After 8 years since they released the Lucid9 demo on Steam, Fallen Snow Studios is now running a Kickstarter to help fund the full game development. The campaign is set to end by February 15th, with a total goal of $34k. As of now, the team has achieved 35% of their future funding.
With the successful conclusion of this campaign, the game is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2024. You can follow the team on Twitter for further updates.
While the final version will still be released for everyone to play for free, Fallen Snow Studios have a number of exciting rewards lined up exclusive to backers, including signed physical illustrations, digital wallpapers, artbooks, Lucid9 themed t-shirts, and more!
If you’d like to try Lucid9, you can download Inciting Incident for free on Steam and itch.io, which has an estimated playtime of over 10 hours.
What’s Lucid9 about?
In the heart of the bustling metropolis of Isamu, Japan, a dark shadow looms over the esteemed Isamu Academy. Yama Ishimoto, an intelligent yet jaded high school student, finds himself thrust into the center of a chilling mystery as a wave of gruesome murders sweeps through the school. These killings bear an eerie resemblance to the unsolved Independent Murders that once plunged the city into chaos years ago.
As Yama delves deeper into the enigma, he uncovers a labyrinth of secrets and hidden truths that intertwine with the city’s dark past. With each revelation, he navigates a treacherous path that draws him and his companions closer to the heart of a sinister conspiracy that has cast a pall over Isamu.
Lucid9 is a tale of suspense that delves into the depths of human nature, exploring themes of friendship, betrayal, and the unwavering pursuit of truth in the face of overwhelming darkness.
Kickstarter
Characters
Game Features
- Immerse yourself in over 40 hours of content: Lucid9 contains five distinct story routes, each culminating in its own unique conclusion.
- Unravel a dark mystery: Traverse the intricate tapestry of each story route, unearthing clues and secrets that interweave to form an overarching mystery. Delve into the depths of Isamu’s history to uncover the truth behind the chilling murders.
- Shape the narrative with your choices: Your decisions hold weight in Lucid9. At pivotal junctures, you will be confronted with choices that will impact the trajectory of the story. Carefully consider your actions, for some decisions may have far-reaching consequences.
- Engage with a diverse cast of characters: Immerse yourself in a vibrant ensemble of characters, each possessing a rich backstory and distinct personality. Forge meaningful connections and unravel their hidden motivations as you navigate the labyrinthine mystery of Isamu.
- Immersive Soundtrack and Sound Effects: Enhance your experience with a captivating original soundtrack that complements the narrative, immersing you further into the world.
- High-Resolution Graphics and Character Designs: Indulge in visually aesthetic graphics and intricate character designs that bring the world of Lucid9 to life.
Phone System
Lucid9 features an animated phone system that appears throughout the story. With additional funding, it will be possible to incorporate interactive elements into the phone system.
Kickstarter Project
Since its creation in 2014, Lucid9 has been in development for nearly a decade. Despite some notable releases, such as Inciting Incident in 2016 and the heroine prologues in 2019, progress has been slow and inconsistent due to the game being a free project. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made things more difficult, with many of us having less time and resources than usual.
A Kickstarter campaign would allow us to complete the game in a reasonable timeframe and open up opportunities for additional features and polish, depending on the amount of funding we receive. Without funding, we are limited in the content we can create. A fully funded project would cover the cost of character sprites, backgrounds, CGs, music, programming, and writing, and potentially include additional art, voice acting, and an animated opening.
Since the full game will still be released for everyone to play for free, any funding we receive will solely come from this Kickstarter campaign. Every dollar will go towards improving Lucid9.
Kickstarter, Why Kickstarter?
Funding Breakdown
Use of AI
We are not seeking funds to acquire or develop AI tools, and we will not rely on AI-generated content for our game. However, we will use AI to assist us with organizing and formatting our game’s scripts, and to inspire us with new ideas. Our writers will always be the ones who write the scripts and make the final creative choices.
Kickstarter, Use of AI
Stretch Goals
| $38,000 – Additional Art | With this goal, we will be able to create more art for the game, such as new outfits for the characters, illustrations of important scenes, backgrounds of memorable places, and more UI features and improvements. |
| $40,000 – More Music | We will be able to create additional music tracks for the game. |
| $50,000 – Partial Voice Acting for Inciting Incident | We will work with the amazing team at Yin Yang Voices to voice our characters. The main cast will include professional voice actors who have worked on anime and video games such as Blush Blush, Black Clover, Genshin Impact, and many more. |
| $58,000 – Animated Opening | With this goal, we will be able to create a stunning animated opening sequence that will bring the game’s world and characters to life. |
| $90,500 – Full Voice Acting for Inciting Incident | We will be able to fully voice all dialogue for the entire Inciting Incident chapter of Lucid9. |
Rewards
Digital Rewards
- Backerkit Access: Manage your pledge, access exclusive content, and connect with fellow backers from the Lucid9 community!
- Artbook (Digital & Physical): Dive deep into the creative process with a digital or physical artbook filled with sketches, concept art, and insightful commentary.
- Mobile & Desktop Wallpapers: Deck your devices with stunning wallpapers featuring your favorite in-game characters.
- Digital Sticker Set: Express yourself with adorable character stickers perfect for any messaging app.
Physical Rewards
- Character Keychain: Choose your in-game buddy to keep you company as a 2-inch clear acrylic keychain!
- Signed Illustration: A gorgeous, A3-sized physical illustration of the main characters, personally signed by the artists.
- Artbook (Digital & Physical): Dive deep into the creative process with a digital or physical artbook filled with sketches, concept art, and insightful commentary.
- Lucid9 T-shirt & Mug Set: Rep your fandom with a unique Lucid9-themed T-shirt and mug (designs coming soon!).
- Physical Sticker Sheet: Take your love for the characters on the go with a vibrant sticker sheet showcasing the entire cast! Perfect for decorating laptops, notebooks, or anywhere you want to add a touch of Lucid9 magic.
Exclusive Experiences
- Behind-the-Scenes Access: Join the Discord server’s secret channel for exclusive sneak peeks, developer Q&As, and early game access before anyone else!
- Design a Minor Character: Whether you dream of an original creation or yearn to step into Lucid9 yourself, craft a captivating minor character by sketching their personality, appearance, and voice.
- Design an Outfit for a Main Character: Design an outfit for one of the main characters in the game. You’ll also receive a physical sketch of the character wearing your outfit!
- Co-write a Lucid9 Spin-off Story: Collaborate with the Lucid9 developers to co-write a spin-off story featuring your favorite characters from the game. The story will be about 30 minutes long, and you’ll have the opportunity to brainstorm ideas, create dialogue, and shape the plot of a short story that will be included as a bonus feature in the game. You’ll also receive a physical copy of the script signed by the writers!
- Meet & Greet (Online or In-Person): Hang out with the Lucid9 developers! Choose an online chat or an in-person meet-up at an upcoming anime convention (general admission included). You’ll also get a signed physical copy of the game!
Staff
Voice Acting
- Yama Ishimoto: Daniel Acosta
- Rui Hayata: Debbie Gatton
- Misaki Kazehaya: Malina Rose
- Akira Karube: Rebecca Perez
- Elizabeth Oshiro: Rachael Messer
- Airi Hiraga: Caitlynn French
- Yahiko Ikari: John Wesley Go
- Masato Kurogane: Patrick Mealey
- Jirou Ryouta: Michael Potok
- Natsuki Tanaka: Katie Dagnen
- Shigure Enomoto: Kathy Pfautsch
Management
- David Acosta. Creative director, writer
- John Wesley Go. VA casting director
- Jacob Wilson. VA director
- Patrick Mealey. VA assistant director
- Malina Rose. VA audio engineer
Music & Sound
- Breezee. Composer, mixing
- Ziassan. Composer
- UltraKitsune. Composer
- Jan Hehr. Composer
- Blue Wolfie. Composer
Artwork
- Sora_ppangi. Lead artist, female sprites, CGs
- Elphaze. Male sprites, CGs
- Eufonie. Backgrounds
- Seaslug. Backgrounds
Editing
- Fed. Editor
- Reika. Editor
Programming
- Ian. Ren’Py Programmer
If you enjoy our work, please follow us on Twitter for more visual novel news and join the community in our forums and discord server: we’re pretty active there!
In addition, you can also support us on Patreon or by buying us a Ko-fi.
