(KICKSTARTER) Mantic Mars Attacks! Funded in 13 minutes!

[Quirkworthy]

I've just checked - the retro ones will be made by the same sculptor so they should match in perfectly with the scale of the ones I pictured.

[Alvin]

As for retro troopers they could of been retro from the get go and no one would of cared except for the people who wanted them and the exec at topps who made the dumb call.

That would be me.  Don't regret that call one bit.  There is so much more you can do creatively with a modern setting.  There are far more stories and possibilities to explore in the present than if we'd pidgeon-holed ourselves into the 1960s. 

Yes, Mars Attacks definitely has retro appeal.  For that reason, we have many stories to tell in that time frame-- it's just not the primary story.  If you look at our new cards, for example, there is an entire subset of story cards that take place between 1935-1970.  The first issue of the comic book is set in 1962, and one prequel story we have planned takes place in the mid-60s.  I'm also talking with Mantic here about the retro figures fitting into a 60s-set story campaign for the game.

To me, though, Mars Attacks is not about the era in which it's set.  It's about the outrageous over-the-top violence and the quirky black humor. 

Maybe you are right and there was a quick cash-grab to be made by appealing to old school gamers and card collectors by setting it again in 1962 and filling it with retro troops and 60s dames, or even by doing a straight sequel to the original cards.  First and foremost though I really want a good story, one that if it catches with fans we can continue.

A modern setting gives us the best chance to do that.

Hope you guys enjoy Mantic's game, it will do a lot for expanding this new story.  It looks awesome and i'm psyched to get all those cool figures in my grubby little hands!

[Arlequín]

I put some pictures up of some of the 3D printed versions I had, compared to other makes. The Mantic models, especially the MA ones, are a lot less "heroic" than some. Obviously the retro ones aren't done yet and this is a modern trooper and Martian. I'd expect the retro troops would be of similar proportions.

See: http://quirkworthy.com/2013/10/17/how-large-is-your-martian/

As quirkworthy has said, the rest of the Mantic range isn't as tall as you'd think.  I've got some of the corporation minis and they blend well with Hasslefree and the old Moonfleet scientists.

Gentlemen, I stand corrected then and indeed am somewhat quite pleased about this...   

That would be me.  Don't regret that call one bit.  There is so much more you can do creatively with a modern setting.  There are far more stories and possibilities to explore in the present than if we'd pidgeon-holed ourselves into the 1960s.
*snip* 

Welcome aboard 'Alvin' 

I'm inclined to agree that the bulk of people that backed MA will 'relate' to the modern setting far more than they would  a retro one, simply because the modern world is the one where they know how everything works... it's that simple.

Nevertheless the 60's are my bag baby, to paraphrase Austin Powers, so I'm stoked by the retro theme not just being confined to a squad of soldiers and that an in-game campaign is at least being talked about. Hopefully interest in that and the figures, will prove (or indeed disprove) the level of interest in the retro aspects of MA.

I just hope that with myself and others repeatedly pushing for things like that, that it translates into 'gamer interest' and not in me researching recipes for cooking crow.

 

[Alvin]

Actually its the other way around in this case. See the problem is the martians are still 50's comic book sci fi. Thus by separating the martians from their 50's tech opponents you create suspension of belief issues.

I disagree. 

Can the human troops launch drones the size of a cigarette packet? Guys in afghanistan do it every day. Sat intell? drones? hellfires? The answer is no they cant in the rules. They are fighting the comic book alien invasion of the 50's with a different costume on.

The inherent problem in your argument is that you're boiling MA down to military vs martians, which is it not.  The military plays an important even VITAL role, but it is not the crux of the story.  Plus-- though we are not setting out to tell a 100% accurate story, we have crafted a well thought-out narrative that illustrates why even with advanced weapons we are no match for the Martians.

Beceause at the end of the day this story is about humanities inherent ability-- our unique ability-- to overcome impossible odds. We've put a lot more thought into this than just "army vs. aliens."

]This is not gritty sci fi this is a fun game of death rays and saucer men.

I never said it wasn't!  But retro 60's troops don't equal fun and modern troops don't equal gritty. 

They were sent in the late 50's-early 60's of the world of the future.

Not according to their creator.

The other thing is modern warfare is murky stuff with no clear good guys half the time. Looks at most of the ultra modern FPS on the games market. Its all black ops and that sort of thing. That 50's comic book dynamic of black and white good and bad works better in this setting.

Different, not better.  For starters, adding some shades of grey adds depth to a pretty paper thin story.  Hence my assertion that setting it in the modern era opens up worlds of possibilities you wouldn't get setting it in the 50s/60s. 

The martians are badder n bad, comic book bad. They need to be going up against square jawed heros who love moms apple pie and dont even question the morality of committing genocide on the martian civilization with atomic weapons cus shucks darn its just the right thing to do to dirty sneak attackin varmits from mars.

You've essentially just described both our series bible and the new card set-- except for that last line.  I would never ever ever want that in our new story.  The whole point of the new story is that we as humans are BETTER than that.

We both know that is not what anyone would call a cynical cash grab.

Well I never said cynical.  But we toyed with the idea of doing a sequel, knowing older fans -- fans of the original-- would flock to it.  But we also knew there would be a finite life to a universe like that. 

Firstly you job is to make cash so making more cash is a great thing as long as the market share and reputation of topps and mantic is not damaged by doing so.

MY job is actually licensing. 

Secondly I think I have shown already why its more viable in every extent not just commercially to have it set in retro world AND you will tell a better story and develop your own very identifiable franchise to boot.

You've made valid points, but nothing I was not already aware of.  We simply chose to go in a different direction because the 60's approach did not work with our goals.

No it WAS about that in the 60's when those were the most gory things most 8 year old boys had ever seen. They get more gore than all the cards put together these days with 3 minutes of left 4 dead on the console. Its just a few of the tropes that make this sort of thing popular. I think the fact you have added so much retro stuff to the cards comics and games shows I do have a very valid point though re era in which it is set.

I never said it was about violence-- it's about the type of quirky violence MA does best.  It's unique and it's different.  The style and visual can still be retro without being set in the past; flipping it around, just being set in the past doesn't make it retro.  See our new cards for a good example of what i'm talking about.  They're all 90% present day, but all have a retro feel.

So... I not only stand by the decision to set this in the present, I would do it over and over again.  Not saying the alternative doesn't have merit (it does) but would have been far more difficult to achieve our aims if we had.  Not unachievable, but much more challenging.  It also helps set us apart from the original, thus helping to keep the old set all its own.

Again, I hear where you're coming from and appreciate your point of view.  I hope you understand mine, though.  Let me say we didn't make this decision without a lot of thought and discussion: we weighed the pro's and the cons not just for how it would affect a new card set or board game but how it would affect a whole universe of new products and stories in the future.

[carlos13th]

I personally prefer the idea of martians attacking a current day world than retreading the 60's stuff that has been done before, now that may be because most of my experience with Mars attacks is from the film so I don't really have any nostalgia for the 1960's style setting. I think Alvin makes a good case for why they choose to set it in the modern day. I also don't see how setting it in the current day requires the use of all modern day technology such as drones or UAV's, I also don't see how it in anyway prevents the addition of some wacky crazy weapons. Set in the 60's or modern day its still Sci Fi. Setting Sci Fi in the past doesn't stop it being Sci Fi.

Something modern day doesn't have to be gritty just because most games and films set in the modern day are gritty. Mars Attacks is never going to try to be gritty and real its going to be campy over the top nonsense through and through despite the time frame, as it should be.

[CptJake]

Now that may be because most of my experience with Mars attacks is from the film so I don't really have any nostalgia for the 1960's style setting.

The troops/weapons/tanks/jeeps were 60's style in the film, unless you saw a different film than I did.

[Alvin]

Regardless of whether you like the choice of setting, one thing we are dead set on doing in all projects is to make them FUN.

You should be able to enjoy the new cards, comics and Mantic's new game whether you prefer 60's soldiers or modern soldiers.  Because Mars Attacks is fun.

[CptJake]

You should be able to enjoy the new cards, comics and Mantic's new game whether you prefer 60's soldiers or modern soldiers.  Because Mars Attacks is fun.

I'm literally betting on that.  I got a significant, for me anyway, pledge for the game riding on it being fun.

[carlos13th]

The troops/weapons/tanks/jeeps were 60's style in the film, unless you saw a different film than I did.

I wasn't saying the film wasn't 60s style. Just that I have minimum exposure to Mars Attacks so dont have a strong attachment to the franchise.

[Arlequín]

You should be able to enjoy the new cards, comics and Mantic's new game whether you prefer 60's soldiers or modern soldiers.  Because Mars Attacks is fun.

I'm literally betting on that.  I got a significant, for me anyway, pledge for the game riding on it being fun.

Ditto...

Just that I have minimum exposure to Mars Attacks so dont have a strong attachment to the franchise.

Purely for the sake of argument then; if the game had been just presented as being based on the original cards, would you have still backed the KS?

[carlos13th]

I didn't back the kickstarter. I do not have the funds to be able to do so at the moment if I had the funds I would have done so. If you mean would I have been as likely to back it (funds willing) if it was set in the 60's then yes I would have.

[Alvin]

Alvin, As for stating its not set in the 50/60's of the future but set in the 50's and 60's of our present day sort of whitewashes over the fact there is a human rocket borne interstellar invasion force in the cards. Get the creator to explain that one.

He told me that it was a combination of advanced technology they assumed the government had (rockets, space suits, etc) combined with commandeered Martian stuff.  To be honest, there wasn't nearly as much thought put into that set.  What he explained (and it makes perfect sense) is that it was a card set designed for 10 year olds, so their only thought was to make a cool story with awesome pictures and some fun stories on the back.

Thats an interesting thing to say on so many levels. Most of it being the philosophy behind such a statement which unfortunately falls beyond the scope and rules of this forum. Interesting topic for after work drinks on a friday though.

I'm not sure I understand.  Are you intrigued by this?  Offended?  Sorry, just not sure what you mean by that.  Can you expound a tad?

[mcfonz]

The truth is out there . . .

Mantic did a modern take on the franchise and ran a very successful kickstarter.

I couldn't afford to go in as my commitment money wise is getting my salute table done. But my main interest was in the martians that I could use in my own setting but with their character etc.

Why is it such an issue that this franchise along with the likes of Captain America etc wanted to bring it more up to date to appeal to a modern audience?

When did the original cards come out? 1960's/70's? I was born in the '80's and have zero interest in '60's us troopers.

[Too Bo Coo]

37!?! I'M 38!!!??

[Alvin]

Not offended in the slightest. Its just weather you think humans would rise above or not is stepping into the realm of religion and politics and basic core beliefs. Due to the fact the internet is a craptacular method of communication because of the lack of body language its too easy for those things to spiral into a stupid argument and then the topic gets locked.

It's not about religion or politics it's about what makes us human, and different than the Martians.  It's our inner strength, our resolve, our willingness to fight for what we believe is right.  It's about fighting to overcome impossible odds; self-sacrifice, altruism, all those sorts of things.

The idea though, and back to your point, is that humans have these qualities that Martians don't, and, in the course of the invasion, will rise above that sort of thing.

Certainly don't want to be supporting genocide either

More broadly, what this illustrates is that the central themes of the story do not necessitate a specific era.  They are timeless.   

Mantic's game and it's story are equally timeless: the tale of a small town invaded by outsiders, and the everyday people who come together to defend it!  THAT'S what I believe Mars Attacks is all about!