http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/617502838/shadow-of-the-eternals-0

Well, it's over.

I think that, strangely, their goal was at the same time too high and too low.

On one hand, it was clearly too high to be funded, they just didn't have the clout to bring in that much. Sure I've heard about Eternal Darkness but I've never played it since I never had a Gamecube, and neither did a lot of people, so I guess there wasn't enough people with much of a connection with the title to be excited for a spiritual sequel.

On the other hand, $750.000 just doesn't seem like enough to build the game they were talking about. Makes me think that either they woefully underestimated how much it would cost, which does not bode well for it actually being made, or they'll get funding from other sources as well, in which case what do they need my money for.

So what do you think spelled doomed for this one?

Seems to me that Dennis Dyack just does not have the draw of a Tim Schafer or a Obsidian. Or as much interest as a new Wasteland.
Edit unless Dyack had nothing to do with the kickstarter then I dunno. Oh well. Shame.

Tbh i never heard of the original... and ive been gaming since i was 12 (roughly. im in my 40's now).

I disagree with you there. There are games that were far more "niche" and unknown than Eternal Darkness that managed to get spiritual successors on Kickstarter. Take a look at Armikrog, for example. I'm pretty damn sure Eternal Darkness was far more famous than The Neverhood (especially considering that it's much more recent and it was a GC launch title, which made it get exposure), yet Armikrog managed to reach it's U$900,000 goal, Shadow of the Eternals didn't, even with a lower goal.

I think that the failure is not related to Eternal Darkness not being famous enough. I think Eternal Darkness gets enough praise already and has enough fans to fund a sequel. The problem lies with Precursor Games itself. No one trusts Denis Dyack or anyone related to Silicon Knights. SK has already proven that it isn't a reliable company. They trief to fool Activision by using Xmen Destiny's money to fund a prototype for Eternal Darkness 2. Not to mention that they have issues managing time and money. Take a look at Too Human, for example. That game was supposed to be released for the PS1, for fuck's sake. After many delays and a lot of hype the game turned out to be pretty mediocre.

The only great games SK has ever made were developed when they had publishers watching over them constantly (Crystal Dynamics on Blood Omen and Nintendo on Eternal Darkness and MGS Twin Snakes). U$750,000 was definitely not enough for the game they were promising. From the trailer it looked like they were making a AAA game, that's certainly not possible with such a small budget. I doubt they would make it anyway.

I do hope a publisher picks it up, but i doubt any company is going to give money to Denis Dyack after the Xmen Destiny's fiasco.

Never heard of any of the things you mentioned: Shadow of the Eternals, whoever those dudes are, and whatever a Gamecube was.

Ah, I think I found a picture of the gamecube below.

I want to say my reasons but I think Neobr10 cover it all above. I mean if DoubleFine can gain millions from their kickstarters then why not other companies?

In the end it's all about trust and respect. Dyack seriously lost it all after years of bumbling in the industry.

Can't really blame them for the Sega Saturn cancellations can we. What did it last like a year.

Edit: Wow, six years, I thought it never gained traction. How did it last that long. Ah must have been thinking of the Dreamcast - two years.

Damn Dyack seemed like kind of a dick

Pity. A game that gets over $300k pledged is a game that should get made.

it seems silicon knights have laid a lot of games to rest, the game looked decent but it seems even developer lost interest in it

I'll mourn for the chance to hear David Hayter's voice on another game, but they just wanted too much, 3D games are really expensive to make, even if they were only making a prototype to get more funds. Plus, they didn't have much clout with audiences and publishers anymore, maybe if they had went for a smaller game instead, one more easily funded, just to prove that they still have what it takes to make a good game, then went for the big project.

Such a shame indeed. But now the the gaming industry matured more and more. It's time to hand the IP to a competent new team and probably in 5 or 10 years it can raise back from the dead... sans Dyack's involvement.

It obviously wasn't resonating with the fans. Hopefully everyone finds a good working project soon.