's easily cloneable.

 

[Barnz]

Feargus: "If we listened to everyone, it would be a Japanese turn-based dating sim with insect people."

 

[Acepilotf14]

Those are a lot of promises and I doubt they will all be fulfilled.

 

[Vegeta897]

Is it going to be 2D or 3D? I'm wondering if it's actually isometric or just 3D with a camera at an isometric-esque angle. And I'm also wondering about the art style in general. If it were really nice 2D it'd kick ass.

I like real-time pause gameplay, so that's a good start.

 

[Barnz]

2D backgrounds with 3D characters

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

The most sincerely I've been excited about a game in quite some time. The waiting game will be agony!

 

[Tagaziel]

http://www.ripten.com/2012/10/17/where-we-go-we-need-project-eternity-summaries/

For those who missed the conclusion of the campaign today. A summary of what's been achieved.

Rock on, Obsidian. Rock, the ****, on.

 

[morgs]

Managed to get my pledge in just before they reached their goal. Now we just have to wait a few years to play it!

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

Josh Sawyer is my hero

 

[Tagaziel]

Managed to get my pledge in just before they reached their goal. Now we just have to wait a few years to play it!

Obsidian is looking at about 18 months. The game was already in preproduction when Kickstarter was announced.

 

[morgs]

Oh, well that's good news.

 

[Krynn72]

Cool, didnt realize they were doing paypal donations as well, thought that the 4m mark wasn't met. I put down my $35, was a pretty good deal for that price.

 

[Rorschach120]

I was into it until I read that it is Baldur's Gate style. I like BD I just don't want to play it again.

Now if it was MnB style combat with magic, and dragons... I would pledge $50 right now.

 

[Naph]

I don't know how Obsidian will fair with a new IP completely under their control. But I'm still sceptical because I know what they've done to others.

 

[Krynn72]

Any time Obsidian has been given a lot of control over a game, they've made good games. Its when they've got a publisher prodding them with sticks to hurry up that they mess up.

I mean, I still fully expect a buggy game, its their trademark, but I have no doubt that it will be a great game regardless.

 

[Tagaziel]

I don't know how Obsidian will fair with a new IP completely under their control. But I'm still sceptical because I know what they've done to others.

Creating awesome, thought provoking role playing games with varied gameplay, memorable characters and a non-derivative storyline is bad?

 

[Eejit]

They do have a somewhat mixed record though. Look at the NWN2 games, only the first expansion had a genuinely great storyline, the OG and second expansion had barely serviceable plots and mediocre party NPCs.