My story

Original Blog Post:

Super Meat Boy Galaxy is a prototype I put together for my friend Tommy's 30th birthday a bit more than a year ago. I only recently released a video, and it seems to have gained a fair bit of attention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVItxNSd3JE

For me, it was just a bit of a throw away experiment. It was never intended as a "pitch" to make such a game (although Tommy and I discussed something a bit like it a long time ago when working on Goo!). The video started to get interest from various reputable web sites and pretty soon, had more youtube views than every original work of mine, combined. As you might imagine, this made me feel... ehhhh... "great".

Much to my surprise, some people said they'd like to try it out, or would be quite excited about a game based on the premise of "happy death" 3D platforming. Obviously, this is encouraging to hear, but I'm trying to be realistic about it all. From experience (soul crushing, inescapable experience) I know that going from a playable concept piece to a full game is degrees of magnitude more difficult than pooping out the initial prototype, while the end result is often only a few times more fun (if at all).

Releasing it as a "real" product, for money, has its own issues: I genuinely wouldn't have the time to support it as it stands, and I haven't the means or hours in the day to develop it further. And developing it further would be rather a case of "ill gotten gains", since I'm riding the success of Tommy and Edmund's fantastic game. Basically, if I could just make prototypes for the rest of my life, that's what I'd do. All the sweet, none of the sour. But then, I'd never be able to charge for them, so it's hardly realistic.

Ethically, and practically, I just can't do anything with this project. Charitably, though...?

To that end, I will be releasing the Super Meat Boy Galaxy prototype. It's going to cost you, though.

I'll release the Super Meat Boy Galaxy prototype for free as soon as my demands are met: raise 10,000 quid for The Samaritans, and the prototype will be released, free for all onto the internet.

Windows, Mac, and Linux (when I get around to it) builds will be available in one bundle.

Bear in mind that this is a prototype, and as such will not be as friendly and polished as a final game. Its main purpose was to investigate whether Super Meat Boy's kinaesthetically pleasing platforming physics could survive the leap to 3D, given the right camera and level layouts.

I'll probably use a torrent so that costs aren't eaten up in hosting. I have to figure out how to do that... but it's cool, I can probably work it out! No worries! There will be other methods of downloading, also, in case your ISPs are weird about that kind of thing. However you get it, it'll be free to copy and pass around. I *may* have to do something about that music before I release, though.

I've chosen The Samaritans to be the beneficiary of these donations. I'm sorry it's not from an international charity, but... this is for personal and private reasons. I hope you understand.

All donations go through JustGiving.com, which seems like the best way to get money to its target without so many processing fees. Also, it lets you pay what you want, which is good, right?

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Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

My gallery 2

My updates 3

There's now a working Mac version of the prototype. If you have already donated, and want access, make contact!

15/01/13 14:14

Happy day! I got a bit drunk in order to watched the number go up all night, and then when I wasn't even looking for 5 hours, we finally got to a grand! All this in just about a week! I'll have a go at tracking each person who donated, and send you early access to the prototype.

27/11/12 00:08

If the target is not met, 1) Shame on everyone and everything. Awful. 2) Those who donate will still get the prototype, no worries. We'll just have to do it secret,like. And if you share it, I'll know! It's a magic computer program!

20/11/12 00:23

My Teams

My company

My charity

Samaritans

Samaritans

Charity Registration No. 219432

Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year providing a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them. For more information please visit www.samaritans.org

Donations 98

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Good luck!

Donation by Max Brustkern on 28/11/12

$10.00

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Donation by ngeunit1 on 27/11/12

$5.00

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Best wishes in achieving this goal, you are grand for doing this!

Donation by Dane Armour on 27/11/12

$10.00

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So when we mention the story now we can say it's over a grand! :) I am too excited about this.

Donation by Jessica English on 26/11/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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I hope the art of making videogames will be inspiring lots of people. Good Luck =) !

Donation by Dimitri Pinault on 26/11/12

12,36 €

Donation by Dave Smeathers on 26/11/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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MAKE THIS A COMPLETE GAME! :O

Donation by Connor McHarney on 26/11/12

£10.00

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No idea why I'm doing this!

Donation by Patrick Middleton on 26/11/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Donation by Skylar Logsdon on 26/11/12

Donation by Johnnemann Nordhagen on 25/11/12

$5.00

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gimme meat!

Donation by Nick Holliday on 25/11/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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Donation by Christiaan on 25/11/12

£10.00

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Go Go Go!

Donation by Catherine Unger on 25/11/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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This game must be made, sir!

Donation by Chris Barnard on 25/11/12

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Wonderful event Aubrey. :) Helping humanity in a beautiful way.

Donation by Philippe Chabot on 24/11/12

£10.00

Donation by Gabriel Martinez on 24/11/12

$3.50

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Donation by Alan Fishel on 24/11/12

Donation by Adam Rosenfield on 24/11/12

$31.89

Donation by Daniel Harden on 23/11/12

$15.94

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Loved SMB, Thanks for giving the galaxy spinoff as a prize for helping someone else :)

Donation by Benjamin Rivera on 23/11/12

Donation by Brian Beckham on 23/11/12

$15.95

Donation by Rimvydas Vilkas on 23/11/12

$15.94

I'm not vegetarian, I donate.

Donation by Benjamin BRAVERMANN on 23/11/12

3,00 €

Donation by Anonymous on 22/11/12

£10.00

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Meat is Good.

Donation by Serge P on 22/11/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£1,258.83
  • Offline donations£0.00
  • Text donations£0.00
  • Total raised£1,258.83
  • Gift Aid£178.29

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.