Kickstarter is one of many ways to gather funding for a potential MMORPG. I am curious though if any of you have ever donated on Kickstart (or a similar website) and why. What motivated you to?

If you have not, what would it take to convince you to donate to a MMORPG?

I am not doing anything like this, but am just curious as to what you believe are the primary reasons one Kickstarter project may succeed, while the next may fail horribly.

I have seen some really great ideas fail, and some really stupid ones succeed, and it bewilders me.

Below are some examples of things which make people donate or drive them away due to lack thereof

---------------------------

Fancy Graphics?

Specific Features?

A Big Name Famous Dev behind it?

A company already behind it?

A working demo or prototype?

Screenshots?

A well made website?

A blogger you've been following for months first?

Nothing at all because you think it's stupid?

Anything that isn't a WoW Clone?

What if Darkfall was a Kickstarter?

What if WoW was originally a Kickstarter, would you have donated?

None of the above in essence, except company behind it.

For me, i would look at it's business viability.

- Their team - How many, what are their roles, what is their experience
- Their team ambition - Do they aim to develop into a company or is it a demo project.
- Their project aim - What niche does it hope to fill.
- their current progress and schedule - Do they have a project plan in place, what assets can they demo and what timeline do they hope to follow.

All of the above boxes would need to be ticked. They rarely are in terms of the business and project planning sense. I rarely see a timeline/deveopment schedule, which suggest they will 'wing' it and hope for the best.

So i would want:

A small group of talented individuals who hope to fill a niche in the MMO market. They have the ideas and people in place.
They have some assets to show the look of the game and a solid game concept already in place.
They have a project roadmap containing development goals upto a playable alpha.
They know what investment they need to achieve this and have a scalable cost prediction should lesser investment be acquired. i.e. They have X timeline should they receive minimal funding, Y timeline should they hit target to work on it full speed.

In essence, a business plan, as if they want money, then it's going to a business.

What a question... OK for me to become an investor ...

The new MMORPG project would have to be:

1.) A MMORPG, solely for PC, not just a MMOG, not a MMORTS, not a browserMMO. Terrestrial or Space, preferably both.

2.) ALL Investors and Developers must be MMORPG Players themselves first and must prove a history of being a fan of the genre and a consistant Player. Development Team must be based in North America and must be made up of at least a dozen paid full time individuals or more.

3.) Sandbox MMORPG with a full and expansive ingame virtual world (built FIRST), with only the quest arc system borrowed from themepark MMORPGs. Ingame Player Housing, Mounts, land and sea vehicles. No fast travel of any kind, no NPC marking/ID system (exclamation marks above NPC heads).

4.) Must be a subscription based MMORPG with a free trial of at least 30 days and NO cash shop. Not even for cosmetic items. MMORPG must be headquartered in North America and Servers maintained there as well.

5.) Skill based system for character advancement. Diminishing returns system applied for characters that are too widely skilled with no clear specilization.

6.) The MMORPG must be targeted to, designed for, and maintained for hardcore MMORPG fans and Players... NOT "Social Gaming" fans. Social Gaming players should not be marketed to or encouraged to subscribe. The MMORPG in question must never have any connections to, or link to, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or any other social websites. Xfire and similar is allowed.

7.) The MMORPG must be made EITHER PvP OR PvE; NOT BOTH. I no longer believe it is possible to accomadate both Player groups in a single MMORPG, a MMOG, or a game. Make a choice and stick with it. (personally I play only PvE so that means I would only invest in a PvE MMORPG)

8.) Must utilize high quality graphics and the ingame world, the npcs and mobs, the items ingame and especially the character must use a "true to life" high quality realistic art style. No cartoony graphics or art style, no "stylized art style.

9.) The MMORPG must of course be run as a business but it must be run according to old fashioned values of "Customer and Quality First". If said MMORPG ever becomes a money grabbing enterprize I will divest immediately. Profit should NEVER be the number one concern of a MMORPG in my opinion. MMORPGs are an Art Form and a niche of entertainment, and are not meant to be a mainstrean multimillion dollar money making machine. We have Automoblie Corporations and Movie Studios for that already.

That's it. The above is my own "must have" list. Rest is negotiable.

Yes, I am very demanding on what kind of MMORPG project I believe deserves my investment. To date there has been no MMORPG project that I am aware of that meets my requirements for personal investment.

I make no apologies for my views on this matter.

Just to make it clear, Kickstarter and similar websites are based on DONATIONS and are not like a traditional investor.

I read in both of your posts that it is important that they are a business first and a game second, and that they profit. Yet you would receive no return of any kind (other than a copy of the game, collectors edition, etc. whatever the kickstarter benefits are based on your donation amount).

Would this still apply, or did you already know this and ARE answering as if being an "investor" means donations with no returns for yourself? It's all about the project itself on Kickstarter, not making money as you can't.

If it being a business and making profit is a requirement for you to DONATE, why exactly? I have a hard time understanding that part.

THANKS for answering! Love the reads!

It's more like the same as buying a MMO. I don't want to see my investment wasted, hence whyn this forum is full of threads asking about games pre-release and even posting financial figures - They don't want to waste their money.

For me, this would apply for a donation also. If they require money to develop it, then in my mind it is to be for a future release for money. I.e. if you are paying someone to help develop a game, it will be for future revenue. Which is therefore why i would want a business plan in place and not see the money 'vanish'

And when there is money involved, i don't like seeing it squandered, so if they want donations, then i would want to know what it is going towards and why. I suppose it's similar to giving a kid birthday money - You tell him not to waste it on sweets and crap, as his nan wants it going towards something useful.

If i didn't have these reservations, it would be a free-for-all of cap in hand people with nothing more than a dream. I'll give a friend £10 to buy him a few beers when he's short on a night out, but i won't just give him £10 just because he wants it, in that case i would lend it.

Originally posted by Vegetto

None of the above in essence, except company behind it.

For me, i would look at it's business viability.

- Their team - How many, what are their roles, what is their experience
- Their team ambition - Do they aim to develop into a company or is it a demo project.
- Their project aim - What niche does it hope to fill.
- their current progress and schedule - Do they have a project plan in place, what assets can they demo and what timeline do they hope to follow.

All of the above boxes would need to be ticked. They rarely are in terms of the business and project planning sense. I rarely see a timeline/deveopment schedule, which suggest they will 'wing' it and hope for the best.

So i would want:

A small group of talented individuals who hope to fill a niche in the MMO market. They have the ideas and people in place.
They have some assets to show the look of the game and a solid game concept already in place.
They have a project roadmap containing development goals upto a playable alpha.
They know what investment they need to achieve this and have a scalable cost prediction should lesser investment be acquired. i.e. They have X timeline should they receive minimal funding, Y timeline should they hit target to work on it full speed.

In essence, a business plan, as if they want money, then it's going to a business.

Those people generally have no need for kickstarter...

---

Originally posted by Cuathon

---

Originally posted by Vegetto
None of the above in essence, except company behind it.
For me, i would look at it's business viability.
- Their team - How many, what are their roles, what is their experience
- Their team ambition - Do they aim to develop into a company or is it a demo project.
- Their project aim - What niche does it hope to fill.
- their current progress and schedule - Do they have a project plan in place, what assets can they demo and what timeline do they hope to follow.
All of the above boxes would need to be ticked. They rarely are in terms of the business and project planning sense. I rarely see a timeline/deveopment schedule, which suggest they will 'wing' it and hope for the best.
So i would want:
A small group of talented individuals who hope to fill a niche in the MMO market. They have the ideas and people in place.
They have some assets to show the look of the game and a solid game concept already in place.
They have a project roadmap containing development goals upto a playable alpha.
They know what investment they need to achieve this and have a scalable cost prediction should lesser investment be acquired. i.e. They have X timeline should they receive minimal funding, Y timeline should they hit target to work on it full speed.
In essence, a business plan, as if they want money, then it's going to a business.

---

Those people generally have no need for kickstarter...

---

Exactly. I won't give money to someone who has an idea and a skill, it has to be going somewhere and have a plan.

Originally posted by Gardavsshade

What a question... OK for me to become an investor ...

The new MMORPG project would have to be:

1.) A MMORPG, solely for PC, not just a MMOG, not a MMORTS, not a browserMMO. Terrestrial or Space, preferably both.

2.) ALL Investors and Developers must be MMORPG Players themselves first and must prove a history of being a fan of the genre and a consistant Player. Development Team must be based in North America and must be made up of at least a dozen paid full time individuals or more.

3.) Sandbox MMORPG with a full and expansive ingame virtual world (built FIRST), with only the quest arc system borrowed from themepark MMORPGs. Ingame Player Housing, Mounts, land and sea vehicles. No fast travel of any kind, no NPC marking/ID system (exclamation marks above NPC heads).

4.) Must be a subscription based MMORPG with a free trial of at least 30 days and NO cash shop. Not even for cosmetic items. MMORPG must be headquartered in North America and Servers maintained there as well.

5.) Skill based system for character advancement. Diminishing returns system applied for characters that are too widely skilled with no clear specilization.

6.) The MMORPG must be targeted to, designed for, and maintained for hardcore MMORPG fans and Players... NOT "Social Gaming" fans. Social Gaming players should not be marketed to or encouraged to subscribe. The MMORPG in question must never have any connections to, or link to, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or any other social websites. Xfire and similar is allowed.

7.) The MMORPG must be made EITHER PvP OR PvE; NOT BOTH. I no longer believe it is possible to accomadate both Player groups in a single MMORPG, a MMOG, or a game. Make a choice and stick with it. (personally I play only PvE so that means I would only invest in a PvE MMORPG)

8.) Must utilize high quality graphics and the ingame world, the npcs and mobs, the items ingame and especially the character must use a "true to life" high quality realistic art style. No cartoony graphics or art style, no "stylized art style.

9.) The MMORPG must of course be run as a business but it must be run according to old fashioned values of "Customer and Quality First". If said MMORPG ever becomes a money grabbing enterprize I will divest immediately. Profit should NEVER be the number one concern of a MMORPG in my opinion. MMORPGs are an Art Form and a niche of entertainment, and are not meant to be a mainstrean multimillion dollar money making machine. We have Automoblie Corporations and Movie Studios for that already.

That's it. The above is my own "must have" list. Rest is negotiable.

Yes, I am very demanding on what kind of MMORPG project I believe deserves my investment. To date there has been no MMORPG project that I am aware of that meets my requirements for personal investment.

I make no apologies for my views on this matter.

 

 

 

People who can do that don't need kickstarter. Although actually no one can do that. People who use kickstarter aren't capable of that.

I don't understand why you guys can't just man up and say you wouldn't ever donate on kickstarter?

Originally posted by Cuathon

I don't understand why you guys can't just man up and say you wouldn't ever donate on kickstarter?

I would never donate on kickstarter.

Poll is here:

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/340513/POLL-Would-you-invest-in-an-MMORPG-startup-project.html

Originally posted by AdamTM

Originally posted by Cuathon

I don't understand why you guys can't just man up and say you wouldn't ever donate on kickstarter?

I would never donate on kickstarter.

Poll is here:

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/340513/POLL-Would-you-invest-in-an-MMORPG-startup-project.html

I know you wouldn't. I was talking to people who made a giant ass obfuscation post instead of just telling the truth.

Originally posted by Vegetto

None of the above in essence, except company behind it.

For me, i would look at it's business viability.

- Their team - How many, what are their roles, what is their experience
- Their team ambition - Do they aim to develop into a company or is it a demo project.
- Their project aim - What niche does it hope to fill.
- their current progress and schedule - Do they have a project plan in place, what assets can they demo and what timeline do they hope to follow.

All of the above boxes would need to be ticked. They rarely are in terms of the business and project planning sense. I rarely see a timeline/deveopment schedule, which suggest they will 'wing' it and hope for the best.

So i would want:

A small group of talented individuals who hope to fill a niche in the MMO market. They have the ideas and people in place.
They have some assets to show the look of the game and a solid game concept already in place.
They have a project roadmap containing development goals upto a playable alpha.
They know what investment they need to achieve this and have a scalable cost prediction should lesser investment be acquired. i.e. They have X timeline should they receive minimal funding, Y timeline should they hit target to work on it full speed.

In essence, a business plan, as if they want money, then it's going to a business.

All of this. In Triplicate.

Of course i wouldn't, i treated the question as theory. I am in no financial position to give money away to people, doing things that would be better spent on supporting myself doing that same thing.

Unless, it was someone i knew irl, then i probably would. Just like i invested in a race horse this week, as i can go watch him in April and know the people in it.

Originally posted by Cuathon

I don't understand why you guys can't just man up and say you wouldn't ever donate on kickstarter?

I would donate on to a MMORPG using kickstarter for funding *IF* a MMORPG ever meets the list I posted above.

And Yes I do in fact believe that a MMORPG Dev Team can make a MMORPG that fits my list. That's why I posted it... to show what kind of MMORPG I would Invest in.

Will some Dev Team "meet" my list's requirements? Only time will tell. Anything is possible.

To "Man Up" and invest in a project I don't agree with isn't "Maning Up", it's stupidity. Never Invest in something you don't believe in or support.

Originally posted by Cuathon

Originally posted by AdamTM

Originally posted by Cuathon

I don't understand why you guys can't just man up and say you wouldn't ever donate on kickstarter?

I would never donate on kickstarter.

Poll is here:

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/340513/POLL-Would-you-invest-in-an-MMORPG-startup-project.html

I know you wouldn't. I was talking to people who made a giant ass obfuscation post instead of just telling the truth.

Actually when i think about it there is -one- situation where i could see myself donating.

If the game had a playable Alpha/Beta and I would be able to play the alpha if i donate.

Essentially the Overgrowth model.

But then it wouldn't be a donation.

Originally posted by Gardavsshade

Originally posted by Cuathon

I don't understand why you guys can't just man up and say you wouldn't ever donate on kickstarter?

I would donate on to a MMORPG using kickstarter for funding *IF* a MMORPG ever meets the list I posted above.

And Yes I do in fact believe that a MMORPG Dev Team can make a MMORPG that fits my list. That's why I posted it... to show what kind of MMORPG I would Invest in.

Will some Dev Team "meet" my list's requirements? Only time will tell. Anything is possible.

To "Man Up" and invest in a project I don't agree with isn't "Maning Up", it's stupidity. Never Invest in something you don't believe in or support.

You would donate money to an MMO on kickstarter of the kind that would never advertise on kickstarter? Stop being purposefully obtuse.

First, I'd need to know that the big jackwagon MMO companies and developers are NOT going to be involved. At all. Period.

---

Originally posted by AdamTM

---

Originally posted by Cuathon

---

Originally posted by AdamTM

---

Originally posted by Cuathon

I don't understand why you guys can't just man up and say you wouldn't ever donate on kickstarter?

---

I would never donate on kickstarter.
Poll is here:
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/340513/POLL-Would-you-invest-in-an-MMORPG-startup-project.html

---

I know you wouldn't. I was talking to people who made a giant ass obfuscation post instead of just telling the truth.

---

Actually when i think about it there is -one- situation where i could see myself donating.
If the game had a playable Alpha/Beta and I would be able to play the alpha if i donate.
 
Essentially the Overgrowth model.
But then it wouldn't be a donation.

---

Ahh, Mortal? :D

I once pre-ordered a game ($10 i think) called The Chronicle. The dev team had big studios, solid pro's, some amazing little fly over demo's, great screenshots and solid financial information and company reports. They had a model of fast-track developing several MMO's at once, based on their engine. Company was called MMO Centre, PC Gamer or someone did an article on their upcoming title 'Africa' even.

The place folded, no games existed, just enough stuff to showcase. That was a company with millions, so now i'm super-sceptical :)

My requirement would be that Kickstarter finally begins accepting non-US projects. I am totally boycotting it because of that and I'm sure many more people would do so if they knew this fact.

At the moment, Kickstarter is the place where the world funds American bright ideas and creativity. The rest of the world does not have the right to be creative or original.. and yet they do accept payments from outside the US. I find this policy completely outrageous.

The second requirement would be that they stop screening projects according to their taste. I've seen many great projects rejected becuse the dozen or so hipsters that comprise their editorial staff don't find them "cool, rad or ironic" enough.

I've studied crowdfunding and Kickstarter really is "bad guy" of the bunch. They are WoW of internet crowdfunding scene and alot of people pitching dolars to legitimately help out new promising projects (which is cool) do not know some darker aspects of the story.

Originally posted by Pilnkplonk

My requirement would be that Kickstarter finally begins accepting non-US projects. I am totally boycotting it because of that and I'm sure many more people would do so if they knew this fact.

At the moment, Kickstarter is the place where the world funds American bright ideas and creativity. The rest of the world does not have the right to be creative or original.. and yet they do accept payments from outside the US. I find this policy completely outrageous.

Like the american bright idea to start a site called Kickstarter... if only someone had some kind of idea for something similar, that would serve an area outside the US.

Sarcasm aside, I find your point perfectly valid, a fine reason not to donate.  However you seem like you think this is some horrible slant at the entire world.  Think about the goals of that program and it really makes quite a lot of sense the way it is.