1st example of the dark side of Kickstarter?

iridescence

So basically I pledged a while ago for this game Unwritten Passage that looked good. Today the guy sent an update explaining that he had run out of money because of health problems and....

 

But I’m not ready to completely call it quits and say that Unwritten Passage is dead forever. However, to say that the project as I pitched it is alive and well would be beyond naive. It would be dishonest. It lives on as my personal side project, something I hope to bring about on my own and through the help of talented friends when possible. And should it come to be I will do my best to deliver on my original promises… but I have to be honest. To many this is probably the end.

 

To his credit he did offer to try to refund the money and I'll ask for one so I'm not really angry but it is a good illustration of the fact the Kickstarting is not pre-ordering. Luckily it was one of the cheaper KS projects I've backed.

 

 

ViperDragon

You're right - he does seem genuine.  I've backed a number of indie movies on Kickstarter and, so far so good, had no problems. 

Laeesh

why does this say something about kickstarter as a platform ?

Bjelar

Originally posted by iridescence

So basically I pledged a while ago for this game Unwritten Passage that looked good. Today the guy sent an update explaining that he had run out of money because of health problems and....

 

But I’m not ready to completely call it quits and say that Unwritten Passage is dead forever. However, to say that the project as I pitched it is alive and well would be beyond naive. It would be dishonest. It lives on as my personal side project, something I hope to bring about on my own and through the help of talented friends when possible. And should it come to be I will do my best to deliver on my original promises… but I have to be honest. To many this is probably the end.

 

To his credit he did offer to try to refund the money and I'll ask for one so I'm not really angry but it is a good illustration of the fact the Kickstarting is not pre-ordering. Luckily it was one of the cheaper KS projects I've backed.

 

 

I`ve always seen kckstarter as a way to make ppl invest in your project. If the project fails, investors should lose their money.

Instead I see kickstartecampaigns where they offer so much stuff that I doubt they raise any money at all towards the project.

Then I see ppl complaint, because this other kickstarter campaign gave them soo much more shinies for their buck.

Is it just PR? I cant believe he would kill the project if he can afford to pay his investors (you) back. He should spend the money he raises.

Golelorn

Its not a dark side. Its reality. You are more investing than you are preordering. To think otherwise is totally naive. Most of these projects will fail, if not all. I'm unaware of any live MMO that was crowdfunded. I'm actually unaware of any PC game, tbh. I bet there are a few atrocious ones, though. Anyone know of a quality crowdfunded PC game?

JJ82

While the idea of the game was decent I would not have backed it just due to the fact that the company website lists the "company" as three people. One, a "core" team member on several projects. Another is "new" to the professional game scene and the third is a music composer.

No leadership history or game design history at all with 1 programmer with experience.

All around bad investment.

iridescence

Originally posted by Golelorn
Its not a dark side. Its reality. You are more investing than you are preordering. To think otherwise is totally naive. Most of these projects will fail, if not all. I'm unaware of any live MMO that was crowdfunded. I'm actually unaware of any PC game, tbh. I bet there are a few atrocious ones, though. Anyone know of a quality crowdfunded PC game?

"Dark side" is maybe a little harsh. I don't think there was any dishonest intent on this guy's part, although if he can give refunds I think he should just do it without making us all beg him for them.  I posted this more as a warning to those who still think backing a KS means you will definitely get a game in every case.

 

SEANMCAD

Originally posted by iridescence

So basically I pledged a while ago for this game Unwritten Passage that looked good. Today the guy sent an update explaining that he had run out of money because of health problems and....

 

But I’m not ready to completely call it quits and say that Unwritten Passage is dead forever. However, to say that the project as I pitched it is alive and well would be beyond naive. It would be dishonest. It lives on as my personal side project, something I hope to bring about on my own and through the help of talented friends when possible. And should it come to be I will do my best to deliver on my original promises… but I have to be honest. To many this is probably the end.

 

To his credit he did offer to try to refund the money and I'll ask for one so I'm not really angry but it is a good illustration of the fact the Kickstarting is not pre-ordering. Luckily it was one of the cheaper KS projects I've backed.

 

 

I love my Oculus Rift, Xyson and Wurm Online.

I would be bored to death otherwise.

Quizzical

First example?  Really?  Expect an awful lot of vaporware to get funded on Kickstarter.

ViperDragon

Originally posted by Quizzical
First example?  Really?  Expect an awful lot of vaporware to get funded on Kickstarter.

Unfortunately, after reading this thread, I went a read a few articles and discovered there's a lot of this going around.  I'm not saying the OP's issue was not genuine, though.  I was interested because I fund a lot of indie movies (in the horror genre).

Fearum

Do people actually read anything before they throw money at stuff? You should have known that there is a chance you're not going to get anything before you even look into anything on kickstarter. Do some research people!

Ginaz

Kickstarter projects aren't pre-orders or an investment.  Its more like a donation with the possibility of getting something back in return. 

Quizzical

Originally posted by ViperDragon

Originally posted by Quizzical
First example?  Really?  Expect an awful lot of vaporware to get funded on Kickstarter.

Unfortunately, after reading this thread, I went a read a few articles and discovered there's a lot of this going around.  I'm not saying the OP's issue was not genuine, though.  I was interested because I fund a lot of indie movies (in the horror genre).

I could have told you that would happen the day I found out what Kickstarter is.  How many polished games are delivered on time and on budget, even when made by professionals with a ton of experience?  Having a bunch of amateurs try it doesn't improve the prospects of success, and not having additional funding available to handle the inevitable budget overruns is going to kill an awful lot of projects.

iridescence

Originally posted by Fearum
Do people actually read anything before they throw money at stuff? You should have known that there is a chance you're not going to get anything before you even look into anything on kickstarter. Do some research people!

I did know it was a risk. I'm not complaining. I just thought it was an interesting thing to post about.

 

Psion33

Originally posted by cura
If he is so honest maybe he should open source the game and let other people finish it.

 

No way in hell. Little dogs don't deserve a lick at the pot.

 

I'm amazed you would even suggest that.

 

Fearum

Originally posted by iridescence

Originally posted by Fearum
Do people actually read anything before they throw money at stuff? You should have known that there is a chance you're not going to get anything before you even look into anything on kickstarter. Do some research people!

I did know it was a risk. I'm not complaining. I just thought it was an interesting thing to post about.

 

It's kind of like saying drugs or alcohol are bad because some people abuse them with all the kickstarter hate.

 

I don't doubt a majority of the kickstarters might fail, they are after all unable to get funded by the big guys. I only threw in money on 2 kickstarters (Shroud of the Avatar & Camelot Unchained), both are from players in the industry and I doubt they would risk their reputation and burn people by not coming through with what they are promising.

Psion33

Originally posted by Fearum

Originally posted by iridescence

Originally posted by Fearum
Do people actually read anything before they throw money at stuff? You should have known that there is a chance you're not going to get anything before you even look into anything on kickstarter. Do some research people!

I did know it was a risk. I'm not complaining. I just thought it was an interesting thing to post about.

 

It's kind of like saying drugs or alcohol are bad because some people abuse them.

 

Now on the other hand, requiring or "building for" kickstarter, that truly is evil...because you know from the beginning you most likely would never receive enough funding to get the project going.

Kyleran

Originally posted by Ginaz
Kickstarter projects aren't pre-orders or an investment.  Its more like a donation with the possibility of getting something back in return. 

Perhaps not quite the donation you thought they were

http://www.inc.com/eric-markowitz/when-kickstarter-investors-want-their-money-back.html'

Fearum

Originally posted by Psion33

Originally posted by Fearum

Originally posted by iridescence

Originally posted by Fearum
Do people actually read anything before they throw money at stuff? You should have known that there is a chance you're not going to get anything before you even look into anything on kickstarter. Do some research people!

I did know it was a risk. I'm not complaining. I just thought it was an interesting thing to post about.

 

It's kind of like saying drugs or alcohol are bad because some people abuse them.

 

Now on the other hand, requiring or "building for" kickstarter, that truly is evil...because you know from the beginning you most likely would never receive enough funding to get the project going.

Didn't the Oculus Rift have a kickstarter?

Sovrath

All I can say is that the two I backed seem to be going along nicely.

Among the sleep and Camelot Unchained.

But I suppose the OP's example is "an example" of what might happen depending on the project.

Quizzical

Originally posted by iridescence

Originally posted by Fearum
Do people actually read anything before they throw money at stuff? You should have known that there is a chance you're not going to get anything before you even look into anything on kickstarter. Do some research people!

I did know it was a risk. I'm not complaining. I just thought it was an interesting thing to post about.

 

If throwing a little bit of money at stuff on Kickstarter while accepting that it's likely to be vaporware is entertaining to you, then have at it.  There are more wasteful things to do with money, such as playing the lottery.

But if people seriously expect games that get funded on Kickstarter to always or even usually launch anything remotely close to what they promised, there's a problem.

Quizzical

Originally posted by Sovrath

All I can say is that the two I backed seem to be going along nicely.

Among the sleep and Camelot Unchained.

But I suppose the OP's example is "an example" of what might happen depending on the project.

Every vaporware game is going along nicely until suddenly it isn't.  So you don't actually know until the game launches.

Sovrath

Originally posted by Quizzical

Originally posted by Sovrath

All I can say is that the two I backed seem to be going along nicely.

Among the sleep and Camelot Unchained.

But I suppose the OP's example is "an example" of what might happen depending on the project.

Every vaporware game is going along nicely until suddenly it isn't.  So you don't actually know until the game launches.

Such a pessimist.

Besides that's not true at all.

You are saying that every indy project has been managed well, no issues and suddenly they flop?

but your point about professionals failing can be well taken. If either of my two backed projects make it to completion I'll drop you a note.

Among the sleep is not ambitous, so I don't see any huge issues there. They constantly keep updates and they have released videos so I feel fine with that.

Camelot Unchained seems to be run by professionals which is the only reason I gave them money.

But sure "we'll see".

 

 

Rockniss

That's terrible, you should have quadrupled your contribution instead of taking it back off of a sick man. People are so mean.

Sovrath

Originally posted by Rockniss
That's terrible, you should have quadrupled your contribution instead of taking it back off of a sick man. People are so mean.

The problem with that is that he promised to work on a product.

 

It's too easy for someone who has no intention of finishing a product to take people's money, wait a bit, and then say "oops, I'm sick can't finish".

My thought is that if there is a risk for players giving these developers money then there is also a risk that they take in that they must finish their product or at least make some effort to return at least "some" of the money.

I'm not sure what the answer is there. Does one use half the money and then take a good long hard look at the project, being honest about the progress, and then cancel and return half people's money so at least it is a show of good faith? I realize once you give money there is no guarantee and that people need to be comfortable with that but I know that I would feel horrible, regardless of reason, if I took people's money and didn't try to get at least some back to them.

And perhaps that needs to be a part of the kickstarter discussion "what happens when key members are no longer available".

 

Ramonski7

Have any of you even have a clue how misplaced your hopes and dreams are to think KS will usher in a new era of games? Seriously look at this list of failed backings and tell me which of those you were just itchin to play...