Oh fucking hell. Right here we go.
2023 was an fascinating 12 months for all kinds of causes, however probably the most fascinating tales was that of The Day Earlier than lastly releasing in 2023 just for folks to find that it was completely horrible, nothing like what was promised and was, I preserve, a rip-off. Like Harmony, it was shut down inside per week. The developer, Fntastic, shut down.
If you’re interested, I wrote a pretty long article discussing the whole debacle from start to finish. I’m really fairly happy with it, although it by no means received the eye I hoped it will.
Now, it seems to be like I’m going to need to replace my article as a result of Fntastic are again. Oh boy.
The corporate has reappeared on social media, now going by the title Fntastic 2.0 and sporting shiny new branding. This being the shady firm who stated ‘This was our first huge expertise. Shit occurs.’ when The Day Earlier than collapsed.
“Everybody deserves a second probability. We deeply apologize to everybody for The Day Earlier than and take full accountability for what occurred.” reads a tweet from Fntastic. “Try our plan, Fntastic 2.0, the place we share how we’ll repair our previous errors and are getting ready to return higher.”
Sure enough, the company is offering a 7 page white paper outlining their new vision for future. The three new ideas the corporate will function by are honesty, transparency and professionalism, which is hilarious as a result of these aren’t ideas you construct an organization round, these are simply on a regular basis belongings you anticipate by default.
“Our mission is to create video games that might be liked for
a long time” says the white paper.
“Our imaginative and prescient is to develop into probably the most liked recreation firms by creating incredible, revolutionary, and emotionally participating experiences.”
To that finish, Fntastic 2.0 already has a brand new recreation within the works referred to as Escape Manufacturing facility. A free demo is already up, and out of morbid curiosity I’d give it a strive as a result of it does seem like an precise playable recreation, which is at the very least 30000% greater than I used to be anticipating from the corporate.
Right here’s the blurb for the sport: “You play as life-weary employees attempting to flee the vicious cycle of lethal factories from which there’s no straightforward method out. Legend has it that just one nice and mysterious particular person has ever escaped.
Crew up with 4-8 gamers for pure multiplayer co-op physics-based enjoyable challenges.”
To assist make the sport, Fntastic are asking for folks to present them a second change and donate on Kickstarter, which I refuse to hyperlink to. If you wish to donate, and that’s solely as much as you, then you will discover it simply sufficient.
They’re searching for £11,646 to make the sport, and have to date raised £161 from 7 backers whom I can solely assume are relations who really feel obligated. It’s an All or Nothing Kickstarter, although, so in the event that they don’t attain the goal then not one of the cash might be taken.
A particular £12,000 again tier (restricted to 10 areas) is up for grabs, providing an “unforgettable dinner with the founders of Fntastic.”
Maybe essentially the most hilarious a part of this entire factor is that Fntastic has launched official merch, so now you possibly can spend a fucking staggering £50 to purchase a hoodie that claims “Fntastic Again to win”
You may’t make these things up.
Okay, okay. Truthfully, I do typically help the concept of giving folks second probabilities when real errors are made or poor choices. Nevertheless, Fntastic’s destruction was not due to errors and even poor choices: they had been extremely shady, do quite a few underhanded issues, averted all accountability and acted like immature little brats when referred to as out on their habits. The folks within the trenches at Fntastic in all probability deserve a second probability as a result of weren’t concerned in a lot of the crap that went on, however the founders of the corporate and everybody else in positions of energy ought to by no means been allowed close to the business once more. Hell, they in all probability shouldn’t even be allowed to function a drinks dispenser at a fuel station.
