What I want to know is whether there is any evidence that the big name/celeb projects are hurting the smaller indie game campaigns. Or is the opposite true?
Opposite, so far. The released data by Kickstarter shows that after Double Fine Adventure, video game-related Kickstarters in general, even ones that were midway through their campaigns, started getting a really big boost. Double Fine was big enough that it got more people invested in Kickstarter as a platform, and it boosted the area around it.
Whether or not this effect will continue, or if there is a saturation point where big names don't bring in more people but do pull interest from smaller projects, however, is still a really big looming question over the crowdfunding concept.
You should keep it there! That's the secret Lucas number from THX 1138, his first film. He makes references to it everywhere. It also made it's way into Escape From Monkey Island where the ghost priest tells Guybrush that the one of the traits of the Anti LeChuck has the number 1138 stamped on his forehead.
What I want to know is whether there is any evidence that the big name/celeb projects are hurting the smaller indie game campaigns. Or is the opposite true?
In short - 9 year old girl teased by her two brothers wants just over $800 to go to a summer camp where she could learn to make an RPG Maker game.
Already, this is questionable, as one of the rules of Kickstarter is:
No "fund my life" projects
Examples include projects to pay tuition or bills, to go on vacation, or to buy a new camera.
On top of this, the project description (ostensibly written by said 9 year old girl, even though it's clearly her mother imitating a 9 year old) states that she "really want my very own laptop". She outright states in the same paragraph that she already has a Mac desktop and a KindleHD, as well as saying she has a PS3 (and her fav. game ATM is Dragon Age 2, but hey, she's 9, I'll cut her some slack for that). Hmm.
Kinda odd so far, right? Well, it got worse.
Here's the description for the $10,000 (which no-one in their right mind would ever pledge, but that doesn't detract from the fact that it's still a physical option!):
ROCK STAR REWARD LEVEL: At this level, you get everything from the previous levels plus a personal apology from her brothers and the satisfaction of knowing that you've not only started a career, you've also helped to fund future courses in computer programming for her along with more (and better) games!
See that underlined bit? Yeah. I didn't make that up.
Oh, and then there's an absolutely massive image I'll just link to (since it's so massive): Click to view
Basically it spells out that the girl's mother, who made the Kickstarter, has been sending twitter message all over the place when Kickstarter explicitly says not to send unsolicited @-replies over twitter, has been involved in some very shady (and profitable) schemes involving her company The Judgement Group and a previous technological startup company that was sold for $100 million and made her one of FORTUNE's Top Ten Female Entrepeneurs, claims not to be particularly rich but tweets about buying expensive shoes ($1,500 for a pair of shoes!) and allows her 9 year old daughter to play games clearly rated M.
Discounting the last point (which is an entirely different subject altogether), this entire project is looking incredibly skeezy and people are very much voicing their disapproval.
In short - 9 year old girl teased by her two brothers wants just over $800 to go to a summer camp where she could learn to make an RPG Maker game.
I found this to be a really, really funny idea and would have been happy for the mother if it worked out - until I saw how much money people are throwing at this.
There are creative people out there who REALLY need your money, all right??? And that mother just needed a 1,000 bucks. What essentially happens now is that the rest of the money (currently over 20,000$) goes to charity (as promised by the mother). So WHY THE FUCK don't the additional backers just give the FUCKING money to charity directly instead of TO KICKSTARTER AND AMAZON FUCKING PAYMENTS as well?
God damn waste of money by intellectually impaired people who missed their chance to do good.
Sure, Kickstarter loves it. They get their percentage.
Please note AGAIN this campaign was approved by Kickstarter. If you have a problem with that, contact Kickstarter.
I'll never back crowdfunding projects via Kickstarter/credit card/Amazon Payments. It's PayPal all the way.
I think it was George Lucas who said something like "When the bear is slaughtered, you don't leave the fur behind". That's what the mother must be thinking... I believe it's the American way. :rolleyes:
This Kickstarter is spamming people on Twitter; it is being used to buy a simple laptop for someone who can obviously more than afford it themselves; and it is being used to pay tuition for a computer camp. All of these things are against KS's Terms of Service Agreement.
They probably SHOULDN'T be supporting it though. I don't really have a problem with the fact that the family can probably afford this without the Kickstarter, it's that it breaks the damned rules and it's not even being subtle about it. The evidence is right there, on that picture, clear as day.
If they're not going to stop this project, Kickstarter needs to say why and they'd damn well better give a good reason. I'm not relying on HER word for it that they're supporting her. She's hardly proven herself the most reliable person in the world.
Also, it sets a dangerous precedent for what others will try to do. What if I want to start a Kickstarter to buy a motorbike? With a few very carefully worded phrases, I can make it seem completely legitimate despite being in flagrant breach of the rules, very much like this.
If they're not going to stop this project, Kickstarter needs to say why and they'd damn well better give a good reason. I'm not relying on HER word for it that they're supporting her. She's hardly proven herself the most reliable person in the world.
True, but faking that entire letter from Kickstarter's "John" would be a bit over the top.
Salutations, good people of Telltale Games!! You bunch look like the kind of people that do enjoy some good quality comic books and graphic novels. Well if you do, then you may very well be intrigued in this little venture...
I'm a member of Zenpop Indie Comics - an Irish independent publisher and collaborative group of original comics and webcomics.
And we have a dream.
A dream... to make the most bitchin' technicolored anthology of 11 (YES, ELEVEN!) original comics from some of Ireland's up-and-coming comic artists (including myself! :'D)
This anthology is titled Chroma - and each story will be illustrated in a chosen hue of the colour spectrum.
Below is a sample page of the story I'm working for the anthology: a magenta hued story titled Das My Bai.
And some concepts:
But of course... this is where we need your help. We have 20 days left to reach our goal of £5,000, and we are not even at £1,000 yet.
The gifts you'll receive for donating are something else really: £5 gets you a mention in the book whilst £10 gets you an actual copy of the printed book.
And it gets better: t-shirts, posters, key-chains... and even a chance to get a 20 comic drawn about you by any of the artists of Chroma of your choice!! Seriously, man. I so would.
If you forumites could even just spread the word about this campaign, I would be eternally grateful.
SO LO AND BEHOLD, THE KICKSTARTER PAGE ITSELF (it even has a sweet video showcasing our work and all the information you need)
Well, that's why he still HAS money. On board with the project, but not so much to fully fund it. I've heard many interviews with the man and there is a whole lot of "I'd be really cool if...", "I'd really love to..." and "if someone were to..." going on. Just not so much willing to throw everything he's earned to do it.
Besides, it's not the entire Star Trek franchise. It's just an off-shoot that can easily be ignored if you should so choose. It's not like they're making a massive Hollywood blockbuster or anything.
I didn't care much for it. For one thing, the Enterprise having the "M" nomenclature this early in time was unexplained. And the only way I knew it wasn't supposed to be the Prime universe was because of the rapidly mounting number of things that made no sense; as opposed to the official 2009 film where it was immediately apparent that the timeline was supposed to be different.
I have said, after watching various fan edits, that the best thing a fan made product can do is to appear as though it's not fan made. I can not say that about "Of Gods and Men."
Eh, I'm a casual fan of the series - I'm not particularly hung up on the fine details like M nomenclatures and whatnot. As long as it feels Star Trek-ish, I'll be relatively satisfied.
If you backed that Jane Jenson Pinkerton Road Studio thing, then check your Kickstarter messages, 'cause she's shared the first playable Alpha of the eternally misspelt Moebius (it's the e that throws me off).
Comments
Whether or not this effect will continue, or if there is a saturation point where big names don't bring in more people but do pull interest from smaller projects, however, is still a really big looming question over the crowdfunding concept.
Oh wait, we'll have to deduct Paypal? Well, then it's, errr... 0 for me.
Actually, Amazon Payments or Kickstarter do not have much fun with my donations... but ebay. ebay loves them.
The first snes game in 15 years.
What happens if the classic Atari/Amiga/Sinclair Wedge Computer look was still around today.
Oh great. Finally, a computer again where I can pour Coke on the keyboard and ruin the entire hardware in the process.
I'd like to add that I've had more restraint as of late.
...I really see this as more "sad" than bragging.
I'm slightly ashamed that I know this.
But to get back on topic, here's a pretty indie adventure game that you should throw your money at: http://igg.me/at/ithaka/x/137932
I even like the teaser site - didn't much care for the graphics they had already shown.
Soon to be quite a bit more with the Kickstarter for "Risk of Rain" coming out later this month.
Statistics show that it actually helps them.
Well, that's how I ended up sending so much, anyway.
http://fundthegap.com/pitch/public/90/building-the-successful-rastamouse-into-an-international-childrens-brand
for the question "Who is Rastamouse?"
here are some samplers
an episode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26n5z0041dc
wicked tunes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqRaeFx_7Es
http://www.nhaccuatui.com/bai-hat/cookin-and-jammin-rastamouse.kdHYM6LVAb.html
http://www.nhaccuatui.com/bai-hat/grove-town-rastamouse.hmnOnx5ql0.html
http://www.nhaccuatui.com/bai-hat/give-it-up-for-da-easy-crew-tv-series-theme-tune-rastamouse.QqsBH27zNd.html
Apparently so.
In short - 9 year old girl teased by her two brothers wants just over $800 to go to a summer camp where she could learn to make an RPG Maker game.
Already, this is questionable, as one of the rules of Kickstarter is: On top of this, the project description (ostensibly written by said 9 year old girl, even though it's clearly her mother imitating a 9 year old) states that she "really want my very own laptop". She outright states in the same paragraph that she already has a Mac desktop and a KindleHD, as well as saying she has a PS3 (and her fav. game ATM is Dragon Age 2, but hey, she's 9, I'll cut her some slack for that). Hmm.
Kinda odd so far, right? Well, it got worse.
Here's the description for the $10,000 (which no-one in their right mind would ever pledge, but that doesn't detract from the fact that it's still a physical option!):
See that underlined bit? Yeah. I didn't make that up.
Oh, and then there's an absolutely massive image I'll just link to (since it's so massive): Click to view
Basically it spells out that the girl's mother, who made the Kickstarter, has been sending twitter message all over the place when Kickstarter explicitly says not to send unsolicited @-replies over twitter, has been involved in some very shady (and profitable) schemes involving her company The Judgement Group and a previous technological startup company that was sold for $100 million and made her one of FORTUNE's Top Ten Female Entrepeneurs, claims not to be particularly rich but tweets about buying expensive shoes ($1,500 for a pair of shoes!) and allows her 9 year old daughter to play games clearly rated M.
Discounting the last point (which is an entirely different subject altogether), this entire project is looking incredibly skeezy and people are very much voicing their disapproval.
I found this to be a really, really funny idea and would have been happy for the mother if it worked out - until I saw how much money people are throwing at this.
There are creative people out there who REALLY need your money, all right??? And that mother just needed a 1,000 bucks. What essentially happens now is that the rest of the money (currently over 20,000$) goes to charity (as promised by the mother). So WHY THE FUCK don't the additional backers just give the FUCKING money to charity directly instead of TO KICKSTARTER AND AMAZON FUCKING PAYMENTS as well?
God damn waste of money by intellectually impaired people who missed their chance to do good.
Sure, Kickstarter loves it. They get their percentage.
I'll never back crowdfunding projects via Kickstarter/credit card/Amazon Payments. It's PayPal all the way.
If if someone has? Why doesn't KS take the project down?
Have a look at the last update please. Kickstarter is actively supporting this. The quote in my last post is from that very last update.
If they're not going to stop this project, Kickstarter needs to say why and they'd damn well better give a good reason. I'm not relying on HER word for it that they're supporting her. She's hardly proven herself the most reliable person in the world.
Also, it sets a dangerous precedent for what others will try to do. What if I want to start a Kickstarter to buy a motorbike? With a few very carefully worded phrases, I can make it seem completely legitimate despite being in flagrant breach of the rules, very much like this.
True, but faking that entire letter from Kickstarter's "John" would be a bit over the top.
I'm a member of Zenpop Indie Comics - an Irish independent publisher and collaborative group of original comics and webcomics.
And we have a dream.
A dream... to make the most bitchin' technicolored anthology of 11 (YES, ELEVEN!) original comics from some of Ireland's up-and-coming comic artists (including myself! :'D)
This anthology is titled Chroma - and each story will be illustrated in a chosen hue of the colour spectrum.
Below is a sample page of the story I'm working for the anthology: a magenta hued story titled Das My Bai.
And some concepts:
But of course... this is where we need your help. We have 20 days left to reach our goal of £5,000, and we are not even at £1,000 yet.
The gifts you'll receive for donating are something else really: £5 gets you a mention in the book whilst £10 gets you an actual copy of the printed book.
And it gets better: t-shirts, posters, key-chains... and even a chance to get a 20 comic drawn about you by any of the artists of Chroma of your choice!! Seriously, man. I so would.
If you forumites could even just spread the word about this campaign, I would be eternally grateful.
SO LO AND BEHOLD, THE KICKSTARTER PAGE ITSELF (it even has a sweet video showcasing our work and all the information you need)
You can also simply donate to the campaign too via paypal.
For more information, artist bios, more concept work and sneak previews, check out the campaign elsewhere:
Honourable mentions:
Thank you for reading!! ♥
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/torment-tides-of-numenera
Yeah. I wish I had enough money to play golf like Alice Cooper apparently has. I don't understand why I should essentially give him MORE money.
Yeah, they're taking donations for props now.
...
I'm rapidly beginning to regret backing this now.
You should have started immediately after funding. Why would one want to put the Star Trek franchise into the hands of entirely uninventive fans?
Besides, it's not the entire Star Trek franchise. It's just an off-shoot that can easily be ignored if you should so choose. It's not like they're making a massive Hollywood blockbuster or anything.
I have said, after watching various fan edits, that the best thing a fan made product can do is to appear as though it's not fan made. I can not say that about "Of Gods and Men."
If you backed that Jane Jenson Pinkerton Road Studio thing, then check your Kickstarter messages, 'cause she's shared the first playable Alpha of the eternally misspelt Moebius (it's the e that throws me off).