Home Gaming Tim Shafer got too excited and needs more money

Tim Shafer got too excited and needs more money

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Remember March 2012 when Double Fine had their game kicked in the starters?  Well, apparently they weren’t kicked hard enough.  Despite receiving $3.3 million in crowd funding, it appears this is only half of what they need.  

It’s all a bit strange considering that the original goal was for $400k.  In a statement on Kickstarter from Tim Shafer, he explains:

Even though we received much more money from our Kickstarter than we, or anybody anticipated, that didn’t stop me from getting excited and designing a game so big that it would need even more money. 

I understand about having big ideas, but what about working within your (rather large) means?  Oh well, it’s not a problem, the game will just be split in two, sorta.  The first half of the game will be released in January 2014 through Steam Early Access, garnering funding to sustain production until the rest of the game can be completed.  Not a bad idea.  Oh, and backers will still get access to the exclusive beta before that.  Once the full game launches, the Early Access people will get a free update to the full game.

All in all, it sounds like a decent solution to a weird problem.  I understand making awesome games costs obscene amounts of money, but I thought Double Fine had gotten that already.  At least the game is still coming, and will be available on Steam for those who can’t wait for the full game to be released.

Last Updated: July 3, 2013

43 Comments

  1. Argentil

    July 3, 2013 at 13:33

    I saw this a few hours ago. Considering their initial budget was only $400 000, this is ludicrous. They amassed record-breaking crowdsourcing, but it’s not enough for a point-and-click adventure game? I really hope this isn’t a sign that Schafer thinks himself above listening to his team.

    Reply

    • LordCaptainAwesomeness

      July 3, 2013 at 13:37

      I can smell some Humble Pie coming…

      Reply

    • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

      July 3, 2013 at 13:39

      It better be the best Damn point n click adventure ever made. anything short of mindblowingly brilliant will not be enough

      Reply

    • Kromas

      July 3, 2013 at 14:11

      3mil is not record breaking. Go see how much star citizen is sitting at. Not that I am complaining … I want mah space pew pew!

      But I get your point.

      Reply

  2. Sir Twakkus

    July 3, 2013 at 13:39

    I really would like to see the expenditure list on that game.
    1) Luxury House $1.5m
    2) Luxury Car $1.5m
    3) Game $300k

    Reply

  3. Admiral Chief Groot Wors

    July 3, 2013 at 13:39

    Hahaha, epic header

    Reply

  4. RinceWind

    July 3, 2013 at 13:42

    Yeah, this is not sounding dodgy at all. “Yeah, sorry, we need another 3 mil…” Next month: “Shit, did I say 3? I meant 10…” Mmm. You cannot go from $400k to $3.3 mil and not expect people to carry on putting money in. Fool me once…

    Reply

    • Argentil

      July 3, 2013 at 13:45

      I spend quite a lot of time on kickstarter lately, and the cracks in the system are starting to show. There are a lot of projects that met their funding goals, but are not updated, or update sparsely with excuses.

      Reply

      • RinceWind

        July 3, 2013 at 13:46

        Or daterape books that get green lit… Sad state of affairs.

        Reply

        • LordCaptainAwesomeness

          July 3, 2013 at 13:47

          I REALLY REALLLY Hope that Star Citizen makes it… other than that, Kickstarter does not see me…

          Reply

          • RinceWind

            July 3, 2013 at 13:47

            Agreed. Man I want that!

          • Ultimo_Cleric N7

            July 3, 2013 at 13:48

            With the amount of work going into it, and all the updates, I dont doubt it. And off less cash than this.
            WIN!

          • Sageville

            July 3, 2013 at 14:13

            $12 million so far and counting, next stretch goal is $21 million!

            This will be the make or break for me, if Star Citizen goes nowhere, I will be very down for any future kickstarters

          • Trevor Davies

            July 3, 2013 at 14:22

            They have goals for 13 & 14 mil, don’t remember what they are now. 21 mil is the total funding he needs if I remember right.

            But it looks like it could be something special, if it’s not I’ll be over there – crying in the corner.

      • Trevor Davies

        July 3, 2013 at 14:10

        I like Kickstarter, it gives games a chance that otherwise would maybe not have seen the light of day. I also know it gives no guarantees for the quality of a game – it may be good or not, you’re taking a chance there.

        For such a high profile game from a respected dev to go so badly will turn a lot of people off. You expect someone like that to live up to their promises & not make a colossal balls-up with his plan & funding – because that’s what this is. What makes this smell worse for me is that they just completed another kickstarter campaign for a different game.

        Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      July 3, 2013 at 13:51

      How do you get it SO wrong? At least the fishy smell has realistic AI now. trollol

      Reply

  5. OVG

    July 3, 2013 at 13:45

    The Activision Tea Lady at Infinity Ward earns more than that.

    Reply

  6. Ultimo_Cleric N7

    July 3, 2013 at 13:47

    How can you justify this?!?!?! Getting a shed load of money, NOW ASKING FOR MORE!?!?!

    Reply

    • LordCaptainAwesomeness

      July 3, 2013 at 13:52

      It is the Greedy idiots like this that I want to see get out of the industry. Mmmh the people gave me tons more that i asked for, lemme see if i can milk it more for my jet car….

      Reply

      • Argentil

        July 3, 2013 at 13:54

        Nah, don’t call him greedy. I just think they managed the budget poorly. You would think someone in the finance chair would tell him not to overspend.

        Reply

        • RinceWind

          July 3, 2013 at 13:56

          Overspend?! Me going to Mac Donalds after a night of OVG raging and enough booze to kill an elephant, and then ordering the Mexican burger AND a big mac is over spending! $400,000 NOT REALLY, $3.3 million is bloody preposterous! lol “Doctor, sir, we need to take a kidney, nah, just messing with you, we need your balls too…”

          Reply

          • Trevor Davies

            July 3, 2013 at 14:19

            …and we need twice that to finish the game… My first thought when I saw this earlier in the day was, “People are going to be PISSED!”

          • RinceWind

            July 3, 2013 at 14:23

            Haha! Ohhhh yeah

        • LordCaptainAwesomeness

          July 3, 2013 at 13:56

          Dude, you ask for 400k, and Get 3.3 Mil….. and then go and say Oops i ran out….. That indicates either poor planning from the start, or greediness.

          Reply

  7. Trevor Davies

    July 3, 2013 at 13:48

    This is a big kick in the teeth for people who backed this project. Hearing this is like hearing your tattoo artist say, “oh shit!”

    Reply

    • Ultimo_Cleric N7

      July 3, 2013 at 13:49

      Haha! so true

      Reply

    • RinceWind

      July 3, 2013 at 13:51

      Lol. Exactly. Say “Shit, I don’t suppose you have another $2.6 mil, may a BIT of a mistake there…”

      Reply

  8. Umar Kiiroi Senk?

    July 3, 2013 at 13:50

    Sies vir jou neus …….

    Reply

  9. ElimiNathan

    July 3, 2013 at 13:52

    What game is it ?…

    Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      July 3, 2013 at 13:55

      Broken Age. Bit ironic now given the funding problem.

      Reply

      • ElimiNathan

        July 3, 2013 at 13:58

        haha

        Reply

  10. Admiral Chief Groot Wors

    July 3, 2013 at 13:55

    Shafer can get SHAFTED

    Reply

    • RinceWind

      July 3, 2013 at 13:57

      Does such a thing as a SHAFT hammer exist?

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

        July 3, 2013 at 13:59

        Apparently a double shaft hammer exists

        “Double shaft hammer crushers are primarily used in the primary crushing of soft to medium-hard rock and also moist and tough materials”

        Quite appropriate since he crushed the moolah of the doners

        Reply

  11. Sageville

    July 3, 2013 at 14:08

    I was wondering about the kickstarter thingy.

    So you pay bucks, to fund some project, now, if the goal isnt met does the project still get that money?

    Reply

    • Argentil

      July 3, 2013 at 14:12

      Nope, the money is refunded.

      Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      July 3, 2013 at 14:12

      You only get charged if the campaign meets it’s funding goal. Otherwise nothing.

      Reply

  12. HvR

    July 3, 2013 at 14:17

    Hookers $1m
    Booze $1m
    Coke $1m
    Releasing Grim Fandango HD $300 000
    Having the world fund your year long party; PRICELESS!!

    Reply

  13. Pougsdhb

    February 2, 2015 at 17:19

    site for pou lovers and players who desperately want to earn coins and potions pou cheats

    Reply

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