FarBridge announced today that its recently launched Kickstarter campaign, for a game called Job Simulator: Human Relations, has been canceled. Not because the game itself isn’t coming out, but rather because the studio has secured outside funding. Specifically, fellow Austin, TX-based studio Enduring Games is funding the game’s final phases of development.
Job Simulator: Human Relations is a non-VR spin-off of Owlchemy Labs’ VR-based Job Simulator, which FarBridge created in partnership with the other developer (Owlchemy is also based in Austin). Just like it’s VR counterpart, Human Relations is a physics-based co-op comedy title about surviving the horrors of modern office work.
FarBridge launched the Kickstarter both to fund the later stages of development and to help build the community around the game. Now that Enduring Games is taking over the funding aspect, backers will be fully refunded and invited to be part of community playtests. The game is currently in the latter stages of development, with playtests opening soon.
Patrick Curry, FarBridge CEO, said in an interview with GamesBeat, “The thing we wanted to say to the people who backed this is, ‘Thank you so much. It’s incredible.’ This is a game people want to buy and play, and we absolutely want them in our playtesting circle. So this ended up being a community-building and brand-building experience — and then a very unexpected fundraising method.”
How Enduring Games joined the Job Simulator hype train
Adam Creighton, Enduring Games CEO, said that his company became involved with Human Relations after he personally backed the game on Kickstarter, as he’s and Curry are already friendly. “Things move so fast in the industry that we have to think of very creative ways to get games made and take care of studios, to change development and funding processes…I said, what if I just jump and help?”
Creighton added, “It’s a really positive opportunity for two studios that are similar to each other, for me to help in a meaningful way. It un-asks the questions about whether the game can be made, and removes the stress from this part of development… It’s one of those rare times when I get to invest in a thing where I know everything about the content, the people, the gameplay, the studios, the history.”
According to both CEOs, the deal came together very quickly, as both men were familiar with each other’s companies, as well as Owlchemy. Both describe the Austinite game developer scene as very supportive, holding regular games-based events and meet-ups to support other studios’ projects.
Curry said, “I think this deal is one of the ultimate examples of, ‘Ask for money, get advice; ask for advice, get money.’ Adam and I brainstormed and we were able to come up with this investment solution.”
Enduring Games on co-development and investment
Enduring Games describes itself as “an independent studio doing high-end co-development, Original IP, and value-add re-targets or ports (made special for hardware).” Looking at that description, you wouldn’t necessarily see a studio that comes in clutch with funding for titles like Job Simulator: Human Relations. I asked Creighton about this, as this is not Enduring Games’ first investment.
He said, “We’ve got three parts of our business: We’ve got the partnership development, which is our co-dev side of things, and then we’ve got publishing, which have been more targets of opportunity, and then we’ve got original intellectual property, which is both tech and games. The publishing as targets of opportunity, that evolved very quickly with the thought that I can actually get a bigger bang for the buck by doing strategic investments in things. As I was evaluating some of those publishing opportunities, I realized that I could do more good with more impact and change the model for how games are funded by moving into this investment circle.”
Recently, Enduring announced a strategic equity investment in competitive gaming platform Twin Galaxies. Previously, it’d also backed Sacred: Last Pixel of Ancaria, which it co-developed with SparklingBit. Creighton said, “Because the co-development [side of the business] is very strong and very healthy, I was able to take some strategic opportunities on the publishing side and flip it from traditional publishing to this investment side of things.”
Job Simulator: Human Relations is currently available to wishlist on Steam. I asked Curry if he would make Creighton, who has a background in voice acting, do a voice in the game. The answer appears to currently be negative, but I’m holding out hope for that to change in the final release.