ISLAND, a visual novel by Frontwing, was recently released in English on Steam. Now Frontwing would like your help making a physical release a reality through Kickstarter.
In ISLAND the player takes the role of a young man who washes ashore on an island that has come on to some hard times due to a strange disease. He must save the island, and in fact the world, with the help of one of three girls, each representing a different family of prominence on the island.
ISLAND doesn’t simply exist as a game, however. It’s also an anime by the studio Feel and directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi, currently being broadcast in Japan and streamed in English on Crunchyroll. Backers of the Kickstarter will also have the chance to get the show on Blu-Ray.
So, what sort of packages does this Kickstarter offer it’s backers? Well the tiers are as follows:
- Wash Ashore – $1: Access to “BackerKit”, which seems to give you the option to add to your pledge and access the higher tiers even after the campaign has ended.
- Dip in the Ocean – $50: An exclusive physical copy of ISLAND for PC.
- Scattered Clues (Early Bird) – $75: A deluxe version of the game that includes soundtrack CD’s and a 200 page artbook as well as a digital Steam key. (Limited to 150 backers.) Also available for $80 without the backer limit.
- On the Beach – $149: Same as Scattered Clues but with the addition of a “super-sized” beach towel as well as another reward to be announced on a later date.
- I’m From the Future – $199: Same as On the Beach but with an added t-shirt (S-XL) and a tapestry.
- Urashima Library (Early Bird) – $229: Deluxe release of the game with digital Steam key, as well as all 12 episodes of the anime on Blu-Ray. Also includes recording scripts from the show, and filmstrip clippings. (Limited to 200 backers) Also available for $299 without the backer limit.
- Fabric of Time – $399: Considered the ultimate ISLAND set, this includes both the game and the Blu-Ray as well as all the other extra goodies listed in previous tiers.
There actually are two more tiers for $1,500 and $3,000 so if you got a lot of money to burn and are interested in extra special merch including a scripts signed by the voice cast and personalized artwork you can check those out on their page.
Frontwing is attempting to reach at least $50,000 for this campaign and are currently sitting at just under $30,000 as of writing this article. They would love, however, to raise even more money to reach their stretch goals which includes a translated English version of the artbook at $80,000 and a PlayStation 4 port at $150,000. It should be noted that if the artbook goal isn’t reached backers who pledged the appropriate amount of money will still get their artbook, it will just be the original Japanese, and not translated.
Please checkout Fortwing’s press release below for more information, and of course give their campaign a lookover and consider backing if you’re interested:
Kickstarter Campaign Launched for Physical Copies of ISLAND Game and Anime
Tokyo, Japan – August 26, 2018 Visual novel developer and publisher Frontwing has launched a Kickstarter campaign for their sci-fi title ISLAND, whose anime adaptation is currently airing to wide acclaim. The campaign offers physical copies and collector’s edition sets of the PC game, as well as a limited run of deluxe Blu-ray box sets of the anime adaptation, all of which are exclusive to Kickstarter backers. The campaign’s base funding goal is $50,000
and is accepting pledges until October 11.
The campaign page can be accessed from the following URL: https://kck.st/2MOFSBt
The English release of the ISLAND PC game has been hotly anticipated since its announcement at Anime Expo 2016. The game was released on Steam late last week to overwhelmingly positive reviews, hitting #1 on the New and Trending chart. The Kickstarter campaign offers both a standard physical DVD-ROM edition of the game, as well as a collector’s edition based on a recent re-release in Japan which includes a theme song CD and two-disc soundtrack and a newly compiled 192- page artbook all packaged in a deluxe collector’s box. Additionally, all backers at the $75 tier or above will receive a bonus free Steam key for the game.
The anime adaptation of ISLAND, currently airing in Japan and being simulcasted on Crunchyroll in English, has enjoyed strong viewership and an extremely positive response. Alongside the physical game sets, the ISLAND Kickstarter also offers an exclusive chance to purchase a limited, Kickstarter- only run of deluxe Blu-ray box sets. These sets include all 12 episodes of the anime on Blu-ray with Japanese audio and English subtitles, as well as a set of reproduction recording strips and a one-of-a-kind filmstrip clipping, all housed in extra-special packaging. The campaign also offers a number of other unique, original rewards, including a full-size beach towel, an exclusive t-shirt, and an exclusive tapestry.
The campaign includes two stretch goals at launch: at $80,000, the artbook included in the deluxe game set will be fully localized into English, and at $150,000, Frontwing will work with Prototype to prepare a digital-only PS4 release of ISLAND in English. Further stretch goals are planned if the initial goals are met. There are also a pair of high-tier, extremely limited rewards; at the $1,500 tier, 3 backers can receive a set of recording scripts signed by members of the anime’s Japanese voice cast, and two $3,000 slots are available offering an original signed and personalized shikishi drawing from the original game’s character designer Kuuchuu Yousai.
About Frontwing Frontwing is a developer of Japanese visual novels. Since the company’s founding in 1999 as a bishojo games developer and the release of Frontwing’s first title, “Canary’ (Canaria: Kono Omoi o Uta ni Nosete) in August 2000, we have published a number of titles in the visual novel genre. From school life love stories to hardcore adult games, as well as titles which utilize 3D computer graphics, our creations cover a diverse range of genres. Our products, as well as the characters they feature, have come to represent the world of bishojo games. Frontwing marked its first venture into the overseas market May 29, 2015, with the English release of ‘The Fruit of Grisaia’ on Steam. Since then, we have self-published the Grisaia: Phantom Trigger series, the Corona Blossom series, Momoiro Closet, and more. Further localized titles are in the works, including simultaneous English releases of new upcoming Frontwing games.
