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Double Fine Returns to Kickstarter With Massive Chalice

Trenched designer Brad Muir is pitching a new game with inspiration from XCOM, Fire Emblem, and others.

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Who can argue with that smile?

Double Fine Productions, the studio that put Kickstarter on the map for games by raising millions, is returning to the crowdfunding service to bring another project to life.

Massive Chalice comes from Trenched designer Brad Muir, a developer anyone familiar with Giant Bomb’s videos probably already knows pretty well. Massive Chalice is being pitched as a fantasy strategy game culling inspiration from XCOM, Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy Tactics, and others.

In addition to fighting it out with turn-based battles, players also have to manage a multi-generational layer in which units age, have children that spawn new units, die, etc. The original set of heroes is spawned randomly for each player, with the project’s page citing roguelikes as an inspiration.

Double Fine raised $3.3 million on Kickstarter for its first project, Broken Age, which was previously titled Double Fine Adventure. That game isn’t scheduled to arrive until September, which might lead you to ask why Double Fine is already looking to raise for money to build another game on Kickstarter.

The studio addresses this question on the project page itself.

“Broken Age team only represents a third of our multi-game studio,” said the company. “Double Fine’s goal is for all our teams to remain independent and responsible directly to their players. Kickstarting Massive Chalice allows us to maintain a pure creative vision, put out updates on our own schedule, respond to feedback without roadblocks, and release it all DRM-free.”

Double Fine isn’t the first company to roll from one Kickstarter project to the next, either. After InXile Entertainment raised nearly $3 million for Wasteland 2, the studio drummed up $4.2 million for Torment: Tides of Numenera. Wasteland 2, like Broken Age, has not yet been released.

With Massive Chalice, Double Fine is asking for $725,000, but with $300,000 already raised (as of this writing, anyway), it’s looking likely Massive Chalise will well exceed its original project goal.

The game is currently set for a release on PC, Mac, and Linux in September 2014.

Patrick Klepek on Google+

253 Comments

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Grimmy616

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I don't understand why Double Fine gets special treatment when it comes to releasing a kickstarter and GB reporting on it.

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joshthebear

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Always be :D.

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FLStyle

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Edited By FLStyle

:D Good luck Brad, hope it works out.

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winsord

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Edited By winsord

I really wish that the early access level was $30 and not $50. I've never backed anything on Kickstarter before, and while this is the most tempted I've ever been, I'm finding it really hard to throw in $20 now to effectively only to pre-order a game that's going to come out around September of next year. Fire Emblem has really been making me want to get a DS, so a similar style of game for PC is exactly what I want right now. It's already evident they're going to smash their goal, and if all I'm getting is my name in a huge sea of credits for paying now, I think I'll just wait until August of next year. If it were $30 for the videos and early builds, then I'd definitely be in.

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deathfromace

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Edited By deathfromace

I don't understand why Double Fine gets special treatment when it comes to releasing a kickstarter and GB reporting on it.

It does help that they know eachother and the game sounds awesome.

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EchoEcho

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@m2cks said:

@selfconfessedcynic said:

@phatmac said:

You had me at Final Fantasy: Tactics.

Fucking A man - the moment they invoked those words I was sold.

And yet he draws Cloud from FF7- unless he was referring to Cloud's cameo role in Wrath of the Lions! In that case, that shows a very dedicated Tactics fan- another reason to love Brad Muir. I'm totally on board with this game concept.

I thought Cloud was a secret party member in the original PS1 version as well? Only ever got about halfway through the game, myself.

But anyhoo, I'm fairly certain he only drew Cloud because he's pretty much the poster child for Final Fantasy at this point, and would be more recognizable than a super-cartoony Ramza.

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Mumrik

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Edited By Mumrik

I wonder how much it hurts the potential that DFA isn't out yet. As a backer I don't mind - the longer they take, the more episodes of the documentary I get.

Can't help noticing that the finance people are in this one. They must really like the idea of free money and full price preorders :)

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CharAznable

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@mnzy said:

@mariachimacabre said:

@kittyvondoom said:

Hmm. I thought I had AdBlock on.

Oh I guess reporting on a newly announced project is advertising now. Oh wait. It's you. Nevermind. Trolls gonna troll.

Has he ever done an article about a new Kickstarter? Usually they are in Worth Reading, like 10 of them.

They did some articles last year about some of the major ones, including the first one from Double Fine. But the idea that this isn't news when it's made over $300,000 within hours of being put up is nonsensicle.

I saw this news elsewhere, but the other place didn't mention that Brad Muir was all up in this. That dramatically changed how I thought about the project, so I'm happy to get that added context from Patrick.

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deathfromace

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@mumrik said:

I wonder how much it hurts the potential that DFA isn't out yet.

I wouldn't expect much as they say that it's two different teams. So no talent or man power is being changed.

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ArbitraryWater

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I watched the video and immediately backed it. Yes Brad Muir, I will continue to allow your family to eat.

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Draxyle

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Edited By Draxyle

Kickstarted this as fast as I kickstarted the adventure game. This one makes even more sense for me, as I never got into adventure games before but I love turn based strategy.

While we're still waiting for Broken Age to come out, I feel like they've done good on the money they were given for that just based on all the production videos they've put out. Those videos are almost worth the price of admission on their own.

Glad I can fund the Muir either way. :D

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BeachThunder

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Edited By BeachThunder

The video is interesting; the game, not so much...

I mean, I love tactics, but this seems like way to straight concept/setting for a Double Fine game =/

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bkbroiler

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Edited By bkbroiler

I kind of want to donate just for the 2PP documentary, but I'm also kind of tired of Kickstarter. :(

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Tesla

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Trenched is one of my favorite games, Brad Muir one of my favorite people. I might have to pop my Kickstarter cherry here with Massive Chalice.

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DudeSupreme

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Edited By DudeSupreme

I miss Trenched

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faxon

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Edited By faxon

just backed this... god damn it.

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csl316

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Goddammit, Brad Muir, just take my damn money.

....

:D

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Nitrocore

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Iron Brigade*

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EnduranceFun

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Edited By EnduranceFun

While I initially jumped for joy, I have some worries about this game the way they worded it.

  1. The multi-generational thing sounds cool but does this mean that characters are basically just two-dimensional and primarily for stats? What I love about Fire Emblem, Valkyria Chronicles and FFT is that each character is an individual.
  2. Is there going to be an actual story? Building on point one, it sounds like it may be a generic "monsters attack, defend these levels" game.
  3. Can you marry male and female characters? FE: Awakening handled this well by letting you choose the pairing and giving you a little freedom to choose inherited skills. I got the sense that it's only male fighters.

I'm concerned by the way it's worded that it'll end up as a sort of more casual version of FE: Awakening, like the extra levels where you fight Risen but without the characters and instead flashy game-y set up that tries to instead be "rogue-like." Please, prove me wrong guys, I want to get hyped but the way it's described makes me very wary.

To elaborate, I'm a massive strategy fan, but it's mostly for the character development and preparation.

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Cuuniyevo

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Edited By Cuuniyevo

@kortex said:

Am I just too drunk to see the kickstarter-link to the project or did Patrick seriously not include it in this news?

Too drunk, much like all the other people who have replied to you without pointing out that the name Massive Chalice at the start of the third sentence is the link. :D!

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deactivated-589cf9e3c287e

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Alright, Brad Muir, I'm down for your hijinks on one condition. Unlockable Godzilla style monster costumes in honor of the fallen Kaiju Piledriver.

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Xiemos2

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Edited By Xiemos2

Backed. The power of :D!

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jacksukeru

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@kortex: Nevermind, I think stupid.

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ofcbilly77

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BACKED.

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Mumrik

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Edited By Mumrik

@deathfromace said:
@mumrik said:

I wonder how much it hurts the potential that DFA isn't out yet.

I wouldn't expect much as they say that it's two different teams. So no talent or man power is being changed.

Oh I didn't mean the game, but the Kickstarter itself. I was wondering about doubt and backlash.

Doesn't seem to be an issue though. It is already 340k in.

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Lukeweizer

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Edited By Lukeweizer

@maajin: Cloud is a hidden character in the original FFT.

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jacobgray

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I know there's the whole, "Waahhhhh, Kickstarter is ruining games!" subset right now, but screw that, if Brad Muir wants my money to make a cool thing, he's damn well going to have it.

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deactivated-590b7522e5236

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hey hey kickstarter double standards.

watever, this game sounds pretty cool, finally double fine makes a game i want to play.

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slax

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I backed the first Double Fine Kickstarter because I wanted to support an awesome company. I am not super interested in the adventure game.

I will back this because the game looks awesome (also because Brad Muir and DF are awesome).

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Grixxel

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Edited By Grixxel

Fucking Muir. Fine, just take my money. You prick.

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Hurricrane

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@loktarogar: His happiness is a cover to make people lower their guard and he sucks their blood! :O

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Duffman10

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I think this game sounds cool and I backed. But I think this article is ethically troubling. I don't believe GB covered the last two really big kickstarters (Torment and Project Eternity) except for a mention of Eternity in Worth Reading. I would understand the discrepancy if Patrick was super interested in the game itself but the article doesn't show any particular interest in the game mechanics. If anything, this article reads more like a press release. The one critique (personally I don't think DF is doing anything wrong here) here is dealt with quickly by repeating DF's own statement and not looking deeper. This article does give the sense of it is being written because GB is friendly with DF. GB can do it but I find it troubling.

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Winternet

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Only on Giant Bomb would we see Brad Muir as Trenched's designer.

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comradecrash

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OH! I might have to back this.

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Whiskeyjack

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:D

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retrovirus

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Edited By retrovirus

If Brad Muir wants to make a strategy game like XCOM with making babies, then I am sold. SOLD I SAY! :D

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ectoplasma

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Edited By ectoplasma

@retrovirus: WELL, we know nothing of the battle system yet. Btw. hi Avaren ^^.

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dvorak

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Edited By dvorak

@duffman10 said:

I think this game sounds cool and I backed. But I think this article is ethically troubling. I don't believe GB covered the last two really big kickstarters (Torment and Project Eternity) except for a mention of Eternity in Worth Reading. I would understand the discrepancy if Patrick was super interested in the game itself but the article doesn't show any particular interest in the game mechanics. If anything, this article reads more like a press release. The one critique (personally I don't think DF is doing anything wrong here) here is dealt with quickly by repeating DF's own statement and not looking deeper. This article does give the sense of it is being written because GB is friendly with DF. GB can do it but I find it troubling.

While I don't believe there to be any unfair collusion, you're totally right in that this is extremely unusual in itself. With virtually zero coverage of the successive games to top DFA's original take, what else is someone supposed to think. It demonstrates clear bias, not only that they would put up a puff piece on a Kickstarter, but one right at it's launch. I hope Giant Bomb never reviews any other Double Fine games at this point, because regardless of anyone's intentions, there's no one left on staff that could give an unbiased opinion.

I mean hell, I'm backing this, and I'm sure that any other person that visits this site already knew about the Kickstarter or would find out in the coming month of typical KS media barrage. They'll probably even talk to Brad Muir on some live program about it before or during E3, so what's the point of the article?

Then again, it's video games so who gives a shit right? I don't really care in the end, I'm still going to use both GB and buy the game anyway. But this is just another example of how 'games journalism' is nothing more than enthusiast press.

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mdnthrvst

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Edited By mdnthrvst

@duffman10: Yeah, I agree. Sounds a bit too much like a personal favor.

GB may be pretty close to Double Fine and Brad Muir, but giving their pretty average Kickstarter campaign coverage where all others were, at most, a blurb on Worth Reading? Double Fine Adventure was noteworthy for being first, but the atmosphere is different now. Why is Massive Chalice worthy of a front-page news post when Patrick and Ryan openly mocked games Camelot Unchained on Twitter, aside from the team being friends with Brad Muir?

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bellmont42

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Edited By bellmont42
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deactivated-5afdd08777389

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YES!

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Andorski

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With Broken Age not even out yet I was ready to label this a shameless second dip in the crowdfunding salsa. Then I saw that this is a Brad Muir joint.

Go ahead Double Fine. Dip away.

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Oi_Blimey

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Edited By Oi_Blimey

The main reason I funded this project was because of Brad Muir's massive :D face.

Seriously, I feel that I already got my money's worth just by watching the Broken Age behind the scene episodes. It's so rare to be able to get a glimpse of how a game is being made.

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johnbakosh

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Edited By johnbakosh

Dare someone to donate 10k

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HellknightLeon

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Edited By HellknightLeon

Brad Muir... you can have all my fucking money man.... The only reason I stopped to think about this was... "If I put money into this... will he never quit DF and join Giant Bomb" after crying into my pillow of an hour I then dumped all my money into the hat. Go Brad!

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Aetheldod

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Edited By Aetheldod

Who can say no to that smile????? But alas me not being gringo takes me out of the kickstarter game till funded :/

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joetom

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I can't not fund a project by Brad Muir, especially when it sounds as awesome as this! :D

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kerikxi

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I'd follow Brad Muir to hell and back.

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goulash_enjoyer

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Edited By goulash_enjoyer

I don't know about the rest of you, but Brad Muir most definitely is a camera ready golden sex god.

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JDMmuscle

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Did they even ship their last KickStarter? I realize they have multiple teams at Double Fine but this still rubs me, a little bit, the wrong way.