the guy behind the failed cthulu/monopoly Kickstarter got in trouble...

[Janx]

I remember this topic hit big a while back. There was this kickstarter for "the doom that came to atlantic city" that some ace designers made and this guy got the gig to publish it.

he got a lot of money, he used it to move himself and other non-publishing of the game things.

Well, the FTC just spanked him.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/12/t...-settlement-in-a-kickstarter-scheme.html?_r=0

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Importantly, the doom that came to "The Doom that came to Atlantic City" may have been averted, though:

Mr. Gallagher noted that another game maker had stepped in to produce the game and deliver it to Mr. Chevalier’s backers, calling that “a testament to the good will and spirit of the Kickstarter community.”

 

[Dioltach]

So that "other game maker" was the doom that came to the doom that came to "The Doom that Came to Atlantic City".

 

[Dog Moon]

And beneath the article is a link under the mini heading "Next in Technology" that directs you to the article "Sex Dolls That Talk Back". Cause no, that's not creepy at all.

And more on topic, I like how the settlement has a reached an amount of $111,794, but he doesn't have to worry about that since he doesn't actually have any money.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

It is suspended. Under certain circumstances, it can be reinstated. And, as I recall, even a suspended financial court penalty gets reported to the credit rating beaureaus.

So it is still like a Sword of Damocles.

 

[Janx]

It is suspended. Under certain circumstances, it can be reinstated. And, as I recall, even a suspended financial court penalty gets reported to the credit rating beaureaus.

So it is still like a Sword of Damocles.

which basically means, the moment this guy gets money, kersplucket, off goes his head.

I remember reading about this story when it was freshly happenening. The original designers (wotc boys I think) did get somebody to help them publish it, so the world was saved.

But folks lost their money, not because the project failed, but because the guy didn't spend the money on the project.

I like that this case sets the standard for that nonsense.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

which basically means, the moment this guy gets money, kersplucket, off goes his head.

Not quite.

Suspended sentences- of any kind- are usually suspended for a period of time- months years, etc.- and extinguished after that period has elapsed.

...unless and until you violate the terms of the suspension. Usually, that means ANY kind of violation of the law above a misdemeanor, but it could be restricted to certain kinds of crimes.

So, this guy stays on the straight & narrow for...let's say, 5 years...and after that time, he'll no longer be subject to that judgement. But if he defrauds someone else within that period of time, he'll be liable for that fraud AND the judgement in this case.

 

[Ryujin]

It's good to see something like this happen, even if it's not going to be immediately enforced. Precedent is needed to show possible crowdfunding scammers that there can and will be repercussions if they screw over their backers.

 

[Umbran]

It's good to see something like this happen, even if it's not going to be immediately enforced. Precedent is needed to show possible crowdfunding scammers that there can and will be repercussions if they screw over their backers.

As a threatening precedent... this isn't much of one. "So, if I get caught scamming people, I won't have to pay the money back - I will only really be in trouble if I get caught a second time," doesn't sound like much of a deterrent.

 

[Janx]

As a threatening precedent... this isn't much of one. "So, if I get caught scamming people, I won't have to pay the money back - I will only really be in trouble if I get caught a second time," doesn't sound like much of a deterrent.

I guess if you read it that way. The fact that the FTC got involved is nice. And it's not impossible that the next guy who tries this gets jail time instead for fraud if the FTC decides to start making examples. It's not like guys doing kickstarters (and failing) have the money t to pay for lawyers to avoid the bad stuff, so it's just a matter of time...