When it comes to the overall MMO community, there are segments within, and those cheering on and backing The Repopulation tend to believe in the developers, who are also MMO fans that happened to share in the love of some of the same games the players did, like Star Wars Galaxies and Dark Age of Camelot. So when people complain, if you're a more curmudgeonly type, if you've told people to go make their own game before, some people are doing it.

However, skepticism is healthy, as crowdfunding is still not entirely proven as sustainable, but it's one of the more promising methods of changing things and letting some underrepresented games be made. In some ways, it's the ultimate in community support, since it's funded through those who have interest in the idea. Of course, one should only pledge whatever amount one can afford to lose should a project go under. Crowdfunding is still something in the process of refinement, and there's risk involved, but as a system that has potential to give pockets of the MMO community (and gamers with various interests on the whole) access to games they love again, it's worth keeping an open mind.

Bashing developers that have come five or six years into development, have put the game in front of the public, and find out that adding more features to make the launch product that much better, for starting another fundraising campaign? That's a little much. The campaign will be funded when it closes, showing that the voice of the slice of the community interested in The Repopulation has come through once again with open wallets.

With the game set to have an open world, player choice, and even viable non-combat trade skill paths, it will cater to a group of players who have been looking for worlds hidden among the themeparks. While many use shorthand to refer to 'the MMO community', it's good to keep in mind that many of us play games that aren't exact fits for what we'd rather be playing. And this is where risk and good ideas can find an audience. Crowdfunding is asking that slice of the community to support the games they wish to see.

In the name of disclosure, I have not personally backed any of the games I've mentioned here, but I have backed a few projects. I am not sold in thinking that Kickstarter or any crowdfunding platform is the end-all solution to bringing games to life. Yet it's one way we have now that makes certain things possible outside of AAA studios. I'm looking forward to the premise and features of The Repopulation, which has also garnered some criticism because it's planned as a F2P game. That's a topic for another time, but some perspective on time and state of the industry also comes in handy. With crowdfunding, however, it's a powerful way to show the voice of a community, and it seems poised to evolve should the current projects come out to success.

Christina Gonzalez / Christina is a freelancer and contributor to MMORPG.com, where she writes the community-focused Social Hub column. You will also find her contributions at RTSGuru. Follow her on Twitter: @c_gonzalez