Just as 2023 is flying by at what feels like record speed, this month's roundup is a quick one with just four notable projects (one of which isn't even a video game at all). Another one does feature a Retronauts regular amongst its contributors, though, always a mark of quality
Beyond that one obvious exception, we have no insider information or financial interest in any of these projects, and no one at Retronauts has been compensated for including anything on this page. Also, in light of the ongoing pandemic, we recommend only backing crowdfunding campaigns if you feel comfortable with your own security and stability.
The Impact of Iwata (ends July 13 estimated reward date Dec 2023)
From the makers of Nintendo Force magazine comes this print tribute to Satoru Iwata, the late programmer/executive who brought a personal touch to his role as Nintendo president the way no one else could. Both Nadia Oxford and her husband David appear on the list of writers for this project.
Neo Junk City (ends July 20 estimated reward date Dec 2025)
As the title suggests, Neo Junk City takes place in a cyberpunk metropolis, one where the residents struggle to survive as the infrastructure grows older and the seas rise higher. The developer cites King's Quest as an influence on this point & click adventure game, although the campaign does promise a driving section which I don't think Roberta Williams ever thought to include.
The House in the Cemetery (ends July 20 estimated reward date Sep 2023)
Not many developers made "horror" games for the NES, given how that console was marketed for children and sold in toy stores, but a few titles from that era certainly qualify for that genre. Since the average NES owner today likely has children of their own, it's always a treat to see indies target the platform with original, spooky material. In this case, work on The House in the Cemetery has been completed and the campaign is intended to cover production costs of manufacturing physical cartridges.
Bubblegum Crisis Vinyl Soundtrack Box Set (ends July 29 estimated reward date May 2024)
OK, this is not a video game at all, but Bubblegum Crisis is one of those seminal anime productions that surely influenced a generation of viewers (including game developers) with its Blade Runner-ish story mixed with rockin' 1980s pop songs. This campaign focuses squarely on those songs as Eczema Records seeks to release an eight-disc vinyl set of the entire remastered soundtrack.