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PUBLISHERS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO EXPLOIT KICKSTARTER
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kentona
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CloseIf a known developer is using Kickstarter to fund its next game, be careful -- the money might end up getting used to ostensibly give a major publisher a new game for free. Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart has revealed that publishers tried to use his company for that very purpose.
"We were actually contacted by some publishers over the last few months that wanted to use us to do a Kickstarter," he revealed on his team's own KS page. "I said to them 'So, you want us to do a Kickstarter for, using our name, we then get the Kickstarter money to make the game, you then publish the game, but we then don't get to keep the brand we make and we only get a portion of the profits.'
"They said, 'Yes'."
via http://www.destructoid.com/publishers-accused-of-trying-to-exploit-kickstarter-235292.phtml
wow.
Thinking about it, though, Kickstarter is just a place to get funding, and, upon reflection why couldn't a big name publisher use it to raise funds? However, I object wholeheartedly to the practice of doing it behind the scenes/backdoor like this. That's shady.
I mean, what if BioWare launched a kickstarter?
On that thought, how long will it be before a big name publisher tries to use kickstarter to gauge interest in an old IP? Baldur's Gate III anyone?
It would be nice to see some of the series that were left by the way-side get funding for being picked up (Breath of Fire, Terranigma, Lufia, anyone?)
On the flip side, though, it's pretty sad the depths big game companies will go to to save an extra buck (or thousand).
On the flip side, though, it's pretty sad the depths big game companies will go to to save an extra buck (or thousand).
author=kentona
I mean, what if BioWare launched a kickstarter?
Can I post the Calvin & Hobbes "A Fool and His Money are Soon Parted" comic again?
Obsidian is in fact doing something like this: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/obsidian/project-eternity
They've already passed a stretch goal too and certain donation goal ($1k) lets you insert your own NPC or help design a high level item.
author=GreatRedSpiritauthor=kentonaCan I post the Calvin & Hobbes "A Fool and His Money are Soon Parted" comic again?
I mean, what if BioWare launched a kickstarter?
Obsidian is in fact doing something like this: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/obsidian/project-eternity
They've already passed a stretch goal too and certain donation goal ($1k) lets you insert your own NPC or help design a high level item.
"Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart has revealed that publishers tried to use his company for that very purpose."
bolded for clarity, GRS
kentona
On that thought, how long will it be before a big name publisher tries to use kickstarter to gauge interest in an old IP? Baldur's Gate III anyone?
did you not click any links
(...I pledged $35 for the game/art book/OST two days ago.)
EDIT: HEY GRS YOU BEAT ME
BY TWO HOURS
author=CrazeI DID. I AM STOKED FOR THIS.kentonadid you not click any links
On that thought, how long will it be before a big name publisher tries to use kickstarter to gauge interest in an old IP? Baldur's Gate III anyone?
(...I pledged $35 for the game/art book/OST two days ago.)
...but I meant, like, actual reviving of existing IP. Like, a kickstarter for Command & Conquer, or Unreal Tournament or The Lost Vikings or something.
As of right now, each backer has been pledging ~$40 on average. Granted, some people are pledging $5-10k, BUT. I just think that is pretty nifty/interesting!
It helps that the rewards are really good.
It helps that the rewards are really good.
author=Craze
EDIT: HEY GRS YOU BEAT ME
BY TWO HOURS
Double check your time settings. Otherwise I took a really long lunch and I'm going to hear about it.
Actual thoughts beyond "oh shit lunch time gogogo":
The publisher trying to exploit kickstarter via a proxy like Obsidian reported is hilarious and not surprising in the least. I don't even know why anybody with a head on their shoulders would go with it. It sounds even dumber than the dev getting a bonus based on a metacritic score (I'd imagine Obsidian is still sore over this too).
I have little problem with kickstarters over reviving old IPs as long as there is something to show that the publisher/developer/IP holder is serious about it. None of the crap where "if X sells enough then ma~aybe" but evidence that should the kick starter take there'll be an actual product in the future. Anything short of the IP holder should be thrown out, I wouldn't trust anybody else to attempt a revival. Fractured IPs (System Shock is one iirc) would basically be impossible.
Unless enough high profile kickstarters make ground and profits I don't see this happening though.
LockeZ
I'd really like to get rid of LockeZ. His play style is way too unpredictable. He's always like this too. If he ran a country, he'd just kill and imprison people at random until crime stopped.
5958
author=kentonaauthor=GreatRedSpirit"Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart has revealed that publishers tried to use his company for that very purpose."author=kentonaCan I post the Calvin & Hobbes "A Fool and His Money are Soon Parted" comic again?
I mean, what if BioWare launched a kickstarter?
Obsidian is in fact doing something like this: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/obsidian/project-eternity
They've already passed a stretch goal too and certain donation goal ($1k) lets you insert your own NPC or help design a high level item.
bolded for clarity, GRS
They tried. According to the kickstarter page, it looks like what Obsidian actually has ended up doing is exactly the same thing except without the publisher. They're publishing it themselves instead using the KS money. Haha. Stupid publisher.
"The great thing about Kickstarter is that we can go directly to the people who love to play RPGs as much as we love to make them. Plus, we don’t have to make compromises with a publisher. We make the development decisions, we market the game, and we don't have to answer to anyone but you – our fans."
Oh yeah, forgot to clarify what I meant by "Obsidian is in fact doing something like this" was "big company using kickstarter to fund / gauge interest in new but not existing IP". Sorry 'bout that
kickstarter is a cesspool.
i've said this several times, but kickstarter has went from funding indie devs who want to get their foot in the door to give people a creative experience beyond a certain demographic to, companies and people who actually work or HAVE worked in the industry to monopolize the site through connections and absurd rewards.
people who support these are awful, but the thing is, they don't know any better. david crane, cheeteman2, etc all scamming people.
use your brain, use your head before you support a kickstarter and you'll know which things to fund and which to don't.
i've seen kickstarter do few good, and a lot of awful.
i've said this several times, but kickstarter has went from funding indie devs who want to get their foot in the door to give people a creative experience beyond a certain demographic to, companies and people who actually work or HAVE worked in the industry to monopolize the site through connections and absurd rewards.
people who support these are awful, but the thing is, they don't know any better. david crane, cheeteman2, etc all scamming people.
use your brain, use your head before you support a kickstarter and you'll know which things to fund and which to don't.
i've seen kickstarter do few good, and a lot of awful.
I totally forgot, I already donated to a kickstarter that is trying to revive a dead IP!
e: Last update was nearly a month ago
e: Last update was nearly a month ago
Shinan
4314
It seems in the boardgaming space that companies often use Kickstarter to gauge interest in already finished products. Basically using it as a kind of pre-order. I remember seeing a "sequel" to Tsuro on Kickstarter, a game that was going to be in shops no matter what anyway.
Of coures GMT has had their own kickstarter-like system for years where they don't print (or do a reprint of) a game until it has 500 pre-orders.
Of course it's not the same as telling a developer to use Kickstarter and then taking the IP created for the project in exchange for... Distribution? Extra moneys? Who knows...
Speaking of old dead IPs there was the Wasteland kickstarter and the two Shadowrun kickstarters that were pretty succesful. Then there's loads of sequels to ancient 80s games that kickstarts. (including a straight up remake of Leisure Suit Larry) So dead IPs all the way. Though it's not publishers doing it. It's mostlythe original developers who have finally gotten their hands on the old IPs again after being in some defunct publisher's catalog.
Of coures GMT has had their own kickstarter-like system for years where they don't print (or do a reprint of) a game until it has 500 pre-orders.
Of course it's not the same as telling a developer to use Kickstarter and then taking the IP created for the project in exchange for... Distribution? Extra moneys? Who knows...
Speaking of old dead IPs there was the Wasteland kickstarter and the two Shadowrun kickstarters that were pretty succesful. Then there's loads of sequels to ancient 80s games that kickstarts. (including a straight up remake of Leisure Suit Larry) So dead IPs all the way. Though it's not publishers doing it. It's mostlythe original developers who have finally gotten their hands on the old IPs again after being in some defunct publisher's catalog.
For those interseted Obsidian's Project Eternity kickstarter ended yesterday getting a few grand short of four million! Then there's their Paypal account for those who didn't go through Kickstarter which has ~140k or so meaning they broke 4M in total!
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