• Log In | Sign Up

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Top Games
  • Search
  • New Releases
  • Daily Deals
  • Forums
AG Stats pixel

Bill Tiller’s Duke Grabowski, Mighty Swashbuckler! sets sail on Kickstarter

Bill Tiller clearly has a fondness for pirates. But you can't argue with the man's success, as his credits include The Curse of Monkey Island and Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island. Now the acclaimed artist/designer is heading back to the high seas with a brand new adventure, Duke Grabowski, Mighty Swashbuckler!, currently raising funds through Kickstarter.

The titular Duke is nothing like the scrawny, bumbling wannabe buccaneer Guybrush Threepwood. Duke is "a massive, brutish pirate" who "usually solves his problems by punching". But he wants to become a "suave and sophisticated swashbuckler", and like his famous predecessor, he has three tasks to complete. In order to become "captain of the pirate ship Brazen Blade, Duke is given an impossible challenge: to win the love of three women. Or, more precisely, to 'sea-deuce' them, as old Slewface says with a leer. Duke has no idea what that means and embarks on a mission to obtain three kisses."

Much like Tiller's previous games, Duke Grabowski will feature gorgeous hand-painted 2D artwork and promises "classic point-and-click goodness" as you "enjoy tropical locations, solve amusing inventory and dialog puzzles, and revel in comic pirate mischief." Along the way, you will have to "win a wrestling match, fire a cannon, attack a fort, rescue innocents, and succeed in love. Multiple times."

Originally conceived as a tech demo, the scope of the project grew to the point of a short standalone game that needs additional funding to complete for PC, Mac, Linux, and Ouya by October 2015. Under the studio name Venture Moon Industries, Tiller and company (including Gene Mocsy, who also collaborated on A Vampyre Story) are seeking $40,000 through Kickstarter by October 6th. A $5 pledge will earn backers a digital-only OUYA download, while a minimum $10 pledge will provide a DRM-free download on the other platforms.

To learn more about Duke Grabowski, Mighty Swashbuckler! and to support the project, visit the Kickstarter page for full details.

continue reading below
Back to the top