Project Gorgon, an MMORPG developed by Eric Heimburg and Sandra Powers, has faced several challenges in its development over the past several years, particularly in funding. The game, inspired by classics like Asheron's Call and Everquest has struggled with financial issues, even from its early days. Despite efforts to raise funds through platforms like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo, the game has consistently faced multiple hurdles, and now with an insurmountable series of challenges ahead of them, the team has decided to soldier on, and do the best they can.
For those that may not recall, Project Gorgon started a Kickstarter campaign, aiming for $20,000 back in 2015, raising $74,781. The developers, had also attempted an IndieGoGo campaign. There, they sought $20,000 but fell short with only $17,230. Despite these challenges, Project Gorgon has captivated many hearts of MMORPG players. After releasing on Steam on March 13, 2018, Elder Game LLC found some rousing success, with the game currently sporting a very positive rating. Though Project Gorgon hasn't garnered a tremendous following on Steam, SteamDB has shown that it has had a very consistent stream of players, peaking at just around 300 players over the past 3 years.
The game had high aims, as Eric and Sandra worked to bring back the depth and complexity often missing in modern MMOs, distinguishing itself with many unique gameplay elements. Despite having some niche appeal, the team has noted that it has been significantly difficult to keep their development going, as funding has dropped off over the past few years, and health problems have been overwhelming.
In Eric’s latest forum post, he spoke candidly about the state of the game, noting that they are unable to pay for full-time development due to depleted savings and reduced game revenue. This situation stems from Sandra's battle with cancer and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly affected the game's productivity and financial stability. Normally, when situations became difficult, Eric and Sandra would forego taking a salary, but due to the situation they find themselves in, their options to do so are limited.
However, the game is not currently shutting down; it continues to run with basic support and bug-fix updates, funded by monthly VIP memberships. The developers remain hopeful for an increase in VIP memberships, which could enable continued development in some form. Eric stated that if things don't turn around, this could be the end for Project Gorgon but with a new mega-dungeon and level-cap increase, the team hopes that returning players will stay for a spell. For the entire post, check out the official forums. Eric has also requested that if you have any questions related to the game, you can jump into the offical Discord's town hall section, and they'll answer them to the best of their ability.
We at MMORPG hope that the team at Elder Game see some positive news in the future. Our hearts go out to Sandra, and wish her and the tenacious team of Elder Game the best, with a hopeful recovery on the horizon.
