The act of going to a retailer and purchasing a guide is practically a foreign concept in the age of the internet. A recent Kickstarter aimed to let consumers have a taste of sweet guide nostalgia, but a company recently cracked down on the campaign.
Near the end of a staggeringly successful Kickstarter campaign, Hand-Drawn Game Guides was cancelled. Philip Summers, the individual behind this campaign, cancelled his Kickstarter due to legal pressure from unknown parties. In a statement released on Hand-Drawn Game Guides' Kickstarter, Summers says:
Tonight I pulled the plug on the Hand-Drawn Game Guides Kickstarter. Yes, for exactly the reason you think it’s for. I had hoped that I could successfully navigate any legal trouble, but alas I wasn’t able to do so.
Summers acknowledged the riskiness of his project and went on to commend the community for their support. The Kickstarter's initial goal was $20,000, but quickly amassed an impressive $322,000 right before the cancellation of the project. The future of Hand-Drawn Game Guides seems uncertain, but Summers hopes he can share more information soon. Dreamprim Press, a company involved in creating the books for the campaign, urges everyone to stay tuned for more information on the project:
Regarding HDGG, while we’re disappointed by this roadblock, we’re still in the process of figuring out what the future holds for the project. It doesn’t mean it’s over. Please bear with us and stay tuned!
— Dreamprism Press (@dreamprismpress) September 5, 2021
We’re more excited than ever to have you along with us for the ride!
Likewise, Summers called into question Fangamer's Mother book, which potentially opens up a larger discussion about how fan-made guides should be handled within the industry. Summers mentioned how this had gone from a hobby to a staggering success for him.
Summers' guides deal with IPs by Nintendo, including The Legend of Zelda and Metroid. Just recently, Nintendo issued a cease and desist for Metroid Prime 2D, a game starring Samus Aran and based on the Metroid series, and not long ago they hit The Legend of Zelda: The Missing Link a fan-game that bridged Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Contra and Ninja Gaiden guides backers could have purchased, so legal pressure Konami, Koei Tecmo, or Nintendo is possible but not confirmed by any party. As we've seen previously, fan-made projects ending due to legal reasons is nothing new for the industry.
This campaign aimed to bring guides of retro video games to the masses, which were completely hand-drawn and went over the workings of each title. This included tips and tricks, maps of dungeons and other levels, and more. Previously, Summers sold his The Legend of Zelda guide on his website in a digital format; his Kickstarter would have brought these guides to physical as well.
For now, the Hand-Drawn Game Guides Kickstarter is a casualty, but stay tuned should the project return in another form.
Were you a backer of the campaign? Do you think the campaign should have been cancelled? Let us know in the comments below!