Heavy Gear Assault continues crowdfunding on Kickstarter

After several months of running its own custom crowdfunding campaign without a great amount of success, Heavy Gear Assault developer MekTek Studios has launched a bona fide Kickstarter© to get things rolling. To drum up a little more enthusiasm for the free-to-play mecha shooter, it's released a short in-game snippet showing off its destructible environments in Unreal Engine 4.

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After several months of running its own custom crowdfunding campaign without a great amount of success, Heavy Gear Assault developer MekTek Studios has launched a bona fide Kickstarter© to get things rolling. To drum up a little more enthusiasm for the free-to-play mecha shooter, it's released a short in-game snippet showing off its destructible environments in Unreal Engine 4.

MekTek was looking to raise $900,000 through its own crowdfunding doodad, but has only raised $127,167 since February. So now it's on Kickstater, looking for $800,000 to top that up and fund development.

That may be how much the game will cost Mektek, but it does seem an awfully ambitious goal. Most crowdfunding campaigns which push a million dollars are either connected to a big franchise in some way or made by a famous developer, and Heavy Gear is neither. Yes, yes, mechs are cool and the Heavy Gear name does carry a little weight, but $800,000 is an awful lot of money and many of the most devoted fans will have already pledged to Mektek's own thing.

Starting with a custom crowdfunding thing was also perhaps unwise. Kickstarter may take a cut of the money, but it's a familiar face--'Kickstarter' is almost a verb used for any crowdfunding now. That gets you more profile and, perhaps more importantly, makes people feel a little more comfortable about paying for something which might end up awful or perhaps even never happen. Sure, it's different if you're Chris Roberts, but MekTek didn't create Wing Commander, it's only best known for masterminding the free re-release of MechWarrior 4.

Right, yes, anyway. Heavy Gear Assault is an arena shooter which'll plop you into mecha suits to shoot other robots to earn fame and riches. It'll be free-to-play, which is perhaps another strike against it for many. But look, 'splosions:

From The Chatty
  • reply
    May 21, 2013 6:45 AM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, Heavy Gear Assault continues crowdfunding on Kickstarter.

    After several months of running its own custom crowdfunding campaign without a great amount of success, Heavy Gear Assault developer MekTek Studios has launched a bona fide Kickstarter© to get things rolling. To drum up a little more enthusiasm for the free-to-play mecha shooter, it's released a short in-game snippet showing off its destructible environments in Unreal Engine 4.

    • reply
      May 21, 2013 7:43 AM

      I'm wondering if you read the Kickstarter page? Seeing as how Jack Mamais is on the team. The former Creative Director of Crysis & Far Cry & HG2 & MW2. Also many other seasoned vets.

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        May 21, 2013 9:11 AM

        None of them are anywhere near being a big enough name to carry a Kickstarter.

        • reply
          May 21, 2013 9:19 AM

          Which I don't mean as a slight. They're simply not in the same league of fame and reputation as Schafer, Molyneux, Roberts, Avellone etc.

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      May 21, 2013 11:50 AM

      I for one would like to see a new heavy gear game for the PC so I chipped in my hard earned money , if they don't get the funding thru kick starter it will have to find funding else where and it will take longer to get the game , So I'm willing to have some faith in them to do it,

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      May 21, 2013 12:21 PM

      Super excited about this one. Sure, it's going to appeal to a particular audience, hardcore Japanese-inspired (ie. VOTOMS) mecha fans who want something in between MechWarrior Online and Hawken, but I'm sure that this game is going to make them pretty damned happy, especially if they played the old Heavy Gear PC games or play the tabletop game.

      Still mulling over what level I want to contribute at - I definitely want the PDF artbook and soundtrack. Because who wouldn't want a bunch of awesome pictures of giant robots AND some sweet music from the composer of the MechWarrior 2 soundtracks?

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      May 21, 2013 12:40 PM

      I got the email about this yesterday and, unfortunately for them, I just don't want an arena-based MP-only robot shooter. I tried to like MWO but it just didn't hold my interest.

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        May 21, 2013 1:44 PM

        This is my issue. Give me the sprawling single player convoy missions through mountain passes. Give me 3 on 12 Urban Incursions. Let my squad of Gear tromp merrily amongst Conventional Armor Units.

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      May 21, 2013 4:56 PM

      i have been playing Heavy Gear for years! I just couldn't wait till this announcement became official. Graphics are awesome and I love the destruction damage. I look forward to the end result.

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      May 23, 2013 5:29 PM

      well either way its going to be made it just depends on the speed funded by kickstarter fast, slow if they have to go looking for money.. and between both paged they have 15% towards the 800,000 goal so if you guys want a single player mode you need to chip in so they make their goal and then some to get your SP mode

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      May 24, 2013 4:51 AM

      so it seems there is to be a big announcement some time in the next 24 hours maybe they heard you guys

    • reply
      May 24, 2013 4:33 PM

      Mektek and Stompybot have revised the base goal to include a single player military episode content and an additional one at 900k and another chapter at 950k. They've also updated the schedule to unlock Nucoal Gears earlier as well. The single player chapter at 800k is going to be set in the War of the Alliance, a key moment in the Heavy Gear setting, where all the different factions put aside centuries of animosity to fight against a common foe: Earth. What's great about the single player campaign is that it brings one of the key players of the setting out, and lets players fight against hovertanks and super soldiers. As line developer for the table top Heavy Gear game, I'm thrilled that they're delving into the setting and show such a passion for it. I've talked with the team extensively and worked with them to help revitalize the video game franchise. These guys will make it work. I promise.

      If anybody has any questions about the setting, feel free to ask. I'd be happy to answer them for you. :D

      Jason Dickerson
      Dream Pod 9 Line Developer
      www.dp9.com
      www.heavygear.com

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