[Update #3] So You Want To Pledge to This-and-That Kickstarter Project...

These two articles would highlight the importance of reading very carefully the pitches that Kickstarter project managers make, and any changes that they make to their pitches before the deadline for pledges come over.

Mike Rose's Displeasure over Banner Saga: Factions and Stoic's Progress

Alex Thomas' Defence of Stoic's Release of Banner Saga: Factions

I hope that this drama would knock some wisdom into would-be backers' heads that they should not expect a Kickstarter project to turn out the way that they want or like.

UPDATE #1: Here's another unfortunate incident regarding a Kickstarter project.

Harebrained Scheme's announcement that Kickstarter-funded Shadowrun Returns is available on Steam - although Harebrained has promised a DRM-free version.

Harebrained Scheme's response to outcry over Steam-only licenses for Shadowrun Returns and its assurance that backers - and only backers - will get DRM-free packages. Anyone who is not a backer and wants to play the game has to put up with Steam.

An observer who is better informed would have known from the start that a DRM-free commercial license for Shadowrun Returns is not possible as long as Microsoft Corporation owns the rights to the video game variant of the Shadowrun franchise (it's a long story).

UPDATE #2: Just recently, there has been some furore over Uber Entertainment's pre-order packages for Planetary Annihilation, namely over the price tag in its Steam Store mirror. The main "value" of these packages is early access for the alpha and beta phases of the game's development.

The issue here is that Uber Entertainment made these plans based on what has been mentioned already in its Kickstarter fund-raising campaign, which reached over 200% of its goal.

That Uber Entertainment still placed price tags on its beta and alpha access - and way over its planned launch price of $60 too - strongly suggests that Uber Entertainment underestimated its development costs when it made its Kickstarter call.

UPDATE #3: Late into the first third of 2013, there was a furore over a Kickstarter project to fund a 9-year-old's game-developing aspirations. However, there was one big caveat to that project: her very rich and well-connected mom, who suggested that she should go Kickstarter and then became the project's manager after her daughter took her recommendation.

Kotaku can better elaborate than I can on the whirlwind that arose when (perhaps rather prejudiced) people discovered the involvement of said rich parent and tried to sink the Kickstarter project.

Credit goes to WhiteKnight77 for telling me about this. Keep on white-knighting with your tin-foil armour, dude! :P

I couldn't disagree more with the articles, games like Project Eternity and Torment wouldn't have been possible without kickstarter. kaealy

You may want the reminder that having the needed funds is not a guarantee that they will be successful anyway. ;)

Again, I want to re-emphasize, even if the game is successfully developed, it may not turn out in a way that every backer likes.

kaealy, you may be one of those that are sincere in contributing funds, but not everyone would treat the money that they pledged like you would yours. You can disagree and all that, but you are going to have to acknowledge that others cannot be like you.

That said, more people should read Kickstarter's own clarification/white-washing ("Your Mileage May Vary.").

The problem is that people simply fail to understand the fundamentals of crowd-funding. They think that pledging money means that they bought the game. They think they can take part in the development process. It's just not like that at all. Kickstarter projects may fail, they may turn out different from what was promised. It's a risk for everyone involved - the backers and the developers. It does not guarantee ANYTHING.

Personally, I haven't backed anything yet (although I was very tempted to back Dreamfall Chapters). I understand the risk and I'm simply not comfortable partaking in it. However, I think it's a great way to get funding for games that would not be made otherwise. Lots of projects won't make it, but some will be released to great critical and commercial success (FTL: Faster Than Light, for example).

Those who accept the risk can't moan when things just don't work out, that's just how it goes sometimes.

Personally, I haven't backed anything yet (although I was very tempted to back Dreamfall Chapters). I understand the risk and I'm simply not comfortable partaking in it. However, I think it's a great way to get funding for games that would not be made otherwise. Lots of projects won't make it, but some will be released to great critical and commercial success (FTL: Faster Than Light, for example).UpInFlames

I have the same opinion too, but I would be frank/honest enough to paraphrase all that into a shorter statement:

"I want these games to happen but I want other people's money to be at stake and not mine."

That said, even if I would like a Kickstarter game project to happen, I won't go around telling people about it either - mainly because I don't want to be perceived as being "responsible" for any disappointment/resentment that may arise in displeased backers.

 What we soon learned is that many of our backers never read any of the updates. They had never read the original campaign. According to Kickstarter metrics that went up after our campaign ended, only 30% of backers even watched our campaign video, and they felt very betrayed about all of this, to which we personally felt a resounding What?.Alex Thomas article

People are stupid.

Kickstarter is an incredible way to fund games that would never get publisher support. It has its downsides (people are stupid, after all), but still, it's the way to go for certain types of projects. I've backed a few (they haven't been released yet) and like it has been said ITT, backing a game doesn't mean owning it, and it certainly doesn't mean that you have any input at all in the development process.

Pledging money to Kickstarter isn't even an investment, and you shouldn't even expect return when you invest. Thus you should expect nothing from kickstarter projects and if anyone thought different is either stupid or doesn't understand the concept.kaealy

MirkoS77, the way I see it, these Kickstarter projects are becoming quite the fad - and I happen to have skepticism for fads that borders on outright despise. Few good things come out of fads, and I have yet to see any from the many Kickstarter projects that strikes me as particularly revolutionary.

With that said, I won't hesitate to bring up issues that show the less-than-florid side of crowdfunding, which in this case, is about disgruntled (and likely ignorant) backers believing that they are not getting their money's worth.

If you happen to like Kickstarter and its crowdfunding initiatives, that's your personal preference - but you had better be acknowledging that not everyone sees Kickstarter crowdfunding like you do.

Also, I certainly don't pledge if I don't believe in Kickstarter projects, but I will certainly take any opportunity to tell people to think twice before pledging.

Lastly, please do think twice if you are thinking of making attacks on my character.

I understand the risks, that's why I don't make $100+ contributions. Heck, the most I've given any game was Star Citizen at $30. The problem is most people seem to assume that the game will automatically be made exactly the way they want it, which is never a guarantee. 

Few good things come out of fads.Gelugon_baat

MirkoS77, the way I see it, these Kickstarter projects are becoming quite the fad - and I happen to have skepticism for fads that borders on outright despise. Few good things come out of fads, and I have yet to see any from the many Kickstarter projects that strikes me as particularly revolutionary.

With that said, I won't hesitate to bring up issues that show the less-than-florid side of crowdfunding, which in this case, is about disgruntled (and likely ignorant) backers believing that they are not getting their money's worth.

If you happen to like Kickstarter and its crowdfunding initiatives, that's your personal preference - but you had better be acknowledging that not everyone sees Kickstarter crowdfunding like you do.

Also, I certainly don't pledge if I don't believe in Kickstarter projects, but I will certainly take any opportunity to tell people to think twice before pledging.

Lastly, please do think twice if you are thinking of making attacks on my character.

Gelugon_baat

Such a weird post. I don't know where to start. I'll start with a question: did someone start a kickstarter to kidnap your cat?

Kickstarter is a tool. Personally, when I don't think that a tool is particularly useful, I don't "take any opportunity to tell people" about my opinion on that tool. 

Moreover, if people want to throw money at developers without being properly informed, I couldn't possible care an iota less. If they care so little about their money, they'll end up wasting it elsewhere anyways, so we might as well let them "waste" it in an industry that we care about.

I understand your skepticism, but I don't see why you've decided to spend time on something you see as a pointless fad. kaealy

Then you need to understand the notion of "pet peeve".

Such a weird post. I don't know where to start. I'll start with a question: did someone start a kickstarter to kidnap your cat?ReddestSkies

I doubt it is any weirder than your joke. :roll:

Kickstarter is a tool. Personally, when I don't think that a tool is particularly useful, I don't "take any opportunity to tell people" about my opinion on that tool.ReddestSkies

Well, good for you that you are far more skillful at shutting up than I am then.

Moreover, if people want to throw money at developers without being properly informed, I couldn't possible care an iota less. If they care so little about their money, they'll end up wasting it elsewhere anyways, so we might as well let them "waste" it in an industry that we care about.ReddestSkies

Thank you for your frankness. ;)

MirkoS77, the way I see it, these Kickstarter projects are becoming quite the fad - and I happen to have skepticism for fads that borders on outright despise. Few good things come out of fads, and I have yet to see any from the many Kickstarter projects that strikes me as particularly revolutionary.

With that said, I won't hesitate to bring up issues that show the less-than-florid side of crowdfunding, which in this case, is about disgruntled (and likely ignorant) backers believing that they are not getting their money's worth.

If you happen to like Kickstarter and its crowdfunding initiatives, that's your personal preference - but you had better be acknowledging that not everyone sees Kickstarter crowdfunding like you do.

Also, I certainly don't pledge if I don't believe in Kickstarter projects, but I will certainly take any opportunity to tell people to think twice before pledging.

Lastly, please do think twice if you are thinking of making attacks on my character.

Gelugon_baat

But I can't understand why something that really has nothing to do with you you take such issue with.  I don't presume to tell people how to invest their money, what the risks are, nor do I feel the need to edify to them the potential dangers of doing so.  That is their business and responsibility.  I can appreciate what you're trying to do in respect to warning others of the dangers of crowd-funding but to be quite frank it does come off as a tad condescending, arrogant, and a bit insulting.  Not saying you are....that's just how it's coming off.  

People aren't idiots, and if they are, then they deserve what they get.  KS has its drawbacks, but like GME said, in an industry rife with sequels and me too games it IS a breath of fresh air and it's great that the potential for people, many of which do have the talent, are granted the ability to bring their ideas to fruition through the graciousness of others.  Fools or otherwise.  If I can make that happen (even if I lose a bit of money here and there) then it is worth it because I believe the overall philosophy behind KS to be a benefit to our hobby in the end.  And if at some point I don't then I will no longer support it.  Simple.

So, you also please keep in mind that not everyone sees crowd-funding the way you do, either. :)

...both because you find JA's mechanics outdated and unfair, but also because you're in opposition to KS?  I even believe you stated as much, IIRC?MirkoS77

My stand is more of the former than the latter.

That is their business and responsibility.  I can appreciate what you're trying to do in respect to warning others of the dangers of crowd-funding but to be quite frank it does come off as a tad condescending, arrogant, and a bit insulting.MirkoS77

When you openly gripe about a pet peeve of yours and someone tells you what you have said to me, you might understand my motivations.

People aren't idiots, and if they are, then they deserve what they get.MirkoS77

That's harsh.

KS has its drawbacks, but like GME said, in an industry rife with sequels and me too games it IS a breath of fresh air and it's great that the potential for people, many of which do have the talent, are granted the ability to bring their ideas to fruition through the graciousness of others.MirkoS77

I personally won't be this wishful. It's "wait-and-see" for me, as the wise would say.

And if at some point I don't then I will no longer support it.  Simple.MirkoS77

Then I would warn you that regret is a harsh teacher that would make one a very bitter person.

[QUOTE="MirkoS77"]...both because you find JA's mechanics outdated and unfair, but also because you're in opposition to KS?  I even believe you stated as much, IIRC?Gelugon_baat

My stand is more of the former than the latter.

That is their business and responsibility.  I can appreciate what you're trying to do in respect to warning others of the dangers of crowd-funding but to be quite frank it does come off as a tad condescending, arrogant, and a bit insulting.MirkoS77

When you openly gripe about a pet peeve of yours and someone tells you what you have said to me, you might understand my motivations.

People aren't idiots, and if they are, then they deserve what they get.MirkoS77

That's harsh.

KS has its drawbacks, but like GME said, in an industry rife with sequels and me too games it IS a breath of fresh air and it's great that the potential for people, many of which do have the talent, are granted the ability to bring their ideas to fruition through the graciousness of others.MirkoS77

I personally won't be this wishful. It's "wait-and-see" for me, as the wise would say.

And if at some point I don't then I will no longer support it.  Simple.MirkoS77

Then I would warn you that regret is a harsh teacher that would make one a very bitter person.

I cannot speak for anyone else, which ultimately is the entire point of my post, but I don't go around "openly griping" about my own personal pet peeves to random forum goers who I know very likely won't see things my way.  Mostly because I understand that they aren't me.  Trying to mask said pet peeve as some kind of General Announcement Warning about the "dangers" and "risks" of crowd-funding just comes across as preachy at best, and terribly biased at worst.

Some people ARE idiots.  It IS harsh, but It's also true.  People who buy into the flashy sales pitch without actually READING what the entire KS campaign is about do very much fall into the "idiot" column.  It isn't your job or responsibility to nanny or shield these people or tell them how to spend their money.

Trying to mask said pet peeve as some kind of General Announcement Warning about the "dangers" and "risks" of crowd-funding just comes across as preachy at best, and terribly biased at worst.keech

People who buy into the flashy sales pitch without actually READING what the entire KS campaign is about do very much fall into the "idiot" column.  It isn't your job or responsibility to nanny or shield these people or tell them how to spend their money.keech

Oh, you may not be preachy always, but don't be thinking that you don't have fallacies of your own, keech. :roll:

That said, don't be thinking that I am not aware of my bias against Kickstarter crowdfunding.

However, conveniently for me, there are these issues with it that I can highlight - which some of you easily dismiss with the statement "People are stupid." of course.

This may seem like isolated incidents to some of you (not necessarily you too, keech) for now, but it won't be - there might be one big, trust-destroying fiasco down the road that may well change your mind.

Here's another unfortunate incident regarding a Kickstarter project.

Harebrained Scheme's announcement that Kickstarter-funded Shadowrun Returns is available on Steam - although Harebrained has promised a DRM-free version.

Harebrained Scheme's response to outcry over Steam-only licenses for Shadowrun Returns and its assurance that backers - and only backers - will get DRM-free packages. Anyone who is not a backer and wants to play the game has to put up with Steam.

An observer who is better informed would have known from the start that a DRM-free commercial license for Shadowrun Returns is not possible as long as Microsoft Corporation owns the rights to the video game variant of the Shadowrun franchise (it's a long story).

Here's another unfortunate incident regarding a Kickstarter project.

Harebrained Scheme's announcement that Kickstarter-funded Shadowrun Returns is available on Steam - although Harebrained has promised a DRM-free version.

Harebrained Scheme's response to outcry over Steam-only licenses for Shadowrun Returns and its assurance that backers - and only backers - will get DRM-free packages. Anyone who is not a backer and wants to play the game has to put up with Steam.

An observer who is better informed would have known from the start that a DRM-free commercial license for Shadowrun Returns is not possible as long as Microsoft Corporation owns the rights to the video game variant of the Shadowrun franchise (it's a long story).

Gelugon_baat

I know this is from a personal viewpoint, so bare with me.  I've never personally met a single PC gamer who "put's up with Steam".  Given that every PC gamer I know not only happily uses Steam, but goes out of their way to use it when gaming on the PC.

I do agree It's pretty shady for a developer to mince words like that.  It's deceptive and unethical, but at the same time they basically ruined any chance of ever running another successful crowd-funding program ever again.

Also aren't you cherry-picking just a bit?  Pulling out the two or three Kickstarter horror stories you can find and ignoring the fact that for every one of them, there's at least a hundred kickstarter success stories.  Kickstarter has made it possible for a lot of great things to come to the market that would have never have happend without it.  It's not something you can deny, regardless of your personal dislike for it.

All anything anyone can say regarding this topic has already been said, and it boils down to one simple concept: Be careful with your money!

I also feel the need to point out I have never, and will never pledge money for a video game.  It's the kind of prospect where the final product is way too far out into the future to really have any idea how the game will turn out based on what they show during the Kickstarter.  Even when Double-Fine did a kickstarter I couldn't bring myself to back it.  I'm a huge fan of the developer, but the fact was there was nothing to show that assured me it was a game I would want to play.

Here's another unfortunate incident regarding a Kickstarter project.

Harebrained Scheme's announcement that Kickstarter-funded Shadowrun Returns is available on Steam - although Harebrained has promised a DRM-free version.

Harebrained Scheme's response to outcry over Steam-only licenses for Shadowrun Returns and its assurance that backers - and only backers - will get DRM-free packages. Anyone who is not a backer and wants to play the game has to put up with Steam.

An observer who is better informed would have known from the start that a DRM-free commercial license for Shadowrun Returns is not possible as long as Microsoft Corporation owns the rights to the video game variant of the Shadowrun franchise (it's a long story).

Gelugon_baat

Backers get a DRM-free version, so who cares? Backers didn't get screwed. And lol at "has to put up with Steam", as if there was a single PC gamer in the world who doesn't have it installed.

Also aren't you cherry-picking just a bit?  Pulling out the two or three Kickstarter horror stories you can find and ignoring the fact that for every one of them, there's at least a hundred kickstarter success stories.keech

I am cherry-picking - I have never denied doing so. That said, my cherry-picking is not going to change the fact that things like this can happen, e.g. not every Kickstarter project is going to turn out to be a figurative bed of roses.

Kickstarter has made it possible for a lot of great things to come to the market that would have never have happend without it.  It's not something you can deny, regardless of your personal dislike for it.keech

I am not going to deny that - but I would say that it has been very convenient for Kickstarter proponents that there had been more successes than disappointments thus far. That fact makes for a very good excuse to dismiss the opinions of naysayers and skeptics, doesn't it, keech?

All anything anyone can say regarding this topic has already been said, and it boils down to one simple concept: Be careful with your money!keech

I would add the phrase "wait-and-see". That is a far wiser saying than just "be careful", in my opinion.

I also feel the need to point out I have never, and will never pledge money for a video game.keech

So I suppose that all you have said thus far is just an attempt to get me to ease up, am I incorrect?

Backers get a DRM-free version, so who cares? Backers didn't get screwed.ReddestSkies

They are not out of the woods yet. Microsoft still has a say, and I am expecting it to stonewall Harebrained's attempts to distribute DRM-free packages to backers.

And lol at "has to put up with Steam", as if there was a single PC gamer in the world who doesn't have it installed.ReddestSkies

A computer gamer may be unlikely not to have experienced Steam, but I would caution you that it would be naïve to think that every single person that had used it would like it and continue to use it.

It depends on the person who's starting the fund. It could be someone dishonest as Anita Sarkisean, promising to do a research worthy of recognition but failing to do so or someone as Tim Schafer, who shows you a weekly footage of the project and how was the money spent and on what. Not all people looking for crowd fund ask for a large sum as it could be as little as a dollar. I would help fund a game if it was done in certain art style, had certain themes, nice plot .e.g. games that have you save people without resorting to killing or violence, games with strong women in lead and no romance please.

UPDATE #2: A few days ago, there has been some contention over Uber Entertainment's pre-order offers for Planetary Annihilation, namely over the $90 price tag in its Steam Store mirror. The main draw of these packages is early access for the alpha and beta phases of the game's development.

The issue here is that Uber Entertainment made these plans based on what has been mentioned already in its Kickstarter fund-raiser, which reached over 200% of its goal.

That Uber Entertainment placed price tags on its beta and alpha access anyway - and way over its planned launch price of $60 too - strongly hints that Uber Entertainment underestimated its development costs when it registered its Kickstarter gig.

By the way, Uber Entertainment made the "free-to-play" sequel of Monday Night Combat, called Super Monday Night Combat (simply enough).

P.S. Their Kickstarter backers still their early access perks by the way. Also, there is a tentative schedule for the development of this game - with release by the end of this year.

Crowdfunding sites are great, but they're pretty much like a lot of other things that may involve a lot of your money.  You should probably be reading the fine print, paying attention, ask questions if necessary, etc.  Developers can't be blamed for dumb backers.  Maybe sites such as Kickstarter should put up big, flashing neon lights on their home page and give harsh warnings about what to possibly expect... and people would still do it all wrong.

I've personally never contributed... but that's because I'm too broke to do so.  If I had the money, I would absolutely back a few.

How can people pledge for a game that has no content, yet a game that has playable content gets nothing?WhiteKnight77

Someone's bitter over reality. :P

UPDATE #2: A few days ago, there has been some contention over Uber Entertainment's pre-order offers for Planetary Annihilation, namely over the $90 price tag in its Steam Store mirror. The main draw of these packages is early access for the alpha and beta phases of the game's development.

The issue here is that Uber Entertainment made these plans based on what has been mentioned already in its Kickstarter fund-raiser, which reached over 200% of its goal.

That Uber Entertainment placed price tags on its beta and alpha access anyway - and way over its planned launch price of $60 too - strongly hints that Uber Entertainment underestimated its development costs when it registered its Kickstarter gig.

By the way, Uber Entertainment made the "free-to-play" sequel of Monday Night Combat, called Super Monday Night Combat (simply enough).

P.S. Their Kickstarter backers still their early access perks by the way. Also, there is a tentative schedule for the development of this game - with release by the end of this year.

Gelugon_baat

Uh, Uber placed the alpha at $90 because that was the kickstarter price point to get into the alpha. It isn't about making more money for them, it was about keeping a promise to backers at that price point. 

I stopped looking at Kickstarter projects after KS allowed people to use it for things expressly against their rules. One was funding to help a company find investors for a game without even one assest for the game made. Then there was the woman who got thousands in pledges just to send her daughter to a camp so the daughter could make a game to show up her older brothers. I pledged for a game that didn't receive enough pledges to even get the minimal funding asked for and this was a game, that had content which was a blow. How can people pledge for a game that has no content, yet a game that has playable content gets nothing?WhiteKnight77

Uh, Uber placed the alpha at $90 because that was the kickstarter price point to get into the alpha.GT90

I am aware of that argument - but that the price of early access is still at $90 close to a year after the end of the Kickstarter call would still raise suspicisions in those who do not give Uber Entertainment the benefit of the doubt.

Those in charge of Kickstarter have made it pretty obvious that they don't care who breaks the rules as long as their project is getting money, just means more money for them from their cut.Legolas_Katarn

Whoa there.

While the fact that Kickstarter takes 3-5% off funds collected as fees is true, I personally would be very careful about making allegations about Kickstarter management looking the other way - especially when I don't cite verifiable examples.

[QUOTE="Legolas_Katarn"]Those in charge of Kickstarter have made it pretty obvious that they don't care who breaks the rules as long as their project is getting money, just means more money for them from their cut.Gelugon_baat

Whoa there.

While the fact that Kickstarter takes 3-5% off funds collected as fees is true, I personally would be very careful about making allegations about Kickstarter management looking the other way - especially when I don't cite verifiable examples.

[QUOTE="WhiteKnight77"]How can people pledge for a game that has no content, yet a game that has playable content gets nothing?Gelugon_baat

Someone's bitter over reality. :P

Explain this and supposedly one of the most powerful women in the world using it for tuition to send her daughter to a camp. While KS stated that it should be used for creative projects, she still raised money for her daughter's tuition to camp, whether or not it was to try and create something creative or not.WhiteKnight77

Then you may want to do some more research.

There is a game that would presumably be coming out of this (complete with pre-order punts), along with more than a little griping about the controversy on its website - which is quickly followed by another call for donations for a coding camp. :roll:

(You will probably snicker/chuckle/grunt when you look at the website - I know I did. :P )

Anyway, Kickstarter's stand, which is that as far as they are concerned, a game's coming out of that, is understandable to me. You may want to see Kickstarter as scam-facilitators and such, but I don't wear a tin-foil hat.

What I perceive instead is a stingy-ass mom that doesn't want to pay out of her own pockets to fund her daughter's game-developing aspirations and directed her to start a crowdfund instead, and a fiasco that blew out of proportion possibly due to prejudice against a very rich person with many connections.

Not bitter, just flabbergasted.WhiteKnight77

Then you have a long, long way to go before you accept that emotions are the main drive for crowdfunding - not wisdom and much less its darker cousin, cynicism.

Citing mishaps and only mishaps is very misleading .Pedro

Then you may want to consider my intent: I am not here to gush over Kickstarter's more convincing successes or would-be successes (like those that you just cited).

I am here to point out that there is no guarantee that Kickstarter campaigns will not turn out ugly.

[QUOTE="Pedro"]Citing mishaps and only mishaps is very misleading .Gelugon_baat

Then you may want to consider my intent: I am not here to gush over Kickstarter's more convincing successes or would-be successes (like those that you just cited).

I am here to point out that there is no guarantee that Kickstarter campaigns will not turn out ugly.

The only person you would be "educating" are idiots and because of their idiot status your cause is already lost.Pedro

Ouch. Way to go insulting some backers of certain Kickstarter campaigns. :?

Well, I am still not going to gush over Occulus (sic) Rift, Double Fine's yet-to-be-done games or Kickstarter campaigns with cleaner profiles, if that's what you are suggesting I should do.

[QUOTE="Pedro"]The only person you would be "educating" are idiots and because of their idiot status your cause is already lost.Gelugon_baat

Ouch. Way to go insulting some backers of certain Kickstarter campaigns. :?

Well, I am still not going to gush over Occulus (sic) Rift, Double Fine's yet-to-be-done games or Kickstarter campaigns with cleaner profiles, if that's what you are suggesting I should do.

I am not suggesting you do anything, I am simply pointing out that your argument is onesided.

[QUOTE="WhiteKnight77"]Explain this and supposedly one of the most powerful women in the world using it for tuition to send her daughter to a camp. While KS stated that it should be used for creative projects, she still raised money for her daughter's tuition to camp, whether or not it was to try and create something creative or not.Gelugon_baat

Then you may want to do some more research.

There is a game that would presumably be coming out of this (complete with pre-order punts), along with more than a little griping about the controversy on its website - which is quickly followed by another call for donations for a coding camp. :roll:

(You will probably snicker/chuckle/grunt when you look at the website - I know I did. :P )

Anyway, Kickstarter's stand, which is that as far as they are concerned, a game's coming out of that, is understandable to me. You may want to see Kickstarter as scam-facilitators and such, but I don't wear a tin-foil hat.

What I perceive instead is a stingy-ass mom that doesn't want to pay out of her own pockets to fund her daughter's game-developing aspirations and directed her to start a crowdfund instead, and a fiasco that blew out of proportion possibly due to prejudice against a very rich person with many connections.

I have read the response from KS about it, but I have also read their ToU. While a game was stated to be built, she still wanted tuition (a bill) for her daughter to do something. She could have just as easily downloaded UDK, watched and read tutorials on it and all for free without asking others to do something for her daughter. And, she could have sold said game up to a certain point before royalties kicked in. She didn't do that. That is why I am disgusted with her and the way KS handled it.

I was trying to use reason to understand how things supported. Emotion should really not play into why you pledge support for someone, if that is the case, an even bigger reason to not bother with helping to fund KS projects. I can use my money elsewhere.

I am not suggesting you do anything, I am simply pointing out that your argument is onesided.

Pedro

No less one-sided than your labelling of certain Kickstarter backers as idiots. ;)

Also, you may want to be reminded that there are yet to be any Kickstarter projects that turn out to be unanimously convincing successes.

That is why I am disgusted with her and the way KS handled it.WhiteKnight77

I have a phrase to say: "different perspectives".

That said, I personally am not as disgusted as I am amused.

I was trying to use reason to understand how things supported. Emotion should really not play into why you pledge support for someone, if that is the case, an even bigger reason to not bother with helping to fund KS projects. I can use my money elsewhere.WhiteKnight77

What "reason"? If you haven't noticed already, all Kickstarter projects concern tentative things that may or may not happen, even with the money that would come; any person with enough "reason" would be wise enough to hold their purses and wait and see.