They delayed the Kickstarter because they were implementing some new tech into the game that they obtained and they also wanted to make sure they were certified to develop the game for the Xbox One before they launched the Kickstarter. It's definitely launching on the 28th now.
The Lost Pisces |KS| The Little Mermaid meets UE4-powered futuristic shooter
- Thread starter More_Badass
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They delayed the Kickstarter because they were implementing some new tech into the game that they obtained and they also wanted to make sure they were certified to develop the game for the Xbox One before they launched the Kickstarter. It's definitely launching on the 28th now.
PS4 version of the game will be a stretch goal.
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
^
Correct, PC/XBO for sure, PS4 and Oculus Rift are stretch goals. PS4 may not be able to utilize the camera features as effectively as Kinect (not trying to tug any flame strings, that's just what I know from the team) so the PS4 and Rift versions will likely be different from the XBO/PC version.
Correct, PC/XBO for sure, PS4 and Oculus Rift are stretch goals. PS4 may not be able to utilize the camera features as effectively as Kinect (not trying to tug any flame strings, that's just what I know from the team) so the PS4 and Rift versions will likely be different from the XBO/PC version.
This thing has been in the oven for years. Not only should I see gameplay, I should see EXPANSIVE gameplay. the a 15 second clip of someone running around doing a canned presentation. Until then, I've just got a bad feeling about this project. Been burned a bit too much by KS to even deal with a half ass presentation of a "game."
Btw: The Kickstarter is set for 4/28
Here are some recent screenshots
Hey they gave her pants...yay
Nintendojitsu
Banned
This looks very ambitious. Not sure if that's a good thing after so many recent Kickstarter disappointments.
More_Badass
Member
Like what?
Compsiox
Banned
More_Badass
Member
If you pledge to a Kickstarter but the campaign doesn't succeed, you don't get charged
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
This is something the devs are very much aware of. It was one of the things I called them on, in addition to the reality of such advanced AI, when I was first introduced to the project. If the KS doesn't deliver real, tangible gameplay evidence, it won't reach the funding goal.
To be fair, it's classified as a "shooter" but there's not a whole lot of intense action sequences moment-to-moment. It's more like Shadow of the Colossus, and the the player mostly interacts with Pisces, the "female" companion (she's an android at the start of the game), to solve environmental puzzles and bring down these near-invincible mechanical beings.
FunkyDealer
Banned
The pictures look awesome, but I'm worried about it's Kickstarted nature. I can't shake the feeling it won't live up to it's potential. But if it does, I'll buy.
LiquidMetal14
hide your water-based mammals
We need a new thread when the KS is up.
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
Basically, exactly this. That's the mind set I went in with.
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
Sorry for the double post, but I just got word so I figured I'd pass it along: The campaign is, you guessed it, delayed again. They won't be scheduling a new date, just a "Coming Soon" tag to avoid breaking any further promises. The team gave an explanation but... I don't really blame anyone for thinking it's vaporware at this point.
I'm told the KS is finished except for the video pitch, which they are reworking (hence the delay) to address audience feedback and concerns about "certain elements" and I am supposed to see the campaign preview later today to offer my perspective on how it looks so far. If anyone is interested, I'll report back later (assuming they actually send a preview link) and share what I can.
I'm told the KS is finished except for the video pitch, which they are reworking (hence the delay) to address audience feedback and concerns about "certain elements" and I am supposed to see the campaign preview later today to offer my perspective on how it looks so far. If anyone is interested, I'll report back later (assuming they actually send a preview link) and share what I can.
CrunchyFrog
Member
Worrisome. Plus, the visuals look rather high budget for your typical KS effort. What "certain elements" were they referring to?
More_Badass
Member
These devs shot themselves in the foot with the delays. If they can't even commit to a Kickstarter launch, why would I trust their estimates for release dates or milestone timeframes?
Hopefully they follow through on the campaign preview. I'll be interested to hear how it looks
Hopefully they follow through on the campaign preview. I'll be interested to hear how it looks
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
Can't get too specific, but they're re-shooting interview content and gameplay footage based on feedback from the community. What I can quote is that they "needed to reshoot some of the video content to better address many of the questions folks have been inquiring about lately."
The visuals are very high quality and high budget. This is basically a three-person team (with help from outside studios for the AI and some other backend infrastructure) attempting a full scale AAA project. Hence the high funding goal.
I can confirm that production has at no point halted despite the campaign delays, and they're actually really eager to launch the campaign, as they're currently paying out of pocket up to this point for voice acting, software, peripherals, etc.
Probably all the weird enthusiasm for the Kinect when 99 percent of the people they're pitching to won't have one. Really all of the stuff they've said about that doesn't sound credible.
Messofanego
Banned
Another delay? lol
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
I don't really keep track of camera technology to be honest, but is there something comparable that works across PC and Xbox One that can capture gestures and voice commands? It's not just Kinect-compatible, they just want to use camera peripherals. Voice and facial recognition are the core mechanics of the game, so it will be difficult to execute without them.
They're using Kinect in a way that hasn't been done before, that's why they're adamant about it...the game's main character is supposed to be able to react to your emotions based on facial expressions while playing the game.
More_Badass
Member
Ambitious claims like that make me less interested in the game, not more. How does that influence gameplay? From the looks, it's a SotC-esque action game, not a TWD-style adventure game
The thing is, like none of that seems real. It sounds like something Molyneux would say.
More_Badass
Member
Pretty much.
Ouch, those kinds of comparisons aren't going to do the devs any favors
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
I'm sure I sound like a jerk for repeating this, but if you read the interview in the Mag, a lot of that is actually addressed, particularly from a technological standpoint. (I don't feel like I'm swindling people, the Mag's only $2.99, and you can download the PDF afterward for offline reading if that's your thing.)
I called them out on their plans, because I didn't believe their vision was possible.
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
Fair enough. It's on them to prove otherwise, for sure. This Kickstarter better be both Earth-shattering and mind-blowing.
Maybe I'm coming off a little brash, but I haven't even seen this thing in motion. All it has been for the past year or so from me tracking this game is just artwork and "in-engine" stills.
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
Not really, there's definitely cause for concern. So far, they've basically marked off all the red flags of potential vaporware, just short of taking everyone's money and heading for the hills. If I didn't have direct contact with the devs, I'd have given up on it honestly. There's just too much other stuff to look at to be swayed by pretty screenshots.
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
One last post from me to update: I did not receive a preview link to the KS, nor did the team post the rewards breakdown on their site, as they promised to do via Twitter.
So... I'm going to put this one out of mind until I actually see a Kickstarter with video footage up and running. It's hard to tell with indies which ones will deliver from the start. We get introduced to stuff early (like, just concept art and a vision early) for so many games, so it's tough to gauge which ones will turn into something, even after screenshots start coming in. Hopefully this one can deliver, as the premise is still incredibly intriguing to me.
If I happen to actually get the preview link, I'll take a look and report back.
So... I'm going to put this one out of mind until I actually see a Kickstarter with video footage up and running. It's hard to tell with indies which ones will deliver from the start. We get introduced to stuff early (like, just concept art and a vision early) for so many games, so it's tough to gauge which ones will turn into something, even after screenshots start coming in. Hopefully this one can deliver, as the premise is still incredibly intriguing to me.
If I happen to actually get the preview link, I'll take a look and report back.
More_Badass
Member
I don't necessarily agree. I follow the indie scene closely; honestly probably more than some sites, and you gain a sense for projects that'll likely follow though. A project like Cube World (it's dead, Jim) is a far cry from Rain World, Slain, and Lemma. A lot of it comes down to developers. How frequent they share progress and updates, does their work improve over time, have they worked on other projects like game jam entries and freeware games, etc
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
That's a really good general checklist, but there are always other (often unseen) factors. Things like imposter syndrome, introverted personalities, and a lack of PR/marketing know-how can quickly compromise a small team. This is more of a problem primarily for teams making personal projects, but then again, that encompasses a great number of indie games.
This isn't meant to refute your thoughts, because as I said your checklist will be accurate more often than not, but IndieDB is a pretty good indicator of how many exceptions there are to your rule. Some pages go 10 months without an update, until BAM the game is out on iOS. Compare that to games with monthly updates that then suddenly announce an extended break due to unforeseen personal circumstances or a lack of funding, and it gets tricky to ever really feel truly confident unless you're looking forward to a KLEI or Comcept game. (Who obviously have bigger teams and are much more of "business" than a solo developer/small team working on a passion project.)
CadetMahoney
Member
Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme. . .
oh wait that's the other one.
oh wait that's the other one.
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
If anyone is interested in checking out our coverage of Lost Pisces, now is the time: I curated this week's Humble Bundle, and you get two free issues of the Mag just for visiting the page and joining Humble's newsletter. The April 2015 issue (feat. Pisces) is included: https://www.humblebundle.com/weekly
Disclaimer: IGM is NOT profiting from the Bundle (so I don't feel dirty sharing the link). All proceeds go to the devs, the charities, and Humble (if you choose to tip them).
Disclaimer: IGM is NOT profiting from the Bundle (so I don't feel dirty sharing the link). All proceeds go to the devs, the charities, and Humble (if you choose to tip them).
More_Badass
Member
Nice! And that's a damn good bundle too. Fenix Rage, Freedom Planet, and Far Sky are great
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
Thanks. Yeah, I'm a fan of all the games included. Freedom Planet is my favorite though, I won't lie.
More_Badass
Member
Perusing the article. So...the game's in first person. Never would have guessed and certainly never got that impression from any other info about the game
HeroesInAHalfShell
Neo Member
Yep. People think Pisces is the main character often, too. But she's the companion. You play as a human working with her as a means to an end.
I'm completely out.
visiblemode
Member
Yeah it reminds me of some of the weird stuff we got in the late 90's. Could be awesome, but either way, I really like the effort to create original/unique stuff.
More_Badass
Member
You don't play as her. Turns out you're just a regular person, it's an FPS. She's a companion