The goal of this campaign is to develop v2.0 of BGE, to add new features, improve existing features, create more digital game conversions, to restore Mac support, and more.
First, a little background, for those not familiar with Battlegrounds Gaming Engine
Battlegrounds Gaming Engine (aka BGE) is virtual tabletop software for use with boardgames, wargames, card games, and dice games, whether your players are in the same room, or on the other side of the world. The software was designed and optimized for this specific purpose, and supports most common game mechanics (though nothing dexterity-based or time-based).
BGE offers ease-of-use, a very high level of customizability, and features a hidden-until-you-need-it interface that provides a deeper level of immersion than other gaming platforms.Think of BGE as a user-friendly alternative to Vassal, ZunTzu, Tabletopia, or Tabletop Simulator (and if you already use one of those other platforms, that doesn't mean you can't use another!).
In addition to allowing you to play existing digital game conversions, BGE is also a powerful game portingtoolkit that allows you to create your own digital game conversions quickly and easily, with no programming, scripting, or XML editing whatsoever. The app is designed to support many game mechanics in a way that doesn't require technical expertise on part of the user. In essence, the software is designed for game geeks, not computer geeks.
Game designers will find that BGE provides an excellent means of prototyping and playtesting their original game designs, and allows them to avoid the hassle of creating print-and-play playtest kits (and their playtesters are avoided the hassle of crafting a PNP game whose components may go through several iterations before they are finalized). It can also be a great way to demo a digital prototype of a new game you're trying to get crowdfunded, so that potential backers can see how it plays. I've also created many digital game conversions for BGE, with the consent of each games' designer/publisher. Some of these are offered as free downloads, others are commercially sold. These game conversions are intended to serve as examples of how different game mechanics are supported by the software, and you can use them as a reference guide when porting your favorite games to this platform. There's also great fun to play, of course!
Aliens boardgame
They feature high-quality visuals/components, and allow you to play your games exactly the way you want to (especially if you like to use house rules).
Dead of Night
Note that users wishing to create their own game conversions will probably need to own a copy of the game they wish to port.
Also, unless you are downloading existing images of game components or extracting images from a PDF, you will probably need to have access to a flatbed scanner to scan in your games’ boards and counters.
Zombie Plague
The software does not know or enforce game rules, but many common game mechanics and dice-rolling mechanics are supported.
The software does not provide an AI opponent. It is meant to be played with friends.
BGE is not a webapp. It's an app that you download and install on your computer. You can play solo games or work on porting a game even when offline.
This peer-to-peer program is primarily designed for live, synchronous play (as opposed to asynchronous play-by-email gaming). Multiuser game sessions support up to 16 simultaneous participants. Note that port-forwarding may be required if players outside your local network want to join your session.
BGE is not subscription-based. A license to fully unlock the software is purchased for a modest one-time fee (available at a lower-than-usual cost during this campaign).
The software's "hidden-until-you-need-it" user interface provides a very immersive gaming experience.
A free Demo of BGE is available for download so that you can try out the app and evaluate its capabilities prior to purchase.
Many people use the software without ever paying anything (only the session host needs to have purchased a license, which includes seats for a variable number of guests).
Creating digital game conversions (the equivalent of "modules" to Vassal users, or gameboxes to ZunTzu users) can be a lot of fun; almost as much fun as actually playing the ported games.
To help offset the cost of the program, dozens of free add-ons (in the form of artpacks and digital game conversions) have been made available to further enrich your gaming experience. All these free goodies should add to BGE's appeal, as they can save you a lot of time.
Fancy a game of Car Wars?
Pioneer in Peril
D-Day Dice
Up Front, with updated game components
You can read all about BGEhere. Be sure to also read the Overview, peruse the app's Features, and its System Requirements. Finally, if you're interested in possibly acquiring a BGE license, this page explains what that unlocks.
Star Trek: The Dice Game
Caylus
Spartacus boardgame
If this campaign succeeds, I will develop BGEv2.0. I intend to make the software more powerful while maintaining (or increasing) the ease-of-use, and enhancing the efficiency to allow for even faster gameplay. This will entail adding a few more features, tweaking/optimizing some existing features, and improving/modernizing the aesthetic of many user interface elements.
I will also create a WINE version of BGE, which will allow Mac users to use the software once again (yes, even Macs with M-series chips). I've already created WINE versions of some of my other apps (e.g. MapForge and TileForge), so I'm quite familiar with what the process entails and how long it should take.
I've actually already begun work on the WINE version, but it turns out that a fair bit of re-programming is going to be required in order to replace one particular user interface element: the pulldown menus (which are sometimes called "combo boxes" in Windows), since these are causing the app to freeze under WINE.
While BGE v1.x has already attracted a decent core following of happy users, it never really caught on in a big way, as I'd hoped. One of the goals of this crowdfunding campaign is to grow the userbase.
Personally, I've always preferred BGE's 2D approach over the 3D and simulated physics approach of Tabletop Simulator, Tabletopia, and other such apps. In my opinion it allows for faster and more efficient gameplay, and has the added benefit of not draining your laptop's battery in record time or kicking your cooling fan into overdrive.
I spent several years on BGE and creating the digital game conversions for it, and I hate to see it slowly die off. This crowdfunding campaign could help bring the app back into regular use and expose the app to many people who have never heard of it. If this campaign's success leads to a revitalization of the app and growth of the BGE userbase, you can absolutely expect me to release even more free digital game conversions in the future.
Speaking of which, here are screenshots of a few more games I ported to BGE...
During this crowdfunding campaign, you may pledge for one or more of the following items as an Add-On to your basic pledge (or just use the pre-configured Pledge Levels):
Battlegrounds Gaming Engine License (Gamer-2 Client): $14 (normally $17). The license being offered here comes with 1 free Player Slot, allowing for 2 participants in a game session with only the host needing a license; the other player can just use the free BGE Demo.
Battlegrounds Gaming Engine License (Gamer-4 Client): $18 (normally $22). The license being offered here comes with 3 free Player Slots, allowing for 4 participants in a game session with only the host needing a license; the players can just use the free BGE Demo.
Battlegrounds Gaming Engine License (Gamer-8 Client): $28 (normally $32). The license being offered here comes with 7 free Player Slots, allowing for 8 participants in a game session with only the host needing a license; the players can just use the free BGE Demo.
Battlegrounds Gaming Engine License (Gamer-16 Client): $35 (normally $40). The license being offered here comes with 15 free Player Slots, allowing for 16 participants in a game session with only the host needing a license; the players can just use the free BGE Demo.
You can also pledge to get one or more digital game conversions for BGE, including:
Whether or not you choose to make a pledge to this campaign, I would greatly appreciate it if you could mention this project to friends or family members who might be interested. Help spread the word far and wide.
Last but not least, I'd love it if you would follow Battlegrounds Games on any or all of these social media sites, so you can stay apprised of all the latest news and developments. Follow Battlegrounds on FacebookTwitterPinterest
Thank you for checking out this campaign!
PS: Shipping won't be a factor with this campaign, since all rewards will be digital downloads.
Star Fleet Battle Force
Car Wars (arena map made with BGE's drawing tools)
