The title of this post is a bit of a misnomer: whilst Cloudberry Kingdom may indeed be the world's hardest platformer (Pwnee are even offering $1000 to the first player to beat the game on its hardest difficulty), the AI that creates the game's levels is capable of adapting to any skill level - from outright beginner:
... to platforming god:
When I first started playing the beta, I didn't know that all of the levels were generated on-the-fly - but I kept thinking about how cleverly they were designed.
The level design reminded me of the Super Skills hint videos from New Super Mario Bros Wii, where some of the levels can be completed at break-neck speeds with perfect timing.
Check out this trailer to see what I am getting at:
After three years in development, the game is nearing completion, but it has drained the developer's cash supplies.
So, Pwnee have turned to Kickstarter to fund the final stages of art and animation. The total presently stands at $15,000 of the project's $20,000 goal, with four days remaining. If the project gets over-funded, then they'll use the funds to add a lot more material to the game.
Pledges $15 and over will be rewarded with either a Windows (Steam) or Wii U version of the game when it is released, as well as access to the beta that is currently available and playable via Steam.
They are also planning a Linux port after the other versions have been released, as well as possible availability on Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network.
For more info, or to make a pledge, see Cloudberry Kingdom's Kickstarter page (their video is especially worth a watch). To quote from there:
"Help us make the most replayable game in the history of replayability."
Didn't see any words about Linux there. Who said about Linux port?
I asked them directly on Kickstarter if they were planning a Linux version, their reply was:
"We sure are! That one may come out slightly later than the rest though. We still have to port that one over."
Do note that the rewards are only for the Windows and Wii U versions though.
didn't see any bundle here. who said about bundeals? where is the Linux version?
Bundeals covers bundles, sales/deals, and crowdfunding (we even have a crowdfunding forum: Indiedb.com) - anything any of us feels is a bargain. And this is, imho.
there is no linux and may not be there also i can support this without commitment to it.
About 50 hours left here, and needs like $3K... looks grim!!
Fingers crossed, though :)
Pwnee should be out shouting about it a bit more imho. I've become addicted to this game, it really is one of the best platformers I've played.
When you clear a difficult (or even semi-difficult) level by discovering and following it's rhythm (best way I can describe it), you feel elated, and start believing that you've mastered the game. Until the next level...
It really deserves some more publicity.
* edit - apparently TotalBiscuit has just tweeted about it, so pledges have just shot up.
lol, people have started posting visual mods: Kickstarter.com
Also: "We're working on a modding package to help our artists experiment with new designs. Once it's touched up a bit we'll be releasing it. That should make it very easy to drop in new art, change bounding boxes and so on. We're looking into including a scripting language too, but that's a bit further off in the distance."
From the Devs:
"There is indeed Linux support planned. I guess we never updated that part.... hmm
Anyway, yes. We do plan on having Linux support when we release, we just don't have it currently running for the beta :)"
Get in - it was just fully funded!
So, as they crowdfunded the development, I assume the game will be free (gathering money from the community to fund something you are going to sell to that very community is unrealistically dickish approach). Are they also going to release the sources? I would surely like to look at those. The whole approach of procedurally generated levels and AI playability testing might prove interesting from algorithmic point of view.