The announcement of Homeworld 3 at PAX East just a few weeks ago took nearly everyone by surprise, largely because it’s taken 16 damn years to finally see the light of day. Okay, that’s not entirely fair. I have no idea how long development for Homeworld 3 has actually been going on for, but I do know it was the sort of announcement no-one expected. Published by Gearbox and being developed by Blackbird Interactive, Homeworld 3 will see players returning to the beloved space-faring RTS once again and if the game’s crowdfunding initiative is anything to go by, it seems that more than a few people are excited.
Over on Fig, the crowdfunding project for Homeworld 3 kicked off with a goal of just a mere dollar. Designed as a way for fans to get involved in the development project (rather than donating money and hoping the developers do the thing), the project has earned over $1 million dollars in individual donations. Gearbox announced in a blog post yesterday that the backing campaign would remain open throughout the game’s development and will feature a few minor changes to the backer tiers. The base level backing will be moving from $50 to $60 dollars, will include a copy of the game and the whopping $1000 backer tier is being removed from the campaign entirely.
The Fig page for Homeworld 3 states that the $1 goal is a way for the developers to “be clear that the game is on a solid foundation, funding-wise”, so the crowd-funding initiative is to allow players to invest in the success of Homeworld 3. Look, maybe I’m just being naive…but that sounds pretty skeevy to me. Why open up a crowd-funding page just for hype?
Where’s all that extra money going if the project has already got enough money to move ahead? I know that it’s easy to say, “Well, just don’t give them money”, but why even offer the option for players to “invest” if they don’t need the money? I’m probably over-thinking it, and I don’t think it’s unethical, just…weird, I guess.
Last Updated: September 30, 2019
Pariah
September 30, 2019 at 15:01
This is what the future of pre-order looks like. Why limit it to $60, $80 and $100 versions when you can get people to throw hundreds more at it instead?
Pariah
September 30, 2019 at 15:01
Ps, it’s at $1.5m now.
Daniel Hallinan
September 30, 2019 at 15:10
It’s a bit weird, yeah. I suspect a lot of it is investing in the future of BBI post Homeworld 3, but it is very much a kickstarter vibe, and I’m certain most people who’ve backed it don’t realize it’s barely begun pre-production.
I’m also unsure how I feel about them reaching out for public opinion. Granted, it’s not a bad idea since it’s been so long since Homeworld 2 and they’d like to see what the older fans want, but at the same time people are terrible for this because no one knows what they actually want.
I did back it initially, but I pulled out partly because (a) many – if not most – games that begin produciton never see the end, and (b) I honestly just had too many costs that were gonna go off this month so I had to cut corners. Still, I’m very excited to see where they go with it!
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 30, 2019 at 15:10
So this is Randy’s latest magic trick, abusing crowd funding.
Pariah
September 30, 2019 at 15:10
He’s pretty good at making consumers’ money disappear. Now if only he could learn how to make his ethics and dignity reapp… Oh wait, yeah. They’d have to have existed first. My bad.
miaau
September 30, 2019 at 15:10
“why even offer the option for players to “invest” if they don’t need the money?”
Market research? I reckon…. clever. still bastards, I think, but clever ones.
And no, not overthinking this.
BUT….. Paying $60….. if you were / are going to buy the game day one anyway…. Maybe yeah, just do it on the crowdfund thing?