Broken Age Season Pass announced, begins January 28

Double Fine has decided to reverse its plans to release a part of Broken Age as Early Access, instead using a traditional Steam release model with a Season Pass to buy both parts.

10

Update: Added release date information and the newly-released trailer.

Double Fine has called take-backsies on its previous decision to release Broken Age as Early Access. Rather than launch in an unfinished state to raise funds for polish and the second half, it will be a standard Steam release as a "Season Pass" to purchase both parts at once. Backers will get to play Act 1 today, and the unwashed masses will be able to play on January 28.

"You may recall that at one point Broken Age was planned for release under the Steam Early Access program," Double Fine wrote in a Kickstarter backers update. "This is no longer the case. For various logistical reasons, and because we believe Act 1 is a polished and satisfying piece of content in its own right, Broken Age will be a standard Steam release that includes a 'Season Pass' granting access to Act 2 once it is complete." It goes on to note that however you get Act 1, by being a backer or purchasing it, you'll get Act 2 automatically as a free update. Double Fine eventually plans to release for Ouya, iOS, and Android as well.

Broken Age's Kickstarter success helped put the alternative funding model on the map, but its announcement of splitting it to help raise further funds caused some consternation in the community. Now it's reversed that decision, but it probably won't be the last of crowdfunding growing pains for the industry.

Editor-In-Chief
From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 14, 2014 9:30 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Broken Age nixes Early Access plan, Season Pass announced.

    Double Fine has decided to reverse its plans to release a part of Broken Age as Early Access, instead using a traditional Steam release model with a Season Pass to buy both parts.

    • reply
      January 14, 2014 9:53 AM

      I wonder what people will think about this. For my sake (as a backer) I'm looking forward to playing it.

    • reply
      January 14, 2014 10:07 AM

      Man, had to read this twice because the difference between Steam Early Access and the early backer access didn't register in my head originally. I blame it on only having 1 cup of coffee this morning.

      Considering that other games have done okay on the season pass model, Back to the Future being the most recent I think, this seems like a good choice. I just hope that Act 1 has good financial success and maybe even helps jump start the genre.

      I know he can revisit old IP that he doesn't have licenses for, but it's common practice to do spiritual successors. Fingers crossed this gives him to confidence to attempt that.

    • reply
      January 14, 2014 10:16 AM

      I totally forgot about this game till I got the e-mail yesterday. Looking forward to it. It has come a long way from where it first started! Can't wait to get the documentary on disc.

    • reply
      January 14, 2014 10:22 AM

      Aparently if you have a Humble Store account associated with your Kickstarter email you can download it now.

      • reply
        January 14, 2014 10:28 AM

        I do, but don't see a way to download. Any more info?

        • reply
          January 14, 2014 10:30 AM

          [deleted]

        • reply
          January 14, 2014 10:34 AM

          I'm going by the comments on the kickstarter page. I'm at work and humble store is blocked, so I can't check.

          http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doublefine/double-fine-adventure/comments

        • reply
          January 14, 2014 10:34 AM

          Ok, it's under library under claim purchases. Then you have to click through to generate a steam key.

          • reply
            January 14, 2014 2:44 PM

            Apparently I'm fucked for now, they sent the key to my old-ass email from two years ago. Nothing to claim on humble. So now I wait for humble support to do something about it (possibly several days, according to their auto-reply).

            Apparently no one at DF thought to update their backer email list through Kickstarter before sending out the keys. It's been two fucking years guys!

            • rms legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury super mega
              reply
              January 15, 2014 8:09 AM

              Same here, though luckily I still had access to the old email account

    • reply
      January 14, 2014 10:22 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 14, 2014 10:28 AM

      Isn't part one supposed to be out today? I still haven't gotten any emails :(

    • reply
      January 14, 2014 12:05 PM

      I honestly don't give a fuck about other people getting it first. I paid to support the development, not to be a douchebag to other gamers.

      • reply
        January 14, 2014 12:05 PM

        Er, let me rephrase. I backed it, and don't mind if everyone gets it at the same time as me. That perk just strikes me as stupid.

    • reply
      January 15, 2014 12:27 AM

      Can't wait to play it, when the full game is released someday.

      It's pretty much the same thing with Broken Sword 5, I don't need episodes, I need the full game.

      Also for that reason I will wait until all episodes from Walking Dead's 2nd season are out, it's just too long to wait for the other episodes to be released especially when you have no idea how long it will take for them to develop, Telltale for example hasn't been able to keep up even a semimonthly release schedule.

      • reply
        January 15, 2014 12:29 AM

        I also don't care about backer exclusives like being able to play before others.

        I'll just leave this be and wait until they have finished the whole project. Hopefully by summer it will be ready. That would a great summer surprise.

    • reply
      January 15, 2014 1:22 AM

      LOL at the Humble Fumbles.

      I got the email this morning about the key to get the game.

      Then when I got home, there was another email saying that it was in error. Still I went to check it out and saw I did get a key.

      A little later a third email was sent saying the second email was the real Humble Fumble.

      I wonder what is going on over there.

Hello, Meet Lola