Void Destroyer - [Greenlit] and [Funded Kickstarter]

[chaosavy]

Hey guys! This is the first place I'm "officially announcing" the two campaigns. Ogre has been an incredible tool/resource and life changer for me, I don't think I would be here - living the dream of making my own game - without it. I have a lot to thank you guys - the Ogre community - for.

I've decided to link the project's future to Kickstarter - now that the project is at the late alpha stage, self funding has become difficult. If you could spread the word and consider being a backer I would appreciate that very much.

Here is the link to the Kickstarter campaign: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/171 ... -destroyer

The project is also on Steam's Greenlight, please vote for it: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... =146068036

And I'm proud to show you guys the latest video - the first official trailer to Void Destroyer

[youtube]Xb5izYgWsVA[/youtube]


Now I'm off to spread the word some more and have many sleepless nights!

[holocronweaver]

*jaw hits floor with a loud thud*
Goodbye money. I will miss you. You are going to a better place.

And...apparently I am your first backer!

Only asking for $20k? I hope you receive way, way more than that. I am particularly excited about the multiplayer, FPS, and planetary landing stretch goals. You know, if you ever require some coding help to reach those goals...there may be certain people willing to work pro bono to make it happen.

This game seems like a dream come true for me. Serious space sim / RTS hybrid game featuring hard sci-fi with a friendly veneer? Awesome. Awesome to the max.

Now I'm off to spread the word some more and have many sleepless nights!

Ah, sleepless nights. Having something worth staying up that late for is both a blessing and a curse.

BTW, in case you are not familiar, Limit Theory is a game in a similar vein, also being made by a lonestar developer. Perhaps his Kickstarter campaign could be instructive, and he is a really nice guy so you might consider getting in touch with him.

[chaosavy]

Thanks! Your pledge made me feel a lot less nervous Its hard to express my gratitude, maybe if I spent the last 4 years writing poetry instead of code. One thing that I can easily express is that I'll sleep a lot better due to it 0 is the loneliest number no matter what that song says.

That's a great idea about contacting the Limit Theory developer.. why didn't I think of that... I wish I asked him for any advice prior. I can still do so - thanks!

20k is a honest number in terms of funds that the project needs - unless my artists decide to jack up their rates beyond my estimates of how I'll jack them up post kickstarter. The FPS aspects as well as the other Stretch goals add bounce to my steps so I know that eventually they will be in - just a matter of time if funding doesn't get us there sooner.

Thank you for the generous offer to help - but there must be an equivalent exchange (if commercial then I have to pay). There's always the modding tool (whose code is going to come from the Battle Editor featured in the video in the Kickstarter) it will be open source (to give back to the Ogre community as well as anyone else interested) so potentially there's that.

[holocronweaver]

Thanks! Your pledge made me feel a lot less nervous

Glad to help. Just increased my contribution so that my friend will have an early birthday present. BTW, love the 'Candy Backer' reward. Wish I could afford it.

That's a great idea about contacting the Limit Theory developer.. why didn't I think of that... I wish I asked him for any advice prior. I can still do so - thanks!

To my knowledge, the fastest way to reach the developer (Josh Parnell) is via the Limit Theory forums. He scans those fairly regularly.

Thank you for the generous offer to help - but there must be an equivalent exchange (if commercial then I have to pay). There's always the modding tool (whose code is going to come from the Battle Editor featured in the video in the Kickstarter) it will be open source (to give back to the Ogre community as well as anyone else interested) so potentially there's that.

Hey, I don't mind being paid if you happen to have some extra money lying around. This summer I am spoken for with the Google Summer of Code, but afterwards I would be available part time (and full time on weekends). Also, if you need help porting to Linux, either in the form of coding or testing, I could help there too. This is definitely a game I do not want to see stranded on Windows.
I don't believe you mentioned making the battle editor open source on Kickstarter. You might want to add that. Even non-tech savvy gamers appreciate the implication that an open source component can be developed faster than a closed source one and can continue to be developed even if the original creator moves on to other projects.

Also, I forgot to ask before, how do you plan to add replayability to the main game? Will there be randomization / instancing? The campaign definitely sounds awesome, but I am curious what you have planned, especially in terms of keeing multiplayer fresh.

[mkultra333]

Looks really good. Those ships are cool, and the battles are fun to watch, nice explosions and lots of shots flying everywhere. Great stuff!

[chaosavy]

Yeah - maybe I should setup a budget Candy backer of like $75 or even less... I'm tempted to just send you some candy right now - you are the first backer and I love introducing people to Polish candy... I'll keep that in mind

Yeah I should add that - the original intention is to make the modding tool open source - since that would be a bigger benefit to the Ogre community - since it would be easily modifiable to be a sort of a model editor with an example for a "rts" camera (that the project uses). But there's not much reason not to make the Battle Editor open source as well.

Here's the Battle Editor demo btw: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9JYSc71NRs (combined with insant action mode demo). The battle editor is the map creation dealie. Which also answers your question how I plan to add replayability - player creatable and sharable maps and an easy way for me to add content. That plus the modding - video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVG2-1pVdpw - is it strange that I hope modders create a Battlestar Galacita mod for my game? Or Stargate, or Babylon 5 or Star Wars? But first the game has to get popular enough for modders to come onboard. I'll have to seek out some modding communities and post that vid to entice them. Another way to add replayability is that "alternate game mode" stretch goal - where the player isn't so much on a mission as a sandbox galaxy/universe like Privateer or the X games.

Mkultra - thanks as always!

[Jabberwocky]

Lookin' good Chaosavy!
I think launching the kickstarter and greenlight campaigns at the same time is a good move.

[bstone]

As I already said in the other thread that is simply mind blowingly awesome. Good luck with your campaigns!

[areay]

Hi chaosavy. I've been watching the development of your game with interest for a while now and I really like the look of it.

I'm concerned that your trailer video isn't good enough though. I've never made one before, and I'm definitely not a connoisseur, but I think it's lacking a bit. The only shots in the vid are of the battles and some of the tactical controls. I think it needs more text in it. Is it a sandbox? Are you doing quests? Do things like ships/pilots levelup? Is there a research/tech side to it? Are you fighting for a faction or are you a mercenary? I'm just concerned that a newbie will just see the battles and have no idea what the game is really about. I know that *some* of this information is in the text below but if people aren't interested by the vid then they're not going to read that, or even scroll down to the alpha free demo link etc.

For example, from 1:30 to 1:55 you have a pretty slow-paced clip of the build process, somewhere in there is a great opportunity to overlay some text like "Build from over X different ship designs" etc.

I'm really not trying to be a troll here, I just feel that your game has much more to offer than what you've shown in that video and everyone is always talking how important the leading video is for a KS campaign...

[holocronweaver]

The only shots in the vid are of the battles and some of the tactical controls. I think it needs more text in it. Is it a sandbox? Are you doing quests? Do things like ships/pilots levelup? Is there a research/tech side to it? Are you fighting for a faction or are you a mercenary? I'm just concerned that a newbie will just see the battles and have no idea what the game is really about. I know that *some* of this information is in the text below but if people aren't interested by the vid then they're not going to read that, or even scroll down to the alpha free demo link etc.

For example, from 1:30 to 1:55 you have a pretty slow-paced clip of the build process, somewhere in there is a great opportunity to overlay some text like "Build from over X different ship designs" etc.

I agree that a more detailed description of the game mechanics and features in the Kickstarter video, and in the written section, would definitely help backers realize why this game is fun. Sadly, not everyone has experienced the ecstatic pleasures that are Homeworld and BattleZone. This whole concept of flight sim/RTS hybrid may be foreign to the new generation of gamers.

[chaosavy]

areay - no offense taken - every time I see that trailer there's something I would improve. Too much text might turn people off, not enough might turn them off. There's a bunch of vids on the Kickstarter and Greenlight pages that are fairly detailed and go into the game's features.


holocronweaver - yeah that is my core - anyone who mentions Battlezone is a keeper. Currently I need to find about 800 of them or for them to find me. And if I'm lucky enough to find much more then they'll convert the new generation.

bstone and Jabberwocky - thanks as always


On a more general note - the whole Kickstarter process is fascinating, if I don't do a post mortem/wrap up then be sure to remind me that I said to remind me.

[drwbns]

Chiming in here. Awesome work chaos. I'm not an RTS player but it looks great although I do agree with areay - I don't really have a good idea of the full gameplay / how to win. Are you still working on the gameplay aspect of it?

[TheSHEEEP]

That must have been quite some work. Looking really good already

Wish I could give more than a few bucks, but I'm actually saving for my own game project. Guess you understand

[Jabberwocky]

On a more general note - the whole Kickstarter process is fascinating, if I don't do a post mortem/wrap up then be sure to remind me that I said to remind me.

That'd be great. For a while now, I've thought about a KS for Salvation Prophecy (improvements or an expansion maybe), to help get enough attention to push it through Steam Greenlight. I've been hovering around the top 20 games for a while, but breaking through that is quite difficult.

[chaosavy]

drwbns - majority of the gameplay is in - some of it lacks necessary polish. I'll put out another vid, but it might not answer all the questions either - but there will be a lot of explosions There are vids on the Kickstarter site (and you tube) that explain the mechanics - I hope pretty well. I think its over 30 minutes of me talking spread out over a few vids. They don't completely explain how to win - that's an interesting point.



TheSheep - no problem - I'd rather have 2k backers at 10 then 1k backers at 20. No offense to those who can afford it - just I'd rather be very reasonably affordable. I know people work hard for the money and there is a lot of competition for it. I'd rather compete for attention.

Jabberwocky - yeah - Kickstarter is a great tool.

[chaosavy]

Hey guys - an update - the Kickstarter is going well - lots of cool things have happened including:

me doing a pod cast with Space Game Junkie - here - http://www.spacegamejunkie.com/featured ... ace-games/ - Void Destroyer - The Dark Souls of Space Games?

If you are interested in the indie development process, indie life, the thoughts of someone crazy enough to try this and the game itself - it is a neat listen. A conversation is a lot less dry then text on the screen.

[chaosavy]

Hey guys! Exciting news - we reached our base goal!


Now we are pursuing stretch goals of an additional pirate faction (+5K) and 'Privateer' mode (+30K) and a dream goal of FPS elements (+40K).

I didn't come empty handed - here is a new trailer:


[youtube]L6ZhgSywtbw[/youtube]


This is a warm up trailer for the Kickstarter finale trailer, which by my estimates is... well I don't want to oversell it (ok I do - I'm super excited).

I will post it later on this week and then quit running around the web promoting the project.



PS:

If you haven't been keeping up with the project's updates, there's been a few neat "how indie games are made" videos added. If you are interested in gamedev/coding etc I hope that you'll find them interesting.

Here is a video where I talk through adding mines:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqExhRJdX2k

Here's the end result:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytHwOBKTB_M


Here's another video where I talk through adding an area of effect missile, this one focuses more on coding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMTzXzAfCDE

[holocronweaver]

I am telling everyone who will listen about this game. It would be a crime against nature if you didn't reach your $40k stretch goal. Wish you could get you coverage on Kotaku, Gamespot, IGN, etc.

[syedhs]

This is the first Kickstarter I have backed - as the games look impressive and the games seem completable (not sure it is an English word lol).

Btw, I noticed from the video it uses a lot of particle especially during space-combat.. what particle do you use? Ogre particle? And is there any slowdown when particle is heavily used?

[chaosavy]

Here is the Kickstarter Finale Trailer - I think it conveys what I'm trying to do (in terms of the combat aspect of the game) very well

[youtube]bmBpfTt9UXY[/youtube]






Holocronweaver: me too and thanks!

Syedhs: thanks as well!

I'm using Particle Universe - which is an addon to Ogre's particle system.


Check out:

http://www.fxpression.com/



and this forum post for more info:


http://www.ogre3d.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=65942




Slowdowns: Ogre is capable of thousands of particles, its incredible. There is a bit of a slow down for the first time a particle effect fires, I could probalby pre-buffer these, but I'm not strong on that side of game dev. There is a bigger issue however - I run out of memory (the 2GB 32bit limit). I have to research a way of capping memory use, right now I only allow 150 particles per particle type, but that's kind of a rough bandaid.

[syedhs]

The amount raised seem to accelerate.. it is $27K now.. congratulation.. probably can reach 35K before it ends..

[mkultra333]

$27K on Kickstarter! I'm so jealous. My game isn't ready for that kind of thing yet, I hadn't even really considered it, but it seems it's much more effective than I thought, at least for a good looking project.

Regarding the memory issue, I was running into memory issues in my game. Kojack suggested using the LARGEADDRESSAWARE option, ( http://www.ogre3d.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=76891 ) which ups the limit to 3 Gig for 32 bit programs for Windows. I'm using it now and it seems fine. Not sure what you'd do if you are multi-platform though.

[chaosavy]

Yeah - what happened was RPS did a feature, which Kotaku noticed, which Polygon noticed, and a bunch of other places. It is really true that you can get a snowball effect of sorts.


Its actually a strange thing - because it really isn't about the money at this point (past the 25k goal which will get us to release), but getting a bigger "score" means more attention and I hope its enough to get Steam's. It was frustrating because I'd constantly see that not a lot of people would mention Void Destroyer when talking about space sims (eg: in news article comments and forum posts), this exposure will help.

Thanks for the 3GB tip - it will certainly help - eventually I plan on making it 64bit to future for our children to enjoy quaint space sims

There is going to be a unit cap in the story line portion, in the (make your own) battle editor (and in the future also in Linux/other platforms) I'll put in a blurb or a warning of some kind about the running out of memory issue (when a bunch of different ships are added and at certain number of them). I have to balance the game a bit differently ships die too quick right now and there's a bit too much bullets flying around. Both will help with the memory issue as well as performance - though I'm running things on a very average PC. Most games probably have a better PC than I do.

I'm planning a write up on the whole experience which I hope helps future projects on a similar path path out.

[holocronweaver]

I'm planning a write up on the whole experience which I hope helps future projects on a similar path path out.

Looking forward to it. Oh, and go $40k+, go!

Edit: One of my friends will not be able to pledge, so I am doubling my pledge for him.

[Klaim]

Voted for this on Greenlight.