Ghent Theft Auto: #GF2020
Donation protected
You heard it here first boys and girls: it's finally happening! After years of being on the background and being ported from mod to actual game engine, Ghent Theft Auto is ramping up to finally, actually be developed.
Since the original idea, I've spent years learning game development and given the current times: there seems to be no better place and time than here and now to be doing this.
Ghent Theft Auto’s main story is and always will be about bringing people together, but attempting to recreate the Gentse Feesten online for as many people as possible will take more than just dedication. Your support will be critical to the success of this project, so please, please: donate what you can in order to support this crazy idea that we all share, crave and love deeply!
The money I'm raising now will be used to flexibly acquire hardware and provide services for the online services. Oh, and I also have to eat once in a while, or so I'm told!
Because let's face it: these last months have been filled with nothing but bad news and an increasingly intolerable distance from the people close to us. A distance from warm summer evenings where we fill our squares and parks with sweaty people dancing to music from all over the world, mornings where our pavements are lined with sleepy party-goers taking a nap on each others shoulder or shuffling towards a bar for that one last drink, afternoons where our parks are filled with children playing and performers acting out their wildest ideas.
For the first time in a hundred years, we won’t be able to meet, dance, drink, perform, relax, enjoy life during those unique ten days.
And our city has always rebelled against forces than herself. When Belgium beat Iraq and took their world record 'forming a government', we invited some Iraqis & Elio Di Rupo to throw a celebration party on the Vlasmarkt, fueled with beer and fries.
Back in the 16th century, when our Spanish overlords built the most technologically advanced star fort in the Citadelpark? Well, we took it from them and ushered in a period of a Ghent Republic that lasted 8 years.
When this global pandemic and all the collateral that comes with it prevents us from meeting each other during the Gentse Feesten, for the first time in 100 years?
Yes. Our goal is to build a platform where people can meet and create experiences inside the location we already know and love, the historic city centre of Ghent. A virtual space, during the period of festivities, attempting to bring as many people together.
Once you’re inside, you’ll be able to attend events on the squares with live-streamed sets, walk from stage to stage, meeting your friends in the moving crowds, stop to watch street performers.
Watch the Vlasmarkt sunrise and fear the IVAGO crews kicking everybody off the server at midday. Build your own rollercoaster, or do some target practice, at the Vrijdagsmarkt fair! Wind down and relax in the Baudelo, where you’ll be able to visit and host art galleries. Enjoy world class visuals and pounding techno music in the Sint-Baafskathedraal, converted into a dark night club. Unleash your salsa moves on the Polé Polé pontons. Honor our fire spewing dragon on top of the Belfort!
Lastly, we want to point out we’re trying to make this for everybody. So if you’re not an artist, if you don't own VR hardware, if you’re not a gamer, don’t worry: you don’t have to in order to take part in what will be Ghent’s latest rebellion.
If you don't own a credit card or are otherwise unable to donate through this site, we're also accepting donations at which we transfer anonymously :)
Ghent Theft Auto will be available for desktop & mobile, with a first release on the first day of the Gentse Feesten. Thanks to your support! <3
Since the original idea, I've spent years learning game development and given the current times: there seems to be no better place and time than here and now to be doing this.
Ghent Theft Auto’s main story is and always will be about bringing people together, but attempting to recreate the Gentse Feesten online for as many people as possible will take more than just dedication. Your support will be critical to the success of this project, so please, please: donate what you can in order to support this crazy idea that we all share, crave and love deeply!
The money I'm raising now will be used to flexibly acquire hardware and provide services for the online services. Oh, and I also have to eat once in a while, or so I'm told!
Because let's face it: these last months have been filled with nothing but bad news and an increasingly intolerable distance from the people close to us. A distance from warm summer evenings where we fill our squares and parks with sweaty people dancing to music from all over the world, mornings where our pavements are lined with sleepy party-goers taking a nap on each others shoulder or shuffling towards a bar for that one last drink, afternoons where our parks are filled with children playing and performers acting out their wildest ideas.
For the first time in a hundred years, we won’t be able to meet, dance, drink, perform, relax, enjoy life during those unique ten days.
And our city has always rebelled against forces than herself. When Belgium beat Iraq and took their world record 'forming a government', we invited some Iraqis & Elio Di Rupo to throw a celebration party on the Vlasmarkt, fueled with beer and fries.
Back in the 16th century, when our Spanish overlords built the most technologically advanced star fort in the Citadelpark? Well, we took it from them and ushered in a period of a Ghent Republic that lasted 8 years.
When this global pandemic and all the collateral that comes with it prevents us from meeting each other during the Gentse Feesten, for the first time in 100 years?
Yes. Our goal is to build a platform where people can meet and create experiences inside the location we already know and love, the historic city centre of Ghent. A virtual space, during the period of festivities, attempting to bring as many people together.
Once you’re inside, you’ll be able to attend events on the squares with live-streamed sets, walk from stage to stage, meeting your friends in the moving crowds, stop to watch street performers.
Watch the Vlasmarkt sunrise and fear the IVAGO crews kicking everybody off the server at midday. Build your own rollercoaster, or do some target practice, at the Vrijdagsmarkt fair! Wind down and relax in the Baudelo, where you’ll be able to visit and host art galleries. Enjoy world class visuals and pounding techno music in the Sint-Baafskathedraal, converted into a dark night club. Unleash your salsa moves on the Polé Polé pontons. Honor our fire spewing dragon on top of the Belfort!
Lastly, we want to point out we’re trying to make this for everybody. So if you’re not an artist, if you don't own VR hardware, if you’re not a gamer, don’t worry: you don’t have to in order to take part in what will be Ghent’s latest rebellion.
If you don't own a credit card or are otherwise unable to donate through this site, we're also accepting donations at which we transfer anonymously :)
Ghent Theft Auto will be available for desktop & mobile, with a first release on the first day of the Gentse Feesten. Thanks to your support! <3
Organizer
Lucas Selfslagh
Organizer
Ghent, VLG