The lights are on
Last year was huge for the crowd-funding website. Explore some of the numbers and success stories the website had last year.
Kickstarter has emerged as something of a cultural phenomenon, offering a new way for creative voices to bring their projects into being, without the need for traditional investors, publishers, or backers. Kickstarter sent along this link to some remarkable feats the website achieved in 2012.
Among the facts provided, we learned that 2,241,475 people pledged $319,786,629, resulting in the funding of 18,109 separate projects. The pledgers came from 177 different countries, which is 90% of the nations in the world. Of course, those numbers include projects in all sorts of mediums, from books and movies to video games. Games (presumably including both video and tabletop) were the category that saw the most money pledged, amounting to over $83 million.
What do you think of the Kickstarter system? Have you helped to fund any projects?
Email the author Matt Miller, or follow on Game Informer.
I think it's awesome. The game related things I've funded are the Ouya, The Dead Linger, Wasteland 2, Code Hero, Steampunk Playing Cards, Guns of Icarus Online, Takedown, SolForge, and EvoCreo
I think a Celebration is warranted. We have a new Double Fine game, console (Well, two I guess), Wasteland 2, and a lot of other success stories.
I think Kickstarter is great for indie brands and other projects that are requiring a better budget to help better overall production. I have yet to use it, but it's nice to see projects get help without going the Wall Street route. I need to peruse the site to better familiarize myself with it.
I have a strong appreciation for Kickstarter.
Great!
Double fine, Wasteland 2, Project Eternity
I was skeptical at first. Now there is no doubt. Kickstarter is a huge success.
I think its a great thing to have around and no I didnt pledge but I almost did for the OUYA.
Genuinely impressive. Hats off.
cheers!
I have used Kickstarter for two projects now, one I'm estatic about, and the other one I'm getting a little nervous about. I prefer to look for ones that say they're near finished, but it's still a risk to sign up for though.
The Boss Monsters Kickstarter has been an amazing experience so far. They posted updates almost every other day during the fundraising, and still do one every other week. I already started getting my rewards for helping, and I hope to get the actual game in a few months at most.
Stories like Code Hero need to be known though as a warning for those looking for money on Kickstarter and those that are leery of putting up the money on Kickstarter.
Fortunately the service can only get better as people recognize what's reasonable to ask for and what kind of gifts to give, and those donating will start to recognize what's a good deal and what isn't.
As you can see in the slideshow, so many awesome things have happened because of Kickstarter. Of course it's a good thing!
I got a bit carried away: Wasteland 2, Double Fine Adventure, TakeDown, Leisure Suit Larry, Carmageddon, Project Eternity, Star Citizen, Elite: Dangerous, Project Godus...
I think people just need to keep expectation in check, this year may be rough for Kickstarter if a lot of the high profile projects turn out to be melons, especially if people considered it a "pre-order".
Seems like a new trend to get money out of charity. I see people are already celebrating even before the products are released. I remain skeptical till then.