2015 BattleTech Video Game Crowdfunding Campaign
Sarna News
In 2015, Harebrained Schemes ran a crowdfunding campaign on the Kickstarter platform for the BattleTech Vide Game. The original target was only for US$250,000, but that was well and truly smashed within the first hour. Harebrained Schemes then went on to raise a staggering $3,984,457 (PayPal donations included), one of the best results for game projects on Kickstarter in 2015.
The Backer Beta was released via Steam on 01 June 2017; the finished game was first released on 24 April 2018.
Contents
Background
Harebrained Schemes announced that they were going to run a Kickstarter campaign to produce a new BattleTech Video Game.
Campaign
The campaign was launched in 2015 and was a complete success.
Rewards
The following products were available through the Kickstarter, either as core items, stretch goals, or add-ons:
- Stage 1: SKIRMISH GAME
>>> STAGE 1+ ADDITIONAL FUNDING GOALS $250,000 - Combined Arms: We'll add a healthy roster of non-'Mech AI opponents to the Base Skirmish Game including tanks, hovercraft, support vehicles and more. But be careful - even the lightest of combat vehicles can still wreck your 'Mechs under the right conditions. $400,000 - Expanded Mission Objectives: We'll add a variety of mission types to the Base Skirmish Game including Escort, Capture, Defend, and more. $500,000 - Expanded Environments: We'll add a wider variety of battlefield environments to the game, including time-of-day and atmospheric conditions that affect both movement and combat. Confront enemy forces in the low-visibility conditions of a blizzard on a frigid ice world, or carefully manage your heat in a battle across volcanic fields.
- Stage 2: STORY CAMPAIGN
>>> STAGE 2+ ADDITIONAL FUNDING GOALS $1,100,000 - Cinematic Transitions: We'll add short cutscenes for various events in game - such as deploying your forces to the battlefield - and for key moments in the single-player story. $1,200,000 - Player-Character Origin Stories: In BATTLETECH, you’ll create your own mercenary character to star in the story. If we hit this funding level, you'll be able to choose one of six origin stories for your mercenary commander's career. Are you the only heir of a once noble family that has since fallen from favor? The bastard child of a famous MechWarrior? You decide. $1,350,000 - Voice Acting: We'll record a cast of talented voice actors to act as your advisers, provide mission briefings, and record battlefield emotes. We’ll also add voice acting to the animatics for important moments in the story. $1,550,000 - 3D MechWarrior Portrait Customization: We'll build a complete 3D portrait customization system for you to customize the look of both your MechWarriors and your own Mercenary commander.
- Stage 3: EXPANDED MERCENARY CAMPAIGN
>>> STAGE 3+ ADDITIONAL FUNDING GOALS $2,000,000 - Customizable Home Base: As part of the ongoing campaign, you'll acquire a home base (likely in the form of a derelict DropShip) for your mercenary outfit to call home. At this funding level we'll also allow you to adjust its appearance, repair and upgrade its functionality, and grow and evolve your base as your outfit grows and evolves. $2,150,000 - Legendary 'Mech & MechWarriors: In addition to the game's standard 'Mechs and customizable, procedurally-generated MechWarriors, we'll include rare legendary 'Mechs to find, and rare hero MechWarriors to hire - including some famous characters from BattleTech history. Such legends may not stick around for long, but will be well worth hiring if you can afford them.
- Stage 4: PVP Multiplayer: Solaris VII
Additional Rewards
- The game's soundtrack
- A Novella in four chapters: Heir Apparent, Apparent Catastrophe, Catastrophe Unlimited and Unlimited Honor.
- Art of BattleTech - an art book detailing the visual design and development of the game's universe, cinematics, characters, environments and equipment.
References
External Links
Notes
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