Kickstarter moving to blockchain

[Yora]

I've talked with some people about this who seem to know a bit about the technological aspects of all of this, and their assumption was that switching to a blockchain system could be a way to improve the reliability of internal infrastructure when dealing with server outages or connection issues. Which to me sounds like it makes some kind of sense.
But it has of course nothing to do with "creativity", "backer contribution" or "bringing people together". Which really isn't to say that it's wrong. Those announcement are just alphabet soup buzzwords to impress investors.

 

[Umbran]

I've talked with some people about this who seem to know a bit about the technological aspects of all of this, and their assumption was that switching to a blockchain system could be a way to improve the reliability of internal infrastructure when dealing with server outages or connection issues. Which to me sounds like it makes some kind of sense.

If, in fact, that was the issue, they could say so pretty easily - "With the rise of some very high-volume projects, we have searched for ways to improve reliability and found...". The story that they are trying to make the system solid, secure, and reliable would be a good sell.

The fact that they don't, and that they keep to empty marketingspeak, is an indicator that reliability isn't really the reason.

 

[doctorhook]

The makers of Coyote and Crow, a recent million-dollar RPG project on Kickstarter, sent out an e-mail yesterday, saying that this move by Kickstarter means they'll have to take their crowdfunding efforts elsewhere.

Yeah, that email was where I heard about this. I immediately went looking for more info, because I surely don’t understand why Kickstarter is doing this. Still don’t, tbh.

 

[Umbran]

Still don’t, tbh.

My personal best guess is that they are looking for investment, and want the buzzwords.

 

[J.Quondam]

Yeah, that email was where I heard about this. I immediately went looking for more info, because I surely don’t understand why Kickstarter is doing this. Still don’t, tbh.

I'm about 97% certain that some exec somewhere has decided that blockchain somehow equates to easy money. That's just a guess, of course, but it meshes pretty well with most every other "application" of blockchain that's been publicized.

 

[Ulfgeir]

If, in fact, that was the issue, they could say so pretty easily - "With the rise of some very high-volume projects, we have searched for ways to improve reliability and found...". The story that they are trying to make the system solid, secure, and reliable would be a good sell.

The fact that they don't, and that they keep to empty marketingspeak, is an indicator that reliability isn't really the reason.

As far as I could tell from reading what they have on their page atm, I can't find anything that would be a clear advantage for anyone. not even themselves. At best, it appears that it will help with keeping ledgers of NFT's based upon my understanding of blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

It does reek of marketing speak for venture capitalists, and pyramid schemes. It is a "solution" in search of a problem.

 

[guachi]

They (Kickstarter) are not planning on installing crypto mining software on backers hardware are they?

Iirc, the people who verify the block chain will be paid in crypto and only people with significant crypto holdings can participate. And that's something I can't support.

 

[Ulfgeir]

I sent them a mail where I voiced certain concerns regarding their plans. Got a regurgitated version of the info on the homepage back. Not ideal to say the least. It was also sent way too fast to be anything other than an automated response. The only things they pointed there was that backers/creators wouldn't notice anything different. Backers could pay with credit/debit cards, and creators would get ther money in fiat currencies as before (US Dollars, British Pounds, Euros etc)

I really hope that a human actually looks the feedback they get, but I am sceptical. I know from experience that normal support-issues are handled by a human, but those go to a different mail...

 

[Ryujin]

I sent them a mail where I voiced certain concerns regarding their plans. Got a regurgitated version of the info on the homepage back. Not ideal to say the least. It was also sent way too fast to be anything other than an automated response. The only things they pointed there was that backers/creators wouldn't notice anything different. Backers could pay with credit/debit cards, and creators would get ther money in fiat currencies as before (US Dollars, British Pounds, Euros etc)

I really hope that a human actually looks the feedback they get, but I am sceptical. I know from experience that normal support-issues are handled by a human, but those go to a different mail...

You think that they'd be a little more prone to listening to criticism, after the Patreon debacle.

 

[Umbran]

I really hope that a human actually looks the feedback they get, but I am sceptical. I know from experience that normal support-issues are handled by a human, but those go to a different mail...

I expect this would predictably generate far more feedback than they usually get about anything.