Kiss Rock City has had a long and difficult development due to various setbacks and cancellations. It began as a side project for Sproing called Sigils but was retired after launch. Sproing then worked on large projects with publishers that ultimately got cancelled, including one with Activision that would have published KRC. This led Sproing to bankruptcy and layoffs. However, Sproing was able to keep developing KRC with its own funding and a new investor. KRC has now entered a soft launch as Sproing continues to seek additional support to finally release the game globally.

1. The Rocky Road to KISS Rock City
Dietmar Hauser – Head of Programming
Sproing Interactive Media GmbH

2. What is KISS Rock City?

4. The Facts
Free 2 Play
Official License
Licensed Music
Developed by Sproing
Uses Athena 2 Engine
In development since early 2016
Out in late 2017 (we hope)

5. The Beginning: Sigils – Battle for Raios
First iOS game
with Athena 2
Proprietary Back-End
iPad only
Retired soon after
global launch

6. The Chance: Large Secret Project (LSP1)
Very Large Publisher (VLP1)
Very high CCU predictions
Custom Back-End
is being developed
Head count grows a lot
Corporate restructuring!
VLP1 shuts down operations in Europe
LSP1 gets canceled pre alpha

7. The Deal: New Projects get signed
LSP2 signed with VLP2
F2P mobile online game
Very high CCU predictions
Custom Back-End dev continues
KRC gets signed!
With Activision (VLP3)
Moderate CCU predictions
Shares most tech with LSP2
Much smaller team

8. The End: Corporate Merger!
Activision acquires King
Activision closes mobile games division
All mobile projects are cancelled...
... including Kiss: Rock City
The End

9. A New Hope: The Other Stakeholder
Epic Rights wants to continue project
Epic Rights acquires the assets
Sproing retains rights to the sources
A deal is struck
Development continues!
Self-funded by Sproing
Self-published by Sproing
Looking for investor, publisher, or distributor
Everything is groovy, until…

10. The Edge: Bankruptcy looms
VLP2 cancels LSP2
At very unfortunate time
Sproing slips into insolvency
A restructuring plan is filed
> 50% of employees are let go
Restructuring plan gets approved
Sproing survives
KRC planned to continue
Financing unclear...
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11. The Beacon: New Projects are signed
Non Stop Chuck Norris
Another celebrity based game
Completely different technology base
New Secret Project
Very similar to KRC
Same technology base
Back-End technology is scrapped
KRC continues on very small flame
Still searching for investor or publisher

12. The Drought: Looking for money
KRC enters secret soft launch
In good old Trinidad & Tobago
Nobody notices!
A mobile publisher is interested
Deal falls apart at the last moment
Suddenly: Investor found!
From outside the games business
Proper soft launch and global launch is secured
It’ll happen in 2017!!! (Again, fingers crossed)

13. The Conclusion: What can we learn?
Projects can survive a lot
Depends on attached value
Keep shopping them around
Don’t overlook Technical Debt
Circumstance kills tech planning
Don’t start what you can’t finish
Many Mobile “Publishers” suck
Little bang for the buck
Try finding alternative funding

14. Dietmar Hauser
dietmar.hauser@sproing.com
@Rattenhirn
Sproing Interactive Media GmbH
https://www.sproing.com
https://fb.me/sproing
@sproinggames

15. Bonus Slide: Technical Debt