Peace Island

A project in Portland, ME by Eric Blumrich
000days 
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Funding Unsuccessful

An open-world adventure game about nine cats who live on a remote island in Maine, and what happens when their humans disappear
Backers: 328
Average Pledge Per Backer: $46

Funded: $15,250 of $25,000
Dates: Jun 20th -> Jul 20th (30 days)
Project By: Eric Blumrich
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$15,250

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Last Updated: July 20 @ 20:03 -0400 GMT

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Latest News

July 19, 2018 - Peace Island, and these final hours.

July 19th - via: kickstarter.com
I am sorry, but I don't have anything visual to show off, this evening.Most of my time today was setting up something I want to show ya'll tomorrow, during the final livecast for this particular campaign, and communicating with the coding guy. Right... (Read More)

Peace Island update - July 18, 2018

July 18th - via: kickstarter.com
Good evening, all!I was able to push another batch of rocks into place.  The ocean remains a tad too lurid- will have to tone it down a bit.  I am glad that I have gotten so much of the interior done, I am now finally forced to deal with the... (Read More)

July 17, 2018 Peace Island update

July 17th - via: kickstarter.com
I was finally able to re-integrate the "Cat Moon:"  Long overdue, that...I also started roughing out an invasive species that plays an important role in the game.   I'll make it more "terrestrial" when I have time, in a few days. Scotty Arsenault,... (Read More)

Peace Island update for July 16, 2018

July 16th - via: kickstarter.com
I am not an early riser.However, today's interview with WCSH went very well.  Watch it here! The oceans have finally returned!  I also reached 60% on rock replacement  We're now only about three days from the end of this campaign.I always leave... (Read More)

Peace Island Update for July 15, 2018

July 15th - via: kickstarter.com
I confess that there is nothing to show, today.I had to work a long shift at the day job, and as soon as I got home, I had to prepare for the LiveCast.  Thanks to Lillea and the 12-14 bots who showed up to watch! I now have to clean the apartment... (Read More)

Peace Island Update for July 14, 2018

July 14th - via: kickstarter.com
First off - PROGRESS! Rock replacement passed 59% completion, today, with just a few final touches remaining before all inland rocks have been placed! I also went back and started cleaning up some stuff "Downtown." I wanted to get a few sidewalks... (Read More)

7/13/18 update - Peace Island is gonna be on TV apparently.

July 14th - via: kickstarter.com
I got an email today from one of the reporters over at WCSH (the local NBC affiliate here in Portland) and apparently, he wants to do a story about Peace Island! This is kinda cool, as this is the first time the project has been featured on broadcast... (Read More)

7/12/18 Peace Island Update - New stuff, all around.

July 12th - via: kickstarter.com
I started roughing out two of the last six structures downtown that still existed solely as anonymous white blocks.  I need to start adding a lot more of those window boxes- they are ubiquitous among the older houses out on the islands.  The... (Read More)

Peace Island Update 7/11/18 - Such a day!

July 11th - via: kickstarter.com
A blessed event happened earlier today, when the first major interactive element was fully integrated into Peace Island. It is not much- it's a simple drag-and-drop prefab that just gives the player the ability to view any object they happen upon... (Read More)

First interactivity integrated into the main game!

July 11th - via: kickstarter.com
As I mentioned during my recent LiveCast, various elements of Peace Island - such as the rudimentary AI trees, the conversation engine, etc - had been brought into the project, and were being developed.  However, they unfortunately all existed as... (Read More)

7/10/18 Peace Island update - a calamitous day.

July 10th - via: kickstarter.com
As it is in any profession or pursuit, some days in game development are better than others. I awoke this morning, excited to continue working with a contractor to design a VERY important interactive feature, only to find that everything was... (Read More)

7/9/18 update - Two steps forward, one step back.

July 9th - via: kickstarter.com
So, today was my first day of a week-long vacation I gifted myself.  I felt like tackling the slope between Ellison Farms would be a good start.  But first, I got in touch with the scripting guy that is gonna get the first 20% of the demo operable.... (Read More)

Foliage, then footpaths.

July 9th - via: kickstarter.com
 The glacial rocks behind Ellison Farms needed a tad more foliage.  Gotta work on footpaths, next!  (Read More)

The Ellison Family's grudge...

July 9th - via: kickstarter.com
 This plain of glacial rock and scrub is all that remains of the Island's best farmlands - owned by the Ellison family until World War 2, when the land was seized by the US Government and blasted away by the Army Corps of Engineers.They never... (Read More)

7/8/18 Update - Nolite te bastardes carborundorum!

July 9th - via: kickstarter.com
Never say Die.In the wake of my update yesterday on the Peace Island kickstarter, where I said words to the effect that "we are not going to make the goal, this time."   Some have contacted me saying that it is too early to give up.   Understand:... (Read More)

Progress shots of Peace Island

July 7th - via: kickstarter.com
45 days ago: Tonight: Keepin' busy!  (Read More)

7/7/18 Peace Island Update

July 7th - via: kickstarter.com
We are not going to make it - this time.In order to reach our goal, Peace Island has to pull in almost 1300 dollars per day in pledges, every day, until this Kickstarter ends.To date, the absolute best day Peace Island has had on Kickstarter is 910... (Read More)

7/6/18 - Update/Recap

July 6th - via: kickstarter.com
LOCAL PRESSFirst off, I wanted to show ya'll a writeup that Peace Island got in one of Portland's indie newspapers.  Thanks so much to the guys over at The West End News! New premium for "Founder" and "Omniseer" levels!One of the first things... (Read More)

Peace Island gets more local press!

July 6th - via: kickstarter.com
One of the many things I love about Portland, Maine is that we have a profusion of alternative/local newspapers.   One of them, The West End News, ran a story about Peace Island. I think this is one of the first actual hard-copy writeups Peace... (Read More)

New Premium for those donating at "Founder" level, or above!

July 6th - via: kickstarter.com
One of the first things visitors to Peace island come across after leaving the ferry is "Founders' Rock."  Placed by the first settlers of the Island in 1765, it boasts a brass plate, listing those few hardy pioneers.  Those who now donate at the... (Read More)

7/5/18 - So much to come!

July 5th - via: kickstarter.com
Hey, all- Up here in Portland, we have had three days of incredibly hot, muggy weather.   I know that I promised I would post content every day during the kickstarter, but tonight, after nine hours in a sweltering kitchen, I need to take an evening... (Read More)

7/4/18 - The first rule of Update Club....

July 5th - via: kickstarter.com
...is post fewer - yet better - updates.I apologize if anyone feels if they have been spammed by my (admittedly frequent) updates, over the past few days.   For the duration of the Kickstarter, I'll be sending out these daily updates, which will... (Read More)

Apologies for so many updates.

July 4th - via: kickstarter.com
I woke up this morning, and noticed a few notes from people who have pledged support.They said I was posting far too many updates- so many, in fact, it was causing at least one of them to re-consider supporting the Peace Island project. I want to... (Read More)

But before I go to sleep, I have to say...

July 4th - via: kickstarter.com
You folks pledged 5% of Peace Island's kickstarter goal, today.Lemme tell ya'll something: You give me hope.Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, to the heights we will all someday traverse together.Thank you.  (Read More)

New boats added to the public docks...

July 4th - via: kickstarter.com
Long day, here...Going to bed, soon- last screenshot of the day.  (Read More)

Videos like these are why I think games like Peace Island are important.

July 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
Now, before I proceed, please understand: I am not one of those people who is against violent videogames.   I've played every GTA since they went 3d.  I've wiped out entire fleets of starships, bludgeoned hundreds of enemies to death with a... (Read More)

A podcast covered Peace Island, but...

July 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
I was hesitant to share it here for a number of reasons.   The first being:  having done radio interviews before, I was under the impression that the final product would be edited a tad more tightly. You see, I had just come off of a nine-hour... (Read More)

Gotta work on a freelance job for a few hours...

July 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
But at least I was able to build up the promontory and walls around the old LaFlamme estate.See ya'll soon!  (Read More)

I will be doing one of these "Kickstarter live" things...

July 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
Within the next week.Tomorrow, I will grab a bus out out to the mall, where I can (hopefully) grab a fairly reliable webcam/mike combo for a price I can afford.I'll do a test livecast tomorrow, to make sure it works.This is my last update for the... (Read More)

The LaFlamme Fishworks....

July 2nd - via: kickstarter.com
To the south of Peace City Landing, you'll find the mostly-abandoned remnants of the Laflamme Fishworks- once the largest employer on Peace Island. It remained so, until it drove the unique, indigenous coastal sea cucumber it relied upon for business... (Read More)

One of the daily jobs in creating Peace Island...

July 2nd - via: kickstarter.com
Is hand-placing 100 rocks and boulders.  Every 100 rocks = 1% of the rocks overall.  I'm currently at 53%  I initially used GeNa spawners to place the original boulders, about 10 hours into creating the island.  However, nothing is a true... (Read More)

Why the new "Pet dedication" premium is not showing up in the Rewards column...

July 2nd - via: kickstarter.com
...Because Kickstarter (for very good reasons,) does not allow a user to amend their rewards, after a project launch.This sorta sucks, all the same - After suggestions from contributors, I am now considering adding an in-game mention as a reward for... (Read More)

Roughing out the private docks.

July 2nd - via: kickstarter.com
I have a rather embarassing confession:  I've spent about 90% of my dev time of Peace Island, working on the island interior.  So I took a bit of time today to put together the private docks, north of downtown.  To the left, you can see some faint... (Read More)

Why cats stare at walls...

July 1st - via: kickstarter.com
To open portals. You see: there will be times where you have to coordinate the efforts of all nine cats.  Sometimes, the best job some cats have in a situation is to open a space-time bridge between locations, so make sure the others can do their... (Read More)

On departed friends, and technology.

July 1st - via: kickstarter.com
I apologize for the recent morbid turn in the narrative of the updates, but I think the recent passing of Harlan Ellison has put these issues - issues that have itched at the rear of my mind like week-old underwear in recent months - to the fore in... (Read More)

New premium at "Omniseer" level

July 1st - via: kickstarter.com
During your travels around Peace Island, you will find, at the end of a shady, worn trail, land set aside in perpetuity by the Island's founders as a place to commemorate extraordinary pets.  At the highest pledge level, you can claim a marker to... (Read More)

Peace Island would not exist today, had it not been for Harlan Ellison.

June 30th - via: kickstarter.com
Harlan Ellison, in my life, was literally legendary.I grew up in an age before the internet, in a small Tennessee town, where the library was free of anything offensive, and bookstores were few and VERY far between.  When I was entering my early... (Read More)

An answer to WJBQ's question in their writeup of Peace Island...

June 30th - via: kickstarter.com
Saw this earlier today: http://wjbq.com/new-video-game-be-a-cat-on-an-abandoned-maine-island/ Quoth Lou Lockwood:"Peace Island. Because why would you battle zombies or race cars when you can lick your butt and stare at walls?"First off- thanks for... (Read More)

Peace Island Kickstarter report: The first ten days

June 29th - via: kickstarter.com
First off, I want to thank every person who has contributed toward this effort.  It is the first time I've ever done a fundraiser on this scale, but I am learning quickly.If someone had told me a couple of months ago that I could find so many good... (Read More)

100 backers! WOW!!!!

June 29th - via: kickstarter.com
I have to run off to the dayjob for six hours, but I had to thank all of you for your generous support, before I headed out the door.Again, I am humbled and encouraged by everyone's support!  THANK YOU!I wish I had time to put together a neat pic... (Read More)

Finally got around to adding watercraft.

June 29th - via: kickstarter.com
Other than the kayak rental, Peace Island has been strangely free of sea vessels - no lobster boats, no yachts, nothing.  Gonna fix that, over the next few days.  Boats are kinda important to a vital part of the plot, so this has been long... (Read More)

A really good summary of Peace Island, from HardCoreGamer.com

June 29th - via: kickstarter.com
"All the people are gone, which might be a serious problem for dogs but merely a point of interest for the average cat..." https://www.hardcoregamer.com/2018/06/25/the-cats-shall-inherit-the-earth-in-peace-island-kickstarter/304316/  (Read More)

Thank you, Japan!

June 29th - via: kickstarter.com
 ピースアイランドは世界中の支持者を大切にしています。 私はこれがこのゲームの普遍的な魅力を語っていると思います。 しかしながら:... (Read More)

I think rocks > sand, when it comes to beaches...

June 28th - via: kickstarter.com
Anyone who has been to the coast of Maine, knows our beaches are known for being rocky.  It's not conducive to beachball, unless you're a Klingon...  However, I've always found them to be far more fascinating than any flat, plain stretch of sand...... (Read More)

Japan loves Peace Island!

June 28th - via: kickstarter.com
Again, wow! http://jp.automaton.am/articles/iotw/20180625-70841/  (Read More)

Article in the Bangor Daily News about Peace Island. Wow.

June 28th - via: kickstarter.com
https://bangordailynews.com/2018/06/26/news/state/what-if-humans-disappeared-and-cats-ruled-maines-islands-game-explores-alternate-history/Sorta blown away by this.Wow.  (Read More)

The crows descend with the night.

June 27th - via: kickstarter.com
Children of the dark!  (Read More)

Finishing up the inland cliffs.

June 27th - via: kickstarter.com
The glacial rock left over from blasting away the hillside during WW2, in order to construct Battery Hamlin.  The Ellison family never got over that.  (Read More)

The Day Job Commands.

June 27th - via: kickstarter.com
I'm pulling a 40-hour week over the next four days at the kitchen.  However, I always come home with enough energy to do some more development on Peace Island, before I sleep.I won't have time to hype the Kickstarter as much as I'd like, over these... (Read More)

Yes- Maine Island roads are really this narrow.

June 27th - via: kickstarter.com
Some of the front doors are two feet from the roadside.  (Read More)

Not everyone is friendly, at first sight.

June 26th - via: kickstarter.com
Some will take time to know, before it's safe to approach.  Best to sneak by, for now...   (Read More)

A small (but growing) Peace Island Reddit

June 26th - via: kickstarter.com
If any of you are on Reddit, you can find some exclusive stuff there:https://www.reddit.com/r/PeaceIsland  (Read More)

Happy Birthday to Peace Island co-creator Laura Mackey!

June 26th - via: kickstarter.com
 Long before I knew anything about Unity or GameDev, my good friend Laura and I would walk the islands of Casco bay on our days off.During so many of these visits, we would encounter the resident cats, who were unique creatures, in that they were... (Read More)

"Elizabeth hasn’t had the best of days."

June 24th - via: kickstarter.com
I've been meaning to address the (admittedly dour) intro/tutorial scene.  Thankfully, I had the day off from the dayjob, and could put together a lot of the basics.  (Read More)

A song that inspired so much of Peace Island

June 24th - via: kickstarter.com
 I happened upon this track one night, years ago, when looking for details about Battery Steele - an abandoned WW2 battery that provides just amazing acoustics. Fast forward to 2:55.  It's a performance by Maureen Eberhardt, an amazing... (Read More)

Moved moar rocks around.

June 24th - via: kickstarter.com
Was able to fit in an hour of work on this, after the dayjob.  90% of inland rocks have been converted.  Refining the coastline is the next priority.  (Read More)

You wouldn't think HardcoreGamer.com would be interested in a project like this...

June 23rd - via: kickstarter.com
But you'd be wrong: https://www.hardcoregamer.com/2018/05/27/screenshot-saturday-featuring-dark-devotion-nightstar-alliance-many-more/300452/  (Read More)

Adding some visual noise.

June 23rd - via: kickstarter.com
Tree stumps and old logs might be not all that noticeable, but "visual noise" like this adds realism. It's stuff we ignore everyday, but notice when it is not there. (Read More)

A local media story about Peace Island, back in March

June 22nd - via: kickstarter.com
This was completely unexpected.Four months into the development of Peace Island, I had yet to show anything about the project to anyone, outside of my (very small) FB and Twitter following.I posted a bunch of screenshots to the Maine subreddit, and... (Read More)

If I were to include a VNV Nation song in Peace Island...

June 22nd - via: kickstarter.com
... with their permission, and licensing, of course, it would have to be "Perpetual"  (Read More)

So you know where I am coming from:

June 21st - via: kickstarter.com
For the past seven months, I've worked 10-11 hour shifts as a line cook (what can I say- despite my storied employment history, this was the best job I could land, locally.)Sometimes, I have worked as much as 50 hours a week making thousands upon... (Read More)

An extensive gallery of the first six months of Peace Island development

June 20th - via: kickstarter.com
Right here. I've kept an obsessive devlog, since day one.  (Read More)

Placing rocks.

June 20th - via: kickstarter.com
I do it just about every day.  (Read More)

If you have additional news that doesn't appear here, shoot us a link!