RAW, a sandbox MMO from small development studio named Killerwhale Games has been suspended on Kickstarter, the crowdfunding website confirmed in an announcement. Kickstarter say that RAW project was not presented honestly and clearly.
Earlier this month, a brand new sandbox MMORPG named RAW was revealed by a small development studio from Furth, Germany. The devs started a crowdfunding campaign for the project, setting a goal of $78,818.
Shortly after the reveal trailer, the campaign hit the funding goal and at the moment 3,983 backers pledged $193,332. However, Kickstarter have suspended the funding, explaining that the developers were not clear and honest with the project.
"Our rules and guidelines ask that creators seek to raise the amount of money needed to bring a project to completion and fulfil all rewards," a Kickstarter representative told PCGamesN.
Apparently, KillerWhale Games planned to raise additional money from other sources to finish the project, which breaks Kickstarter's rules. "This creator stated in an update that they would need to raise additional funds outside of Kickstarter to complete the game. We require projects to be honest and clearly presented, and this project failed to meet that standard.”
To be fair, the funding goal is way too small for such an ambitious project and when compared to development costs of similar titles, it really does raise a few eyebrows and questions. It looks like Kickstarter feel the same way.
The developer commented on the suspension by saying that Kickstarter did not warn them ahead of the suspension. They say that Kickstarter's decision left them "very disappointed but not broken," and they will continue to seek funding elsewhere. At the moment, the plan is to use IndieGoGo or their own website.
KillerWhale Games
Ever since the first trailer for RAW dropped, many said that the game is way too ambitious and impossible for such a small development studio. Popular streamer Shroud said that it would be "the best game ever created" but it's simply impossible to develop such a title.
The official description of the game states that RAW will feature a vast open-world in which players could build and govern cities, work, take contracts and rob banks among other things. You can find more details about RAW .
