early access, kickstarter, and the Indie Jones

[Smokedaddy]

There's been quite a sea-change in the game market over the last couple of years. First off, a bunch of indie (and not-so-indie) projects have resorted to early access pre-sales, where you get to play the current alpha or beta release (i.e. i not final, so not really the "release" copy) with the promise of receiving the real thing when and/or if it comes out. Secondly, many shops raise funds via Kickstarter, where they promise to deliver something other than the final product in exchange for your cash, or promise increasing tiers of function as pledge goals are met.

Opinions are divided on whether all this is a good idea or not. Some major publishers have used one or both of those avenues when they could clearly afford to finish the game with their own resources -- I don't think anyone will agree with this approach, especially when they don't deliver the final product with all the features promised (I'm thinking of a game that starts with a B and ends with a 4). For indies, it's a whole 'nother ball game for the indies, depending on how you define "indie." The first time I read of an indie project starting with a 4 million dollar budget, I just about spit my morning Coke through my nose. If someone's backing you with that kind of money, look at where their hand is vs. your balls, and tell me exactly how independent you are. Basically, there's a broad range of projects trying to raise money by these methods, and the gaming press is divided on whether it's worth while or not, with the majority tending toward "not".

So what say ye? Is it worth the risk to buy an unfinished (and maybe never-to-be-finished) game at a discount, with the developer's promise you'll get the full version when available? Or is it better to save your money, make 'em do the job they started, and wait to shell out until there's a release version, and you can actually read reviews and/or watch "let's play" video clips? Confine your consideration to games in development by small, actually independent developers.

 

[exball]

I'm a bit of a kick starter fan. I'm usually willing to pledge $20 to help a game I'm going to want to play. Even if it does have bit of a risk it's not huge.

 

[Pikonic]

I'll play Shadow of the Eternals....someday.

I do play Smite, which is still on beta and I know a few people on the beta servers for league and GW2. As for the kick starter or paying for beta it depends on what company. Like EA doesn't need extra money but some indie company with a real idea but lackluster funds might.

 

[Watcher]

Kickstarter is a risk, but for every horror story there is another success story.

It's also worth noting that while bigger corporations have done it, nobody twisted a donator's arm. People donated to these people, and in some cases donated without very much proof of concept or even video.

While yes there should be more regulation. From what I remember Kickstarter refunds a backer's money if the project doesn't get funded. But in a lot of cases caution should be exercised with Kickstarter. You're not guaranteed a product at the end, just the potential for that product to come out.

I'd also be less inclined to judge million dollar backing products. Some projects aren't done by amateurs and require legit programmers to do. A good example is Wasteland 2 or Project Eternity, both done by seasoned veterans in the industry were kickstarted. I'm less inclined to judge the required amount as I am to see their justification for it. The main difference between an Indie project is less to do with their money and more to do with creative control.

So what say ye? Is it worth the risk to buy an unfinished (and maybe never-to-be-finished) game at a discount, with the developer's promise you'll get the full version when available? Or is it better to save your money, make 'em do the job they started, and wait to shell out until there's a release version, and you can actually read reviews and/or watch "let's play" video clips? Confine your consideration to games in development by small, actually independent developers.

The problem with this is many projects just wouldn't happen without kickstarter.

I bring up Wasteland 2 as an example. Brian Fargo went to a lot of different publishers and they all required him to compromise on his vision in order to fund it. It's a project that was funded by backers and requires legit professional programmers to make. It'd be impossible to finance on his own much less do it in his basement.

The same goes for Project Eternity, Obsidian's kickstarted project. Obsidian had to lay off half of their staff after Fallout New Vegas due to Bethesda's manipulative contract over them. Kickstarter was basically their last option to salvage the company. (Or I should say second to last considering they also took the job to produce South Park the Stick of Truth).

There's also another argument to bring up. In a lot of cases backers have direct control over the project. I'm not saying that's a particularly good thing mind you, but it is a pretty subtle indication of the difference between a commercial and kickstarted project. An example is Torment: Tides of Numenara having backers vote on what style of combat it was going to have.

 

[Arkangel]

Personally, as a consumer, I don't feel very comfortable throwing down money on something that is unfinished unless the idea and vision of the game/project/etc really catches my eye.

 

[Watcher]

Personally, as a consumer, I don't feel very comfortable throwing down money on something that is unfinished unless the idea and vision of the game/project/etc really catches my eye.

With kickstarter you're not really purchasing a product. You're more like an investor with your return being the game. Consumerism doesn't really apply.

 

[Springblossom]

I usually don't, especially not for indie games, simply because: a.) there's no real guarantee they're ever going to be finished, and b.) you don't always know if you'll like what comes out.

I do make some exceptions, though. I made one for Starbound because I knew it had a bunch of Terraria veterans behind it, and because it looks and sounds cool as hell.