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There Came An Echo is a voice-controlled real-time strategy game from Iridium Studios aka Feep.

They are currently looking for $90k and want to be done by mid-2014ish

Watch the shameless plug video and let Will Wheaton voice-control you into pledging, in real time.

EDIT;

There Came An Echo is a voice-controlled real-time strategy game (With custom word support and alternate input methods) from Iridium Studios (of Sequence fame) aka Feep.
They are currently looking for $90k and want to be done by mid-2014ish.
Watch the shameless plug video and let Will Wheaton voice-control you into pledging, in real time.

The game will be fully voice acted and the story will center heavily on the characters and their journey.

Story:
There Came an Echo might be confused for a standard military procedural, and considering the manner in which you interact with your units, that's understandable. However, most of the characters under your direct command have no prior military experience...they're learning as they go, and only your cool head and quick thinking is keeping them alive. The script is very firmly classified as science-fiction.

Corrin (played by Wil Wheaton) is a 31-year-old cryptographer and inventor of a very particular encryption algorithm...one that currently holds safe a shocking secret. His comfortable existence is interrupted by the enigmatic Val, who informs him that his life is in very imminent danger. His desperate attempts to uncover the truth are aided by a mercenary, Miranda; a vengeful young woman, Grace; and a mysterious British gentleman named Syll. The group is often at odds with one another, but eventually, they'll need to overcome their enmity to strike back at the forces who kill, indiscriminately and without mercy, for a chance to unravel the deepest mysteries of the cosmos.

The game takes place in the near future, and features some advanced technology: directed energy weaponry, personal energy fields, and various other accoutrements.

Some Questions Answered:

• Q: Most games with voice control have been... taxing. What's different with this?
• A: The game is currently sporting 91-96% accuracy depending on your accent and will allow you to set your own key words for phrases. With all the smartphone tech voice recognition has come a long way. Besides as a field commander, your orders aren't always heard exactly right.
  
  
• Q: Do I have to use voice controls?
• A: Nope, there will be other methods of input like keyboards and gamepads supported!
  
  
• Q: How far is the actual game?
• A: A ton of core elements, programming, and frameworks are done. This money is specifically focused on art resources and will help finalize the game.

Sample Art:

 

[Feep]

ohai guyz

 

[bernardobri]

Never got around sending money to Feep after getting Sequence for free, so I will kickstart this.

 

[NewFresh]

Feep wants us to pay money to yell at Will Wheaton?

I'm in!

 

[SloaneRisette]

I absolutely loved Sequence. I'll be checking this out when I get home, as I'm currently at school and will be heading to class in a few minutes.

The entire idea (much like Sequence) is very interesting to me just from the very basi of what I just read about it in the OP. There's a good chance I'll throw some money towards it.

Edit: UNLIMITED hugs? Time to start pulling out some loans and selling some kidneys... ;P

 

[Roquentin]

I did not expect anything like that. Looks cool. Feep, can you share some technical details about the voice recognition? I assume it's not your own implementation

 

[Xater]

So the concept seems cool and it's something I could be into. Problem is English is not my first language, and with voice recognition I always fear disaster when it comes to accents.

 

[methane47]

ronald jenkees wut?

 

[NotMyUsername]

Was going to wait on pledging until after looking into it a bit more but I really enjoyed Sequence and want to support Feep. Figure the earlier the money shows as donated the better as it'll help others on the fence to donate when they see that it's doing well with donations.

 

[Eteric Rice]

Neat idea, but not a fan of voice recognition. :/

 

[Feep]

I did not expect anything like that. Looks cool. Feep, can you share some technical details about the voice recognition? I assume it's not your own implementation

So the concept seems cool and it's something I could be into. Problem is English is not my first language, and with voice recognition I always fear disaster when it comes to accents.

It's not our own implementation. We're currently using the Microsoft Speech Runtime 11 API (it supports the Kinect, too), but as for accuracy, from the Q&A section:

Q - How good is the voice recognition? And what if I have an accent?
A - Assuming a nice, quiet environment (external chatter can significantly worsen results), a standard American English accent is hitting around a 96% recognition rate with the Microsoft Speech Platform Runtime 11. We've tried quite a few accents, and none seem to dip below 91%. The real key is enunciation.

And of course, alternate control schemes exist.

 

[darkressurection]

A voice-recognition based RTS is something I have been hoping for someone to get right since Tom Clancy's EndWar, so godspeed Feep! If I can scrounge up some cash I will definitely throw in to the KS.

 

[desu]

Gonna back it .

 

[Maztorre]

In for $30, good luck Feep!

 

[Xater]

It's not our own implementation. We're currently using the Microsoft Speech Runtime 11 API (it supports the Kinect, too), but as for accuracy, from the Q&A section:



And of course, alternate control schemes exist.

So if you are using that API I guess this will be Windows only?

 

[polyh3dron]

OK Feep, you got me for $30.

Make me say wow.

 

[Feep]

So if you are using that API I guess this will be Windows only?

Somethingsomethingstretchgoal?

 

[Labombadog]

Ronald Jenkees + Feep = HOLY SHIT!

Can't wait. Will pledge for sure.

 

[pje122]

Wow.

 

[Xater]

Somethingsomethingstretchgoal?

Well that's what I would usually assume I don't know if you can make this work on OSX and Linux. That's why I am asking. I don't know this technical stuff.

 

[Salsa]

 

[Santiako]

Good luck with the project, Feep!

 

[Feep]

Well that's what I would usually assume I don't know if you can make this work on OSX and Linux. That's why I am asking. I don't know this technical stuff.

Yeah, other speech recognition implementations exist. = D

Edit: Dammit Salsa

 

[ultron87]

Looks very cool. Backed!

 

[Salsa]

feep you spend your sequence money on hair and now you gotta go to kickstarter

FEEP WAS IT WORTH IT FEEP

 

[A Human Becoming]

Pledged, even if I didn't care for Sequence. Have to support a fellow GAFer and I liked the test footage!

 

[SteveWinwood]

Why would I want Wil Wheaton to make money?

Bookmarked so I can remember to back it later.

 

[DiscoShark]

The guys behind Sequence right? I just started playing that game after having it in my Steam library for a little over the year, liked it so much that I went out and bought 2 copies of the game for my friends. I'll be sure to try to support this.

Edit : Hope you guys get the same dude who did the original trailers for Sequence! Those were hilarious.

 

[JoseJX]

Backed because of Sequence being a great game and Feep beeing awesome. If we get a Linux version, I'll happily double it.

Thanks Feep, this looks pretty cool!

 

[Haunted]

not the gumdrop buttons!

sold.

 

[onlyindreams]

based on the microgoals, is half the budget of this really going toward paying Wil Wheaton's salary? Surely these funds could be better spent than bringing in some D-list shitty actor?

 

[samratty]

Backed as Feep gave me Sequence for free, which was a unique game (and it's fun!)

Not a huge RTS guy, and always been sceptical on voice recognition - but I'm willing to give it a shot.

 

[CoolS]

Adter Sequence, you have my money. Also, the concept sounds great!

 

[Feep]

based on the microgoals, is half the budget of this really going toward paying Wil Wheaton's salary? Surely these funds could be better spent than bringing in some D-list shitty actor?

Errr, no? We just spaced them evenly so there would be nice, continuous content. He isn't even 10%.

 

[Roquentin]

feep you spend your sequence money on hair and now you gotta go to kickstarter

FEEP WAS IT WORTH IT FEEP

Can we expect Salsa's Kickstarter soon?

 

[erpg]

based on the microgoals, is half the budget of this really going toward paying Wil Wheaton's salary? Surely these funds could be better spent than bringing in some D-list shitty actor?

He'll pay for himself and a good deal more through blind twitter pledges.

 

[desu]

Only got around to watch the video after even pledging, awesome video!

 

[eznark]

Why would I want to use an input that is slow and has a 96% accuracy rate when I can use one that is fast, with a 100% accuracy rate to play an RTS?

Is there anything else besides the voice commands to this game?

 

[JeTmAn81]

Looks interesting! Obviously, everything hinges on whether or not you can get the voice control to work smoothly and intuitively. If that's accomplished, it could be really fun.

based on the microgoals, is half the budget of this really going toward paying Wil Wheaton's salary? Surely these funds could be better spent than bringing in some D-list shitty actor?

That is unnecessarily harsh, and also untrue

 

[Ihateyouchris]

Just backed, good luck Feep!

Please, just one feature request:

At some point in the game, please make it relevant for me to yell at my computer "Enhance!" over and over.

 

[Salsa]

you guys planning on translating the voice recognition stuff to other languages and whatnot?

I can help with the spanish version if you dont wanna throw funds at that, for free of course, but you'd need to send me kisses and hugs

Can we expect Salsa's Kickstarter soon?

TIER 3 you get to rub my head

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Love the concept. Really liked Sequence, but this is more my speed. Backed.

 

[NotMyUsername]

based on the microgoals, is half the budget of this really going toward paying Wil Wheaton's salary? Surely these funds could be better spent than bringing in some D-list shitty actor?

After looking into this a bit more and seeing who's doing the music (both Jenkees and Malukah I'm familiar with) I'd love to see the stretch goals after the goal possibly go to some extra tracks being produced. Not sure how tough it'd be to incorporate more music into the game, though.

As for the Wil Wheaton scenes within the stretch goals I'm assuming that those $20k and $40k goals aren't saying it costs $20k to get Wheaton to do a single scene but instead just saying that those get released at those amounts to sort of push people to hit milestones before the main goal? I could be wrong but since those are goals before the actual monetary goal is hit it wouldn't make too much sense to promise extra content pre-goal since the game isn't even backed until the goal is hit.

Edit: And it looks like a reply before me already took care of this. Tra la la.

 

[NotMyUsername]

Why would I want to use an input that is slow and has a 96% accuracy rate when I can use one that is fast, with a 100% accuracy rate to play an RTS?

Is there anything else besides the voice commands to this game?

Feep already replied to somebody else in the thread with "And of course, alternate control schemes exist."

Edit: Shit, should have edited my last reply. Oh well, double post.

 

[Admiral Snackbar]

They had me at Zoolander. Backed.

Also, Sequence rocked.

 

[Salsa]

so besides using voice you could use good ol m/kb to control the game?

not that I dont have faith in you guys pulling it off, im eager to see how it works, but it's cool to know that at the core of it the game will still be complex enough to be fun to play with a regular control scheme

 

[eznark]

Feep already replied to somebody else in the thread with "And of course, alternate control schemes exist."

Edit: Shit, should have edited my last reply. Oh well, double post.

Yeah, hence my second question.

 

[Feep]

After looking into this a bit more and seeing who's doing the music (both Jenkees and Malukah I'm familiar with) I'd love to see the stretch goals after the goal possibly go to some extra tracks being produced. Not sure how tough it'd be to incorporate more music into the game, though.

As for the Wil Wheaton scenes within the stretch goals I'm assuming that those $20k and $40k goals aren't saying it costs $20k to get Wheaton to do a single scene but instead just saying that those get released at those amounts to sort of push people to hit milestones before the main goal? I could be wrong but since those are goals before the actual monetary goal is hit it wouldn't make too much sense to promise extra content pre-goal since the game isn't even backed until the goal is hit.

Edit: And it looks like a reply before me already took care of this. Tra la la.

The first stretch goal (spoilers) involves the soundtrack...

And I think the game will be enjoyable regardless. = D

 

[TheBera]

This is really cool!
I'll probably back it since I've been a fan since Sequence and I'm glad you have alternate control schemes planned (English is not my first language but I'll try to use voice recognition anyway)

 

[Amagon]

I really like this idea. You have my wallet.