Defense Grid 2 gets a funding boost from Dracogen investment injection

CEO of XE.com and head of Dracogen Strategic Investments, Steven Dengler, is investing the remaining funds required to finish Hidden Path's Defense Grid 2, GamesBeat reports.

The strategy tower defense game was successfully crowdfunded in August last year, receiving a total of $271,726 in pledges from 6,291 backers, surpassing its $250,000 goal. However, the game required further funds for polish.

On the topic of independently funded games, Dengler told GamesBeat that he thinks what is "broken in the industry" is that publishers want game developers souls, so self-publishing "has to become a better option."

"Jeff didn't have to twist my arm," he said. "I'm not in this to make my fortune. This gets a game out there that people want to play. I don't want to own part of the company. I want to help make a game."

Dracogen and Dengler have invested in numerous games, including inXile Entertainment's Torment: Tides of Numenera and Double Fine Productions' Middle Manager of Justice, Stacking and Dropchord. For more information about Dengler's and Double Fine's relationship, be sure to read our Double Fine Double Feature.

Defense Grid 2 will launch for Windows PC, Mac and Linux in the first half of 2014. Defense Grid: Containment, an expansion to the first game, Defense Grid: The Awakening, released on Steam Jan. 23.