Want an ‘Apocalypse Now’ Video Game? Pony Up on Kickstarter.

Francis Ford Coppola and industry vets are hoping for a 2020 release in honor of the film’s 40th anniversary.

By Stephanie Mlot | Jan 27, 2017
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Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 cinematic classic Apocalypse Now is coming to a gaming console near you — if you pony up a few bucks.

American Zoetrope — founded in 2000 by Coppola and George Lucas — has industry veterans to develop a psychological horror roleplaying game based on the iconic film. But in order to maintain creative freedom of the game, the studio is raising funds .

“Forty years ago, I set out to make a personal art picture that could hopefully influence generations of viewers for years to come,” Coppola said in a statement. “Today, I’m joined by new daredevils: a team who want to make an interactive version of Apocalypse Now, where you are Captain Benjamin Willard amidst the harsh backdrop of the Vietnam War.”

On a secret mission to assassinate renegade Colonel Kurtz, players are encouraged to make their own decisions independent of the film’s narrative, creating a new story nearly four decades after the fact.

“We will create a game that challenges what an interactive experience can be; just as the original motion picture challenged the concept of cinema,” director Montgomery Markland said. “We are making a game that we are excited to play. We will deliver a greater variety of experience and interaction than is currently available within the relatively static industry.”

This crowdfunding campaign is just the first step in what is expected to be a three-year journey to bring an interactive Apocalypse Now experience to fans.

Thus far, the Kickstarted campaign has raised just shy of $30,000, but it wants to pull in $900,000 in the next 28 days. Pledge tiers range from $35 (a digital copy of the final game, expected in October 2020) to $10,000 (two Collector’s Edition game boxes, 10 Collector’s Edition digital copies and too many other perks to list here).

Led by American Zoetrope, the title is under development by a team of game creators that includes Rob Austen (lead writer on Gears of War, Battlefield, Far Cry), Lawrence Liberty (executive producer and director of Fallout: New Vegas, The Witcher and DC Universe Online) and Markland (lead producer on Wasteland 2 and Torment: Tides of Numenera). Obsidian Entertainment Design Director John Sawyer is serving in a special advisory capacity.

“I’ve been watching videogames grow into a meaningful way to tell stories,” Coppola said, “and I’m excited to explore the possibilities for Apocalypse Now for a new platform and a new generation.”

Last year, Ys Net’s Shenmue 3 in contributions on Kickstarter and became the second-fastest campaign to reach that milestone; it $6.3 million. But some backers were annoyed to learn that Sony was also pitching in to help get the game made. Why contribute to a game that could be funded by Sony’s deep pockets? Producer Yu Suzuki that their funds will be used only for production of the game, and that Sony is “not seeing a cent of your Kickstarter dollars.”

Shenmue 3 is currently the fourth most funded game-related project on Kickstarter behind Kingdom Death: Monster 1.5, and the now-defunct console.

Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 cinematic classic Apocalypse Now is coming to a gaming console near you — if you pony up a few bucks.

American Zoetrope — founded in 2000 by Coppola and George Lucas — has industry veterans to develop a psychological horror roleplaying game based on the iconic film. But in order to maintain creative freedom of the game, the studio is raising funds .

“Forty years ago, I set out to make a personal art picture that could hopefully influence generations of viewers for years to come,” Coppola said in a statement. “Today, I’m joined by new daredevils: a team who want to make an interactive version of Apocalypse Now, where you are Captain Benjamin Willard amidst the harsh backdrop of the Vietnam War.”

Stephanie Mlot • Reporter at PCMag

Stephanie began as a PCMag reporter in May 2012. She moved to New York City... Read more
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