We're about to announce our next funding goal to help bring Ember closer to a playable test prototype.
The first funding was for $250 to make a website. IndieGoGo sets a minimum of $500 so we made it flexible funding. It was really just to see if the community was willing to take the next step and fund the idea of *beginning* the development of the game. Quite a few fans expressed concern that we would not be able to raise it at this early stage, or that it would do more harm than good. I myself was skeptical.
Then you guys all surprised everyone.
We raised 600% of our goal. We funded in less than 30 minutes and sold out of all packs. So we put up stretch goals to actually start on the game: concept art and blueprints for the T.H.M.P.R., the player, and the iconic enemy (our version of "The Chosen"). You guys smashed through that. And so, here we are: a forum, a website, a game being designed, and art that will be delivered very shortly. Next step will be getting the models done so we can put them into Unreal 4.
3D art is a very expensive goal. Art is one of the most costly parts of making a game these days, so we are focusing on building only what we need to get the game to its first playable test prototype. The T.H.M.P.R. will be six weeks of modeling alone, then it must be textured, materials applied, etc. and this does not include any animations.
We'll be announcing the next goal soon, when we've completed and shipped out all the art to backers that funded the initial milestone. We don't have a roadmap beyond that, since we are taking things step by step and won't know the requirements of the goal after that because if you guys keep exceeding goals, we can do more each funding step.