Limit Theory

Limit Theory was meant to be a real-time strategy game with a heavy procedural generation element. The game is played from a first or third person perspective exploring outer space. Each planet was going to be procedurally generated, and with NPCs that could be traded with. There were plans to allow the player to engage in a variety of activities, like mining planets, being a pirate, or a bounty hunter. Once enough wealth was acquired, the player could buy ships and hire pilots to expand their empire.{{cite web |last1=Rossignol |first1=Jim |title=Interview: Limit Theory Creator Josh Parnell |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/interview-limit-theory-creator-josh-parnell |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202065805/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/11/30/interview-limit-theory-creator-josh-parnell/ |archive-date=2 December 2012 |date=30 November 2012 |url-status=live}} The game's focus on freedom was inspired by The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Dave |title=Limit Theory: a solo mission to the stars |url=https://www.vg247.com/limit-theory-a-solo-mission-to-the-stars |website=VG247 |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114063254/https://www.vg247.com/2012/12/05/limit-theory-a-solo-mission-to-the-stars/ |archive-date=14 January 2017 |date=5 December 2012 |url-status=live}}

Josh Parnell, the developer of Limit Theory, launched a Kickstarter campaign on November 20, 2012, to help crowdfund the costs of producing the game. The initial funding goal for the campaign was set at $50,000, which was reached in a week.{{cite web |last1=Grayson |first1=Nathan |author1-link=Nathan Grayson |title=Little Big Universe: Limit Theory Hits Funding Goal |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/little-big-universe-limit-theory-hits-funding-goal |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723203230/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/11/27/little-big-universe-limit-theory-hits-funding-goal/ |archive-date=23 July 2019 |date=27 November 2012 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Dave |title=Limit Theory Kickstarter: space RPG gets funded, takes Elite on at its own game |url=https://www.vg247.com/limit-theory-kickstarter-space-rpg-gets-funded-takes-elite-on-at-its-own-game |website=VG247 |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114072223/https://www.vg247.com/2012/11/27/limit-theory-kickstarter-space-rpg-gets-funded-takes-elite-on-at-its-own-game/ |archive-date=14 January 2017 |date=27 November 2012 |url-status=live}} Goals for OS X and Linux ports were also reached.{{cite web |last1=Stahie |first1=Silviu |title=Limit Theory, an Infinite Space Exploration Game, Is Coming to Linux |url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/Limit-Theory-an-Infinite-Space-Exploration-Game-is-Coming-to-Linux-314614.shtml |website=Softpedia |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729030440/https://news.softpedia.com/news/Limit-Theory-an-Infinite-Space-Exploration-Game-is-Coming-to-Linux-314614.shtml |archive-date=29 July 2022 |date=13 December 2012 |url-status=live}} The Kickstarter campaign officially ended with a total of $187,865. On April 28, 2013, a playable prototype was released to backers, which was praised by Rock Paper Shotgun's Jim Rossignol, especially because it was the work of one man.{{cite web |last1=Rossignol |first1=Jim |title=Limit Theory Prototype Shows Space RTS Awesome |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/limit-theory-prototype-shows-space-rts-awesome |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004124047/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/04/29/limit-theory-prototype-shows-space-rts-awesome/ |archive-date=4 October 2018 |date=29 April 2013 |url-status=live}} Parnell posted updates on the Kickstarter page in a regular basis until February 2015. Two months later, in April, he confirmed to Rock Paper Shotgun that he was still working on the game.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Adam |title=Parnell Confirms Continuing Limit Theory Development |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/mia-limit-theorys-josh-parnell-has-gone-quiet |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813200915/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/04/08/mia-limit-theorys-josh-parnell-has-gone-quiet/ |archive-date=13 August 2020 |date=8 April 2015 |url-status=live}}

Four months later, in September, Parnell posted a new update detailing, among other things, his struggles with his mental health while developing the game alone in a cabin in the mountains of Tennessee.{{cite web |last1=Sinclair |first1=Brendan |title=This Week In The Business: Hearthstone's Death Wish? |url=https://kotaku.com/this-week-in-the-business-hearthstones-death-wish-1793910624 |website=Kotaku |publisher=Gawker Media |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621170743/https://kotaku.com/this-week-in-the-business-hearthstones-death-wish-1793910624 |archive-date=21 June 2021 |date=1 April 2017 |url-status=live}} The updates resumed their regularity, but on September 28, 2018, Josh Parnell announced the cancellation of the title, and a promise to release the source code to the public.{{cite web |last1=Bolding |first1=Jonathan |title=After 6 years, space sim Limit Theory ceases development |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/after-6-years-space-sim-limit-theory-ceases-development/ |website=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109021158/https://www.pcgamer.com/after-6-years-space-sim-limit-theory-ceases-development/ |archive-date=9 November 2020 |date=30 September 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Alice |title=Limit Theory cancelled, six years after Kickstarter |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/limit-theory-cancelled |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |publisher=Gamer Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035602/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/01/limit-theory-cancelled/ |archive-date=12 November 2020 |date=1 October 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Ivy |title=Kickstarted project Limit Theory cancelled after six years in development |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/kickstarted-project-limit-theory-cancelled-after-siz-years-in-development |website=GameIndustry.biz |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226193129/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-10-01-kickstarted-project-limit-theory-cancelled-after-siz-years-in-development |archive-date=26 February 2021 |date=1 October 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Booker |first1=Logan |title=Limit Theory's Josh Parnell Ends Development On Ambitious Space Sim |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2018/10/limit-theorys-josh-parnell-ends-development-on-ambitious-space-sim/ |website=Kotaku Australia |publisher=Gawker Media |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301015748/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2018/10/limit-theorys-josh-parnell-ends-development-on-ambitious-space-sim/ |archive-date=1 March 2021 |date=1 October 2018 |url-status=dead}} The promise was eventually fulfilled on July 24, 2022.{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Justin |title=Canceled Kickstarter game Limit Theory opens its source code |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/canceled-kickstarter-game-i-limit-theory-i-opens-its-source-code |website=Game Developer |publisher=Informa |access-date=29 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729035111/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/canceled-kickstarter-game-i-limit-theory-i-opens-its-source-code |archive-date=29 July 2022 |date=28 July 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Lane |first1=Rick |title=Limit Theory dev releases source code of the cancelled space sim, officially ends project |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/limit-theory-dev-releases-source-code-of-the-cancelled-space-sim-officially-ends-project/ |website=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729035402/https://www.pcgamer.com/limit-theory-dev-releases-source-code-of-the-cancelled-space-sim-officially-ends-project/ |archive-date=29 July 2022 |date=28 July 2022 |url-status=live}} The license chosen was the Unlicense. In addition, the 2013 prototype (only as a binary) was also uploaded to GitHub.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://ltheory.com/}}
• {{GitHub|JoshParnell/ltheory|Limit Theory}}
• {{GitHub|JoshParnell/libphx|LibPHX|link=no}}
• {{GitHub|JoshParnell/ltheory-old|Limit Theory Engine|link=no}}

Category:Cancelled Linux games

Category:Cancelled macOS games

Category:Cancelled Windows games

Category:Commercial video games with freely available source code

Category:Crowdfunded video games

Category:Kickstarter-funded video games

Category:Open-source video games

Category:Public-domain software with source code

Category:Real-time strategy video games

Category:Software using the Unlicense

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