LAST CALL FOR FUNDING: Heart Forth, Alicia; Echoes of Eridu; and More

Today, we begin a new series on crowdfunded games called Last Call for Funding, where we’ll showcase games in their last week-and-a-half of funding. Some will have already been funded; others, however, will need a bit of help to reach their goals. We should also note that these projects are either at least half-funded at the moment, have a low enough goal to make up for slow initial funding, or have a flexible funding set-up.

Anyway, we have a long list to get through. You can jump from page to page with the Quick Navigation menu at the top and bottom of each page. Let’s get started.

Halfway There

Arkis Vir – Conquer the Galaxy

• Status: $6,580 pledged of $10,000 goal. 7 days left.
• Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, and Linux

From the Kickstarter page:

Arkis Vir is a turn-based strategy game with the goal of bringing the best qualities of 4X board games to the computer. Inspired by popular board games such as Twilight Imperium and Eclipse, we are looking to bring a similar experience to the video game world. To accomplish this, we are building an e-sports platform on 4X games that will be accessible to those that are new to the genre, as well as challenge veteran players by giving them competition from around the world. Arkis Vir contains a mix of traditional turn-based strategy mechanics, and Euro mechanics, to bring you fast-paced yet in-depth matches that can be finished in one sitting.

Choose one of four races and capitalize on their unique abilities to outlast, outrun, outfight, or outsmart your opponents. Experiment with a variety of technologies to catch your enemies off guard, or stick with your tried-and-true tech combos. Test different play styles to find your niche, but no matter which technique you choose, you must conquer the galaxy.

You can also check out Arkis Vir on Steam Greenlight.

The Eldritch Cases: Dagon

• Status: £10,526 pledged of £20,000 goal. 6 days left.
• Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Android

From the Kickstarter page:

The Eldritch Cases: Dagon is a horror adventure based on H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos.
Escape from Dr. West’s Hospital, explore the town of Innsmouth and cross the secret plans of the Esoteric Order of Dagon!

The Eldritch Cases: Dagon is the first game in a planned series of adventures based on H.P. Lovecraft’s stories. Think X-Files in Lovecraft-land to get a rough idea what The Eldritch Cases could become!

The game will feature 2 playable characters, plenty of lovely locations like an asylum, a morgue, graveyards and Innsmouth’s famous sewer system as well as interesting interactions with a colourful array of charming townsfolk and possibly even a meeting with a very old one!

You can also check out The Eldritch Cases: Dagon on Steam Greenlight.

MechRunner

• Status: $14,604 pledged of $25,000 goal. 7 days left.
• Platforms: Windows and Mac OS (via Steam); PS4 and PS Vita (PlayStation versions will be Cross-Buys)

From the Kickstarter page:

MechRunner is an endless-style arcade action game mixed with fast and furious mode-changing mech action!

It is a “runner” in that the player is constantly moving forward while tracking down lethal O.S.O. forces but what makes it special is that you’re piloting a giant robot capable of some serious destruction! Other endless runners feature action elements, but none like this. Heat seeking missiles, heavy caliber bullets, laser cannons, and concussion bombs meet destructible buildings, debris littered streets, and tons of slice-able enemies to create a fast paced, visually stunning experience!

Popup Dungeon

• Status: $71,410 pledged of $80,000 goal. 8 days left
• Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, and Linux (via Steam); Android; Wii U (with $100,000 stretch goal)

Key features from the Kickstarter page:

• Roguelike: permanent death, quick gains, procedural dungeons, and a mixture of handcrafted and procedurally generated loot
• Tactical Turn-Based RPG: fast-paced, strategic game play
• Infinitely Extensible: Users can easily create: weapons, abilities, characters, and enemies.
• Papercraft: We hand-fold every pixel to ensure every dungeon is fresh and lively for you!
• Multiplayer: Hot Seat or Online Coop (Versus mode is a Stretch Goal)
• Flexible Party Size: Dungeon Crawl alone or with a party
• Variable Challenges: Choose the dungeon crawl that’s right for your schedule, from single-seaters to infinite descents.
• Persistent Gains: Charms awarded by The Wizard after a run are permanent and give every character under your control a bonus. They are quite magical. Collect and combine them to achieve curious effects.
• Experienced Team: Made by Triple.B.Titles, an independent studio that has previously taken a game from Kickstarter to Steam.

Ruler by Default

• Status: $5,141 pledged of $6,000 goal. 3 days left.
• Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, and Linux; iOS and Android (with $7,000 stretch goal)

From the Kickstarter page:

Ruler by Default is a fantasy life simulation with dating elements, played from the perspective of a 21 year old male who is inadvertently summoned to another dimension and subsequently crowned successor to an evil overlord after an unexpected twist of events.

Dimensional rifts don’t just pop up every day, and forecasts predict you have exactly 100 weeks before you can even think about going home, so you may as well get comfortable. As the overlord it will be up to you to carefully manage your schedule and build relationships with those around you, and perhaps even put the moves on some cross dimensional cuties.

A Windows demo for Ruler by Default is available on the Kickstarter page.

Soccer Manager

• Status: £16,621 pledged of £20,000 goal. 56 hours left.
• Platforms: Browser, iOS, and Android

From the Kickstarter page:

We are currently developing a free online football (soccer) management game, similar to traditional PC manager games. However, this project is different and ground breaking as it will have all the complexity of a PC game but played entirely in a browser or on our App with saved games stored online. This means that the same game is playable from any device connected to the internet, instantly, with no downloads. It’s also FREE to play!

The game is not only as in depth as a PC game but is powered by a community driven database (www.soccerwiki.org), meaning all in game data is constantly live and accurate.

The game contains everything you would expect in a complex PC game: multiple playable leagues from all around the world, 1,000s of clubs, 10,000s of players, a realistic transfer market, squad management system, complete tactical options and matches played out live on a fantastic 2D pitch.

Super Mega Bob

• Status: $673 pledged of $1,000 goal. 5 days left.
• Platforms: Windows; Mac OS and Linux (with $3,500 stretch goal)

From the Kickstarter page:

Super Mega Bob is a retro 2D SHMUP influenced by games like Mega Man, The Binding of Isaac, Adventures of Lolo, Diablo III, Jetpack, and Raptor: Call of the Shadows. The game is loaded with original pixel art and beautiful day/night and weather cycles that keep gameplay fresh and colorful.

Trial of Trails – The Stationary Bike RPG

• Status: $1,557 pledged of $2,500 goal. 9 days left.
• Platform: Windows plus stationary bike connected by a special controller (either made with directions on their website or purchased through other companies)

From the Kickstarter page:

Welcome to the world of Trails! Trails is a fantasy land filled with strange places, interesting people, and frightening beasts. What makes Trial of Trails special is how the game’s overworld is designed. Instead of pushing a joystick to cross endless landscapes, players must bike the real-world distance between towns by riding on a stationary bike. Of course, all is not well in Trails. Monsters are attacking at a steadily increasing rate. Roads are no longer safe. The mountains are teeming with creatures. What force could be behind this madness?

Trial of Trails aims to take exercise and turn it into the kind of grand adventure that RPG fans love and crave. The story unfolds and is paced in such a way that players should feel compelled to get back on their bikes each night – a desire that many find difficult to apply to fitness. There are quests to complete, loot to collect, and monsters to slay. Like any RPG, it takes many hours to complete. The difference this time, is that instead of hours on the couch or hunched in front of a computer, players will be exercising for hours each week.