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Kickstarter game project raises $10k, made using a DIY Platformer tutorial.

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Re: Kickstarter game project raises $10k, made using a DIY Platformer tutorial.

#21

Post by samfoo »

glimcat wrote: post #6
nullflux wrote: post #2

Have these types of things happened on Kickstarter before (or has anyone attempted to just completely game the system?) What types of recourse do investors have? Any?

Here's some snake oil for $270,000: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1047510073/remee-the-rem... Kickstarter isn't particularly thorough about vetting technical projects.

There does seem to be some evidence that this isn't just snake oil:

http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/papers2/dreaming/Lucidity%20Institut...

I remain skeptical, but it's certainly plausible. More than most ACM flim flam.

Re: Kickstarter game project raises $10k, made using a DIY Platformer tutorial.

#22

Post by shpoonj »

Rinum wrote: post #5
nullflux wrote: post #2

Have these types of things happened on Kickstarter before (or has anyone attempted to just completely game the system?) What types of recourse do investors have? Any?

There is a kickstarter for a game (Echos of Eternia) where the creators are making the game using RPG Maker (a free tool anyone can use). They raised over $26k. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1465600975/echoes-of-ete...

I don't mind them using RPG Maker... but I don't understand how they have any investors considering how cliche the project sounds and how terrible their presentation skills are. Possibly the worst pitch I've seen.

Re: Kickstarter game project raises $10k, made using a DIY Platformer tutorial.

#23

Post by JVIDEL »

Don't know about this project, but the problem with kickstarter is that once you back a project is no longer your money, and there's nothing you can do about it.

It's right there on their TOS: they are not responsible for the project, nor to provide ways to keep the project's creators from running away with the backers' money.

This "give money and something MAY happen, eventually" model is going to collapse on itself.

Re: Kickstarter game project raises $10k, made using a DIY Platformer tutorial.

#24

Post by dcosson »

mbell wrote: post #13
SatvikBeri wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are a lot of lucid dreaming devices, and people report varying degrees of success with them, but I've never heard that any of them are completely worthless. Is there any particular reason why Remee wouldn't work?

> Is there any particular reason why Remee wouldn't work? There is no reason it wouldn't work in the same way that there is no reason that there couldn't be a giant teacup orbiting the Earth.

Ok so you're a realist, fine. But I'm curious, do you not think lucid dreaming is real? Or do you just not think it can be triggered with flashing lights?

Re: Kickstarter game project raises $10k, made using a DIY Platformer tutorial.

#25

Post by SatvikBeri »

mbell wrote: post #13
SatvikBeri wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are a lot of lucid dreaming devices, and people report varying degrees of success with them, but I've never heard that any of them are completely worthless. Is there any particular reason why Remee wouldn't work?

> Is there any particular reason why Remee wouldn't work? There is no reason it wouldn't work in the same way that there is no reason that there couldn't be a giant teacup orbiting the Earth.

The point is-there are lucid dreaming devices that work, at least partially. Remee seems to be based on similar principles. In theory Remee is an improvement on those devices, addressing a lot of the common complains about existing lucid dreaming technology. But unless I'm missing something (which is why I asked) it seems really odd to claim that an invention that's supposedly an improvement on existing, (partially) functional devices is "snake oil."

So let me rephrase my question. Given that there are existing, functional devices, based on a similar mechanism, and Remee seems to be an improvement on those devices, why exactly does it qualify as snake oil? Which of my assumptions is wrong?

Re: Kickstarter game project raises $10k, made using a DIY Platformer tutorial.

#26

Post by dhbanes »

twelvechairs wrote: post #12

Pick on it because its a poor game, not because of how it is written. It shouldn't matter to the backers if the guy was learning to program (how many experienced programmers would be happy with $10k-expenses for 2 months work?), or what tools he used to get the job done, as long as it does what it says on the proverbial tin.

Is it a poor game?

Re: Kickstarter game project raises $10k, made using a DIY Platformer tutorial.

#27

Post by jes5199 »

JVIDEL wrote: post #23

Don't know about this project, but the problem with kickstarter is that once you back a project is no longer your money, and there's nothing you can do about it. It's right there on their TOS: they are not responsible for the project, nor to provide ways to keep the project's creators from running away with the backers' money. This "give money and something MAY happen, eventually" model is going to collapse on itself…

I actually think that this is Kickstarter's saving grace: if I give money to somebody, I know it's a gamble. I'm not a venture capitalist looking for a guaranteed return, I'm not going to pressure anyone to have a "exit strategy", and I'm not a shopper who can demand my money back. I'm taking a risk with a small, disposable amount my money - usually less than the cost of going out to dinner at a nice restaurant, and I get to help give someone the gift of working on a project they believe in, that I think the world would be better off having. And sometimes - usually, even! - they give me a gift in return.

I find this to be way more optimistic and healthy than the traditional investment model, where the VC are pushing you to sell your baby for parts so they can get even richer.

Re: Kickstarter game project raises $10k, made using a DIY Platformer tutorial.

#29

Post by eps »

lonnyk wrote: post #15

I really feel this is getting blown out of proportion. The game wasn't even built yet and all of the assumptions the article makes are based on what they found in open directories on the server.

It might actually be worth blowing this out of proportion to prevent this sort of thing from happening again. I don't really want to support "I am going to paint second Mona Lisa" and end up supporting guy's quest for learning how to squeeze paint from a tube. This is not only misleading, but also damages KicStarter's reputation in general.

Re: Kickstarter game project raises $10k, made using a DIY Platformer tutorial.

#30

Post by jes5199 »

pablasso wrote: post #18

I'd be interesting if you could actually invest in Kickstarter projects and not just give away money.

I thought so, at first, but I don't believe that anymore.

I think it's plausable that small projects with shareholders who want a profit may actually be less stable than projects by independent groups who have funding without oversight.

I'm happy to give money to projects I believe in. I spend a lot of money on Kickstarter, and I'm happy to see projects succeed. Yeah, I hope I get a cool wristwatch out of that one project, but mostly it's about living vicerally through the experience of artists and designers and engineers being given the opportunity to really realize their own vision. That's worth a lot to me, and I'm willing to spend money on it, with no guarantee that I'll get mailed a toy at the end.

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