MindFuse gets $1M in funding for a Victorian MMO

by Shawn Schuster Oct 9th 2008 at 10:00AM

Filed under: Historical, Puzzle, MMO industry, New titles, Gatheryn

For all of you Elf and lightning bolt haters out there, MindFuse may have found a solution to your MMO blues. As was recently announced, the game developer has secured $1 million USD in convertible note funding from Keiretsu Forum angel investors for an MMO project they're currently working on. What project is that, you might ask? According to the MindFuse website, they're developing a Victorian-themed MMO entitled The World of Gatheryn.

The game is described as "a massive multi-player world of adventure, mystery and romance." It's said to include interactive games and puzzles, with "new adventures appearing with each successful solution." So is this what we've been waiting for? It's not high fantasy. It's not cheesy sci-fi. Can a Victorian Age MMO work for those looking for something different? Take a tour through the website and check out the gorgeous screenshots, gameplay explanation and storyline entry for yourself, and let us know what you think.

Tags: keiretsu, mindfuse, mindfuse-games, the-world-of-gatheryn, victorian

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

david said on 10:05AM 10-09-2008

$1 million is not enough money to build a new type of MMO... :-\

OR am I wrong?

Angel said on 10:47AM 10-09-2008

You are not wrong. It is not enough to complete an MMORPG. It is, however, more than enough to create a substantial "walk and talk" version to attract more substantial funding.

Skypp said on 10:44AM 10-09-2008

The 1 million is probably to fund the beginning stages. Get a working concept going, some artwork, some fundementals to show to the company before the big money rolls in.

And they're close.... Victorian Steampunk is what I want to play! Sort of like Final Fantasy 6, or something along the lines of Shadowhearts.

Prophet said on 10:52AM 10-09-2008

This sounds really cool. I'd love to see it come out. Now I just wish a company would throw some money to get Frontier 1859 up and running!

JP said on 11:12AM 10-09-2008

Honestly, I really wouldn't have much interest in this game, and I see it as a very very VERY niche product.

In this economy, and this saturated market, this probably isn't the best time for something like this.

Wjowski said on 10:43PM 10-09-2008

A MMO actually offering something different? I'd say that's exactly what this market needs.

Mynxee said on 2:18PM 10-09-2008

I wonder if they are seeking to appeal to women gamers with this one. As one, it's got my interest. Done right, it might be a nice counterpoint to the many hours I spend in EVE-Online!

Joey_the_mad26 said on 3:28PM 10-09-2008

I have to somewhat, politely, disagree with the assumption that this is a poor frame of time to introduce a MMORPG of this type. A recent article posted abroad on several gaming sites have shown that the MMO market is one of few relatively unmarred by the U.S.'s present economic woes. In truth, any project that may stimulate spending of any type is worth while. But, this aside, I find this idea wonderful, and it is something I have long looked forward to. Growing up an avid reader of Jules Verne and having enjoyed early game titles like Myst, I believe that this title will be an incredible adventure, one this market could use in the face of the High Fantasy over saturation and bad Science Fiction romps. I wish these developers all the greatest of successes.

Keltic1701 said on 8:26PM 10-09-2008

I think this could be an interesting MMO. I would like to see a bit of Jules Verne/Sherlock Holmes/The Wild, Wild West (the original show, not the movie) type of elements thrown in to make that much more interesting.

Claytondora said on 10:26PM 10-09-2008

Steam! Mystery! Adventure! Yes!

Henry said on 11:14PM 10-09-2008

I'd be excited about this, but has no one here played Granado Espada/Sword of the New World? It was an MMO with a Baroque setting and you still fought fantasy creatures. I bet they will also be the lion's share of enemies in this game as well, unless combat is minimalized. Then we'd have an online Professor Layton, which doesn't sound bad either.

LR said on 6:49AM 10-10-2008

I am totally interested in playing Gatheryn. I am watching this game really closely. I hope it actually comes out. But, very important, I would want the graphics to be top notch. I'm artistic, so I would want pretty pictures to look at. And music has to be very good also. Game music is my only source for music, so I would want the music in Gatheryn to be good. Probably orchestral type of music would be most fitting. The music on the Mindfuse website is good. (www.mindfusegames.com). So I wish the developers the very best of luck!

Sagefist said on 10:45AM 10-10-2008

A steampunk MMO would be great! So would a cyberpunk, for that matter. As for a fear of what type of creatures, etc. would be in there, anything is possible. Just take a look at Joe Landsdale's "The Steam Man of the Prairie and the Dark Rider Get Down". Very epic!