Tim Schafer posted news about Broken Age's monetary and development woes, and plans to relieve some of those woes through releasing half of the game in January through Steam Early Access. Backers of Broken Age can read Tim's message here (or through the Backer only forum at Double Fine's forums).
News sites are picking up the story, so if you didn't back, you can still get the skinny on what's happening. Apparently, Tim designed the game too big in scope, so he's had to cut it down in order to fit in the budget. Unfortunately, the Kickstarter money still isn't enough for the large scope of the game, so he's funding the game additionally from the money Double Fine made from the games they're self publishing. He doesn't want to have to cut large things like the girl or the boy from the game, so he's decided to get additional funding through Steam Early Access. Steam Early Access will allow gamers to play the first half of the game in January 2014, and then play the rest of the game in a free update in April or May of 2014.
Those who backed the game don't have to worry, you'll get the Steam Early Access at no cost (this Steam Early Access plan is for additional purchases, not those already made). You'll also still be able to get access to the beta even earlier than that, as originally promised.
AndywinXp
Yes I am, but I'm sorry, this doesn't make sense to me:
I know he was going to create some different game with the initial 400.000 $ budget, good.
He received almost 6 times that money, so he aimed to a different and bigger game. Great? No, awesome!
The problem here is that he kinda designed a game which needs double of what he raised, and, as a project manager, he SHOULD have known before, because, that's what project managers do, I guess.
The problem is that he should have known that his big design idea needed more money, from the moment he created that big idea, and not now, when half of the work is done...
But, that's just my opinion, you know
The problem is, the larger a game budget, the EASIER it is to underestimate. Because there's more money to play with, so more scoping considerations, so more ways your scoping considerations can be inaccurate, and then more potential for needing more money later. This is extremely common.
AndywinXp
The problem is that he should have known that his big design idea needed more money, from the moment he created that big idea, and not now, when half of the work is done...
It's impossible to know exactly how much you are going to need, if the game isn't fully designed. Also, keep in mind that this is the first time he has designed a game this way. When you are being funded by a publisher, asking for a couple more million is not unheard of or even such a big deal, as long as they (the publishers) are getting what they feel is the best game.
Ultimately, this is what it all comes down to, making the best game possible out of the idea he had. 10 years from now, when the game has already shipped and been out for years, nobody is going to think "Gosh, if only this great game had been made for a smaller budget/taken less time to make/been produced more efficiently", no, all that will matter is how good the game actually is.
So, sure, it's not great at all that this is the case, but I can assure you they are the first to know that.
I know he was going to create some different game with the initial 400.000 $ budget, good.
He received almost 6 times that money, so he aimed to a different and bigger game. Great? No, awesome!
The problem here is that he kinda designed a game which needs double of what he raised, and, as a project manager, he SHOULD have known before, because, that's what project managers do, I guess.
The problem is that he should have known that his big design idea needed more money, from the moment he created that big idea, and not now, when half of the work is done...
But, that's just my opinion, you know
AndywinXp
Seriously? Tim, you've got to be fu...ing kidding me!
This, ladies and gentlemen, is a good example of bad project management...
Are you a backer? Because Tim's update puts it all in context, and it makes sense (to me at least)
If you're not a backer (which is what I assume, given your comment), then who cares what you think...
This, ladies and gentlemen, is a good example of bad project management...