 Editor in Chief Bill   | 11 Aug 2016 5:21 p.m. PST |
How much of a problem are 'bad' Kickstarters? Have you ever experienced one? |
| Bashytubits | 11 Aug 2016 5:27 p.m. PST |
I had a bad experience with Defiance games. I actually did get my stuff about a year and a half late but after this I will not buy anything until it is actually out and on the store shelf. I am risk averse when it comes to my wargaming funds. |
| evilcartoonist | 11 Aug 2016 5:28 p.m. PST |
I haven't yet, but one I'm part of is having issues with getting anything sent to its European backers. Until that gets resolved, there will be no stretch goals or other items delivered.
And it doesn't look promising -- still, I did receive the base game. That's about my only "bad" experience. Sure, there are delays/deliveries a few months past the estimated delivery date for most other campaigns I've backed, but I've always had good luck with KS. |
| Dave Crowell | 11 Aug 2016 5:37 p.m. PST |
I had one that delivered the pdf but none of the other promised items. A few have been very, very late. But most I have backed have been fine. |
Tgerritsen  | 11 Aug 2016 5:45 p.m. PST |
Yes, a few, but it didn't slow me down. I knew it was a risk. |
| McWong73 | 11 Aug 2016 5:49 p.m. PST |
Robotech. Palladium Games. 'nuff said. |
 javelin98 | 11 Aug 2016 5:56 p.m. PST |
I got hosed on a $300 USD 3D printer KS, but the 9 or 10 game KS's I've backed have all turned out pretty well. |
| 45thdiv | 11 Aug 2016 6:01 p.m. PST |
One out of the twenty four I have supported. Late deliveries are part of the deal. This one is almost three years late. There have been a few that did not deliver quite like they promised. Dungeon Saga by Mantic was a big let down. |
| autos da fe | 11 Aug 2016 6:13 p.m. PST |
About 50-50. Most of my failures have been art or writing projects, where if the thing didn't finish, or some tangible didn't get sent out, I didn't really mind because it was my way to micro-support someone whose work I liked. For gaming though, most have come through. Still waiting on (most of) Winter War though. I feel very bad for them as they clearly overpromised, and imagine it must have been a stressful time. |
| Dust Warrior | 11 Aug 2016 6:17 p.m. PST |
Robotech. And I convinced friends to get in on it too. Also Operation Babylon for Dust Tactics. I've had a few successes on little games but after those big ones I just wait for retail now. Happy to pay a bit more when I know I'll have people to play against. |
| Goober | 11 Aug 2016 6:28 p.m. PST |
Games and Gears Battleboards – which were a shower and an MMO that is clearly never going to see the light of day. Other than that, not bad. Some have been a delight – Oathsworn Miniatures have delivered on time or before on all three of theirs that I have backed. G. |
| jsmcc91 | 11 Aug 2016 6:43 p.m. PST |
3 years for a rulebook and counting. The figures I have are sitting in a box as I have lost interest in the project. Maybe someday. |
| zippyfusenet | 11 Aug 2016 6:49 p.m. PST |
I've only tried my luck five times. Two delivered, one didn't fund, two are currently pending. No problems to date. |
 Stosstruppen | 11 Aug 2016 7:01 p.m. PST |
So far so good for me. Other than some delays it has worked out. Of the ones I have recently done I see no reason that they will not come to fruition. |
| Mute Bystander | 11 Aug 2016 7:11 p.m. PST |
Only one and Russian internal politics seems to be the cause. Received another book instead. |
| Lou from BSM | 11 Aug 2016 7:36 p.m. PST |
I've only been involved in one (Conan). The communication is excellent, but delivery dates have 'slipped to the right' 3 or 4 times now. I was really looking forward to the last release date of October 2016, but the latest update now tells us to expect a Q1' 2017 delivery. Disheartening, but I remain cautiously optimistic. |
| The Beast Rampant | 11 Aug 2016 8:14 p.m. PST |
I've got one lagging behind complete fulfillment at nearly thirty months, but the other two dozen have done alright. |
| nvdoyle | 11 Aug 2016 8:37 p.m. PST |
I've backed 41 projects so far. None have 'failed', but in a few I have not been happy with the product delivered, or the progress towards said product – interestingly, most of those have been computer games. Stonehearth, Storium, Planetary Annihilation. There have been a few RPGs that have been delayed, some reasonable, one or two not. All of my miniatures KSs have been solidly done, but I've not had the scratch to get in on anything really big, like Defiance. Big pitch 'we've got our own lines, and a whole new game!' don't grab me, unless the figs are very, very good and useful. I tend to go for smaller, more achievable ones like Ramshackle Robots, Colony 87, and Trash Bash Bits. There are a few designers where I will back knowing that the estimated delivery will be delayed, but it will be produced,and it will be good. There are a few that I will never back again. |
| GypsyComet | 11 Aug 2016 8:39 p.m. PST |
One complete failure and two very late and counting, two very late that did deliver. The rest (30 odd) were within typical KS parameters. |
| daveshoe | 11 Aug 2016 8:52 p.m. PST |
I've backed a number of projects and of those that funded, about half have been late in delivery. Some by only a month or two and some by much longer. But I consider myself lucky in that I haven't had any not show up. |
| Chuckaroobob | 11 Aug 2016 8:58 p.m. PST |
Backed about four. So far all have been 1+ years late. Still waiting for the last one. I don't kickstart anymore. |
| Shaun Travers | 11 Aug 2016 9:04 p.m. PST |
Out of 15 or so, only one that has not delivered (UpFront) and that one was only a 50/50 chance of delivering in my mind before I backed it anyway. |
| Anthropicus | 11 Aug 2016 9:34 p.m. PST |
Almost everything I've backed has delivered. Almost everything backed was late. Basically you're buying two years of excited emails about production delays and then you get a thing. Only one thing I backed didn't deliver at all and that was an RPG book. Robotech underdelivered but honestly the models are nice enough and you still got a reasonable amount for the price. |
| nazrat | 11 Aug 2016 9:38 p.m. PST |
Nope, I have only had good luck, even with All Quiet on the Martian Front going under. I still received thousands worth of product for a few hundred bucks (which is probably why they failed as a company…). |
| Gunfreak | 12 Aug 2016 2:14 a.m. PST |
I've only kickstarted one thing. And hat was a realistic medieval open world rpg called kingdom come deliverance. Not out yet. But looks tto be very good when it comes out in 2017 |
| Bosco05 | 12 Aug 2016 3:57 a.m. PST |
I've not had any total failures but have experienced one partial failure (All Quiet on the Martian Front). As said by another poster above the stuff I did get for AQMF was worth the cash that went in Kickstarter publishes stats on funding of projects and had the Univ of Pennsylvania for a study on successful fulfillment on funded projects. The highlights are: 36% of Projects get funded, with majority being less than $10 USDK in funds raised Of successfully funded projects roughly 9% "failed" to deliver the full promise. Using this definition failures would include those projects like AQMF that partially fulfilled. Recoveries/Refunds of failed projects averaged 13% of pledged funds – I was surprised it was so high. Not surprisingly, the failure is skewed higher for smaller sized projects So what?
For me when I factor in the risk discount for backing a project I add in another 10% to cover the failure rate. As has been said before, Kickstarter is not a retail transaction – there are no refunds so you pay your money and you take your chances I was surprised the failure rate wasn't higher. |
| nazrat | 12 Aug 2016 5:28 a.m. PST |
That's really interesting info, Bosco. Thanks for posting it! |
| dampfpanzerwagon | 12 Aug 2016 6:11 a.m. PST |
Yes. One good experience and one bad experience. Tony |
| PzGeneral | 12 Aug 2016 7:10 a.m. PST |
I too backed AQMF. I didn't get my third wave. I took stock of what I got, figured out what I didn't want / need, sold it and got about a third of my pledge back. Disappointed I didn't get everything promised, but we've had tons of fun with what I got. |
| Mute Bystander | 12 Aug 2016 7:26 a.m. PST |
Backed projects A place to keep track of all your backed projects 43 projects Preserving Indian American Culture Through Children's Books
$22.00 USD EARLY BIRD FAN SPECIAL! Estimated delivery Oct 2016 Pending
Ral Partha's Chaos Wars Dwarf, Undead, Troglodyte Miniatures
$72.00 USD Receive one copy of Julie Guthrie's Vampire Queen sculpt,… Pending Estimated delivery Dec 2016
Global Defence Forces – 15mm Sci-fi tabletop miniatures
£60.00 GBP LIEUTENANT Take command of the following; X2 Rifle … Estimated delivery Jul 2016
Heroines in Sensible Shoes – 28mm miniatures for roleplaying
£40.00 GBP The Full Party Pledge – you will receive 12 pewter miniat… Estimated delivery May 2016
Metamorphosis Alpha™ 28mm Miniatures
$25.00 USD PRIMARY SPECIES -Gain access to the TIER 1 Add-On Opt… Estimated delivery Mar 2016
Crack The Code: Cook Any Indian Meal With Confidence, 2nd ed
$55.00 USD ‘The Binding Agents' Level: This is the sauciest level an… Dice of the Dead
$20.00 USD One set of Dice of the Dead + Extra Bag of Dice of the De… Warts and Wings!
£23.00 GBP Giant Toad Clan! You will receive 1 Large Giant Toad and … Estimated delivery Nov 2015
Canadian Corps #1
$16.00 USD The 24 page print edition of Canadian Corps #1 with Kicks… Estimated delivery Oct 2015
ProMatz – Industrial Grade Gaming Mats by Game Matz
$65.00 USD ||| THE 3x3 SQUARE (1 MAT) ||| Backers at this level w… Estimated delivery Jan 2016
Reaper Miniatures Bones 3: The Search for Mr. Bones!
$30.00 USD THANK YOU! (WAVE 3 SHIPPING) This reward level will get y… Estimated delivery Sep 2016 Pending
Magnetic War Mats – Fix the Slip
$50.00 USD 1 36'x36' inch Magnetic War Mat 1 Mat Travel Case 20 Ba…
GameMatz – Gaming Terrain Game Mats
$32.00 USD ||| THE EARLY BIRD ||| The first 10 backers at this le…
Ral Partha's Chaos Wars
$36.00 USD Warbands: Receive a set of Chaos Wars figures suitable f…
Estimated delivery Dec 2015
Tavern Dungeon Decor 28mm miniature scenery terrain
$35.00 USD Basic set includes 33 figures. One each of the Sitting s… 15mm Minis and Rules for Adventures in the Lost Lands
$25.00 USD Adventures in the Lost Lands – A stand-alone set of rules…
Space Movers Board Game and Comic Adventure RELAUNCH
$1.00 USD Thank you for helping make Space Movers a reality.
Estimated delivery Nov 2014
Polyhedral Dragon Scales® Metal Designer Gaming Dice
£1.00 GBP Support us and get updates – Every last pound counts! Estimated delivery Nov 2014
Other World Mapper – Map design software
$1.00 USD Our thanks for helping us create Other World Mapper and t… Estimated delivery Dec 2015
RPG Gamer T-Shirts LEVEL 4! ArmorClass10.com
$1.00 USD Buckler~ If you don't have the funds for a shirt because … Five Moons RPG by Sean K Reynolds
$1.00 USD GENEROUS PATRON: Your name in the credits for contributin… Estimated delivery Aug 2015
Worldspinner: Fantasy RPG Worldbuilder & Map Maker
$10.00 USD LEWIS & CLARK – One year membership: use Worldspinner to … Estimated delivery Jan 2015
Worldbox: A Pathfinder Compatible Toolkit
$1.00 USD GENERIC NPC #1 A thank you in the credits and my sincere…
Harwood Hobbies: Next Wave of Wargaming Miniatures
$1.00 USD HH Supporter – If you want to chip in to show your suppor…
Big Box Terrain: Angry Mojo Games and Terrain Lasercraft
$1.00 USD Our Thanks! Get our eternal thanks, your name on our bac… Estimated delivery Nov 2014
Flat Plastic Miniatures
$5.00 USD Thank you so much! Every donation helps, and you will gai…
Estimated delivery Dec 2014 Militia Miniatures – 28mm Modern Mercenaries!
£2.00 GBP No Reward 8 messages
The Yan'drassi Invasion – New 15mm Scifi Alien Force
$1.00 USD No Reward 2 messages
Sep 2 2014 A House in Your Hand – architectural miniature model kits
£1.00 GBP No Reward Steampunk Infantry Support Weapons 28mm Miniatures
£17.00 GBP Close Support Early Bird – 1 Weapon & Platform – Plus any… Estimated delivery Dec 2014
Water Tiles
$15.00 USD River Tiles Receive two River Tiles and three river bend… Estimated delivery Oct 2014
Resin Terrain for Miniature Gaming
$19.00 USD SMALL CUSTOM – Select $12 USD worth of terrain. This pledge l… Estimated delivery Feb 2015
ExoSkeleton Assault Squad and Hura Technocracy – 15mm Sci-Fi
$17.00 USD Fireteam – Two Squads, Your choice of Human or Hura Squ… Estimated delivery Nov 2014
Tooth and Sword
£45.00 GBP NEUTRALS UNLOCKED. New bonus pledge level for the first … Estimated delivery Aug 2014
Man vs. Apocalypse ~ Will you survive the End of the World?
$20.00 USD The Alien Hunter! Receive two physical decks of MAN VS… Estimated delivery Sep 2014
Hospital 911 – An All Things Zombie 15mm Miniatures Project
$15.00 USD Staff & Civilians – 5 unique minis in hospital garb and 5… Estimated delivery Jun 2014 Women Combat Pilots of WWII
£5.00 GBP An eBook featuring a pair of "then and now" photos of eac… Estimated delivery Oct 2013 This is the one sad non-completion as planned but no dissatisfaction
KieryGeek: A vlog of games, comics, and geekery
$20.00 USD Twitter Shout-Out and a KieryGeek Tape Measure! Perfect …
Meridian Miniatures Steampunk Army
£61.00 GBP Sergeant: 4 infantry sets, 2 specialist sets (choose stan…
Itar's Workshop – Dungeon Terrain and Accessories
$54.00 USD Basic Accessory Set. The Basic Accessory set includes: B… 28mm Steampunk Inspired Heavy Weapons & Carriage Miniatures
£61.00 GBP One complete Anti-Tank Laser, and one of each of the alte…
Gnomish Adventurers Box Set
$30.00 USD McKrakken – Includes McKrakken's Glory Squad and associat…
Bug Hunt Corridors
$100.00 USD Level 1 Corridors – The basic Bug |
| Martian Root Canal | 12 Aug 2016 7:29 a.m. PST |
Good luck for the most part (except the usual 'late deliveries'). I had one fail and then AQMF. AQMF was my biggest disappointment; while I got 90% of my stuff (which more than exceeded the pledge), the delays, the spotty and elusive communication and the outright misrepresentations by Ernie and Alien Dungeon have impacted my desire to ever back anything in large amounts again. More than anything, it made me very sad because it destroyed Architects of War in the process, one of my favorite vendors. |
| ViscountEric | 12 Aug 2016 7:37 a.m. PST |
Outside of one RPG book that's 14 months overdue, everything is on target or reasonably delayed. Heck, I had to go into my Kickstarter history to remind myself what had significant problems. I've never been swindled out of anything via KS, although I have pledged a dollar to few potential train wrecks just so I had a front row seat to the derailment. |
 Dentatus  | 12 Aug 2016 8:10 a.m. PST |
Sure, I've had disappointing KS experiences with products being delayed or sub-par. What is more frustrating is poor or zero communication. Ignoring backers or serving up steaming piles of lame excuses torques my bolts. Of 16 projects, I have received all but 3. One of those recent. Another is almost a year late but on the way. The best way to describe the third is 'occasional post mortem spasms'. Of fulfilled projects, 8 were on time/reasonably close to scheduled delivery. The rest were, well… Kickstarters. I am far more cautious these days. Live an learn. |
| Darkest Star Games | 12 Aug 2016 8:43 a.m. PST |
The KS I held managed to deliver early (woot!), and I've only had 1 miniatures related KS take way long to deliver, and a computer game take way long to deliver. Only the Robotech KS hasn't yet fulfilled. I hope it does, sooner than later… |
| haywire | 12 Aug 2016 9:06 a.m. PST |
I am pretty burnt out by Kickstarter. I have backed 13. I am still waiting on 4. Of those 4, Reaper Bones 3 and Heavy Gear I am expecting to be fulfilled by years end. Axanar I am expecting to have more legal issues and I dont think will happen in the time frame I was expecting at all. And then there is Robotech which is the worst experience so far. I would compare it to AQotMF in that delay and miscommunication and the pissed off player base are killing it. But really this is what really concerns me about kickstarter… I do not actually play any of the games I supported in kickstarter and I am having a hell of a time finding other players. |
| Huscarle | 12 Aug 2016 9:12 a.m. PST |
Backed about 75+ crowdfunders (Kickstarter, Indiegogo & Nickstarter). Some have been a delight such as the various Oathsworn, Dark Sword and Dark Fable offers.
The worst:-
A CMON KS (at least I got most of my money back), but I won't ever back them again.
The TAG KS took 2 and-a-half years to get; the most annoying thing was the complete lack of communication, but I finally got everything, by which time our project was over & done with. Using a few of the minis for Frostgrave & DnD now.
The Monolith Conan one is getting annoying with continual delays since the original date of October 2015; latest is it should be out Oct 2016. I'm sure I'll be happy when it does arrive, but such success seems to cause problems… However, overall, I have been lucky. Some of my pals have been burned by various KS and to quote Bradford, "there but for the grace of God go I"  |
 etotheipi | 12 Aug 2016 9:16 a.m. PST |
More annoying than bad. A couple things mildly late. My going in expectation was that people who don't have a history of running a business and this type of funded effort will not get their dates right. Never had a no-deliver. I also have only done a handful of them, so poor, small, and highly biased sample. |
 Virtualscratchbuilder | 12 Aug 2016 11:50 a.m. PST |
1 total failure, and I missed out on the class action suit that got some folks some of their stuff. Out $190 USD 2 large ones very delayed but eventually came through 3 much smaller ones that landed right on target 2 small ones going now that look like they will be fine 1 small one going now that looks to be a year delayed |
| ced1106 | 12 Aug 2016 12:59 p.m. PST |
> I do not actually play any of the games I supported in kickstarter No non-miniature boardgames and no video games for me either, because of this reason. Thanks to KS, I also have far too many miniatures to paint, so am skipping out on more "First Created" miniature projects as well. If the creator can fulfill a project, they'll be back again. Only lost $25 USD on KS so far, for a "First Created" resin miniatures project. I later noticed that resin had a low barrier to entry (molds are inexpensive) but most easily can run into cost overruns (cannot reuse resin, and easy to underestimate the skill needed for spincast resin casting), so I'm wary of resin projects. Doesn't mean I'm not spending -- still plenty of good prices for miniatures by experienced companies. ObPlug: Currently in the Secret Weapon Miniatures : Tablescapes game tiles KS. $75 USD for 89 game tile pieces, plus discounted Reaper paints and Bones miniatures. I think "bad" KS are less of a problem now, since several experienced companies use it as a business model. Besides more reliable post-fulfillment, experienced companies have shown they can still provide a good price compared to "First Created" companies. Offhand, Reaper, CMON, Johnny Lauck, and Secret Weapon Miniatures have KS experience, as well as good prices for what they offer. |
| Raynman | 12 Aug 2016 1:42 p.m. PST |
No, but I do a little research before I take the plunge. I check past performance in other Ks's and look at their goals realistically. I never invest more than I can afford to lose. |
| TheKing30 | 12 Aug 2016 2:58 p.m. PST |
Got burnt for 60.00 once. Other than that, I've had pretty good luck. I usually support stuff with a low dollar amount. |
| Syrinx0 | 12 Aug 2016 8:36 p.m. PST |
Only burnt once. It was a guy with a proven record but things just fell apart. Next guy up for the project failed worse. Did get an email that they are trying to actually finish the rules again. Others have been late but they did deliver. |
| Cyrus the Great | 12 Aug 2016 9:36 p.m. PST |
The only one a got burned on was All Quiet on the Martian Front and I've done plenty. |
| Stratos | 13 Aug 2016 7:48 a.m. PST |
Yes. I am still waiting on a few that were supposed to be fulfilled in 2013. More in 2014. One in 2015. |
| Psyckosama | 26 Aug 2016 3:47 a.m. PST |
Most of mine are Videogames or Videogame related… Lets see… The Ouya… it was a commercial failure not a failure to deliver, but still didn't live up. Yogventures. 570,000 FRACKING DOLLARS! How do you fail to deliver a gorram MINECRAFT CLONE! Goddus: Peter Molyneux. Enough said. The Dead Linger: Promised the world, delivered crap. Jagged Alliance Flashback: They promissed a game on the level of JA2 created with modern tech. They delivered a buggy, half-finished bomb missing several key, fundamental features such as doors that open and close. And this is off the top of my head. |
