"Do campaigns really need videos?" Topic

So, they say your campaign needs a video for best results. But, do you back a campaign just because you liked the video? Or would you rather see all the info spelled out for you on the page?

My dilema is, I don't really have the means or skills to put together a nice video, nor the cash to pay someone (hence needing to do a Kickstarter in the first place). Does someone want to see a little webcam video of me saying "Hi, welcome to my campaign, now give me money" or just well photo/art/logo image at the top? I just kind of feel like if you can't do a good video, don't do one at all. IMO a poorly done video could do more harm than good, possibly taking away from the whole "experience" and come off as unprofessional.

And for what it's worth I'm referring to the welcome video at the very top of the page. I think a "how to play video", added in as a post later on or something like that would be a different case and more well received. Just talking about first impressions and all…

What do you think is better? Video or not? :)

I think a video that shows what the KS is all about is very important. If you don't want to appear yourself, at least put together a slideshow of images that shows nice pictures of whatever you are trying to sell. I wouldn't say "if you can't get the video right, do no video" but rahter "if you don't have a video, don't do the Kickstarter at all".

Putting together some images and music should take no more than a weekend of Adobe Premiere of whatever.

I put together a small video using images and some free music. It wasn't that hard to do and I think it improves the professionalism of your campaign.

Mike

The quality of the video is important for me. If it's good I think the creators are serious enough to run their KS like a business and get the project done right. If the video is poor it generally confirms for me that they don't have the resources, organizational skills, or patience to pull off the kick starter very well.

A poor video is a strong indicator that they also won't be able to sort out post-funding project management, manufacturing, or shipping very well. I see the video (along with the completeness of the rest of the KS project page) as a proxy for their ability, regardless of what the KS is for. How many KSs creators have come back to the backers months after it ends saying, "…we had no idea how hard it was to make a board game!"

try fiver there maybe someone there who can do it for you.

If I have to watch a video to get the info, I won't get the info. I have skipped some promising KS because I couldn't read what I needed. I find videos a less optimal conveyance of information.

Yes bad video worse than no video, and as punrabbitt says, it can be more inconvenient to find what you want quickly.

Troublemaker Games recently ran some successful niche wargaming kickstarters (or indiegogo which is same thing), here without video:
link
link

While some people may really dig well-shot videos, the video to me is pretty much irrelevant to the campaign.

Just some nice clear shots of the eventual product with equally clear explanatory text, with rules breakdowns for a game, is perfect.

Minis and games is what I'd be buying, after all, not hiring some director to shoot movies of minis or rules.

3 successful KS campaigns and no videos involved. Skills involved with making a video have nothing to do with my ability to produce miniatures that my backers will like.

That being said, I really enjoy well made Kickstarter videos, but a poorly made one would make me think twice.

I agree on all counts, Crossover.

Undoubtedly, having a nice video is better than no video. The real question is whether it is worth the cost/effort in your case.

I presume I'm not going too far out on a limb here that this is for Mechadrome, so I'd be inclined to say it's not. Your core target audience should be fine being greeted by a good pic with some sample figs, while I don't see 15mm mechs holding much potential mass market appeal.

Yes, it would be for Mechadrome :) Everyone puts so much emphasis on how it's so important for your campaign to have a video.

If it was a big $100 USD boxed game full of plastic minis, that would be one thing, but for me I just don't think a line of miniatures warrants it unless you're able to make a really awesome and informative video, which I'm not. It would be me saying hi on a webcam, or at best an automated photo gallery. And going the later route I think I'd be better off setting up something like different individual campaign update pages defining each team or race with art and/or photos. That keeps the more lengthy info off of the campaign homepage, but the info is still all contained within the campaign ecosystem with pledge options on the right instead of taking them to a new website or something like that where they might get lost and not come back.

But, I DO want to make a good how to play video. Problem there is I can't really make that until the miniatures are made, and they won't be made till after the campaign. So, for the campaign that would likely be a kind of step by step walkthrough with lots of pictures, also in it's own update page. Then I'd put the video together later on once I have minis and a nice looking board.

Imo, the question is: how much of an impact might a video have on my sales?

15mm mechs not associated with a mainstream brand aren't going to get much mileage out of a fancy campaign intro. Thematically, it's a more fringe product than Blackwater. And I don't see mecha anime fans going for such small toys, tbh. So the odds of drawing backers who're not already miniatures gamers are slim to none.

A nice how-to-play video makes a lot more sense. It can make the difference with your core target audience – "I don't really need another system, but I love <whatever>!". Additionally, it can be a long-term resource. When the game goes retail, you can point to it as an aide for learning to play.

By the way, I don't think the video decision should have anything to do with what kind of game it is. It should be a matter of subject and mechanics.

I mean, consider a boxed game that's as fast-paced as Diplomacy, as quick to play as Advanced Squad Leader, has enough formulas to make a math major blush and includes textual rules description witzh sentences so long and complicated that, by rights, you can argue they put not only this line, but even the immortal Immanuel Kant to shame. No video can possibly drive sales for thatoutside a very small core target audience that would buy in anyways.

If you have a line of awesome, highly detailed miniatures in 32mm scale, proven to be perfect for both display collections and tabletop gamers, on the other hand? And they're perfect for representing characters from <insert random mainstream blockbuster here>? A good video might get a bunch of normally non-gamers hooked. (Just be sure you're dodging any potential IP infringement bullets.)

No never watched a video yet, cant think of anything more tedious, a very US marketing/centric approach. You will end up judging the worth of the project based on video editing and acting skills. I'll stick to judging a project on what is written, displayed and my personal interest.

regards
dave

For a game, yes.
You need to show the base game, prototype minis and the flow of the game.

Also before you print the rulebooks send them out in pdf to backers, do not be like Sedition Wars, from Cool Mini, who thought that the rules were so good no one needed to see them.

Missed little things like who went first, that a common grenade would break the game.
But of course it was the customer's fault like all things with them.

If it is just an item, video can help, but for a game I think it is needed.

Also have the stretch goals if any set before you start.
Figure that all things will cost more than you think and take much longer to do.

Shipping a year from now is going to be more, and so on.

Then add another 25% to the total.

Also have a sit down with a tax person, a real one not the Jan to April types.

Look at local colleges for folks to help you make a video if you need one, they get work experience, if you make goals some money or a party, you get a video.

Talk with the teachers about making a project of it.
Or just to find who have the talent.

Good luck,

Read the comments of the KS to see what are making folks mad.
Never let the fan boys attack your other backers, as it makes you look bad and a bit weak.
Step in and settle them all down, when there is an issue let your backers know, so many wait hoping for a miracle and then look even worse.

Do not lie.
Seems simple but so many screw that one up.