"Interesting analysis on Wyrd's Kickstarter vs "Succesful" KS" Topic

Found this interesting little bit of analysis on the recent (and somewhat shaky in some peoples eyes) Wyrd RPG Kickstarter, why it may not have been as "successful" compared to others, and how other gaming KS should learn to avoid a slow/not as prosperous funding.

Do you agree/disagree what was said? Anyone here with some experience with the Wyrd Campaign have some direct knowledge?

link

Thanks for posting the link. Interesting reading.

I think one thing he missed though is Wyrd did run a "traditional" KS for Evil Baby Orphanage – with stretch goals throughout. Most people seemed to consider it a success. Having said that – they have 18 days to deliver on time.

That to me is the chapter that hasn't been written yet. Wyrd has until Sept 2013 to deliver on this KS and I expect they will make it. As a comparison, KD has until November 2013 to deliver on a vastly inflated campaign in terms of stretch goals. Will he make it – wait and see.

I actually get nervous when I see KS that start either giving away or even selling too many stretch goals – I wonder if they have thought the whole thing through.

Look at Ogre – it has slipped from Nov 2012 to "in their warehouse by late May". Does anyone doubt that the stretch goals caused the delay ?

I think Wyrd has it right on this KS. May have annoyed some fans but they had a plan and stuck to it and seemed to have met their goals. They likely could have hit $1 USDM or more with different stretch goals but if doing that costs them $1.01 USDM, was it really worth it ?

There is definitely an issue on Kickstarter with 'catastrophic success' ; the project grows so much beyond the original scope that timely completion becomes an issue. CraigH has it exactly right that Ogre is a victim of it's own success; if they had printed the 500 copies (or whatever) they had planned to with no extras, the game would be out by now.* It's very easy to get carried away on the tide of backer enthusiasm and then have the 'omg, we told them this would be done in 6 months!?!?!' moment. If you don't have the bandwidth for a project to double/triple/etc in size then aiming for a modest goal seems like a reasonable strategy to me.

-Will

* I am certain the game will deliver, and the extras are worth the wait, but the number of counters alone went up by like 50% over the course of the Kickstarter.

Humm…
Interesting.
I will be putting up a KS in the near future, so this was helpful reading…

One possible solution to the delays could be limited levels with postponed deliver dates for each level.

COMPLETE BACKER LEVEL
backers 1-10 may
backers 11-20 june
backers 21-30 july
etc…

I bookmarked this for later. I do like studying KS campaigns. I still don't think that I ever one to do one. It's not how I operate.

An interesting pledge level would be a locked non-stretchable one. Make it a bit cheaper and disqualify it from any stretch stuff but guarantee delivery by an earlier date.

It has two advantages. Some people would take advantage of the early release and price cut. Others might be interested in two copies. so they get the basic game early and a second game later with all the extra swag.

Production wise it might get interesting. You basically have to have your orders in the pipe for a small print run (500 units or so) and then follow that up with the larger stretched run. If the game isn't a big success then you just run the smaller run and your done.

CorSec has an interesting idea there. Another way to avoid the "extra swag delay" caused by massive runaway success would be to release the swag later, and get the basic game out faster.

That probably is a good idea. Certainly the OGRE and Sedition Wars kickstarters really suffered from box bloat.

It is probably better to get your initial game out on time, with the extras out later, but I don't think anyone's run that model (successfully).

It is probably better to get your initial game out on time, with the extras out later, but I don't think anyone's run that model (successfully).

I think zombiecide has relatively been fast for the main box (or at least here in the states). Some slight hiccups though there too, as many people got angry when they found out the zombiecide folks had copies to sale during a convention when they havent gotten theirs yet

Interesting idea on the "swift" order set. Could be quite popular with those who only care about the base product

I finally got my ks stuff out this month. the ks was July. I think it takes several months to get finished minis from green sculpt to final castings.

Hmm not exactly on the topic of wyrd but some disgruntled person commented on the "similarities" with the Wyrd KS and the GoA KS

Is it similar? Or is it a bit of a stretch?

It's… it's uncanny.

This campaign is following the example of the Through the Breach campaign so closely it's… it is too close to be a coincidence. Moving the conversation from the campaign page to the private forums and interacting in big infodumps? Check! Huge redundant videos? Check!

Now? Ooooh, a non-stretch goal stretch goal that's a) not based on money, and b) opaque to the casual viewer of the campaign. Awesome!

Perhaps we should start a pool on when Rick Priestly will catch a biscuit in his mouth…

I've watched over the last year at so many companies who haven't seemed to get the idea of KS and other such systems.Just funding a 'new' line or expanding a line without putting your own investment behind it tends to lead to the same thing,a flop in most cases.

KS was designed for newbies/small outfits in the hobby and if run correctly works.Good luck to them,but a percentage will fail down the line just because of the market.But we will of had the chance to dream great ideas to life that would of sat in some bodies minds not getting the chance to get out to world.

Those companies using it to save investment costs really need to look at themselves and ask what image is it giving them.Fans,supporters,long term customers (your bread and butter)soon cotton on to short term profit projects and start to look elsewhere.

What would people think if Games Workshop set up a KS for a newline?They don't need the investment founds and it would been seen as a cynical ploy for a quick buck without any risk.

You've got to give more than just a goody bag or even worse a goody bag that changes for different people giving the same amount.

You've got to get involved with fans/supporters in the project itself.

You've got to investment your own money for the long term,you've got to advertise on top of asking fans to spread the word.

You've got to stick to the original offer and stop changing it and taking unfair adavantage of the earlry supporters.

Don't use it for quick profit as in the long term it will hurt you've company image and pocket.