Furcadia: The Second Dreaming, A Kickstarter Project! Options

[Emerald Flame]

LINK TO KICKSTARTER PROJECT PAGE:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/181082...second-dreaming



EDIT: This is the forum post the Silver Sponsors have been getting previews on! In the next couple of days we are going live and I wanted to give our whole community a chance to peek at what is upcoming! So I have moved this here for you all to look over. Most questions are answered if you read through the thread! Happy Dreaming! :)



Hello Sponsors! You have all been some of Furcadia's strongest supporters over the years and we make sure we let you know what is going on with new development when we can. Well, this is a big one. As you all have heard, while we make enough to keep the game going month to month, we do not have enough for big development pushes. We do keep developing all the time but it is slow going with only a few part timers working on things, for the most part.

Well, we want to change that! With the help of the community and the world at large we think its time for a Kickstarter Project. Kickstarters are a way for people to donate towards a project they like. They get to see the project progress and they get prizes for donating. The only catch is that if the project doesn't make enough money to reach the goal they set, the donators get their money back and the project gets nothing. However, if they do reach the goal they have the money they need to make something cool. They might even make the stretch goals they need to make even more and better things! This is what we are hoping for!

The Second Dreaming Project will be a joint venture with Dragon's Eye Productions and Catnip Studios. We will work together to produce a new web based client that is 32-bit and has bigger, nicer art and a more intuitive interface. We will also be doing a remake of the Furcadia.com website, including things like a scales only Digo Market and a web based character editor.

The money that is donated will be used to pay to bring some of our part time and unpaid workers on full time so we can produce the new content at a much fast rate! We may be able to bring back some of the staff who left because of the recession as well. We'll even have more money for advertising and many other little things needed for running a company. A lot of budgeting went into the plans for this!

These changes will bring Furcadia into the modern age and make it more appealing for new players. More players mean more sales and more people to use all the wonderful content that our community creates. This means growing our base and strengthening our community for the future! Growth means we can keep our full time people, old and new, and even start hiring more for further development!

Now besides our base goal we have a bunch of stretch goals. With your help we have some really amazing things planned that we have hoped for and discussed doing for years. I will be revealing these stretch goals a bit at a time over the next week or so, so be sure to check back to this thread often. You will be glad you did!

You can see below our goals (which I will add to), but also what prizes we will be giving out for certain size donations! There's some really juicy rewards you can get that are only available through the Kickstarter! There's even a chance for you to vote on some new features and avatars as part of the rewards!

This community is your community as much as it is the community of us here at DEP and Catnip. We will all need to work together to make this Kickstarter a success! We will send out a newsletter to over 500,000 email addresses of people who have played or currently play. We will find various ways to promote this project, but we need your help in promoting too! Please share it on your social networking sites, put the banners on your webpages, ask your friends, co-workers and families to help donate! I will put a thread up on the main pages soon for people to give honest ideas of ways to promote this. We can do this together!

[Emerald Flame]

NOTE: These are not finalized. This is meant as a preview list only! More goals to be added soon!


$55K Goal: Move onto the web to reach more people - est time: 4-6 months

• Additional full color web client with bigger, better art.
• More intuitive interface.
• More players for your dreams!
• Play Furcadia from any platform that can run web games.
• Apollo faster & more reliable upload/download system for Windows.
• Bring some part-timers on full time.
• Updated Web Pages.
• Web Based character creation.
• Accounts.
• Updated Digo Market.
• Pounce for web client.
• 1 votable feature!
  • Gold Sponsorship.
  • Adult Verification.
  • Horizon Strip in top of map window.
  • Alt Trading System.
  • Graphical Secure Trading on the web.
  • Automated Escrow service.
  • Male/female avatars for free species.
  • Human free default avatar.
• 1 votable avatar! (Note for Sponsors: Feel free to suggest more for this list)
  • Mythical Ferian Griffon
  • Llama Ferian
  • Giraffe Ferian
  • Wyrmme Avatar
  • Mythical Ferian Phoenix
  • Mythical Kitsune
  • Taco (Freebie!)

Stretch goals! (We will post new stretch goals each day until the Kickstarter starts!

• $60K New Furrabian Nights Dream - 2 months
  • Lighting effects (Check out the following posts for screenshots)
• $70K Attachments for web & windows client 3-6 months
  • Wings
  • Tails
  • Hats
  • Masks
  • Paws
  • Clickable Dream portals
• $80K Web Community Package - 6+ months
  • Furcadia Howl
  • My Furcadia Pages
    • Basic version of F.L.U.F.F.
  • Character Pages
  • Groups & Guilds Pages
  • Social Networking Interface - share your portraits, adventures, funny experiences, etc. to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumbler, etc. etc.
• $85K Expanded Group Packages with custom desctags & chat channels
• $90K Basic web content creation tools - 9+ months
  • Live editing of your dream in the Web client
  • Character editing in the web client
  • New downloadable Skin Editor that supports web client layout

• $100K Super Bonus Level Unlocked! - 9+ months
  • New avatar color choices added
  • Even better default and avatar art
  • New Challenges Dream
  • 2 more features from our votable list!
  • Screenshots web page
  • Newest portraits web page
• $125K iPhone 4+ months[b]
• $150K Cool New Stuff Level
  • Mana System (Attention Economy)
  • Magic Abilities
  • Basic player-art market for attachments
  • New "maps" pages that show dreams
  • 1 more Votable feature
• $175K Native Mac 6+ months

• $200K Native Mac editors
  • 1 more Votable feature
• $250K Super Duper Awesome Bonus Level
  • Fulltime Dr. Cat back
  • Windows 32 bit client (huge)
  • 32 bit editors
  • New interface for Windows client
  • New version of integrated Pounce
  • Redo existing art to 32 bit
  • Changeable zoom levels (per dream)
  • Clickable Hangouts List w/ player counts
  • Full version of F.L.U.F.F.
  • New Imaginarium Dream
  • New Acropolis Dream
• $300K Additional content creation tools
  • Skin editor (your own default, or your dream's skin)
  • Patch editor
• $400K New Player Drive with advertising budget
• $500K Mega Stupendymous Level
  • Deluxe Attachments
    • Paper Dolling
    • Body Parts (arms, legs, heads, etc.)
  • More animation of Avatars
  • New Hawthorn Dream
  • New Vinca Dream
  • Super Dooper Windows editor
    • Visual DS editor
    • Integrate DS editor with Dream Editor
    • Integrate them both into client
• $600K Deluxe player content market
  • Portraits
  • Avatars
  • Patches
  • Dreams
  • DragonSpeak
  • Music
  • Sound
  • Services
• $750k Deluxe content creation tools
  • Full featured web versions of all windows editors
  • iPhone and Mac versions of editors
  • Hire more staff for both the Dev and Live teams
• $1 million The "Inconceivable" Super Package
  • Android version in HTML5
  • Brand new Fat man music
  • Remapping Objects Desctags & Buttons
  • Pets
  • Rideable character system
  • Leashable character system
  • Sound effects creator/editor
  • Music editor
  • Significantly drop Digo Prices

[Emerald Flame]

NOTE: These are not final prizes. There may be changes to this list.

1. $2 All donors get a downloadable Angel Cat coloring page, and our project newsletter emailed to you weekly. Extra Cookies!
2. $5 Base Level - You get the above, plus a special kickstarter Desctag for your character!
3. $10 Vote on an avatar we will make and put in the game! From a list, plus write-ins. + prize 2
4. $10 Vote on a Furcadia feature we will implement, from a list. + prize 2
5. $20 Voter Package: Vote on both avatar & feature, plus you get an Angel Cat avatar for a year 'cause you're an angel for supporting us. + prizes 1 & 2
6. $25 New to Furcadia? Start off with a Portrait space you can fill with your own art, Some edible snacks and gifts for making friends, as well as a starter guide and links to pre-made portrait art, and a set of wings of your choice for a year! You also get everything in the Voter Package, and a downloadble PDF Primes coloring book!
7. $30 Beta Voter Package: Access to all kickstarter test versions as we develop, plus a special private forum where you can discuss the work in progress and make suggestions! + Voter Package and our downloadble PDF Primes coloring book and PDF of a new color art print by Furcadia co-creator Talzhemir!
8. $40 One system announcement of your choice, at the time of your choice, subject to our approval. + Beta Voter Package (Limit 50)
9. $50 Custom desctag of YOUR choice FOR LIFE + Beta Voter Package (subject to approval) (limit 100)
10. $75 Angel Voter Package: Same as Beta Voter Package but with Angel Cat FOR LIFE!
11. $100 In-dream evening with Felorin and Emerald Flame + Angel Voter Package (limit 10)
12. $150 TinyParty/Kitterdust ability for your character (only targets yourself). Change size all you want! + Angel Voter Package (limit 100)
13. $200 Heartbonding Ceremony & Desctags by Emerald Flame + Angel Voter Package, and prizes 8,9 & 12 (limit 5)
14. $250 Silver Sponsorship for Life + Angel Voter Package and we mail you a limited edition physical copy of our new color art print by Furcadia co-creator Talzhemir!
15. $300 1 hour Skype video chat with Dr. Cat, he composes an original limerick about you, you watch him fold a shiny origami dragon of the color of your choice, and mails it to you afterwards + Angel Voter Package and prizes 8,9 & 12 (limit 5)
16. $400 Design your own game item for Furcadia! Make up an eatable or throwable, write all the custom messages, and effects, and pick or provide sounds, and we'll program it into the game! Wow! (limit 10) + Angel Voter Package and prizes 8,9 & 12
17. $500 Party in your dream! We will bring as many of our staff to attend all evening as we can gather together, and we'll announce the party repeatedly to everyone online to make sure you get a huge crowd! + Angel Voter Package and prizes 8&11 (limit 5-10)
18. $600 Pawfasting Ceremony & Desctags by Emerald Flame, two Silver Sponsorships for Life for you and your sweetheart, two prize 9s, two prize 12s + Angel Voter Package, and prize 8 (limit 5)
19. $750 Dream Package FOR LIFE + Angel Voter Package
20. $1000 Custom Avatar Space for just you. + Angel Voter Package and prizes 8,9 & 12 (limit 12)
21. $2000 Custom Avatar Space (You can give out the avatar to ten friends). + Angel Voter Package and prizes 8,9 & 12 (limit 12)
22. $3000 Custom Avatar drawn for you by one of our staff artists, either just for you, to share with ten friends or free for everyone in Furcadia. (your choice). + 2 Angel Voter Packages and prizes 8,9 & 12 Plus a hand-made origami dragon from Dr. Cat in the color of your choice! (limit 1)
23. $5000 Dinner and Gaming with Gar, Dr. Cat and Emerald Flame + 3 Angel Voter Packages + Origami Dragon and prizes 8,9 & 12 (limit 1) You can pick the game and the restaurant! We'll be happy to make recommendations if you like. Note: You are responsible for your own transportation expenses to get here.
24. $8000 YOUR dream will be a permanent part of Furcadia! + 4 Angel Voter Packages + Origami Dragon and prizes 8,9 & 12 (limit 3-5)
25. $10,000 "Our staff will create a permanent dream for you with whatever theme you like, which will be a permanent part of Furcadia forever with its own portal accessible 24/7." + 5 Angel Voter Packages + Origami Dragon and prizes 8,9 & 12 (limit 1)

[Oamey]

Looks like I'll have to sc###### some cash together. :3

edit: o_e I can't believe it censored "scrap + e"

[Firestoem]

Holy mother of dragons.
This is awesome, I can not wait. I am so excited

[Zyber]

Excited! Gonna be fun!

[Experience]

*Jumping in seat as we speak!*

[Damadar]

[Redacted]

[Heimdall]

TINYPARTY FOREVER. AMG. HUGE HEIMDALL FOREVER.

[Oamey]

I'm assuming there won't be any more desktop client support (well, aside from maybe a pinned IE bookmark you can assign to open ONLY Furcadia). DEP doesn't have the time to make and support two new clients (desktop and web). Also I wonder what they'll be using to code this thing.

[Heimdall]

I don't think it would be wise for DEP to get rid of the desktop clients... they may have a workaround. We shall see!

A question of my own... on Kickstarter, can you get multiple pledge levels? Like buying both prize 7 and prize 8 for $90 and you get the benefits of both, for instance.

[Keinsu]

Interesting! I never would've pegged Furc going web-based. Dar's question is a good one and now that he's brought it up I'm wondering that as well.

I'm also wondering about a few other things:
1) Will there be any preview of the Angel Cat avatar somewhere?
2) Browsers are the most common form of viral attacks, how is the client going to be secured?
3) Some of these options have a multitude of benefits (see example #15) however I'm curious if the limitations on the additional bonuses will count towards the stated limit? #15 includes #8 & #11 but both of these options have a limit of only 100, so I'm not sure if it's a collective 100, or 100 just for ordering those numbers?

I realize this is a "first draft" post and I'm thrilled to finally have detailed information on the Second Dreaming kickstarter, I'm just hoping to learn where my questions will eventually be answered -- be it here and now or if all my questions will be answered later on the finalized Kickstarter page.

[Kuger]

All these prizes sound great!

I'm going to try to earn any money I can to put into this.

However, here is what I notice about the prizes.

It seems most of the prizes are geared toward long-term players. A potential new player who this kickstarter is introduced to wont even know what 80% of this means.

[Damadar]

[Redacted]

[Kashi Commodore]

So, I see you're moving towards a web-client so you can better compete with Social Media games. That's okay, I guess.

But are you going to be dropping support for the Windows Client?

We are NOT planning to drop support for the Windows client, and intend to further work on/support for the Mac client.

I think a solid answer from DEP is important because informed decisions are better decisions.

I assure you, this is a very solid answer. Glad you asked.. this hopefully puts some fears at rest.

[Creepmachine]

I was wondering what was meant by 'web based client'. It would be disappointing to lose support for the desktop client, I'm quite fond of it. And I don't really care for browser games a whole lot.

Still, hopefully the goal is met. It would be great to see major developments.

[Heimdall]

Don't worry, Creepmachine. The mighty Kashi has assured us that the desktop client is here to stay! I'm in your boat, too.

[Damadar]

[Redacted]

[Rew]

However, here is what I notice about the prizes.

It seems most of the prizes are geared toward long-term players. A potential new player who this kickstarter is introduced to wont even know what 80% of this means.

This is a good point. However, I am sure that new players, upon viewing the kickstarter on the Second Dreaming, will be able to review extensive information on what Furcadia is, what they are supporting with their dontation(s), and what each of these perks contain. When I look at a kickstarter, I look at the prizes that I would like and/or benefit from. Since new players are not all that knowledgeable about what Furcadia is, it is important that it be carefully elaborated via videos and content (which is what DEP has said they will provide on their kickstarter). This here is only a rough draft perk sheet, after all. Cannot wait to see the real thing!

[Damadar]

[Redacted]