Shadowrun Returns has spent 'every penny and more' of Kickstarter funds

The first gameplay footage of Shadowrun Returns does look awfully nice, doesn't it? That may be because HareBrained Schemes has "spent every penny" of the $1.9 million it raised from crowdfunding--"and more." It's a gamble because, as head honcho Jordan Weisman told us last year, "if [crowdfunded] games don't reach a larger audience than the people we've pre-sold to, then they don't become self-sustaining."

4

The first gameplay footage of Shadowrun Returns does look awfully nice, doesn't it? That may be because HareBrained Schemes has "spent every penny" of the $1.9 million it raised from crowdfunding--"and more." It's a gamble because, as head honcho Jordan Weisman told us last year, "if [crowdfunded] games don't reach a larger audience than the people we've pre-sold to, then they don't become self-sustaining."

Do recall that Shadowrun Returns ended up delayed from its planned January launch into "early summer." The list of features added when the Kickstarter hit stretch goals meant it needed more development, which means more wages and costs to pay.

"We have 37,000 backers on Shadowrun Returns," Weisman told GamesIndustry International. "Our hope is that there's a lot more of them than just those 37,000, because if not then we lose the gamble. We've spent every penny and more that they gave us to make the game; we haven't made any money."

The people who pre-ordered Shadowrun Returns by backing the Kickstarter surely aren't the only folks who will be interested in it, though. HareBrained is working in something of a niche genre and seemingly doing a bang up job of it, so it should hopefully sell enough to keep the developer ticking nicely along and making more games. People do often enjoy good video games.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    March 13, 2013 2:15 PM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, Shadowrun Returns has spent 'every penny and more' of Kickstarter funds.

    The first gameplay footage of Shadowrun Returns does look awfully nice, doesn't it? That may be because HareBrained Schemes has "spent every penny" of the $1.9 million it raised from crowdfunding--"and more." It's a real gamble because, as head honcho Jordan Weisman told us last year, "if [crowdfunded] games don't reach a larger audience than the people we've pre-sold to, then they don't become self-sustaining."

    • reply
      March 13, 2013 2:16 PM

      I'll probably gift a few copies in addition to my backer preorder. I want devs to see this as a viable option.

      • reply
        March 13, 2013 2:33 PM

        That's a good idea, I like that.

        These guys have been really great with the community. They've been in crunch for god knows how long now, but still, it seems nearly ever day Mitch will come to the forum and answer questions. And no bullshit either, no marketing talk, just straight out talking on features, what's possible, what's coming, what's happening, what's cut. I want them to succeed because I think they really deserve it.

      • reply
        March 14, 2013 8:56 AM

        Yeah I will do the same (no, seriously!) because I never had time to donate so ...

    • reply
      March 13, 2013 3:08 PM

      I wish I had helped fund it but by the time I learned of it the time was up.
      So they get at least one person who will buy it that wasn't a backer ;)

      • reply
        March 13, 2013 3:13 PM

        They have a direct preorder on their site. I preordered after I saw the alpha footage so I don't doubt more will probably support this game closer to launch or after more game updates.

      • reply
        March 13, 2013 5:38 PM

        I think pre-ordering a copy now or buying it when it's released and spreading the word and telling friends about the game is probably helping just as much as backing the project. The Kickstarter was very successful and they got everything they asked for... now they just need to sell a bunch of copies. I really hope they do.

        I funded them with a big chunk of change, but I'm tempted to buy a retail copy at release anyways to show my support.

    • reply
      April 7, 2013 1:12 PM

      cab8901 - i was way to broke to fund while they were pushing the project on kickstarter. However, I know 3 people that wanna play so im gonna gift them each a copy. im sure the audience is out there.

Hello, Meet Lola