Newly independent video game developer Double Fine Productions has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support its latest Amnesia Fortnight game jam, complete with a tongue-in-cheek $100 million stretch goal to make Brütal Legend 2.
The massive $100 million requirement is intended as a joke, as no project in Kickstarter history has ever approached that figure; the platform's all-time record holder raised just under $47 million for a 3D printer. However, setting such a playful milestone highlights the studio's newfound creative autonomy following its departure from Microsoft, allowing the team to engage directly with fans in its signature style.
The primary focus of the campaign is to fund Amnesia Fortnight, an internal two-week prototyping event that Double Fine first launched back in 2007. During the process, team members pause regular work to pitch original ideas and build working game concepts. In the past, this internal jam has served as the birthplace for full games like Costume Quest, as well as distinct sections of major releases, including the Compton's Cook-off mental world seen in Psychonauts 2.
Backing the Kickstarter provides supporters with direct voting privileges to shape the studio's output. Double Fine has published a playlist of 30-second pitch videos showcasing various developer concepts. After reviewing these pitches, backers will vote to whittle the list down to four top contenders. A second round of voting will then determine the ultimate winner, which Double Fine will construct into a completed, smaller-scale game release.
The proposed project ideas span a wide variety of gameplay styles. Standout pitches include Emergency Foley Artist, a Jackbox-style party game where participants overlay custom sound effects onto diverse video scenes, and Uprise, a kite-flying pseudo-kart racer where players clash against invading extraterrestrial forces.
As with previous studio initiatives, a documentary team will film the entire Amnesia Fortnight event. Beyond capturing the game jam itself, the documentary promises to give viewers an inside look at Double Fine's recent organizational changes following its split from Xbox owner Microsoft, including how the company addressed internal staff layoffs after regaining its independent status.
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