Kickstarting a game: "Minecraft, but you're a dog, and everything's beautiful"

Margaret writes, "Esteemed NYC game-maker Kevin Cancienne (part of the team behind highly adored Drop 7) is launching Home Free, an utterly unique dog exploration game. It's Minecraft, but you're a dog, and everything's beautiful."

Kevin's looking for $50K. I know him and Margaret personally and know them both to be people who kick ass and get stuff done, and I believe they'll deliver. There's already a working prototype that's been presented at games conferences, to real praise. $15 gets you a DRM-free copy of the game for PC or Mac. Pledge $450 and they'll include you in the game; make it $950 and they'll include your dog in the game.


I'm excited about it because I'm fascinated by how dogs play and explore. It comes so naturally to them, but what thought processes drive their choices and actions? Videogames are now key part of how humans express their need for play, but what can I learn as a human player from how dogs play? And I'm also fascinated by what a dog's-eye view will bring to a videogame city. Cities in games are often let-downs – people you can't talk to, doors that won't open. But that's because you come to them with a human's expectation. What will it feel like to explore a city as someone it isn't built for? As someone who can't talk to people, who isn't welcome everywhere, but who still needs to find a way to survive?

Home Free [Kevin Cancienne/Kickstarter]