Critical Role Critical Role show kickstarter update: Backers have to get Amazon prime to get the show

[MNblockhead]

Since the kickstarter NEVER promised free access to the (full) show, they're not doing anything wrong - merely inconvenient.

The kickstarter basically promised knick-knacks for the privilege of funding the show - that's all.

The show got picked up by a streaming platform - and most of those have a cost to subscribe. Certainly any platform that would have picked this up (Netflix or HBOMax for ex.) would also expect a subscription to watch.

Right and the fact that they were able to arrange pre-release of a couple episodes for pre-release parties just for backers, something that I've never heard of being done before for any Netflix and Amazon show, show that they care about their fans and backers. As backer of many Kickstarters over the years, there was nothing "scummy" about how any of this was handled.

 

[Morrus]

Just to make sure I understand this right:

So IIRC the Kickstarter was for a single animated special?

The Amazon later stepped in and said "Hey, we're gonna make a series!"

The rewards in the Kickstarter are for merch: some music, a ringtone, playing cards, art print, dice, a bag, pins, etc. unless you pledged $2.5K for a private screening. That seems pretty clear on the KS page. Do the backers get to see the animated special for free, as well as the rewards they pledged for? Or was the special replaced by the series?

 

[darjr]

I dint think the complaint was about the full show.

I’ll read it again.

@Mort @Bolares

Not about the full show.

 

[MNblockhead]

This sure is an agressive way to make your point....

Yeah, sorry. Better to have written "not unless you didn't read the Kickstarter campaign pitch and reward tiers."

 

[darjr]

I think they delivered in all their promises, to be clear. And I think some of the kick back is way over the top.

 

[Mort]

@Mort @Bolares

Not about the full show.

View attachment 150242

Ah, that's in writing then! That's a bit worse.

But if backers can access the show with "free" amazon prime trial it's still technically correct (and as gamers we all know that technically correct is the best kind of correct!)

 

[MNblockhead]

Just to make sure I understand this right:

So IIRC the Kickstarter was for a single animated special?

Originally for a 22 minute animated special. But they made enough money they said they would turn it into a series. THEN Amazon came in. At least as I remember it and refreshing my recollection by quickly scanning the Kickstarter update.

The Amazon later stepped in and said "Hey, we're gonna make a series!"

The rewards in the Kickstarter are for merch: some music, a ringtone, playing cards, art print, dice, a bag, pins, etc. unless you pledged $2.5K for a private screening. That seems pretty clear on the KS page. Do the backers get to see the animated special for free, as well as the rewards they pledged for? Or was the special replaced by the series?

The backers get to see the first two episodes as a pre-release. Anyone can see the entire series for free via a one-month free Amazon trial.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Just to make sure I understand this right:

So IIRC the Kickstarter was for a single animated special?

The Amazon later stepped in and said "Hey, we're gonna make a series!"

The rewards in the Kickstarter are for merch: some music, a ringtone, playing cards, art print, dice, a bag, pins, etc. unless you pledged $2.5K for a private screening. That seems pretty clear on the KS page. Do the backers get to see the animated special for free, as well as the rewards they pledged for? Or was the special replaced by the series?

IIRC, the special became a prequel-pilot to the series, which is the two episodes they arranged to let backers watch early.

 

[Amrûnril]

Just to make sure I understand this right:

So IIRC the Kickstarter was for a single animated special?

The Amazon later stepped in and said "Hey, we're gonna make a series!"

The rewards in the Kickstarter are for merch: some music, a ringtone, playing cards, art print, dice, a bag, pins, etc. unless you pledged $2.5K for a private screening. That seems pretty clear on the KS page. Do the backers get to see the animated special for free, as well as the rewards they pledged for? Or was the special replaced by the series?

The Kickstarter was originally for a single animated special. When it did better than expected, that turned into a 10 episode series, with the originally planned special making up the first two episodes. After the Kickstarter ended, the Amazon deal allowed them to expand it to two 12 episode seasons (and may have increased the per-episode budget).

 

[billd91]

Originally for a 22 minute animated special. But they made enough money they said they would turn it into a series. THEN Amazon came in. At least as I remember it and refreshing my recollection by quickly scanning the Kickstarter update.

Not only did Amazon come in, but they backed the series for even more episodes. Overall, not a bad deal for Critical Role and, honestly, not a bad deal for backers either because the project they supported made such a splash that it has gone well beyond their expectations for content.