Heaven Variant development suspended

[Zeether]

That new Einhander-like shmup Heaven Variant that was being posted in the development forum just recently had development suspended according to a Facebook post on the dev's wall and this text on the website:

Heaven Variant's development is suspended. I personally apologize to all of our supporters and friends that helped spread the word about the game and its premise. I also want to apologize to the team, who over these last 2 years selflessly put forth their time, blood, and effort into this project. The failure of the project has nothing to do with their dedication, skill, or ability which was beyond amazing. I know they have a strong future in the game industry. The kind of gameplay we were trying to create, to make consistent across multiple platforms was something we couldn't accomplish within our budget and time requirements, which is my fault. I apologize again for letting you down. The team is officially disbanded. The project is suspended. I extend my deepest appreciation to all of our supporters that helped keep us motivated for over two years, across the web, Facebook, and Twitter. We appreciate you all and I'm deeply sorry we weren't able to finish HV for you.

Too bad, since it did look promising but I guess they just couldn't pull it off. Didn't even bother trying a Kickstarter.

[trap15]

Kickstarter isn't some magical solution fairy dust that magically fixes and makes everything affordable and doable.

[Zeether]

Kickstarter isn't some magical solution fairy dust that magically fixes and makes everything affordable and doable.

So it wouldn't have helped the devs get the budget they needed?

[ciox]

I could see this coming, they didn't update anything for ages. I think what maybe got them is not locking down mechanics and stage design early, and sticking too long in the tech demo and art direction demonstration phase, with the meat of the game taking too long to fall into place.
Still awfully sad to hear for me, these guys were my inspiration to start my shmup and copy their use of UDK since it worked so well for a 3d shmup. I figured if they could do it, so could I. Looks like I'm left carrying that torch.

[BPzeBanshee]

Kickstarter isn't some magical solution fairy dust that magically fixes and makes everything affordable and doable.

So it wouldn't have helped the devs get the budget they needed?

Not sure how much of trap15's post is anything but personal opinion there on Kickstarter itself, but where trap15 loosely alluded to the state of Heaven Variant ciox made it quite clear: even with a Kickstarter fund there was clearly an issue with the mindset of several choices made by the team, particularly in how much time and effort was spent on aesthetics and then just trying to make the game within that. I doubt any amount of money would've helped if it had led to more bad allocation choices.

Had this thing finished I could see it easily becoming another Broken Thunder or Sine Mora, but instead this got the plug pulled early. Hopefully if they decide to try again some day they'll still have the art assets and just reuse, so the 2 years or so that this thing's been cooking with the slow coal won't be wasted. Would've also liked to see more of them in their Development thread, they made some 2 posts regarding the art and left for Twitter/Steam Greenlight.

[Formless God]

The kind of gameplay we were trying to create, to make consistent across multiple platforms was something we couldn't accomplish within our budget and time requirements

But it's just a fucking shooting game.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

Yeah I too noticed that they seemed to be making quite radical changes to the gameplay in what looked to be the tweaking phrase, which just looking at how poorly thought out the 360 degree cannon was in alpha it needed changing. Like others say they would have been better off getting right from the start.

It's a damn shame they weren't able to finish it off, as it's not everyday we see a Eihander clone and unlike Sine Mora the devs weren't making themselves out to be the western answer to Grev or Treasure, their aim was just to make a simple fun STG with high 3D production values, (which imo were very good). If it's close to completion It would be nice to think there's a chance they'd resurrect the project further down the line, If it's dead as a duck then maybe they would have the good graces to put out something akin to a comiket beta demo so we can atleast sample the game for ourselves..

For a shmup there was quite alot of buzz around the game so the lack of a Kickstarter is puzzling, maybe it's past that and team has already broken up and moved onto other things, sigh what a waste.

[spadgy]

A shame to hear of any shmup development suspended. I know Kickstarter has ample floors, but perhaps it would have been worth a try.

Either way, 'suspended' ain't quite the same as 'cancelled', so fingers crossed!