Kickstarter Too many Kickstarter projects? Is Kickstarter the new d20 glut?

Stacie GmrGrl · Jul 28, 2012

I'm really picky about joining and pledging on Kickstarter but I like seeing them as news on here. I wouldn't really know about many of them without them appearing on here, which then gets me to look further into various KS's like Obsidian Apocalypse, which I did pledge. Them releasing their free document about the setting sold me on it. I'll also be doing Werewolf 20A and Exalted 3rd edition Kickstarters when they become available.

Generally I only pledge if the person or company has a proven track record.

jmucchiello · Jul 28, 2012

Agamon said:
I didn't know this. I can back KS products through Amazon.ca. Is KS just NA-based?

You have to have a US bank account to START a KS campaign. You can pledge to KS if you can pay Amazon electronically.

ahayford · Jul 28, 2012

If you do your research, and pledge for known quantities...you'll be a lot less likely to be disappointed. Surprisingly, just like most other investments.

ColonelHardisson · Jul 28, 2012

aurance said:
I think a lot of people are blurring the line between investment and donation. Sure, if I put money into something with some expectation of return and it's all gone, I'd be upset. But with kickstarter you're funding someone's effort, not his product.

I'm not sure about the distinction you're making. If someone posts a Kickstarter project, they almost always post different "levels" of what you can expect if you donate that amount of money. That is, if they post that for $50 I'll get a print copy of a book, then I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to get a print copy of a book. If I don't, then I don't think it's unreasonable for me (or whoever) to be angry about that. I've seen some that make a distinction for small donations, saying, essentially, "thanks for the donation!" and that's all you get for it. Even if they simply say "give me $50 and I'll work on this game," then yeah, it's on me to understand that I shouldn't expect anything. Thing is, many of the ones I've looked at specifically promise an actual, tangible product in return for certain donation amounts. Any that don't, I would never support.

ahayford · Jul 28, 2012

I think aurance phrased it poorly...you are donating toward the production of a final product...but there is nothing (currently) legally binding about those price points you are donating at. I think all it will take though, is for one high profile kickstarter to go belly up before we see that challenged as fraud in court.

ColonelHardisson · Jul 28, 2012

ahayford said:
I think aurance phrased it poorly...you are donating toward the production of a final product...but there is nothing (currently) legally binding about those price points you are donating at. I think all it will take though, is for one high profile kickstarter to go belly up before we see that challenged as fraud in court.

You and aurance are right; nothing prevents someone from simply taking the money and giving nothing in return. That's a good point. That's why I discussed how important a track record is for someone who posts a Kickstarter. Someone who has a name and reputation they don't want ruined, or someone with a body of work already established, is a much better risk.

ahayford · Jul 28, 2012

And at the end of the day, when you make that pledge, you have to say to yourself...I am prepared for the eventuality that I'm just farting this money away.

ColonelHardisson · Jul 28, 2012

ahayford said:
And at the end of the day, when you make that pledge, you have to say to yourself...I am prepared for the eventuality that I'm just farting this money away.

Well, yeah, depending on whose Kickstarter you throw money at. When Steve Jackson started the OGRE Kickstarter, I don't think anyone expected it to come to nothing. They probably fully expected to get a product for the money, just as they do when they order from Steve Jackson Games.

Umbran · Jul 28, 2012

aurance said:
I think a lot of people are blurring the line between investment and donation. Sure, if I put money into something with some expectation of return and it's all gone, I'd be upset. But with kickstarter you're funding someone's effort, not his product.

That may be technically correct, but really, that's not the expectation. In a marketing sense, "Pay me to give it the good old college try" is apt to be a non-starter.

renau1g said:
"According to the research, only about 25 percent of projects ship on time, and the more a project exceeds its goal, the more delays it faces.

I'm going to guess at one of two dynamics to explain this:

1) they get more money, and figure they can expand the scope of their plans without really doing their homework, and then stumble on the hastily-planned larger project.

2) Getting overfunded is a sign that you're either really good at selling the idea, or you got amazingly lucky in the internet-meme game. Neither one is indicative of actually being able to execute the project. Good execution is usually done by good bean-counters, not exciting front-men.

scourger · Jul 28, 2012

I think it's interesting, and I've contributed to a few on kickstarter and indiegogo; but I have yet to receive the first product. There have been sporadic updates, so I feel reassured that the books are coming eventually. I probably won't do as much in the future. Whoever said that you have be discriminating is exactly right. I only back projects I would otherwise be interested in, and I am usually looking for perks like signed copies or books with fiction I wouldn't get elsewhere.