There really was no question that Artix Entertainment’s AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity was going to fund when it went to Kickstarter yesterday afternoon. In fact, there really was no question that it would also become the fastest-funded Kickstarter project within seconds. That’s because the game’s ask was only $1.
“Our video game community has done so many crazy and funny things together… this is perhaps the most historic,” the studio’s Adam “Artix von Krieger” Bohn told fans.
But the $1 ask aside, the game would’ve funded for any reasonable ask; as I type this on Wednesday, the game has surged to almost $800,000 in funding from nearly 11,000 backers so far.
So what the heck is it?
MMORPG fans of a certain depth will already know about the AdventureQuest franchise; AQ Worlds is still around (there are nearly 8000 people playing it as I am writing this article), and AQ3D is so popular we still stream it (and kids still email us begging for a Mo helmet in there every dang week). The games are cute and kid-friendly and enormously popular because of their accessibility and constant content.
AQW Infinity is likewise an MMORPG but with full mobile compatibility, which makes sense as Artix has built multiple mobile games, including AQ3D, which works on both PC and mobile devices. AQWI basically a ground-up rebuild (“not a simple port”) of the original AQW that will actually work on a broad range of devices, with redesigned bosses, better music, revamped questing, improved maps, and so forth. The Kickstarter funds will help the studio do that, but faster – and strictly without resorting to any AI slop.
Players blew past all of the stretch goals in one day; they include more content, trade skills, and tons of bonus items for backers. The basic buy-in that actually includes the game is $25, though you could also opt for the $1 “funded it myself” tier (lol) or the $5000 tier that doesn’t actually have a complete list of perks (“buy it and see what happens? O_o,” the text reads – and someone did buy it).
If you’re a fan of the OG game, you won’t need to worry either, according to the FAQ.
“Will the original AdventureQuest Worlds continue to be updated? Yes. Our development pipeline requires us to build the content for the original game first, and then do all the fancy Unity conversion stuff to it. So we will be running both games.”
MMORPG players are understandably wary of Kickstarters for so many good reasons, but if you’re looking for something that is actually a good bet with low risk and proven development, this would be that. If you’d rather just looky-loo, you can follow the game on Steam instead. We’ll keep an eye on this one either way; final tallies should be in on April 6th.
