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After Raising $114,000 on Kickstarter, Dev Goes Silent

Alex Fundora not responding to emails; Artist says he has not been paid and is moving onto another project.

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The Stomping Land, a planned multiplayer dinosaur-survival game that raised $114,000 on Kickstarter, is now in a critical state with its art lead quitting and its creator not responding to emails.

In June 2013, The Stomping Land Kickstarter project managed to raise more than $114,000 from 4,400 backers, having initially only asked for $20,000.

A year later, a first build of the project was published on Steam Early Access, and at the time its lead developer--Alex Fundora--assured that "even though the game is available, development is still in full force."

However, this would mark the final update on the game's Kickstarter page. Now, the game's lead artist has quit the project and says he hasn't been able to establish contact with Fundora in weeks.

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In-game model designer, Vlad Konstantino, wrote on The Stomping Land forums: "More than a month has passed since the day when I received the last reply from Fundora. I've sent him five messages and haven't got any single reply."

Konstantino also claimed that Fundora owes him money, and that "if this silence continues I will stop my participation in TSL and start taking the necessary measures to cover my expenses."

The message, first brought to light by PC Gamer, adds that Konstantino is now working on a different project entirely.

One backer, who said they had invested $90 in The Stomping Land, has informed Kickstarter of the issue, but the crowd-funding site could only offer an apology in return.

It is not clear if Kickstarter can or will take any further action.

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xsonicchaos

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I don't see how people saw any potential in this game in the first place. It's projects and developers like these that will eventually put an end to crowdfunding soon enough. It's one thing to think that a game "looks goog, voted" on Steam's Greenlight, but on Kickstarter, there's no stopping someone from running away with the money.

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coop36

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<< LINK REMOVED >> The game technically was released though, its just not finished. no different than 90% of Steam Early Access games at this point.

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xsonicchaos

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

I bet it's a masterpiece.

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coop36

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Thats not the point. Its been released and is playable, so he didnt just run off with the money as you insinuated. Its just incomplete.

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xsonicchaos

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

He ran off with the money (until proven otherwise), as the game is still not complete, playable or not.

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coop36

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> So you think all the others that worked on his team never got payed and worked for free? You have no more knowledge about what money was spent than anyone else. Present your proof if youre so sure he ran off with it lol... I wont hold my breath waiting.

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dylandr

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> i say we hunt them all down with pitchforks and torches! :D

like ye olde days!

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dylandr

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> He's a thieve and schould be treated like one it's not like he proven that he's innocent!

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coop36

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> *cue mindless peasants wanting to feel included*

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bobodeclown

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Step 1. Make a demo from Angry birds, but photoshop gerbils over the birds.

Step 2. Go on Kickstarter, and announce that you need $20k to fund your new game called....

Slightly Upset Gerbils.

Step 3. Release a statement explaining that production costs have become too high, and that unfortunately you have to move on. Game canceled.

Step 4. Profit.

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jeremyc99999

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I'm on it.

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bobodeclown

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Awesome! I'm making an instructional video on how to use crowd funding, and get the most out of it.

Of course, This is going to be a classy instructional video with Kate Upton as the instructor. Katey Perry will be providing the soundtrack as well. So if you guys would like to see this happen, then I'm going to need $100k in order to pull this off. Visit me on Kickstarter right away!

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dylandr

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<< LINK REMOVED >> the best thing you could do is start a kickstarter for the world record of biggest mountain of 5 dollar bills

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bobodeclown

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Nice! For every five dollar bill you donate, I'll add one of my own. (It will really just be a $1 bill) ;-)

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Frozenuxx

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He went off to enroll in ISIS.

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z471

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<< LINK REMOVED >> At least in ISIS, if he stole money from people it would cost him his hand.

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Frozenuxx

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>

Hand? I think a fire bath is going to be in order.

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etiggy

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supporting projects on Kickstarter is not investment: it is donation.

just like when you give a buck to the homeless guy on the corner.

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hardeddie

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Could be one of Molyneux's young Padawan.

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deactivated-5fbd0ee14cee1

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One of ? Probably is peter

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dylandr

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<< LINK REMOVED >> hey potato, nothing to add? :3

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deactivated-5fbd0ee14cee1

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Nah lol

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dylandr

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<< LINK REMOVED >> awww

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z471

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Once people realize that Kickstarter is not an investment, but a gamble and you could cost you all that money. Once they realize that the risk far outweighs the reward, the days of Kickstarter will be numbered.

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Caldrin

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<< LINK REMOVED >> risk does not outweigh the reward at all.. well i guess it if you are an utter morom and pledge your months earnings on the game.. but most people will pledge around the $20-$30 mark, basically cash they wont miss.

If see a game on kickstarter that i really like look of and then already have a working concept then I have no issues backing that kind of cash because I wont miss it.

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z471

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> I'd rather give that donation to someone who would benefit from it, and makes me feel good that I did good in this earth rather than give it a thief on Kickstarter.

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Caldrin

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Well carry on then.. I am happy backnig games I want to see made on Kickstarter and i am currently playing qutie a few that I have backed..
They are not forcing you to give them money its a choice you can make yourself.

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coop36

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<< LINK REMOVED >> How much did the majority of people spend on this ? $10-$20? Ive lost more than that on beer and slot machines without whining. People are acting like their lives were ruined by losing petty cash on an abandoned videogame.

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xsonicchaos

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

Did you enjoy your beer, and your time at the slot machines?

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coop36

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> No, I am incapable of experiencing joy when I spend paltry amounts of money on disposable entertainment.

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Kyelo

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<< LINK REMOVED >> It always costs you the money whether or not the game goes to market.

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z471

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Is that how it is on Steam? You have to pay gold upfront?

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BusterFriendly

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Investment is also a gamble but one with legal controls and rights for the investors.

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ahpuck

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Investing is a gamble. This is more like charity for the wrong reasons. If I had money to just give away, I would just give it to a homeless shelter, I think I would feel much better about it.

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z471

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> "Investment is also a gamble but one with legal controls and rights for the investors. "

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Chippiez

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Which makes kickstarter "investors" all the dumber. Anyone who invests, equity-free, in another's success, deserves to lose their coin.

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cboye18

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Well, you've been stomped upon.

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GSGuy321

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It's becoming a real problem on KS.

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Frozenuxx

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

and not just in gaming.

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Frozenuxx

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hahahaha

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