Kickstarter Kompilation: November 2024 edition

Two magazines, one book ABOUT a magazine, and bloody soccer. No, I’m not cursing.

The first day of November has arrived and that means two things: Baseball season has come to an end—let’s not focus on who won—and we’ve got Kickstarters to share with you, our readers.
As always, 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 (with one partial exception). Also, in light of the ongoing pandemic, we recommend only backing crowdfunding campaigns if you feel comfortable with your own security and stability.

Forgotten Worlds issue #4 (ends Nov 6 estimated reward date Nov 2024)
While another project this month seeks to revisit a certain old magazine from the inside (see below), Forgotten Worlds makes its bones discussing other magazines from the past. This next issue will include interviews with “industry legends from the 16-bit gaming era” including friend of the show Jax Rignall.

Retro Game Zine Issue #1 (ends Nov 11 estimated reward date Jan 2025)
As if by sheer coincidence, the next issue of Retro Game Zine focuses on a spooky game we just discussed last month: It Came From the Desert. Author Darren Hupke will explain how the game came together along with why he loves it enough to dedicate an entire magazine issue to it.

The Electronic Gaming Monthly Compendium (ends Nov 14 estimated reward date Feb 2025)
I think most Retronauts listeners have at least heard of EGM, the magazine which eventually spawned 1up.com and our podcast. This book will chronicle the history of that defunct publication through the words of former staffers—this includes our own Jeremy Parish—along with writers and game developers impacted by its legacy. This project has already passed its funding goal, so much so that they’re pledging to print a brand-new issue of EGM!

Former Dawn (ends Nov 14 estimated reward date Dec 2026)
The developers consider this game “an epic 8-bit Action RPG with 16-bit soul.” They intend to release it on the NES and Famicom thanks to a custom memory mapper they’re calling the MXM-1. For those of us without vintage consoles, they’re planning a custom PC port rather than asking players to use an emulator.

FEAR FA 98 (ends Nov 22 estimated reward date Dec 2025)
If the name doesn’t clue you in, this game combines sports and slaughter into a “horror arcade soccer simulator.” Imagine a pitch where players wield weapons, monsters run alongside humans, and the field runs red with blood. It doesn’t sound like any soccer game I’ve ever played and that’s exactly why I put it on this list!