We reported earlier this week that Brian Fargo of InXile Entertainment was attempting to revive the classic Wasteland franchise. He had shipped the idea around to publisher with no avail. Upon finding the success that Double Fine had with Kickstarter, he took to the Web site to ask for $900,000.
It’s only been two days and the Wasteland 2 Kickstarter has already raised the $900,000 it needs to become a real thing. While it didn’t hit the mark as fast as Double Fine did, it’s still a momentous occasion for fans of classic games.
Like Tim Schafer before him, Brian Fargo was live tweeting the lead up to hitting their funding. It’s a wonderful look into a truly humbled game designer who has fought so hard for this game to have the fans back him up when nobody else would.
@BrianFargo
Brian FargoWhat makes this even more exciting as it feels like history is all being made here. Let the power return to the developers!
18 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@BrianFargo
Brian FargoIt’s possible to make the initial funding in the first 48 hours at this rate! There are sure smiling faces at work today. 16 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@BrianFargo
Brian FargoIf we can raise another $160k today we will have achieved our initial goal in less than 2 days. 😉 We have hit tipping point for sure. 16 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@BrianFargo
Brian FargoIt’s like the best telethon ever… 95% funded… I’m Gobsmacked. 9 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@BrianFargo
Brian FargoMy friends thought I was crazy to try this. “You’re in the middle of the desert making a movie so people send you money?”, says them. 😉 8 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@BrianFargo
Brian FargoWe are sure getting close! Sold out of the 10k pledge tier! 7 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@BrianFargo
Brian FargoI know there was concern with the amount we requested but we could not have done WL2 justice with just 300-400k. 7 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@BrianFargo
Brian FargoWoot!!! We did it!!!! Fantastic! I am going to sleep like a baby tonight. Once again I am awed by the support! A dream come true today. 6 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@BrianFargo
Brian FargoAnd again… you have all been amazing and only through your efforts would this have ever happened! To think 20+ years… 6 hours ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
Some of the actual details about the game were revealed last night on the Twitter as well. Fargo said that they will be making it as close to the original Wasteland as they can. This includes the ability to create your party with NPCs joining along the course of the game. He also said that they were wanting to go with an isometric top-down view, but he’s going to leave that up to the fans.
He also confirmed that he would doing an iama on Reddit soon, so fans should look forward to that.
I know it’s like beating a dead horse now, but Kickstarter has been absolutely amazing for developers after Double Fine proved you could fund a multi-million dollar game through the Web site. I don’t know if this will have an everlasting effect on game development, but crowd sourced publishing seems to be here to stay for now.
The Kickstarter campaign is now at a little over $965,000. It still has 32 days before it’s funded so it could potentially hit the multi-million mark just like Double Fine. If you would like to help fund the next wave of classic RPGs, you can do so here.