More than a year ago, I saw a pretty neat game called Aquamarine at Play NYC 2018. This super-chill survival game had players exploring a largely underwater planet after a terrible ship crash in an effort to escape.
That game soon went to Kickstarter, but the project ultimately fell short of its $25,000 goal, raising only $9,590. It's the unfortunate reality of modern gaming, but Moebial Studios' Patric Fallon didn't let it get him down.
Fallon has since moved across the country, reformed his team, and buckled down to put a lot more work into the game. I had a chat with him about it, and things are certainly looking up for this Kickstarter project.
Aquamarine is a good ways along thanks to the work done over the last year and change, and now it's making its return to Kickstarter. For what may be the first time, we're doing a Crowdfunding Spotlight Redux and exploring a game developer's second crack at Kickstarter.
All About Aquamarine
Aquamarine, at its surface, has many similarities with Subnautica. You're on a big ol' ship and you crash land on a planet that's largely covered with water. From there, you need to move through the world in smaller ships until you get to a bigger ship and make your escape. It is there that the similarities end.
Unlike Subnautica, Aquamarine is a much more relaxed game with a slower pace. Although it might look like it at first glance, this is not a real-time game. Rather, it's a turn-based game, letting you carefully consider your decision while weighing your options.
You will, of course, need to keep your ship running and prevent it from being ripped to shreds by hostile alien wildlife. Aside from that, you'll also have to keep the squishy pilot on the inside alive, largely by foraging food and later growing it on the planet's surface.
You'll also be able to upgrade your pod as you progress through the game, giving it (and you) a better chance at surviving the harsh, underwater depths. This is all done set to a kickin' synth music soundtrack and held together with stylish, hand-drawn art.
Aquamarine Pledge Levels and Stretch Goals
A variety of different pledge levels are available, ranging from options for the everyday gamer to big-ticket items for the people who really want to help this game succeed.
Aquamarine Pledge Levels
Casual Ally — Pledge $1 or More
- Contribute to the development of the game with no reward.
Fellow Seeker+ (Early Bird) — Pledge $10 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- Limited to early backers only.
Fellow Seeker — Pledge $15 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
Fellow Seeker+ — Pledge $20 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
Gracious Companion — Pledge $30 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
Gracious Companion+ — Pledge $45 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
Curious Cosplayer (Early Bird) — Pledge $50 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A hand-drawn digital portrait.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
- Limit of 25 backers total.
Curious Cosplayer — Pledge $60 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A hand-drawn digital portrait.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
- Limit of 70 backers total.
Enchanted Devotee — Pledge $75 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
- A limited-edition 11" x 17" art print.
- Limited to 45 backers in total.
Transcendent Traveler — Pledge $75 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
- A limited-edition 7" vinyl record featuring one song on each side.
- Limited to 45 backers total.
Studied Acolyte — Pledge $100 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
- A limited-edition ship operations booklet.
- Limited to 45 backers max.
Fascinated Familiar — Pledge $150 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
- Access to the VIP Discord channel.
- Alpha and beta downloads of Aquamarine.
Guided Biologist — Pledge $300 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
- Access to the VIP Discord channel.
- Alpha and beta downloads of Aquamarine.
- You get to create an in-game creature.
- Limited to only 3 backers total.
Sage Botanist — Pledge $300 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
- Access to the VIP Discord channel.
- Alpha and beta downloads of Aquamarine.
- You get to create in-game plant life.
- Limited to only 3 backers total.
Uncanny Visionist — Pledge $500 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
- Access to the VIP Discord channel.
- Alpha and beta downloads of Aquamarine.
- You get a commissioned original art print.
- Limited to 5 backers max.
The Omnipresence — Pledge $750 or More
- A digital copy of the game.
- Your name in the credits.
- A high-resolution digital wallpaper.
- A download of demo music and the game's soundtrack.
- A digital art and story book.
- An exclusive pod and HUD design.
- Access to the VIP Discord channel.
- Alpha and beta downloads of Aquamarine.
- A hand-drawn digital portrait.
- A limited-edition 11" x 17" art print.
- A limited-edition 7" vinyl record featuring one song on each side.
- A limited-edition ship operations booklet.
- A unique mention in the game's credits.
Aquamarine Stretch Goals
This campaign doesn't have any Stretch Goals. What you see is what you get with your pledge!
Aquamarine Funding Goal, Deadline, and Past Campaigns
Aquamarine needs to raise $12,540 in order to meet its goal, although I'm sure the developers will be quite happy if they manage more than that.
This is Moebial Studios' second campaign. As mentioned previously, the first one was for a much earlier and rougher version of this game, and they only managed to raise $9,590 of a $25,000 goal. The lower goal this time around should make success much more attainable.
That said, anything can happen on Kickstarter. Hopefully, this project will be a success. You have a little over 40 days to pledge — go ahead and check out the Aquamarine Kickstarter before your chance to get in early is gone!