This is an amazing story, and may have implications in how indie developers raise money.  These are the guys who made Grim Fandango and Money Island.  They are already $700k, almost twice their funding goal.

http://www.industrygamers.com/news/double-fine-crowd-funding-new-graphic-adventure/

Could you see any strategy devs doing this?  Grigsby, maybe?

Chris--

It would only take a few unscrupulous devs to drop a project or never meet a deadline and the whole thing would cave I suspect...once bitten and all that.

Originally Posted By JudgeDredd (9 FEB 2012 11:14am)

It would only take a few unscrupulous devs to drop a project or never meet a deadline and the whole thing would cave I suspect...once bitten and all that.

Hasn't happened yet in the board game world, but it's probably only a matter of time. Or more likely that someone simply cannot deliver as promised. This year is the first year for a lot of scheduled Kickstarter backed releases, so we'll see what happens as 2012 unfolds.

Originally Posted By DigitusImpudicus
Could you see any strategy devs doing this?  Grigsby, maybe?

Eh, I doubt they'd get anywhere near that kind of response. Schafer and Gilbert are big enough names in more mainstream gaming circles to pull big dollars.

Grim Fandango was a long time ago and he will never better it.

Originally Posted By JudgeDredd (9 FEB 2012 11:14am)

It would only take a few unscrupulous devs to drop a project or never meet a deadline and the whole thing would cave I suspect...once bitten and all that.

This has already happened with some guys doing a comic reissue.  It seems to me perception is critical here.  These guys have a reputation and track record--and it is an underserved genre.

I hope Bill Spieth is watching this...

Their goal was $400k in a month.  They have now topped a million in less than 24 hours.

If only they did this for Nexus 2....

Originally Posted By Arctic Blast (9 FEB 2012 11:36am)

Originally Posted By JudgeDredd (9 FEB 2012 11:14am)

It would only take a few unscrupulous devs to drop a project or never meet a deadline and the whole thing would cave I suspect...once bitten and all that.

 

Hasn't happened yet in the board game world, but it's probably only a matter of time. Or more likely that someone simply cannot deliver as promised. This year is the first year for a lot of scheduled Kickster backed releases, so we'll see what happens as 2012 unfolds.

 

Yep.  Just a matter of time.  

After that happens once or twice, this route's viability will take a nose dive.

Originally Posted By JudgeDredd (9 FEB 2012 11:14am)

It would only take a few unscrupulous devs to drop a project or never meet a deadline and the whole thing would cave I suspect...once bitten and all that.

Yeah some prime examples would be games from Matrixgames that have never gotten finished like "Lock n Load: Heroes of Stalingrad" or "Combat Leader" or "World in Flames".

I'm sure plenty of money has gone into them with no results.

Originally Posted By DigitusImpudicus (9 FEB 2012 7:24pm)

Their goal was $400k in a month.  They have now topped a million in less than 24 hours.

 

Be aware a "pledge" is not valid until the cash changes hands. All too often during telethons I've seen a lot of people who called in pledges back out when the time came to pay up.

Originally Posted By Wolverine101 (10 FEB 2012 5:16am)

Originally Posted By JudgeDredd (9 FEB 2012 11:14am)

It would only take a few unscrupulous devs to drop a project or never meet a deadline and the whole thing would cave I suspect...once bitten and all that.

 

Yeah some prime examples would be games from Matrixgames that have never gotten finished like "Lock n Load: Heroes of Stalingrad" or "Combat Leader" or "World in Flames".

 

I'm sure plenty of money has gone into them with no results.

 

Except that none of them has received a dime of customer money, as opposed to an unscrupulous Kickstarter project which is fueled 100% by customer money. Not really comparable.

Originally Posted By Wolverine101 (10 FEB 2012 5:17am)

Originally Posted By DigitusImpudicus (9 FEB 2012 7:24pm)

Their goal was $400k in a month.  They have now topped a million in less than 24 hours.

 

 

Be aware a "pledge" is not valid until the cash changes hands. All too often during telethons I've seen a lot of people who called in pledges back out when the time came to pay up.

 

 

I assumed these amounts would have to paid up front, otherwise you haven't actually got any money at all?  Is that not the case?

Originally Posted By ross_ntu (10 FEB 2012 1:59pm)

Originally Posted By Wolverine101 (10 FEB 2012 5:17am)

Originally Posted By DigitusImpudicus (9 FEB 2012 7:24pm)

Their goal was $400k in a month.  They have now topped a million in less than 24 hours.

 

 

Be aware a "pledge" is not valid until the cash changes hands. All too often during telethons I've seen a lot of people who called in pledges back out when the time came to pay up.

 

 

 

I assumed these amounts would have to paid up front, otherwise you haven't actually got any money at all?  Is that not the case?

The way Kickstarter works it that the developer or what not sets a target amount, and a date to reach it by. Once that date gets hit, the money is unlocked for the developer, but only if they reach their target. Otherwise, it's returned to those who donated.

So yes, you do pay right away your chosen amount, but you will get it back if the project doesn't meet it's funding target.

Originally Posted By JudgeDredd (9 FEB 2012 11:14am)

It would only take a few unscrupulous devs to drop a project or never meet a deadline and the whole thing would cave I suspect...once bitten and all that.

Funny you mention that Obsidian would like to finance a future video game using Kickstarter.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/02/10/doublefines-happy-day-gives-planescape-dev-kickstarter-fever/