Benicia, California based indie game developer Firebelly Studios is bringing their upcoming 2D science fiction adventure game, Temporus, to Kickstarter in hopes of raising $20 thousand to help fund development of the title. According to Firebelly, Temporus combines elements of “platformers, side-scrolling shooters, and RPGs” and is intended to “showcase video games as [an] art form.”
Temporus follows the story of a crewmember of a deep space mining vessel that suddenly receives a distress signal from their home planet of Temporus warning of an impending attack by an unknown enemy. Upon reaching their home planet, however, the crew finds it “completely decimated and barren” despite their civilization having been a peaceful one without any known enemies. The mining crew then takes it upon themselves to discover the ultimate fate of their homeworld and the motive behind its destruction, traveling through both space and time to uncover clues about the attack as well as historical artifacts and technological gadgetry to aid in their journey.
The gameplay of Temporus changes from level to level, each “with their own mission and different style of gameplay.” The game’s primary focus centers around exploration and item collection, however different stages have varying methods of travel, different weapons and styles of combat, and a unique set of environmental hazards and challenges to overcome.
Firebelly Studios is hoping to raise funds to hire graphical and musical artists to enhance the aesthetic presentation of their game with Kickstarter funds. Additional features and levels may be in the works as well if additional money beyond their current goal of $20 thousand is raised. Kickstarter backers will receive a variety of perks from Firebelly, including a copy of the game when it launches for any contribution higher than $10. Those who put forward a bit more cash will receive a copy of the game’s soundtrack plus a bonus twenty minute long song, a miniature of the mining crew’s spaceship, a plushie of the game’s main protagonist, as well as a digital art book and printed poster. For $1,000, Kickstarter contributors can purchase a chance to provide input on the game’s design and be added into the game as a minor character.
The Temporus Kickstarter has currently raised just over $5,000 of its ultimate goal of $20,000. The Kickstarter project will be open until July 20, 2014.