The ex-BioWare staffers behind The Banner Saga have been given a vote of approval by the Internet massive, scoring over $100,000 in crowd funding.

Stoic Games, which was founded by Star Wars: The Old Republic designers Arnie Jorgensen, Alex Thomas and John Watson, launched a Kickstarter to help fund its debut title, tactical RPG The Banner Saga.

The team asked for $100,000 and passed that total within 48 hours.

The Banner Saga is to be released in two parts. A combat-only version will be released for free in northern spring, while a full commercial release including a branching story is expected in northern autumn.

Its main attractions are tactical turn based combat, a gorgeous hand-animated style, and a mature story about vikings.

Throw a few dollars in the hat here; there are a number of neat rewards on offer.

http://www.vg247.com/2012/03/21/the-banner-saga-fully-funded-in-under-48-hours/

And I just realised I haven't posted about the kickstarter yet...

Oh my goodness I read this as Sega. Wow was I confused there! O.o It's nice to see upcoming projects being funded by the community. It would make people appreciate the game that much more.

Tempted to pledge $25. Can't resist an RPG that breaks the done to death high fantasy mould.

A little info on why you may want to donate

WHAT'S ALL THIS ABOUT BANNERS AND SAGAS?

The Banner Saga is a role-playing game merged with turn-based strategy, wrapped into an adventure mini-series about vikings.

Travel through stunning landscapes straight out of an animated film. Battle painstakingly hand-animated foes in strategic, turn-based combat harkening back to the classic "Tactics" days of gaming. Make decisions with consequences in conversations with people you'll truly care about.

And throughout the whole thing record the history of your people on your banner where it will be remembered, because soon there might not be anything left.

The Banner Saga is a mature game aimed at gamers who appreciate art, story and strategy.

THE GAME

Our first priority has always been to make a role-playing game that feels and looks fresh, and plays like the classic tactical strategy games of our childhood. It's not about defeating the villain and saving the day. It's not about grinding to get past the next fight. The Banner Saga throws you into the end of the world and asks "how do you deal with this"?

• DRM-Free, and available on PC and Mac
• Not another generic fantasy: Drawing heavily from Norse culture while creating its own identity and mythology, The Banner Saga takes a low-fantasy approach to viking themes. Giants: yes. Horned helmets: no.
• Strategic combat: Recruit a large roster of unique characters throughout the story, each with different abilities that interact in combat in a deeply tactical way and personalities of their own. The Banner Saga harkens back to classic turn-based gameplay with a strong emphasis on tactics over brute force and endless grinding.
• Travel across gorgeous landscapes: The choices you make as events arise have a huge affect on how the story plays out- who survives, who dies, and what's worth saving. Add people to your caravan as you travel, or lose them when tough decisions arise. You're not just fighting to save nameless strangers, you're fighting for your neighbors, your family and your way of life. We want you to care what happens to them.
• An emphasis on story: Your choices in dialogue and throughout the game truly affect the story and the people around you. A mature story for adults means forming relationships and making tough decisions; not sex, violence and swearing.
• Play online: Though the single-player campaign is our focus, The Banner Saga provides a deep multiplayer game; build a unique party of characters and battle friends and enemies in multiplayer combat. Upgrade your party over time and devise new strategies.
• Risk in gameplay: A lot of modern games play it safe- you know you'll defeat the evil and save the day. In The Banner Saga you can't take anything for granted. We want it to feel like a good tv mini-series; the world doesn't revolve around you, it's about how you deal with change.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stoic/the-banner-saga?ref=category

I like what I'm reading and seeing, but they won't get a dime from me until they release a good product. Don't let me down, folks!

I can't believe that these small studios are getting the support to develop these games. I thought when double fine did it that this would be a one time deal but man this is like the 5th game this year to get the support to develop their indie game. I'm still a little dumbfounded but in a very happy way.

Wow hopefully this game would be available on the psn later on.

Hmm, I can imagine a Fantasy game that is a mix bewteen Valkyria Chronicles and Mount & Blade. Would buy!!

If they raise enough money they will, not sure how much they need to raise for the port tho.