In October of 2016, a much-publicized collaborative project between erotica author Chuck Tingle and game developer Zoe Quinn successfully raised over $85,000 from 2,450 individual Kickstarter backers. [1] Project Tingler, described as a blend of FMV (Full Motion Video) dating sim and classic adventure game, was allegedly one year into development with a team “well-versed in how to finish a game” and advertised an estimated delivery date of February 2017.
As of July 2018, nearing three years into Project Tingler’s development, the game has yet to be completed.
Despite raising more than $15,000 beyond its original Kickstarter goal and promises of early access and “sneak peaks” for financial contributors, updates regarding Project Tingler have become increasingly rare. Questions and concerns from backers are routinely neglected for periods up to and exceeding six months. [2] Updates displaying actual progress in the game’s development have not been posted since August of 2017. [3]
While significant delays are not uncommon among crowdfunded games, those behind Project Tingler sought to dismiss such risks; pitching a game that had been successfully prototyped and was already months into a production pipeline other crowdfunded games seek only to begin. With multiple shoots completed and “the biggest risks eliminated,” potential backers were further reassured by the team’s cumulative experience budgeting for and shipping games. [4] Under such pretenses, funding was solicited for the game’s completion rather than creation. Despite this, and an estimate playtime of only “one or two hours,” [5] Project Tingler has yet to leave the “pre-alpha” stage of development. [6]
Although she continues to solicit PayPal donations for Project Tingler’s development, [7] Quinn’s Kickstarter account has not been accessed since April of 2018. [8] Coincidentally, Project Tingler does not appear to be related to Camps Not Dead, an abandoned FMV game of similar scope promoted by Quinn in 2014. [9]
Project Tingler’s developers have ignored repeated attempts at contact outside of Kickstarter via both e-mail and social media. Twitter messages to lead developer Zoe Quinn (@UnburntWitch) and project manager John E. Warren (@FloppyAdult) remain unanswered despite both being active users of the platform. Games Journalist Jim Sterling (@JimSterling), whose name and participation lent credibility to the fundraising campaign, has also ignored contact attempts. Other “core team” members include Karla Pacheco (@THEKarlaPacheco), Elby Teufel (@hunktears), and Seth Boyer (@sethboyer).
Author Chuck Tingle (@ChuckTingle), in whose fictional universe Project Tingler is set, has responded with hostility to those exasperated by the lack of communication. Seemingly innocuous tweets parroting the concerns of Kickstarter backers are met with unfounded charges of trolling and misogyny. [10] Those simply inquiring as to the game’s status have been labeled “lonesome men,” “basement dwellers,” and accused of participation in GamerGate. [11]
The $85,448 raised by fans and supporters of indie game development, women in tech, and anti-harassment advocacy remains unaccounted for.
1. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/703752115/kickstarted-in-the-butt-a-chuck-tingle-digital-adv/description
2. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/703752115/kickstarted-in-the-butt-a-chuck-tingle-digital-adv/comments
3. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/703752115/kickstarted-in-the-butt-a-chuck-tingle-digital-adv/posts/1975264
4. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/703752115/kickstarted-in-the-butt-a-chuck-tingle-digital-adv/description
5. https://reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/5bobt6/im_zoë_quinn/d9q0qup/?context=10000
6. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/703752115/kickstarted-in-the-butt-a-chuck-tingle-digital-adv/posts/1975264
7. https://zoequinn.squarespace.com/thetingler
8. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/703752115/kickstarted-in-the-butt-a-chuck-tingle-digital-adv/creator_bio
9. http://campsnotdead.tumblr.com/post/103514613170/camps-not-deads-not-dead
10. https://twitter.com/SleazyBae/status/1021515358937796613
11. https://twitter.com/ChuckTingle/status/1021516346243182592
