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Xeno Crisis: a new game for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, Dreamcast, Nintendo Switch and Steam

Created by Bitmap Bureau

Xeno Crisis is a new game for the Sega Genesis, Dreamcast, Nintendo Switch and Steam. It's a top-down arena shooter for up to 2 players that is best described as Smash TV meets Aliens! Run and gun your way through thousands of enemies spread over 6 areas as you attempt to discover the cause of the alien menace.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Over 200% funded! New images and a special limited pledge...
over 6 years ago – Tue, Dec 26, 2017 at 07:29:14 PM

Thanks to the growing community supporting Xeno Crisis we are now over 200% funded and we continue to march ever closer to our next stretch goal. Thank you for all the excellent suggestions and feedback, please keep those coming and we’ll try to address them as best we can between all the festivities.

New tile-set and intro images

Hot off the press are some preview images of the tile-set for another area in the game, the research laboratory. This area is where we get an insight into some of the tests and experiments being undertaken at Outpost 88.

 

The tile-set is deliberately much lighter than the other areas to emphasize the clinical laboratory nature, but we also hope to have fun playing with the palette dynamically in the game with lighting effects as we trick, tease and scare the player(s).

 

Above is another preview, this time of a space station from part of the intro cutscene; the marines are departing in their dropship to investigate the distress signal.

Special Limited Pledge

We have a new pledge to announce but it’s limited to just two lucky backers - we want to give you the chance to create one of the key parts of the game:

Design a Boss

Become a part of 16-bit gaming history by working with our team to design your very own boss. No artistic skills are needed (the amazing Henk Nieborg will make your creation come to life!) but you will need a huge passion for gaming and some good ideas!

Our team of programmers, artists and sound designers will work with you to plan out your boss design. If you want to add that extra wow factor - we will look at some of the more advanced and clever Sega Mega Drive / Genesis programming tricks and techniques with you. We will bring your boss design to life for you and you’ll be able to design the gameplay dynamic, hitboxes, boss ai and special techniques.

You will be given access to test builds throughout development to refine the boss’ game dynamics, working closely with our team at every step of the way. You will be able to share your creation on social media throughout development, or keep it secret to yourself as a surprise for player(s) - the choice is yours.

This pledge also comes complete with the Kickstarter Edition rewards for Sega Genesis / Mega Drive and Dreamcast.

Dreamcast confirmed! Second stretch goal achieved. New enemies and more...
over 6 years ago – Tue, Dec 26, 2017 at 12:46:13 PM

It’s been just over a week, we’ve hit our second stretch goal and we’re now 183% funded! Thank you to everyone who has support Xeno Crisis and given us some great feedback and suggestions.

We can now confirm Xeno Crisis is coming to the Dreamcast!

We’re pleased to announce we’re adding a Kickstarter Edition for Dreamcast with similar extras to the Mega Drive version. Including your name as a hostage in-game, stickers, postcards and an enamel pin-badge.

For those that didn’t spot in the comments we will also be giving all physical release Dreamcast backers a CDI digital download. (All physical release Mega Drive backers will also be getting the Mega Drive ROM download in the same manner).

We’re also aware as with the Mega Drive release that some people just want the CDI digital download, so we’re now adding a further 2 new pledges: one for the Dreamcast CDI and another for the Mega Drive + Dreamcast digital downloads.

Female Marine Update

We’ve got updated female marine animations to share, where we’ve looked to make her more marine like.

 

We’re sticking with the beret and long hair though as it looks better and more distinctive at the small pixel size.

 

Pledge Add-ons

Just to confirm to those that haven’t seen in the comments, if you are backing a physical release of the Mega Drive version by adding £20 to your pledge you will receive the Dreamcast version too. If you also want multiples of any pledge (excluding Collector’s edition), please contact us and we can get you to increase your pledge and take note of your extra purchase(s).

New Enemies

Imbridia

 

From a distance these appear to be some kind of harmless looking plant, but if you stray close enough to them they will immediately open up, shooting projectiles in 4 directions from its inner pistil. Only vulnerable when open and capable of attacking from distance, these can be a menace.

Haemedon

 

A disgusting lifeform that can seemingly appear from the floor without warning. Although they're rooted to the spot they take many hits to eradicate, and are capable of defending themselves by launching a projectile directly towards anything it deems hostile.

Funded! First stretch goal achieved. New stretch goal announced!
over 6 years ago – Sat, Dec 23, 2017 at 11:32:06 PM

Wow! We were funded in just 40 hours and we’re now 141% funded! Thank you for the great support and feedback; we’re trying to make note of all the excellent ideas and suggestions.

2 player co-op mode

First stretch goal achieved! So we’re pleased to confirm 2 player co-op mode will be coming to Xeno Crisis. Henk Nieborg has kindly put together a quick version of the female marine for everyone to have a look at:

 

We’ll also be looking to create a blue male marine variation and a green female marine; so you will be able to play the game with any combination of male/female players if you wish.

 

Dreamcast Port

 

We’re well on our way to the £35,000 stretch goal for the Dreamcast version - hopefully that will be reached soon! We just wanted to clarify that backers of any physical Mega Drive release just need to click on their existing pledge “Manage Pledge” and then up their pledge amount by £20 to receive the Dreamcast version. 

New stretch goal

£45,000 - New area, boss and translations

For this stretch goal we will create a whole new 6th area to the game with its own unique tile-set. This will also mean a new boss to go with the area and the extra cutscenes to integrate the area within the game and story.

 

We also really want to create an authentic experience, so with this stretch goal we will be producing Japanese translated box art / manuals, as the Japanese releases were always distinctively different, and it’s important to us that we do it justice.

We will also be translating the in-game text and assets to the following languages:

English / French / Italian / German / Spanish / Portuguese (Brazilian) / Dutch / Japanese

2-player co-op and Dreamcast port!
over 6 years ago – Sun, Dec 17, 2017 at 05:00:02 AM

Wow, what a start to the campaign we can’t believe that we’re already 92% funded - thank you so much for all your support! Based on the feedback we’ve had so far (and now all 100 of the exclusive collector’s editions have gone) we’re pleased to announce a new reward level:

 

Xeno Crisis Kickstarter Edition

Only available to Kickstarter backers, this edition will have its own custom box / cartridge / manual design. Backers of this pledge will also have a hostage named after them in the game and receive exclusive stickers, postcards and an enamel pin-badge.

(Existing backers of the Collector’s Edition will also have a hostage named after them in the game and receive the stickers, postcards and an enamel pin-badge).

 

We’re also excited to announce a couple of stretch goals:

£25,000 - 2 player co-op mode

We’ve been inundated with requests for us to add a 2-player co-op mode to the game, and so we’ve decided to make this our first stretch goal. The additional player will be a female marine, and you’ll be able to choose who you play as before you start the game.

 

£35,000 - Sega Dreamcast Port

A Dreamcast version of Xeno Crisis is something we discussed some time ago, and given both the phenomenal reception of the Kickstarter campaign and feedback from the community, we felt like now was the time to commit to it!

We’ve added a new pledge for those of you who just want the Dreamcast version. Backers of the physical editions of Xeno Crisis will be able to add £20 to their pledge to receive the Dreamcast version.