StarCraft Universe mod seeks Kickstarter funds

Mod group Upheaval Arts wants crowdfunded support to finish making StarCraft Universe, a mod that transforms StarCraft 2 into a multiplayer online RPG.

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Mod group Upheaval Arts wants crowdfunded support to finish making StarCraft Universe, a mod that transforms StarCraft 2 into a multiplayer online RPG. (It was originally named World of StarCraft.)

SCU is set in an alternate reality, where Kerrigan is unable to stop the hybrid's assault, leaving the Protoss defeated. It's all being done with Blizzard's "blessing/permission" as well.

The team is seeking funds because they have been developing the game "for over two years with no funding whatsoever." According to their Kickstarter (via Massively), funds will help the team "have the time, motivation, and resources we need to put that fresh looking AAA polish on SCU and get it out to you faster, better, and sexier."

Perhaps the best thing about this Kickstarter plea is that Upheaval already has a working prototype for everyone to try. If you have StarCraft 2 installed, you can try it out here. Here's a gameplay video as well:

The team is currently seeking $80,000, of which it has already raised $11,000. Should the project succeed, the plan is to release StarCraft Universe as a series of downlaodable games over Battle.net that are free to play with the Starter Edition of StarCraft 2. The first chapter will be an "open beta," while additional campaign missions will be released as episodic content "once we feel that all of the game elements are stable."


Shacknews' crowdfunding policy requires games to have a prototype for front-page coverage.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    August 13, 2013 9:30 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, StarCraft Universe mod seeks Kickstarter funds.

    Mod group Upheaval Arts wants crowdfunded support to finish making StarCraft Universe, a mod that transforms StarCraft 2 into a multiplayer online RPG.

    • reply
      August 13, 2013 9:34 AM

      I wonder if you could Kickstart something that violates EULAs.

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      August 13, 2013 9:41 AM

      $80k will hardly pay the lawyer fees they will accumulate after Blizzard finds out.

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        August 13, 2013 9:42 AM

        for 80k you could read the article "It's all being done with Blizzard's "blessing/permission" as well."

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          August 13, 2013 9:55 AM

          it doesn't say that the fundraiser has such permission

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          August 13, 2013 10:54 AM

          OK to be fair the way the article is phrased it almost sounds like the mod is OK with Blizzard, not the Kickstarter to help fund the mod. Most of the time when a developer signs off on something like this it's fine so long as its noncommercial. So selling this mod for money would be a big no-no. Raising money so you can work on it and release it for free later? Iffy.

          But the Kickstarter page itself says that the Kickstarter is blessed so they're good.

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        August 13, 2013 9:44 AM

        It's all being done with Blizzard's "blessing/permission" as well.

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        August 13, 2013 9:52 AM

        reading is hard.

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        August 13, 2013 10:26 AM

        80k might cover reading lessons for you

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      August 13, 2013 3:00 PM

      they'll still need lawyer fees for the eventual licensing agreement negotiation / drafting. just because blizzard gave it the green light doesn't mean everything is done on that end

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        August 13, 2013 3:19 PM

        Hi,

        I'm one of the developers for SCU and I'd like to clarify something for you guys really quickly. We are supported by Blizzard to have this Kickstarter campaign and there will be no lawsuits or legal battles. We would not do anything like this unless we were totally sure that everything is set.

        Thanks for all the support so far everyone!



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          August 13, 2013 10:31 PM

          that's great and all, and the best way to avoid any lawsuits is to have your transactional ducks in a row :D

    • reply
      August 13, 2013 3:27 PM

      isnt this what blizzard wanted? huge projects in scope for for SC2 mods

      I think they even wanted to allow these mod makers to make money like a mini app store

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      August 13, 2013 9:33 PM

      Graphics are ugly upclose

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        August 14, 2013 3:15 AM

        It's an RTS engine.

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      August 13, 2013 11:50 PM

      [deleted]

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