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In Defense of Kickstarter
- ChristopherMD
- Away
- Road Warrior
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san il defanso wrote: Felli, Murrell, and Hayden all produced some really strange games with selective appeal that actually SHOULD be better suited to Kickstarter. Jim can probably confirm this, if he shows up here, but I think one of his reasons for self-funding was that he wanted the ability to design the game on his own terms, rather than being beholden to market forces.
You are correct, Nate. There are other reasons I avoid KickStarter... a few include: I feel like I produce a better product when I'm putting my own money on the line, I feel like I have a more intimate relationship with my buyers when I have skin in the game, I'm too lazy to make snazzy videos, I hate whiny backers, I can't stand the idea of award levels, and I really don't want my brand associated with a lot the crap that KickStarter spits out or the Cult of the New that it helps drive. I'm creating games as a hobby and a creative outlet, and I want my Devious Weasel brand to be known for "quirky, odd, and unique" games -- games that require an intellectual investment from the players. KickStarter is too formulaic for me... plus, let's be honest: why should a guy like me, who is able to fund his projects, take share of voice away from other folks who cannot do so and legitimately need a crowdsourcing platform to produce their product?
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- Cranberries
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- D10
- You can do this.
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xthexlo wrote: I want my Devious Weasel brand to be known for "quirky, odd, and unique" games -- games that require an intellectual investment from the players.
Three cheers for original games. Felli games are like the anti-FFG games.
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How you feel about Kickstarter is probably going to depend on how you view it's role. I look at each project and judge them differently based on who is running them. I'd get pissed if Stonemaier or Stronghold failed to deliver a quality product if I backed it. But if I back some nobody with a cool idea and it never materializes, I'm not mad so long as I feel like the creator tried and was honest.
I've actually done alright with Kickstarter in general with most projects getting fulfilled. The ones that are still floundering years later or that I've given up on, all but one of them were people with good intentions that made mistakes or life got in the way. And in those cases, I've often gotten some amount of fulfillment by simply watching the process. Heck one video game creator whose Kickstarter I backed and is still floundering I now support on Pateron because I like what he's trying to do. I've only once felt like I was scammed, and that was a silly portable butane generator power pack from Germany that continues to make stupid excuses. But the vast majority of board game Kickstarters I supported have all shown up and with reasonable production quality. The only board game that I feel is a risk for ever fulfilling is the one listed often in this thread (Matt Loter's Chainmail Bikini), but whatever.
I keep telling myself to stop backing so many games, and to some extent I have backed off. But FOMO is a powerful force, and there have been many I've talked myself out of (Gloomhaven and 7th Continent come to mind) that I later regret and then have to wait 9 months for the reprint Kickstarter. I think Charlie is playing the smart game here. It is often better to back and sell then not back at all. To be honest, not sure I really would like 7th Continent, but I'll likely back it secure in the knowledge that if I change my mind I can surely flip it and make my money back and then some.
Kickstarter is just another aspect of my hobby, and I'm fortunate enough to have the means to indulge myself in it. I neither encourage nor disparage those that choose to use it, just be realistic about why you're using it.
Speaking of which, BGG.Con is coming up so it's time to get ready for my annual game dumping auction...maybe I should calculate how many of them are Kickstarters...
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- Legomancer
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- D10
- Dave Lartigue
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- Michael Barnes
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- Mountebank
- HYPOCRITE
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Michael Barnes wrote: Butt Dave...
It was too easy.
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