Warriors wrote:I'm a little interested. The biggest thing holding me back is my impatience. It just feels wierd prebuying a game 6 months to a year before I get to play it.
I totally hear you. Crowdfunding is a very strange concept in many ways. We're used to paying for a product that we receive either instantaneously or, at most, within a few days. The concept of paying money and then waiting months, even
years to enjoy that product is completely foreign. And here's the real kick in the pants - if you just wait until the product comes out, you might be able to get it for even less than if you helped fund it! Certainly that's true at the higher tiers (assuming you're not receiving multiple products for your greater investment).
So why in the world would anyone consider laying out cash for an IOU? Great question, and different people will answer it differently. For me, part of it is that I believe in the old axiom that you have to give if you expect to receive. I don't want to be the guy who says, "Gimme, gimme, I want, I want!" but fails to put his money where his mouth is. I look at each dollar spent as a vote cast, so when I crowdfund, I'm not actually buying a product but rather voicing my support (through an expenditure of cash) for a
concept of a product. My hope is that other companies and individuals within the same industry will see my vote tallied up with the votes of thousands of others and realize that the masses have spoken in a meaningful way, not just by saying they
want a particular product but that they are
committed to the success of that product, by God.
I'm also a huge proponent of backing the little guy who is toiling to make a really great product, the kind of product that I wouldn't be able to find in the mass market. You'll see that reflected in the kinds of projects I have been pimping here:
When we're talking games, I can't get these things from EA, Microsoft, Sony, Activision/Blizzard, et al. In all cases, it usually takes independents with vision to make innovative products. But in the past, even if an independent developer had an interesting vision, he had to go through the big boys of his particular industry to get the necessary funding. Most likely, the idea would be rejected as too risky, not commercial enough. Even if it was funded, endless compromises would have to be made before the bastardized product saw the light of day.
Now, I can play a small role in helping innovative products make it to retail and retain what was innovative about them in the first place. That's a good feeling, good enough that I'm willing to pay a little now for nothing but a promise. And I mean it: it really does feel good to feel like you're helping making something you care about a reality. I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try, whether it be for computer games or anything at all that you're passionate about. When you find something, post it here. Speaking of which...
Mike, you rock. I almost posted this earlier this evening, but I said to myself, "No, let's see if anyone posts it on their own... I want to see if there's "situational awareness" about potential crowdfunding projects amongst PEBA members." And look! Here it is!
Mike said it himself: he's not a crowdfunding guy. So the fact that he's pimping
Jon Shafer's At the Gates should be a clear signal that this is a project you want to pay attention to. The reason to be excited about this project is the man behind it. As Mike noted, Jon Shafer was the lead developer of
Civilization V, a game us PEBA-ites are quite familiar with. He has gone independent, starting a new company to realize his particular vision for the 4X strategy game.
And what does that vision entail?
- Adapt to an ever-changing landscape as the seasons change. Craft plans where you not only survive but hope for fields to dry up, marshes to flood and rivers to freeze solid.
- Build a robust economy by finding and exploiting new resources. Deposits slowly deplete so you need to always be on the hunt for more - even if they belong to your neighbors. If none are nearby, a better option might be to migrate your entire tribe to a different part of the world!
- Vanquish enemies on the battlefield by deftly maneuvering around them and destroying their chains of supply. But make sure your own are protected, as tactical victory means nothing if your armies then starve to death!
- Forge lasting diplomatic relationships with other leaders by lending them a hand in times of need. If Attila’s people are starving, sending him grain might earn you a friend for life.
- Fight or cooperate with the Romans - and become more like them. Barbarian kingdoms become more “Romanized” and gain access to powerful new technologies as they interact with the two halves of the Empire.
- Play on a geographically accurate map of Europe or 100% randomly-generated worlds.
- Lead one of eight factions, each with unique strengths to take advantage of and challenges to overcome.
Mike isn't the only one excited about
At the Gates. The Kickstarter campaign is less than 24 hours old and already it's halfway towards being funded. That's right... $20,000 in just 12 hours!
Okay, now all that hype being laid out, let me fess up that I am not intending to back
At the Gates. Why not? Well, for one thing, Mr. Shafer is already doing pretty well for himself, and while that's no knock against his project, he doesn't completely qualify as a "little guy" to me. The game is certain to be funded without my help; again, no knock at all, just a fact. If it was dripping with personal appeal, I'd be in for sure, but the game seems very narrow in focus, perhaps a bit too much for my tastes. Much is made of the need to feed and supply your troops. That sounds somewhat intriguing, but I'm not sure how appealing that would be in actual gameplay. It sounds like a fabulous
Civ V mod, but as a $25 game (the minimum price tier which entitles you to a copy), it's perhaps a little too specialized for my tastes. The absence of multiplayer is one final knock against the game.
Still, don't let me sour you to
At the Gates. Why don't you decide for yourself if it's worth your donation?
Check out Mr. Shafer demoing the first 15 minutes of gameplay. It will give you a great idea of what the game is all about. (And, side note: I really,
really appreciate when a new project has something to actually
demonstrate instead of just selling you on fabulous ideas that may be totally pie in the sky. This demo is really excellent!)
Now go support
ROAM,
At the Gates, or both! And if you're backing
ROAM, let me know first... we might be able to get it cheaper if we work together!