Geneforge 1: Mutagen Kickstarter Campaign Live and Funded
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Spiderweb Software’s Jeff Vogel has finally gotten around to remastering Geneforge, his most unique RPG series. The first order of business is turning Geneforge that was released back in 2001 into a more modern Geneforge 1: Mutagen. To do so, he’s now looking to raise some funds through Kickstarter. The initial goal was set at $30,000, and thanks to all the Spiderweb Software enthusiasts, that goal was reached in a day.
If you’d like to learn more about this ambitious RPG, you should watch this Kickstarter video:
And then read on to find out a thing or two about the project and its stretch goals:
What is Geneforge
The Geneforge Saga is a true cult classic of indie games, a groundbreaking role-playing series with ideas that are still fresh and bizarre today. We started it wayyyy back in the year 1999, with the goal of breaking every design rule we could think of.
Want to use trickery and diplomacy to win the game without ever even attacking a foe? Sure. Want to blast through the game barbarically killing every single person you meet? Seems reasonable. Want a ton of different factions to pick from to help, some of which are actually insane? Why not?
Want to meet the final evil boss of the game, find out he's actually reasonable, switch sides and join him, and still get a good ending to the game? You can do that!
And, of course, whatever you do, you can create your own army of custom-made mutant monsters.
Geneforge Reborn
Our tiny little company worked on the five parts of the Geneforge Saga from 1999 to 2008. They were truly unique games, with a strange and fascinating world, complex characters, tough moral choices, and a blend of fantasy and science fiction unlike anything that had come before.
The games were big successes for us, and they have a passionate following that continues to this day.
They are also old. Really, really old.
The first Geneforge game is old enough to vote now. It is really showing its age. It doesn't run on a lot of computers and the interface and graphics are hopelessly crude. We have been wanting to give it a loving, ground-up remaster for years now.
And, with your help, that time has come!
The Story of Geneforge
The world of Geneforge is ruled by the Shapers. The Shapers are wizards with the awesome power to create life. Need a servant, or a pet, or a tool, or a mighty beast to fight and die for you? The Shapers can create it.
The creations of the Shapers are expected to obey completely. If not, they are destroyed. The Shapers guard their magical techniques with fanatical devotion. The penalty for stealing their secrets is death.
The Shapers have ruled the world well, more or less. Their absolute control has brought some prosperity. However, some of the Shapers' creations are intelligent, and they want their freedom. The Shapers underestimate their creations. It is a mistake that will lead to disaster.
The five-part Geneforge Sage is a story of intrique, rebellion, civil war, and utter devastation. You will take part in the creation uprising, both as a Shaper and a rebel. You will be able to guide the war from both sides, making choices that will reshape your world.
The Remaster
When we remaster our games, we put serious effort into it. We want to bring the Geneforge games into the modern world, with a better interface, graphics, and design.
The remaster will not only be for Windows and Macintosh, but we will be bringing Geneforge, for the first time, to the iPad!
We plan to respect what our fans loved about the series. The world, the characters, the story, the game system, they will be mostly the same. We plan to expand the world, adding new characters, storylines, abilities, games systems, and other ways to go crazy with your mutant monsters.
This Kickstarter will help us to hire professionals to help with art, interface design, and adding all the other things the original game is lacking. We will take the time to rework every location, encounter, and line of dialogue.
It's a huge job. Remastering the five games of the Geneforge Saga will take years. Yet, this is one of our most beloved series, there has been a big demand about it, and we're excited to start the journey with Geneforge 1 - Mutagen! And we would love for you to come with us!
Stretch Goals
Much of the money we collect will go to freelancers to create assets for the game. Skilled artists cost money. (And they're worth it!) However, we have a bunch more things we'd like to do ...
$50K Level - A New Creation
Geneforge is about making magical, mutant monsters and sending them to do your will. We already will be bringing back all of Geneforge's classic creations. At this funding level, we will also add a new, special, powerful endgame creation to serve you. Even better, you can help design it! We will let ALL backers make suggestions, and we'll pick one of your ideas.
$75K Level - A New Storyline
The original Geneforge wasn't as long as we wanted it to be. At this level, we will create a new multi-zone region, with its own characters, quest lines, and epic loot to hunt for.
