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

[Shardstone]

They are exploiting a loophole to be in the right.

Originally they would have been giving the entire show to the backers. But then Amazon came in and the show got bigger and a second season is on the way. So, now they don't have to give this new show to the backers, because its a different show then what was promised.

Its still a really naughty word thing to do, no matter how you cut it. Its disgusting that this is what they've chosen to do, and I think anyone that is ok with it simply doesn't respect the implicit trust there must exist between a backer and a project owner. The implicit trust here was that the backers would be given access to the fruits of the labors of the Kickstarter. They never said before that Amazon coming in, or any other business deal, would prevent the episodes from being seen directly by those who backed.

Is Critical Role in the right? Technically, yes. But anyone who respects that technicality over the promise implicitly made is really just making excuses for CR, and not speaking accurately of the situation IMO.

 

[dave2008]

This sucks, but realisticly, I don't know how it would end up any different than that. The CR people should be more upfront about that though...

Perhaps you missed these posts #8 and #10. They are delivering what they promised. Now if you feel delivering it on AP was not part of that, well as far as I remember they didn't make an promises on how it was to be delivered.

 

[MNblockhead]

A: if you say something that people interpret as A, but really meant B, and you never correct them... that's lying by misdirection.

No misdirection. I don't feel deceived.

B: As explained above by others, it is not free. Creating a trial account is not free.

Free has various meaning but I think most people understood it in that context to mean you don't have to pay money. Which you don't.

 

[Parmandur]

I'm in the same position as you (I didn't back the KS and I have Amazon Prime), so for me it looks advantageous, but I agree that it doesn't feel right, unless an outcome like this was clear during the KS (I haven't followed the campaign).

They made it pretty clear that backing didn’t include any sort of digital or physical copy. Already have Prine, so this doesn't effect me, but it's a little oddly handled.

 

[dave2008]

They are exploiting a loophole to be in the right.

Originally they would have been giving the entire show to the backers. But then Amazon came in and the show got bigger and a second season is on the way. So, now they don't have to give this new show to the backers, because its a different show then what was promised.

Its still a really naughty word thing to do, no matter how you cut it. Its disgusting that this is what they've chosen to do, and I think anyone that is ok with it simply doesn't respect the implicit trust there must exist between a backer and a project owner. The implicit trust here was that the backers would be given access to the fruits of the labors of the Kickstarter. They never said before that Amazon coming in, or any other business deal, would prevent the episodes from being seen directly by those who backed.

Is Critical Role in the right? Technically, yes. But anyone who respects that technicality over the promise implicitly made is really just making excuses for CR, and not speaking accurately of the situation IMO.

The only person responding that I know was a backer seems to think they are getting what was promised in the kickstarter. Maybe what you think was implied was not as clear as you think?

 

[SkidAce]

The only weirdness is if I was not a backer (I am) I still would be able to see it free with a trail account anyway, so in that respect only...is backer meaningless?

 

[Shardstone]

The only person responding that I know was a backer seems to think they are getting what was promised in the kickstarter. Maybe what you think was implied was not as clear as you think?

That's fine, and good for that person for thinking that. I didn't back this project because this kind of situation is exactly what I wanted to avoid. Other people I know who have backed this project don't like this Amazon deal either. Your anecdote means as little as my anecdote. So now that we've established that you using another person in your point against me is an utterly worthless thing to say in this context, we can get back to the meat of the matter.

It wasn't as clear as I think, obviously, because they ended up exploiting a loophole and telling their backers to exploit a different loophole to get their backer rewards. Its ok if you think that's savory Kickstarter business practice, but I think its abhorrent, disrespectful, and disgusting of them to do. Thanks.

 

[Shardstone]

The only weirdness is if I was not a backer (I am) I still would be able to see it free with a trail account anyway, so in that respect only...is backer meaningless?

Backers basically paid for Critical Role to get enough publicity to be able to get Amazon on board. After they specifically said they had shopped around, found no one, and wanted to make the show only with the backers/fans. So, if you're a backer, you ended up paying money for one thing, which in turn got flipped into a (bigger, arguably better) thing, but you now have to pay again to get the better thing.

 

[SkidAce]

The only person responding that I know was a backer seems to think they are getting what was promised in the kickstarter. Maybe what you think was implied was not as clear as you think?

I am a backer and I am happy.

somefolks might find that anyone with a trial account can see it to be frustrating...but not me, I'm cool with it.

 

[Parmandur]

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!)

Those two promised episodes are being streamed early for backers. They did what they promised.