Catino Town raises $75,000 with an established fan base
Creator Alex Tino credits existing fans for most crowdfunding support as the Unity-built virtual pet game targets 2027.
Catino Town's crowdfunding campaign raised $75,000 against a $25,000 target, passing its goal in under 12 hours, according to Unity's interview with creator Alex Tino. Tino is developing the virtual pet game with programmer Thomas Cossu.
Tino said crowdfunding offered independence and control while drawing on an established audience. Based on a backer survey, Tino estimated that existing fans accounted for 80 to 90 percent of supporters.
The preparation was substantial: Tino described roughly six months of planning followed by six months of marketing and final adjustments. For developers weighing crowdfunding, the case illustrates the importance of audience development before fundraising, rather than treating a campaign as the first discovery channel.
Catino Town remains in development, with Unity listing PC and mobile launches for 2027. Tino's stated goal is a Steam launch that year.
- crowdfunding
- indie development
- virtual pets
- unity
