The Mandate - RIP

What the hell were they thinking?

They were unhappy. They exhausted other routes. They hoped this would bring relief. They got disappointed. Again. In different functions (as pyschologist and when working for the ministy of finance) I've seen what people do when they are desperate. It may make no sense, be stupid, self-destructive etc, but its fundamentally human. Be glad you aint among them.
 
The Kickstarter game that brought me the most sadness was Limit Theory. After an optimistic start it is now just so much vaporware.

I don't let the failures discourage me, though, because the ones that make it through are often quite special. Elite, Divinity Original Sin, Obduction for instance.

To be fair, I would avoid to paint everything with same brush.

Limit Theory failed because it was solo project and worst thing happened - person who was in charge of project got ill. I thought it indicated it will come back but yeah, that's how solo projects goes. Still interesting experiment of procedural generation.

Mandate had very solid graphics package and presentation, they clearly knew what they wanted to achieve. I am sad they failed. But that's a nature of the beast - if KS runs into unforeseen situations money just runs out. Few people might work on project in free time, but it is limited because people got to eat.

In fact I am sad about Mandate. It looked very interesting idea I wanted to see becoming reality.

As for scam projects posing themselves as KS...not much to say there. They live and die by faith of cults around them.
 
To be fair, I would avoid to paint everything with same brush.

Limit Theory failed because it was solo project and worst thing happened - person who was in charge of project got ill. I thought it indicated it will come back but yeah, that's how solo projects goes. Still interesting experiment of procedural generation.

Mandate had very solid graphics package and presentation, they clearly knew what they wanted to achieve. I am sad they failed. But that's a nature of the beast - if KS runs into unforeseen situations money just runs out. Few people might work on project in free time, but it is limited because people got to eat.

In fact I am sad about Mandate. It looked very interesting idea I wanted to see becoming reality.

As for scam projects posing themselves as KS...not much to say there. They live and die by faith of cults around them.

I think you're agreeing with me, but your first sentence makes it sound like you're cautioning me not to "paint everything with the same brush." Which is a little weird since I expressly stated in my post that despite the failure of some projects (such as LT & Mandate) I've overall felt pretty good about enough kickstarter projects that I judge the program to be far more positive than negative. Heck, just look at the fantastic gem known as Subnautica.

Anyhow, if you're agreeing with me and just worded it awkwardly, then that's really awesome! It feels good to be on the same side as the good guys for once, doesn't it my friend?
 
Another one of numerous proofs that crowd funding is not viable for video games. Such project failures are part of an industry, where 8 of 10 video games get canceled in development or are commercial failures. That is why publishers have many of them, so the bestsellers can financially support the failed experiments. Somehow people believed, that KS was a way around that law.

Also the info posted here, that Kickstarter is a "gamble" is outright wrong. If the guys who launched that Kickstarter campaign don't deliver the perks promised on the project page, they are fully liable for refunding everyone their $700k. All it needs is someone to start suing them.
 
I think you're agreeing with me, but your first sentence makes it sound like you're cautioning me not to "paint everything with the same brush." Which is a little weird since I expressly stated in my post that despite the failure of some projects (such as LT & Mandate) I've overall felt pretty good about enough kickstarter projects that I judge the program to be far more positive than negative. Heck, just look at the fantastic gem known as Subnautica.

Anyhow, if you're agreeing with me and just worded it awkwardly, then that's really awesome! It feels good to be on the same side as the good guys for once, doesn't it my friend?

Oops, I just didn't read your post right there :D
 
Another one of numerous proofs that crowd funding is not viable for video games. Such project failures are part of an industry, where 8 of 10 video games get canceled in development or are commercial failures. That is why publishers have many of them, so the bestsellers can financially support the failed experiments. Somehow people believed, that KS was a way around that law.

Also the info posted here, that Kickstarter is a "gamble" is outright wrong. If the guys who launched that Kickstarter campaign don't deliver the perks promised on the project page, they are fully liable for refunding everyone their $700k. All it needs is someone to start suing them.

I think early access is way to go with funding games. This of course means you have something for backers to play, which is solid enough to keep new backers flowing in.

This raises entry cost but that's fair. It is very competitive market.

Also situation has changed - now there's tons of good niche indie games commercially available on Steam and elsewhere. In 2012, heyday of gaming KS, it wasn't so.

Also lot of projects - especially those free to play - use indiegogo or just simple paypal button.
 

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
I suppose you could go to court to try and recoup loses, but yeah - probably not very likely that would get you anything.

There's the letter of the law and there's the reality for backers. The reality is that you back a project - you take your chances. :)
 
And that happens how often? And how often is there enough cash left to refund when the project failed?
That depends on many factors, first you get to the financials in discovery, then you see how the people in charge did. If they did anything wrong, they become personally liable.

I suppose you could go to court to try and recoup loses, but yeah - probably not very likely that would get you anything.
I think anybody going into ghosting mode with his KS project, should be sued. Even if all money is lost, it still deters copycats.

You fail to realize, that this wild west mentality is harming the (video games) market. Anybody collecting someone else's money should be aware of ending up in a lawsuit if they did deceive about their abilities and didn't put their down their best effort. Anybody doing wrong intentionally should serve jail time. The "gamble" doesn't help honest and able game developers, only proper law enforcement removing the fraudulent "competition" does.
 
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Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
That depends on many factors, first you get to the financials in discovery, then you see how the people in charge did. If they did anything wrong, they become personally liable.


I think anybody going into ghosting mode with his KS project, should be sued. Even if all money is lost, it still deters copycats.

You fail to realize, that this wild west mentality is harming the (video games) market. Anybody collecting someone else's money should be aware of ending up in a lawsuit if they did deceive about their abilities and didn't put their down their best effort. Anybody doing wrong intentionally should serve jail time. The "gamble" doesn't help honest and able game developers, only proper law enforcement removing the fraudulent "competition" does.

I grant that law breakers should be punished.

I'm not about to launch a lawsuit over $20, though. :) There would be fights worth having on purely altruistic morality, but this isn't one of 'em in my book. You may feel differently. heh.
 
I suppose you could go to court to try and recoup loses, but yeah - probably not very likely that would get you anything.

There's the letter of the law and there's the reality for backers. The reality is that you back a project - you take your chances. :)

Yeah, basically this. I recognize that every time I back a Kickstarter I'm more or less donating my 20-50 bucks and hoping for the best. The idea that I would sue over that is ridiculous. I'm just grateful that some projects make it through
 
Yeah, basically this. I recognize that every time I back a Kickstarter I'm more or less donating my 20-50 bucks and hoping for the best. The idea that I would sue over that is ridiculous. I'm just grateful that some projects make it through
On Kickstarter who makes the most ridiculous and unrealistic promises actually wins the most money.

At some point regulators are going to come down on this or outright ban it altogether.
 

Even if you can sue, the chances of getting anything back off a developer who is now broke are slim
That is why you have a look at the financials through discovery with a lawsuit. If you find anything shady there, you can make the people in charge liable with their personal wealth. Those kind of people are never broke and live on the streets after running away with backer's money.
 
On Kickstarter who makes the most ridiculous and unrealistic promises actually wins the most money.

At some point regulators are going to come down on this or outright ban it altogether.

You can probably guess from my avatar and sig that I think "regulators" are a parasitical organism that consumers have turned their free will over to.
 
On Kickstarter who makes the most ridiculous and unrealistic promises actually wins the most money.

At some point regulators are going to come down on this or outright ban it altogether.

Lol goddamn that remind me, I really wish this project get another million or two from shillizens money, instead of buying land, tanks and space whale-dragon jpgs.
 
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