This week in MMO crowdfunding news, our own MJ – MJ Guthrie, that is – returned from DragonCon with reports from several crowdfunded MMORPG studios. First up is Camelot Unchained and its own MJ – Mark Jacobs, that is – who’ve got a new update out, complete with new screenshots of the autumn forest biome (seen above) and a tease about the ongoing hiring. Jacobs says the team has been busy working on resource modification, ability conditionals, skill timing, archery abilities, periodic effects, building damage, the Stonehealer class, and the first pass on multi-island/multi-server integration.
We’ve also welcomed Hero’s Song back to our watch list. The John Smedley-led OARPG canceled its Kickstarter earlier this year but has returned to crowdfund just ahead of its early access launch with a new Indiegogo campaign.
Dual Universe also launched its first Kickstarter, seeking over half a million dollars to fund the epic sci-fi sandbox. Meanwhile, Ever, Jane postponed its open beta’s first update, Fragmented went on sale for five bucks in the Humble Bundle store, Edengrad updated backers on its combat plans, and HEX released its fifth card pack, Herofall. Read on for more on what’s up with MMO crowdfunding this week and the roundup of all the crowdfunded MMOs we’ve got our eye on!
Hero’s Song’s Indiegogo pitch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-tOkgl-xpE
Recent MMO crowdfunding news
Star Citizen will let players open their own kiosks - Have you ever been to the shopping mall and been completely jealous that these good-looking strangers get to sell weird wares from kiosks while you have to sip Orange Julius…
DragonCon 2016: Garriott and Hickman explain THE VOID’s live VR - Have you ever wanted to play literally in your favorite game? Ever since my first tabletop pen and paper campaigns, I have wanted to be in the action, flinging the…
Crowfall shows off UI improvements - Even if you're not involved in the actual testing process for Crowfall, you probably like seeing the game in action just to confirm that it's really working and wasn't just…
DragonCon 2016: Mark Jacobs on Camelot Unchained’s abilities and RvR realm rewards - If you've been following anything about Camelot Unchained, then you get the idea that Mark Jacobs has set out to make something different than what is currently in the MMO…
Elite Dangerous polls players about controversial ship transfer time - One of the upcoming features for Elite Dangerous is the ability to more easily switch between your ships, which sounds like nothing but a net positive for all pilots. Yet…
Shroud of the Avatar to issue bans for RMT outside of approved forum - Did you know that Shroud of the Avatar allows players to trade and sell virtual goods like pledges and store items - and now gold? It does indeed, strictly in a…
Smed says Hero’s Song is in the home stretch after early stumbles - In a beefy update letter to the community on Reddit last night, Pixelmage Games CEO John Smedley talked about how far Hero's Song has come since the title's disappointing initial showing…
AdventureQuest 3D asks for player help to design a fire zone - The AdventureQuest 3D team was out in full force at DragonCon this past weekend, manning a panel on the game as well as participating in several other discussions during the…
DragonCon 2016: Mark Jacobs on trolls, subscriptions, and Camelot Unchained - There's so much to see and do at DragonCon that you can't possibly fit it all in. With actors, authors, game developers, cosplayers, and fans in panels, costume contests, balls,…
Smed: Hero’s Song will launch early access with 15 classes - Pixelmage Games' John Smedley has posted an update for Indiegogo backers and would-be backers for his MMOARPG, Hero's Song. "As I write this we're sitting at $34k and we're doing great…
Crowfall Q&A sheds light on the soft launch and the feedback process - In its Q&A session for the month of September, Crowfall Design Lead Thomas Blair and Creative Director Todd Coleman celebrate a whole year of videos and blow their entire special…
Sci-fi sandbox Dual Universe’s Kickstarter has launched, seeks half a million dollars - As promised, the folks at Novaquark have launched the Kickstarter for Dual Universe this morning. They seek $557,818 to bring what they are calling "the most innovative sci-fi MMO game of…
Smed plans Indiegogo, Twitch stream for pixel-art OARPG Hero’s Song - Back in January, former SOE/Daybreak boss John Smedley revealed the details of his new company, Pixelmage Games, and its first title, a PvE-focused, sandboxy, pixel-art, open-world OARPG called Hero's Song.…
Shroud of the Avatar’s release 33, Richard Garriott’s AMA and new book - The final wipe is receding into the horizon for Shroud of the Avatar, but the game is hardly finished patching and adding in big features. The latest post-patch dispatch from…
Divergence Online returns to Indiegogo to raise funds for the ‘mechapocalypse’ - Star Wars Galaxies-inspired indie MMORPG Divergence Online is back with another crowdfunding campaign. If we've done our math right, this'll make the game's fourth campaign. Developer Stained Glass Llama says that…
Star Citizens quibble over Squadron 42’s release date - A German games journalist whose Gamescom video report on Star Citizen and Squadron 42 was picked up by an English-speaking outlet has clarified his remarks. PCGamesN had quoted a video…
DragonCon 2016: Richard Garriott officiates at a real-life convention wedding - What happens at DragonCon doesn't always stay at DragonCon -- at least not for a couple of Shroud of the Avatar players. Their weekend included a post-panel wedding. After the…
Campaigns and crowdfunded MMOs we’re watching
3001SQ (Société des Mondes Virtuels) – Kickstarter unsuccessful. Work continues.
AdventureQuest 3D (Artix Entertainment) – Raised 368k; plans October launch.
Ascent: The Space Game (Fluffy Kitten Studios) – Fully launched!
Camelot Unchained (City State) – Open donations/packages.
Caribbean Conquest (Invenio) – Kickstarter canceled (site has been taken offline).
Contested Space (Zon)
Crowfall (ArtCraft) – Open donations/packages
Chronicles of Elyria (Soulbound) – Kickstarter successful.
Citadel of Sorcery (MMO Magic, Inc.) – Open donations.
City of Titans (Missing Worlds Media)
Descent Underground (Descendent Studios)
Divergence Online (Stained Glass Llama) – Three campaigns; now in KS early access.
Dogma: Eternal Night (Prelude Games Factory): Kickstarter over, donor preorder packs.
Dragon of Legends (Thrive Games) – Successful Kickstarter.
Dual Universe (Novaquark) – Kickstarter live now, ends October 11.
Eco (Strange Loop Games)
Edengrad (Huckleberry Games) – Kickstarter funded June 2016; early access coming Sept.
Elite: Dangerous (Frontier Developments) – Funded and launched.
Empyrionn Online (Eleon) – Kickstarter canceled; launched on Steam early access.
Epic Space (EpicSpace.net)
Ever, Jane (3 Turn Productions) – Now in open beta.
Gloria Victis (Black Eye Games) – Open donations, no end date.
Greed Monger (Greed Monger) – Abandoned, multiple times now.
Grim Dawn (Crate Entertainment) – Funded and launched.
Guns of Icarus (Muse) – Funded and launched.
Hero’s Song (Pixelmage): Kickstarter canceled; Indiegogo live, ends mid-October.
Infinity: Battlescape (I-Novae Studios)
HEX (HEX Entertainment)
Life is Feudal (Bitbox): Indiegogo ended.
LUX (Chimera) – Kickstarter canceled.
Midair (Archetype Studios) – Kickstarter successful.
Neo’s Land (NeoJac Entertainment) – Open donations, no end date.
Novus AEterno (Taitale Studios)
Overpower (Hydrant Games) – Kickstarter unfunded; heading to early access.
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen (Visionary Realms) – Open donations, no end date.
Pathfinder Online (GoblinWorks)
Planet Nomads (Craneballs) – Successful Kickstarter.
Pixel Starships (SavySoda)
Project Gorgon (Elder Game, LLC)
Pumpkin Online (Monique)
The Realm: Reawakened (Stephen Nichols) – Ongoing GoFundMe.
The Repopulation (Above & Beyond Technologies) – In middle of engine do-over.
ROKH (Darewise) – Kickstarter canceled; early access planned for Sept. 2016.
The Stomping Land (Alex Fundora) – Abandoned.
Sacrament (Ferocity Unbound) – Kickstarter failed; Patreon ongoing.
Shadow’s Kiss (Clockwork Throne) – Ongoing Patreon.
Shards Online (Citadel Studios)
Shroud of the Avatar (Portalarium) – Final wipe was in July 2016.
Star Citizen (Cloud Imperium) – Ongoing donations/packages.
TUG (Nerd Kingdom) – In middle of year-long revamp after funding surge.
Vigor Roads (NeuronHaze) – Kickstarter unsuccessful; early access planned for 2017.
