West Games’ crowdfund campaign for Areal has barely started and it’s already facing issues from all sides. We’ll run down the key points for you below, but a small word of warning: this is some nasty drama going on between developers and fans.
It all starts with Areal announcing their Kickstarter, and describing themselves as former developers of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. This apparently raises red flags for some skeptical fans, and the news comes up in the official forums for Vostok Games, who also claims to be former S.T.A.L.K.E.R. devs.
A mod in said forum replies harshly, claiming that West Games is making fraudulent claims, and that they are contacting the companies lawyers. It then encourages fans to spread the word.
West Games reacts quickly, explaining the details of their relationship with the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Metro gane developer company, GSC Game World. West basically outlines how not only they and Vostok Games, but 4A Games, now owned by Koch Media, all emanated from this one Ukrainian company.
On their 2nd Kickstarter update, they explain they’ve gotten in contact with the Vostok folks, who disavowed the statement from their mod and have since deleted said thread. West Games is still facing public scrutiny, apparently from new interlopers Misery LTD. No, Misery isn’t claiming to be from GSC, but they are themselves S.T.A.L.K.E.R. fans, working on their own spiritual successor to the series, The Seed. The Seed has itself been fully funded, with Misery already working on development.
It’s an unfair situation for West Games if you ask me, who now has an uphill battle to climb trying to defend their campaign from skeptics working on unfounded information.
