About this project
I. "Make the high-octane tactical RPG shooter that gamers have been waiting for!"
That mission drove veteran game developers Mat Broome and Kevin McPherson to form Hero Machine Studios after working on hit games like PLANETSIDE 2, EVERQUEST, and DC UNIVERSE ONLINE. The pair's first offering through Hero Machine is KINETIK: an intense near-future tactical RPG shooter MADE for gamers ready for a challenge.
Wish there weren’t so many sequels and retreads? Frustrated by the game industry's constant focus on casual players? Mat and Kevin want to make the game you've been waiting for - with your help!
When developers are also hardcore gamers they give you the features you really need like:
- Balance. KINETIK's offers insane replay value with heavily tactical gameplay rooted in "rock paper scissors" dynamics.
- Grinding serves a purpose. Turn your hard work into better gear, more powerful weapons, and awesome firepower or support upgrades for your companion drone with Kinetik's smart crafting system.
- Rewards for good tactical play. Your squad is a living, breathing entity and its members earn match ratings and rewards based on how well they play as a unit.
- KINETIK brings unique gear you won't see in other shooters. Your near-future arsenal includes smart grenades, deployable cover objects, and upgradeable armor.
- KINETIK boasts deep Co-op and Multiplayer raids missions. Future expansions will bring dual squad/Co-op raids and missions.
- Loot drops can be equipped, stored in inventory, or sold for in-game currency.
- Smart matchmaking takes into consideration player levels and filter settings for optimal Co-op and Multiplayer gameplay.
Join the Special Forces and choose your class
KINETIK is powered by the fantastic Unreal Engine 4, meaning you get great graphics alongside AAA gameplay - and if you're a true gamer we all know gameplay is what you care about most.
KINETIK = TACTICAL + RPG + SHOOTER
Mat's favorite games are shooters. Kevin is a former Marine. They're both huge fans of classic shooter games in particular. To say KINETIK's shooter mechanics are a priority would be an understatement.
- Near-future technology in KINETIK means weapon concepts and movements you're already familiar with. Combined with simple controls, KINETIK is easy to learn and tough to master.
- First AND third person cameras are enabled for KINETIK. And yes, the guys are aware of corner-peeking, so they've designed the maps around that.
KINETIK differs from many shooters on the market by heavily rewarding good squad tactics.
- Build your team intelligently and communicate well with your squad to win.
- Players and computer-controlled opponents (NPCs) have access to cover and shoot systems, your team will need to find the best angles for tactical advantage. Sorry Rambos!
- Each of the three Special Forces units you build your characters from (Navy SEALs, British Special Forces, or Russian Spetsnaz) has its own advantages and disadvantages in combat. Learn the differences or suffer the consequences.
- Levels in KINETIK are destructible in various ways. This means elements like security doors can be bypassed via hacking, vents and other access points can decimated by items from your arsenal, and walls can be breached. You can even access select areas with specialized Engineer class tools.
Mat and Kevin bring RPG design experience from shipping multiple MMORPGs to KINETIK.
- Choose to build your Special Forces operative within one of three iconic classes: Assault, Recon or Engineer.
- Within your chosen class your operative levels along both unique skill trees and career paths, allowing for a ton of possible character and squad builds.
- Acquire blueprints, then use them to craft new gear and firepower with collected resources and in-game currency.
How Big do you Want KINETIK to be?
III. WHY KICKSTARTER?
KINETIK is a passion project for Mat and Kevin. They’ve already built the playable foundation for a great gaming experience as you can see; now they need your help to take this game to the next level. That includes Kickstarter-only stretch goals designed to expand the world of KINETIK. We can raise enough funds to add more playable Special Forces classes, expand the scope of the game's levels, and introduce new weaponry.
Details aside of course the ultimate goal is to create a game that's FUN for years, because if it isn’t fun, what's the point? That's where Kickstarter comes in. Hero Machine can only make the KINETIK you deserve with your feedback!
The community-oriented game development planned by Hero Machine Studios cuts out the middle man and gives you direct access to the source.
Are you ready?
IV. REWARDS
There are plenty of different reward tiers to choose from. Here are some of our favorites!
If you just want the game all you'll need is 20 bucks with the Lance Corporal Early Bird tier. You get a digital copy of the game, Steam early access, digital wallpapers, a forum backer tag, and your name in the game's credits.
If you love playing Co-op with a buddy the SERGEANT - Recruit a Friend Early Bird tier is for you. For 40 bucks You get all the stuff from Lance Corporal, plus a random tier 1 rare recipe (used for crafting), a kickstarter-only set of bronze dog tags, and an extra digital copy + Steam early access for a friend.
If you're in a clan you're our kind of gamer, we set up some special packages just for you. The SECOND LIEUTENANT tier offers two extra digital copies of KINETIK along with Steam early access, a random tier 3 rare recipe, and tons of kickstarter-only camo for you and your drone.
If you love playing tactical squad games but still want to dominate, check out the CAPTAIN tier. All the rewards from First Lieutenant, 4 random rare recipes, kickstarter-only grenades and camo, and your name on the wall of elite operators in-game.
V. STRETCH GOALS
If we're lucky enough to get funded, we've got great ideas for stretch goals, all of which would make the Co-op and Multiplayer world of KINETIK a more immersive one.
VI. DEV TIMELINE
Real devs work with milestones and benchmarks, so here are the timeline targets for KINETIK's development including current build status for all you aspiring game designers (or apprehensive backers burned by other projects). Timeline will be updated as circumstances dictate to keep backers in the loop.
Pre-Alpha / Kickstarter Kineitik is in a pre-alpha playable stage and entering into its Kickstarter campaign.
Friends and Family Closed Alpha
We will invite more of our friends and family to closed Alpha for play testing, input, and feedback.
Limited and Invite only Closed Beta We will invite key and active members of the community for early closed Beta testing, stress testing and feedback, before going live in Steam Early Access.
Steam Early Access
Kinetik will be released for Steam Early Access, so the community can play test and develop the game with us.
PC Retail Release
Kinetik will be released on Steam as a digital retail product.
Playstation 4 and XBox One Release
Kinetik will be released for digital sale on the Playstation 4 and XBox One consoles.
Where does the money raised in our Kickstarter campaign go?
- 5% Amazon/Kickstarter
- 5% Epic Games, as per Unreal license agreement
- 10% Taxes
- 10% Server Hosting (persistence servers, database, matchmaking filter servers)
- 10% Professional Quality Assurance (outsourced)
- 60% Development (all game development and production including but not limited to: anti-cheat/hack systems, audio, hardware, and software licensing, hiring a full time Community Manager , additional character classes and levels, hiring sound and audio lead)
Mat Broome: Founder/Creative Director Hero Machine Studios
Mat has 14 years of experience as a Senior Character Lead and Art Director, mainly with Sony Online Entertainment/Daybreak Studios. He has shipped seven titles, including H1Z1, PLANETSIDE 2, and DC UNIVERSE ONLINE.
Before games, Mat was an artist in the comic book industry, working on BATMAN, X-MEN, and WITCHBLADE titles among many others. In comics he learned the ins and outs of world building with his creator-owned title DEFCON 4.
Kevin McPherson: Founder/CTO Hero Machine Studios
Kevin McPherson is a former United States Marine. As a programmer he has over 20 years of game and software development experience, mainly with Sony Online Entertainment. He’s put his mark on notable series including PLANETSIDE and EVERQUEST.
that artwork is Legit!!!! 
