When will gamers get to see the game in action? Will Escape Hatch be taking the game to any conventions (GDC, E3, Gamescom, PAX, etc.) this year or next year?
My guess is that the world will start seeing demos of this game in early 2013. We definitely intend to show at the above mentioned conventions throughout 2013.
Now that the game has been funded, has that changed the attitudes of publishers towards your game in terms of their willingness to publish (either digitally or at retail), or will Escape Hatch self-publish digitally?
We still intend to self-publish, but we are still open to talking to publishers about the game. The nice thing is that the Kickstarter funding augmented the funds that we had already set aside for the game. It means that we can deliver a really polished, deep experience without publisher intervention if need be.
Being that the game is being released now as a somewhat rare new game in a niche genre, is there now additional pressure to try to create a game that will live up to the expectations of some of the hardcore space combat fans who funded it?
Absolutely – in addition to the usual amount of pressure that I put on myself, that expectation is there. But I think that pressure will lead to an even better game, so it’s all good.
Your Kickstarter site had mentioned something about launch DLC being folded into the game. Will there still be DLC for the game? If so, what kind of DLC will Starlight Inception offer (i.e. single player, multiplayer, ships, maps, weapons, etc.)?
There is no more launch DLC – the extra mission and fighters are going to be folded into the game. We will leave hooks, but at this point we will build the game then start seeing what we can add. I can see future DLC taking the form of multiplayer arenas, ships, weapons and possibly side missions that add to the depth of the story.
Now that Escape Hatch has had a game funded, have you considered future projects or Kickstarters? Could we eventually see future game releases or Kickstarters from you? Have you thought about Escape Hatch being a dedicated space combat developer or exploring different genres?
We have a plan for the Starlight series which takes us through three games – we hope that the first game does well so that we can pursue the sequels. And we wouldn’t rule out Kickstarter in the future. Escape Hatch has a history of developing learning games and working with the Department of Energy to develop learning infrastructure as well as games that teach, and that will continue, so my guess is we won’t ever be a dedicated developer in just one genre.
Finally, what would you like to say to the fans and supporters who helped Starlight Inception reach its Kickstarter goal?
Our sincerest thank you for believing in us and this project. We won’t let you down, and we will continue to be as attentive and responsive as we were during the campaign. Look for more exciting developments as we build this game together.
