The Kickstarter Blues

[Collector]

That makes you wonder what happens to Kickstarter when someone uses it to run a scam. Even if Kickstarter is legally protected, one scam could undermine any confidence in Kickstarter.

[Blackthorne]

There's already been several scams - there's also been legitimate projects that have just gotten in over their heads.

I really think the next two years will show the fruits of what Kickstarter has wrought.  People are all excited about it, because really - at this point (for software development) it's still all POSSIBILITY, which is exciting.  But in this next year, we'll see what kind of fruit it bears.

As a positive point, I'll mention that Phoenix Online raised money for "Cognition" with Kickstarter, and they delivered the first chapter of their game last fall.

A lot of people are skeptical about Ouya, but they've been sending out their developer consoles as of recently, so there's something on that front.

Heh - as for Lore - it's definitely become a little joke amongst the Kickstarter community.

Bt

[Lupin]

You think that project doesn't make sense?  Get a load of this guy:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1376466869/lore 

... and when that didn't work out, did this:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1376466869/lore-0

This has to be one of the weirdest things I've seen on Kickstarter, to date.

That just shows the number one rule of crowdfunding when it comes to games, if it doesn't have a demo, don't support it. If all they can show you is concept art, then they are no where near an actual game so you should not waste any time supporting it

[Blackthorne]

Yeah - a lot of people have supported KS games with no demo - merely concept art and a promise. 


Bt

[Intendant S]

I've supported plenty of games without demos.  Hell, Pinkerton Road didn't even have a concept at first.  If it smells fishy I don't back it.  If it has a concept that I can get behind I'll give a little something.  If they can produce more during the Kickstarter I might even up my pledge.  You don't need to have a demo as long as you have SOMETHING to show.

[Klytos]

I think you can get away without a demo if you've got prior works to back up your ability to produce your project.

[s_d]

Heh - as for Lore - it's definitely become a little joke amongst the Kickstarter community.

Amongst the Kickstarter community?  It's definitely escaped beyond us, Blackthorne... freaking Forbes magazine picked up the story:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/12/17/meet-lore-the-most-entertaining-kickstarter-project-of-all-time/

Not sure I'd qualify it as "entertaining", personally.  I'd probably place it in the same category as a circus sideshows or museums of medical oddities. 

[Blackthorne]

Heh, I meant entertaining in the macabre way, heh - I like that "Side Show"... I didn't know it made it to FORBES!  Jeez.... look at all the press a crappy project gets.  Then a scrappy start-up like ours.... heh heh.  We'll make it to Forbes when we release what is sure to be one of the most amazing adventure games ever this year.


Bt