Kickstarter.com, one of the most well-known crowdfunding sites, has proven to be a big boon for independent publishers, including those of video games. The basic concept of crowdfunding is a simple one. An individual or business posts a project on a crowdfunding site such as Kickstarter and sets a funding limit for the project. If this limit is reached, the project receives the money. Anyone can donate to a crowdfunded project, not just big-wallet investors. This method of fundraising has seen a massive amount of success in the gaming industry, especially after Double Fine Productions managed to raise $3 million dollars for its game project, “Double Fine Adventure.”
The Benefits for Independent Game Developers
Indie game developers see $1,000-$10,000 in profit for 25 percent of their games, reports Gamasutra. If they make a great game and have plenty of luck, they can break into higher profit tiers, but it’s more likely the developer only earns up to $1,000 per title, if there are any sales at all. Video game development is a tough industry to break into, especially for a developer who doesn’t have big-name publisher support. Digital distribution services such as Steam help out, but that doesn’t give the developer a way to fund games. Some developers work on indie games as a side project while working a full-time job in another industry.
Photo of Kickstarter logo by unknown via Wikimedia Commons
With Kickstarter, an indie developer can secure funding for a project instead of hoping for a successful game to cover development costs afterward. Funding allows the developer to pay for needed development time, game assets, testing and other expenses that go into making a game. The developer creates a more polished and bug-free game, instead of taking it to market with limited resources.
The Benefits for Consumers
Kickstarter has helped 1,656 game projects get successfully funded, according to Crowdfund Insider. If it hadn’t been for a successful crowdfunding project, these games may have taken a significantly longer amount of time to get released, not been released at all or been released with limited features.
Developers take chances on game concepts that aren’t tried and tested. Instead of another first-person military shooter or fantasy RPG, genres such as adventure games, MMO trading card games, www.iWin.com hidden object games, sci-fi sports games and other interesting takes on classic game genres have found an audience. Sequels to cult classics are another common theme with the Kickstarter games section.
In addition to getting unique games on the market, helping crowdfund a project gives gamers a greater emotional investment in the success of a particular game or publisher. The funding goes directly to the developers, instead of a publisher who controls essential parts of the development process. Kickstarter’s game section is the second-largest on the site, showing gamers care so much about indie developers, they’re willing to put their money where their mouths are. From old franchises to new IPs, crowdfunding has had a massive positive effect on the indie development scene.
What are your predictions for crowdfunding and gaming? Tell us in the comments.
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