Looking into this Kickstarter thing, it seems to be quite groovy. It also requires a hell of a lot of trust on the part of the investor as there seems to be pretty much nothing at all stopping the project creator from taking the money (assuming the target was met) and then doing fuck all.
But I guess that's why it's an investment and not a purchase. That inherent risk will always be there.
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SteevLWhat can I do for you?Registered Userregular
When I went to bed last night, it was at 185k. I expected it to be around 300k when I woke up, but no, it was at 440k. And just now it passed 475k!
It's the third thing I've contributed to on Kickstarter, the first being 2PP's documentary on Minecraft (which I hope is done soon) and the second being Indie Game: The Movie (looking forward to seeing that one!).
This is the single most intresting thing that has happened to the industry that I can think of.
If they really do break $1mil (which, they are above $500k now...), it really starts to raise a lot of questions.
I mean, I know NOTHING about production and publishing and ANY of that - but if this really legitimizes kickstarter as a viable thing for bigger studios (Double Fine I consider kind of big, in the sense that I've heard of it and other than Zeboyd I couldn't name any studio that isn't associated with a bigger company), the whole "We'd love to make that but they won't let us" thing could be out the window.
I imagine, for example, Sega or someone may be more likely to publish Alpha Protocol 2 if Obsidian went to them and said "We already have $1 million in backing for this project to bring to the table."
I mean, I know in the grand scheme thats a fraction of the budget, but still. Being able to use Kickstarter as a negotiation tool for some of these smaller projects would be game changing.
If an unannounced point and click adventure can generate this in 2 days - imagine if the devs went this route for Mirrors Edge 2? Beyond Good and Evil 2?
PSN: mxmarks - WiiU: mxmarks - twitter: @ MikesPS4 - twitch.tv/mxmarks - "Yes, mxmarks is the King of Queens" - Unbreakable Vow
@mxmarks, that is exactly what interests me most about this whole venture.
part of me is literally giddy with the thought that this might change the publishing game even slightly, It put's the power to green-light new games back into our hands rather than some focus groups.
Larger games would be significantly harder to do, given how astronomical their budgets can be. Though as this is showing right now, having the right people associated with a project can really increase turn out. The bonuses they have for you paying more has probably helped significantly as well. We'll just have to see how big this gets. Honestly, though, I would really like it if this sort of thing could be used to jump start games that supposedly a lot of people want, but investors aren't so hot on (Darkstalkers 2, anyone?).
I also think this could be used for more than games, like maybe DVD sets and the like. Make it so that at certain goals, more and more is added to the set. Let goal #1 be just the episodes, goal #2 be additional commentary, goal #3 an actual item or poster, etc.
I also think this could be used for more than games, like maybe DVD sets and the like. Make it so that at certain goals, more and more is added to the set. Let goal #1 be just the episodes, goal #2 be additional commentary, goal #3 an actual item or poster, etc.
The only problem with going down that path is it would encourage omissions rather than inclusion, Companies would be more likely to hold content to ransom until a milestone was met rather than using those milestones to fund creation of new content.
I fully agree with your concept in theory, but don't trust the companies to do it correctly.
So, where's Nathan Fillion's kickstart page promising more episodes of Firefly? I bet that would gain money twice as fast.
edit:
Heh, or take it to the next level... Combine the two projects. A Firefly adventure game designed by Double Fine. Voice work by Nathan. Written by Joss Whedon... I'd be a bum in a cardboard box, but I'd be a happy bum.
I'd wager the reason why they decided to go through Kickstarter is because they've got the infrastructure already in place to handle the funding transactions as well as the potential for reimbursement should funding not have come through. Certainly based on everyone's reaction (mine included) there was no way this kind of response was anticipated, so you definitely wanted to insure against the possibility that the game wouldn't have been funded.
I think it's fantastic, though. I love watching companies trying new business strategies. I think this'll pave the way for some other development houses/big names to do some self-funding and publishing, which will make the market really interesting.
Double Fine is basically the perfect test company for this, though, as I have a hard time thinking of another development house with as much proven success, public goodwill, and independence to manage this response.
@mxmarks, that is exactly what interests me most about this whole venture.
part of me is literally giddy with the thought that this might change the publishing game even slightly, It put's the power to green-light new games back into our hands rather than some focus groups.
we're on the same page.
Although there are disadvantages to this system, I hope that this will in some way crush people like kotick who aren't interested in making good games as much as they are in their financial bottom line.
USE -> wax lips -> moose head!
So, where's Nathan Fillion's kickstart page promising more episodes of Firefly? I bet that would gain money twice as fast.
edit:
Heh, or take it to the next level... Combine the two projects. A Firefly adventure game designed by Double Fine. Voice work by Nathan. Written by Joss Whedon... I'd be a bum in a cardboard box, but I'd be a happy bum.
You know, I'd honestly be curious to see how much money a Firefly kickstarter might raise.
I'd contribute up to $200 to a Joss Whedon kickstarter thing where the ultimate goal was to have Joss officially state that Serenity was all just a dream that Wash was having.
Because,
Everyone has a price. Throw enough gold around and someone will risk disintegration.
I'd contribute up to $200 to a Joss Whedon kickstarter thing where the ultimate goal was to have Joss officially state that Serenity was all just a dream that Wash was having.
Because,
I'd see your pledge, and double it. Serenity didn't happen.
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AegeriTiny wee bacteriumsPlateau of LengRegistered Userregular
This has been a great year, first a genuine XCOM remake and now to see this succeed is just amazing. They are totally going well over their budget they wanted. What I want to know is who donated 10k?! That's a lot of monies, but apparently the lunch reward is sold out!
I wonder with the excess funding they have if they would consider an iOS version (if possible).
I also think this could be used for more than games, like maybe DVD sets and the like. Make it so that at certain goals, more and more is added to the set. Let goal #1 be just the episodes, goal #2 be additional commentary, goal #3 an actual item or poster, etc.
The only problem with going down that path is it would encourage omissions rather than inclusion, Companies would be more likely to hold content to ransom until a milestone was met rather than using those milestones to fund creation of new content.
I fully agree with your concept in theory, but don't trust the companies to do it correctly.
I'm moderately sure that this is part of why Kickstarter is an all or nothing sort of deal. That said, I pretty recently gave to a company that was doing exactly this for everything received in excess of their goal. In that case though, it was more along the lines of: "Give us enough money to do the first expansion too, and everyone above a certain level gets a copy of the first expansion." I think the sort of stuff that shows up on collector's edition dvds needs to stay in about the slots that it is now (that is, in the "you gave us a hundredish dollars" range) for me to think that the project is one I want to give money to.
edit: 590,000 on a goal of 400,000 with more than a month left to go. Not too shabby. I could easily see this making enough money to get some fairly serious attention.
Okay, are there people under the impression that this is some small-time outfit who made a Kickstarter to get some money to make their game? Because this isn't anything like that at all.
Not that I know of. Double Fine is a well respected and reliable developer with so many good ideas they must steal them via that dream machine from Inception.
Okay, are there people under the impression that this is some small-time outfit who made a Kickstarter to get some money to make their game? Because this isn't anything like that at all.
I think its more that people are curious about the systems in place to see that creators provide what was promised in a general sense, the double fine kickstarter is just being used as an example because it has a lot of money behind it and is going on right now.
Okay, are there people under the impression that this is some small-time outfit who made a Kickstarter to get some money to make their game? Because this isn't anything like that at all.
I think its more that people are curious about the systems in place to see that creators provide what was promised in a general sense, the double fine kickstarter is just being used as an example because it has a lot of money behind it and is going on right now.
Pretty much this. Doublefine is a big enough name to get this ball rolling, but I'm much more interested in where the ball is going to go. The basic problem I have with Kickstarter is that I don't help fund projects where I don't recognize someone working on it. Given that games can be fairly expensive, it seems like this could be a challenge. Those projects are the ones that make this thing with Doublefine interesting to me, rather than Doublefine's project (because, honestly, I had no doubts that this would get funded. Although the rate at which money is accumulating is impressive).
I don't think the studios have a path to do it, other than getting some sort of legislation passed that interferes with it. I think far more likely is the studios farming their high risk products out to Kickstarter (although that could be my optimism speaking). Assuming that actually happens, it could be a fairly effective way for studios to start new franchises or experiment with new ideas.
edit: as far as ways, I think requiring organizations to rigorously the identities of investors into a project is the most straightforward way to go. Say, put in a requirement of checking a photo ID. The overhead alone is enough to cause real problems for crowd sourcing. I'd hope Congress wouldn't be dumb enough to pass it, but that and $5 will buy me lunch.
About the Project
Over a six-to-eight month period, a small team under Tim Schafer's supervision will develop Double Fine's next game, a classic point-and-click adventure. Where it goes from there will unfold in real time for all the backers to see.
They need that extra money to buy the official Double Fine yacht that turns into a jet, and at this rate they're nowhere near that goal. How can they build this game without a yacht that turns into a jet?
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SteevLWhat can I do for you?Registered Userregular
Regardless, they have been in contact with Notch ever since he said he'd fund Psychonauts 2 the other day. We might see something come out of that sometime down the road.
But this most definitely wasn't the result of that. This had obviously been in the works for a while.
Regardless, they have been in contact with Notch ever since he said he'd fund Psychonauts 2 the other day. We might see something come out of that sometime down the road.
But this most definitely wasn't the result of that. This had obviously been in the works for a while.
And they probably felt it a good idea to announce it now, while all the internet was talking about them and Notch.
So what happens if the game's no good? Does that stop something like this from ever happening again?
I think it depends on why its no good. If it seems like the developers took the money and ran, then yes. If it seems like they gave it a really serious shot, but it just wasn't much fun then no. Not, honestly, that I'm really worried with these folks.
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30 also gets you HD downloads of the Documentary.
But I guess that's why it's an investment and not a purchase. That inherent risk will always be there.
It's the third thing I've contributed to on Kickstarter, the first being 2PP's documentary on Minecraft (which I hope is done soon) and the second being Indie Game: The Movie (looking forward to seeing that one!).
My Backloggery
I wonder how big it will be after the 33 days are over.
More power to them.
Bravely Default / 3DS Friend Code = 3394-3571-1609
If they really do break $1mil (which, they are above $500k now...), it really starts to raise a lot of questions.
I mean, I know NOTHING about production and publishing and ANY of that - but if this really legitimizes kickstarter as a viable thing for bigger studios (Double Fine I consider kind of big, in the sense that I've heard of it and other than Zeboyd I couldn't name any studio that isn't associated with a bigger company), the whole "We'd love to make that but they won't let us" thing could be out the window.
I imagine, for example, Sega or someone may be more likely to publish Alpha Protocol 2 if Obsidian went to them and said "We already have $1 million in backing for this project to bring to the table."
I mean, I know in the grand scheme thats a fraction of the budget, but still. Being able to use Kickstarter as a negotiation tool for some of these smaller projects would be game changing.
If an unannounced point and click adventure can generate this in 2 days - imagine if the devs went this route for Mirrors Edge 2? Beyond Good and Evil 2?
part of me is literally giddy with the thought that this might change the publishing game even slightly, It put's the power to green-light new games back into our hands rather than some focus groups.
Bravely Default / 3DS Friend Code = 3394-3571-1609
I also think this could be used for more than games, like maybe DVD sets and the like. Make it so that at certain goals, more and more is added to the set. Let goal #1 be just the episodes, goal #2 be additional commentary, goal #3 an actual item or poster, etc.
I fully agree with your concept in theory, but don't trust the companies to do it correctly.
Bravely Default / 3DS Friend Code = 3394-3571-1609
Wow.
So, where's Nathan Fillion's kickstart page promising more episodes of Firefly? I bet that would gain money twice as fast.
edit:
Heh, or take it to the next level... Combine the two projects. A Firefly adventure game designed by Double Fine. Voice work by Nathan. Written by Joss Whedon... I'd be a bum in a cardboard box, but I'd be a happy bum.
I think it's fantastic, though. I love watching companies trying new business strategies. I think this'll pave the way for some other development houses/big names to do some self-funding and publishing, which will make the market really interesting.
Double Fine is basically the perfect test company for this, though, as I have a hard time thinking of another development house with as much proven success, public goodwill, and independence to manage this response.
we're on the same page.
Although there are disadvantages to this system, I hope that this will in some way crush people like kotick who aren't interested in making good games as much as they are in their financial bottom line.
USE -> wax lips -> moose head!
You know, I'd honestly be curious to see how much money a Firefly kickstarter might raise.
Because,
I'd see your pledge, and double it. Serenity didn't happen.
I wonder with the excess funding they have if they would consider an iOS version (if possible).
edit: 590,000 on a goal of 400,000 with more than a month left to go. Not too shabby. I could easily see this making enough money to get some fairly serious attention.
Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
I think its more that people are curious about the systems in place to see that creators provide what was promised in a general sense, the double fine kickstarter is just being used as an example because it has a lot of money behind it and is going on right now.
I love the future, guys.
Both figuratively AND literally.
Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
On what grounds? I don't see any petty copyright issues they could go with.
edit: as far as ways, I think requiring organizations to rigorously the identities of investors into a project is the most straightforward way to go. Say, put in a requirement of checking a photo ID. The overhead alone is enough to cause real problems for crowd sourcing. I'd hope Congress wouldn't be dumb enough to pass it, but that and $5 will buy me lunch.
Over a six-to-eight month period, a small team under Tim Schafer's supervision will develop Double Fine's next game, a classic point-and-click adventure. Where it goes from there will unfold in real time for all the backers to see.
Is this game not Psychonauts 2?
I'm sure they'll find something.
Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
No, it isn't.
Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
Regardless, they have been in contact with Notch ever since he said he'd fund Psychonauts 2 the other day. We might see something come out of that sometime down the road.
But this most definitely wasn't the result of that. This had obviously been in the works for a while.
My Backloggery
And they probably felt it a good idea to announce it now, while all the internet was talking about them and Notch.