Slightly Mad's crowdfunding platform raises $660K for C.A.R.S. project

Need for Speed: Shift developer Slightly Mad Studios today revealed that its recently launched crowd-funding platform has already raised more than half a million Euros ($660,000) for the studio's next game. Slightly Mad launched its World of Mass Development platform late last year, with the idea that fans could directly contribute funding to the development of its racing title C.A.R.S.. Individuals can buy a "share" in the game for as little as $5, while larger groups and investors can go in for up to $100,000. The goal, Slightly Mad says, is to raise $5 million to fund a two-year development cycle. The studio then projects $53 million in profit from microtransactions for the free-to-play title -- it will keep 30 percent of those profits and distribute the rest to backers. Supporters are also able to play the game as it's being built. The crowdfunding project has only been underway since October last year, and has already reached the aforementioned half a million Euros total, with more than 40,000 members signed up. Slightly Mad's CEO Ian Bell said, "It's great to see our WMP portal performing well. It's nothing less than a revolutionary new approach to game development and funding. It allows developers to make the game they want to make, without undue publisher pressure."