Ant Simulator Shut Down By Rogue Developers

Kickstarter is just one of many ways for people to create games without the need for corporate backing. Crowdfunding has enabled giant projects like Star Citizen and Grim Dawn to go from a concept to a fully fledged game, gaining millions of pounds in support from the people who want to see them made. The downside though is that not all crowdfunding projects go well, some ending horribly. This is sadly the case for yet another project with Ant Simulator shutting down.

Eric Tereshinkski is the lead programmer on Ant Simulator, a game that would have seen players play in a survival game with a unique twist, this may not be the case anymore as Tereshinkski has resigned from the project.

In his youtube resignation, Tereshinski explains that he signed an LLC agreement a year and a half ago with two people who he had called friends for around 11 years. While the game has made great progress, his ex-partners had spent their Kickstarter and investment money on everything from alcohol to adult entertainment.

With the “friends” then stating that if the game was released without them, it would result in a lawsuit against Tereshinski. In a comment that asked about seeking legal advice, Tereshinski clarifies that they protected themselves, claiming that the alcohol was consumed in business meetings (with minutes and paperwork to prove it to that effect). They even listed themselves as consultants, meaning while not obligated to work on anything they still had the right to spend corporate money.

It would appear well thought out, and the pain in his voice is clear in the video above. A betrayal like this is not just to the backers who spent money (and will be getting refunds) to support the project, or even just the developers, but the whole crowd funding scene which will now have trust issues and fears when it comes to creating groups for likewise ambitious projects.

We are sad to see the project end and hope that he is able to recover from this and continue to make great games with the support of those who would like to help, rather than betray, the community at large.