Key Takeaways
- The Day Before devs, Fntastic, are back, announcing a new game.
- The developers seeking funds via Kickstarter for their project, “Escape Factory.”
- Revamped Fntastic promises transparency, no unpaid volunteers, and more professionalism
As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that I find myself caught between hope and skepticism when it comes to Fntastic’s latest venture, “Escape Factory.” On one hand, I remember the excitement I felt for their previous game, The Day Before, which unfortunately turned out to be a bitter disappointment. On the other hand, I am intrigued by the concept of Escape Factory and its similarities to popular titles like Fall Guys and Chained Together.
The creators who were responsible for the disappointing game of 2023 titled “The Day Before”, now humbly request another opportunity to prove themselves.
The newest announced project from Escape Factory is titled “Escape the Factory,” a physics-based platformer where 4 to 8 players collaborate or compete to exit – you got it – the factory. In essence, it bears resemblance to Fall Guys and the recently trending game Chained Together.
The developers have started a Kickstarter initiative to collect $15,567 with the goal of improving the game based on player suggestions, rather than creating it from scratch. Although it’s usual for independent games to receive funding through crowdfunding, it caught people’s attention when the creators of The Day Before sought support from the gaming community for their project.
Fantastic is planning to develop a Prop Hunt game, but it will move forward with this project only if the Kickstarter campaign reaches its goal.
The game is slated for a Halloween release, with a free demo available.
Just two individuals have provided feedback so far, but their comments solely pertain to the developer’s previous work, offering no insights regarding Escape Factory.
At the time of writing, the devs have raised $414 from 14 backers.
An Unsavory Past
To clarify, “The Day Before” was advertised as an engaging open-world survival zombie game for computers. Boasting impressive visuals, acceptable shooting mechanics, and animations, it appeared to be a game that would excite PC gamers immensely.
Delays, rumors, and statements from the devs prematurely denying scam allegations marred the game even before it came out. Still, the game was finally released in Dec. 2023.
Counting the differences between marketing and actual gameplay would take an age between lost features, horrible servers, clunky gameplay, and downgraded graphics— simply know this, the game’s player count between Dec. 4 and Dec. 25 dropped from 38k to 2.
Fantastic revealed their shutdown, surprisingly, just four days following the launch – a fact shared on a now-removed tweet. However, this revelation didn’t deter the wave of events that were about to engulf them.
The Day Before has failed financially, and we lack the funds to continue,
– Fntastic
If the damage from the negative publicity and allegations of deceptive advertising hadn’t been sufficient, it was disclosed that Fantastic was relying on unpaid laborers for most of the work; ironically, the individual recruiting these volunteers ended up being terminated because they were too slow in their “hiring” procedure.
If the game was just a scam, why would the developers return later with smaller projects, seeking our pardon instead?
An Uphill Battle For Trust & Reputation
Approximately a year following their downfall, Fantastic has reemerged with the introduction of Fantastic 2.0 – their fresh, updated approach.
Fantastic has vowed to embrace lessons from past errors and is now dedicated towards upholding integrity, openness, and proficiency.
In many of its latest updates, Fantastic has acknowledged faults and expressed regret regarding The Day Before, expressing optimism about the future. However, their apology seems to skirt over more substantial criticisms.
As a devoted supporter, I can’t help but echo the sentiments shared by many others who find it audacious that the company would dare to request funds again. Some even suggest that the company should face legal consequences for what feels like theft in regards to The Day Before, as there were no repercussions for this project.
People are requesting that Fntastic re-release their old game, Propnight, as they no longer hold the intellectual property rights to it following their closure.
In almost all the replies, Fntastic has ushered users to their website for more information.
The updated website, featuring a combination of bright blue and white, contains an entire PDF outlining Fntastic’s strategy, which you can access here. The firm asserts they will no longer rely on volunteer labor and will regularly update their social media platforms to keep followers informed.
As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed that the recent color scheme shift aligns with a preference for more compact games, reflecting our now leaner team. It’s heartening to see that some colleagues are still around on goodwill, while others are multitasking, which speaks volumes about the studio’s current financial situation.
We realize that it will be difficult to regain the trust of the audience, but that doesn’t mean that nothing needs to be done. We are fully motivated and will put that motivation into our next projects. We hope we will live up to expectations
– Fntastic
If the Kickstarter campaign doesn’t succeed, leading to a second shutdown for Fantastic, they assure backers that their money will be returned.
In the world of gaming, it can be challenging to earn trust, and reestablishing it once lost is often extremely difficult. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether gamers will show leniency towards Fntastic for a potential return.
Still, games should be judged on their own merit— why should a new IP carry the burden of those who came before it? But, all things considered, a thief on parole probably wouldn’t be wanted as a jewelry store clerk on their first job back.
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2024-09-27 18:08