This is a general question, although if we decide to do a fundraiser for the Captain Disaster game (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=46085.0) then obviously we'll try to take any points brought up here into account.
I think it's a given that the majority of people who back a game financially on Kickstarter, IndieGoGo et all use it effectively as a pre-order system. Which is great, but what other things do you like to see as options in a fundraiser - access to beta versions? The possibly of your name as an Executive Producer of the game? the chance to be involved in the game design process - even if it's in a very small way, such as naming a character that appears in the game? Those are all things I've seen, along with other things like meeting the game creators, game-related merchandising etc, but I wonder if there's anything that particularly attracts you to a project, or something that you'd love to see offered but never have.
After initally being interested in the content of the project, then first and foremost the most important thing is trust that the fundraisers aren't scammers or the kind of people that don't follow through on their commitments.
Bonuses and stuff like that are very secondary, but I think that having an in-game character is a cool idea. A large contribution should be looked as an investment, and so the donater should be rewarded financially if the game (or other kind of project) does well.
Perhaps they could get a version of the game, where the character...Captain disaster...would be their name instead, and maybe they could rename some other characters too. This would probably be a bit of work to do especially if you have lots of backers, so if you only do this for say 5 to 10 people that donated the most as a special perk...?
*Don't get me wrong, I really like Captain disaster*
But me being referred to as the main character would be kinda cool. No need to change the character sprites either, just the name throughout the game and the title.
It's early, I had a long day yesterday, and I think I was dreaming about being some kind of Superhero in my dreams last night
Maybe this will get someones wheels turning to come up with something else
Thanks both for replying!
kconan - very good point, hopefully the demo which will be out soon and the frequent updates on the forums here, the dev blog and several other places will help to convince people that we really will get this game released.
NickyNice - that's a really cool idea actually, though I'm not quite sure how well it would work with there being probably a lot of lines that will also need to be re-voiced. Certainly something I'll keep in mind though! :)
Damn, I forgot about the voice acting. :-[
typing is one thing...but yeah, that would be a bit time consuming
Although come to think of it, so far I think the only thing anyone calls his is "Captain"... if I could maintain that throughout I guess it might just work! 8-)
T-shirts! One of the few Kickstarter campaigns I've backed, I've done so because I could get 1) a copy of the game, and 2) a t-shirt. Even if the game stinks, the shirt is bright orange and awesome.
I was thinking about this the other night and I thought of something cool. At the $50 donation (hypothetical), you can name an item or character no matter how crazy (as long as it's not copyright) to appear in the game in our "donation museum". Then have a particular "planet" the player can go to (by using the ship's controls) that has all of the user added ideas in one location. We would program & voice lines and reactions to each item when the character looks at them. It would obviously take some extra artwork and character reactions but it could be a fun and funny addition to the game as well and a way for the contributors to have a piece of the games history.
Highest donor get's the planet named after them (like a hospital wing donor) lol
Ideas/thoughts?
Actually that's a pretty interesting idea.
LT's idea is good.
Quote from: Frito Master on Wed 27/06/2012 03:17:41
LT's idea is good.
Thanks Frito....anyone else have feedback? I think this is certainly more for the PLAYERS crowd and not so much for the "dev" crowd like you guys. Most of you probably already have your own projects but for someone who is on the outside, I think they would love to be able to be included without having to have any of the skills involved in making a game. I know before I was involved in AGS, if I was able to give input into a game and have my own item or piece of the game, I would have loved to up my contribution amount.
I'd like to see a free night with the pornstar of your choice.
Seriously though, boobies and/or a share of the game profits.
Many things have already been mentioned, but:
Feelies. Could be anything from a keychain to a T-shirt, really. Lemmings 2 had a keychain, Ultima had nice cloth maps, and Wishbringer had this little glow-in-the-dark plastic pebble. Even today I am willing to shell out some extra money for a game box with a feelie (I purchased The Whispered World two times and even fell for the boxed version of Terraria).
Knowing that there's a little game-related goodie in my box as soon as I provide kickstart, well, that'd be good enough for me.
Ingame-cameo sprites would be my second place, but that's only because I am HIDEOUS. (laugh)
As a player/consumer, I would probably be very exited about the opportunity to meet a developer I already know, but meeting some random guys who make an indie game would be less exiting to me (as self-proclaimed AGS indie game developer I would be thrilled, however!)
Give aways, that only will be avaliable for supporters of the game would be nice.
I am thinking of little things like the already mentioned keychains or figurines from the games characters.
I'd love stickers with the main characters and the games title (underlined: "I am one of those who made this game possible!" or a similar text) (http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/12962/smileyvault-happyyes.gif)
A bigger thing would be something like a poster with signatures
or the next step something personal like an original drawing with a note from the creator(s) to the supporter.
Somehow to become part of the game (not in the credits) might be great for a lot of gamers, too (choose an avatar/pic and user- or prename to be seen somewhere in the game. For example as part of an articel in the newspaper that is used as an item and to be read by the player or on a poster somewhere in the streets or framed in a room ... including a hotspot and short dialog)
You might get even a bigger sponsor by offering to place the advertising of a product in the game (changed to the same style, but recognizable and named)
Quote from: Tabata on Thu 28/06/2012 00:34:54
...stickers with the main characters and the games title (underlined: "I am one of those who made this game possible!" or a similar text) [img]
Lovely!
I like Ghost and Tabata's ideas.
Also, DVD cases are a big plus for me. I like to have the game I help sitting in my shelf and not so much DRM.
Something I've never seen before. The more original, unique and surprising, the better.
This is good stuff guys...I like the stickers idea and I also like Tabata's about a sponsor spot.
Quote from: LTGiants2000 on Tue 26/06/2012 23:44:00
I was thinking about this the other night and I thought of something cool. At the $50 donation (hypothetical), you can name an item or character no matter how crazy (as long as it's not copyright) to appear in the game in our "donation museum". Then have a particular "planet" the player can go to (by using the ship's controls) that has all of the user added ideas in one location. We would program & voice lines and reactions to each item when the character looks at them. It would obviously take some extra artwork and character reactions but it could be a fun and funny addition to the game as well and a way for the contributors to have a piece of the games history.
LT, that's ADORABLE. I'd definitely be interested in supporting that (and, as a player, in checking it out, too, to see what people came up with!).
Good to hear that some people like the "museum" idea. It's the sort of thing I'd be more inclined to want to do - I'm not entirely comfortable with some aspects of crowd fundraising (and still not convinced it's the right thing for CD), but this sounds eminently doable and quite fun both to create and explore in the game itself.
Museum Idea is fantastic... Seriously!
Quote from: Frito Master on Sat 30/06/2012 14:08:35
Museum Idea is fantastic... Seriously!
Hmm... seems a popular idea!
A slightly related possibility is that I was thinking of doing a Captain Disaster sci-fi quiz game later on and releasing it as freeware. What about for a small donation you set one of the questions and it appears as an optional extra feature in the game itself? Would there be any interest in that?
I think along with both ideas would be a special thanks in the game credits.
Hmm... along with that there are a couple of other ideas floating around in my head.
Now this has given me an idea - what about if ALL the things you could get in a fund-raising campaign are actually extra in-game features? Using a fundraiser for pre-orders is great in one way, but you know, when we release our game we would like to actually think that it would sell well - which wouldn't be the case if most people who were interested had effectively pre-ordered the game.
The downside of my idea would of course be that the more successful the fundraiser was, the longer it would take the game to actually be developed! Then again it would also be a bigger game, if not entirely 100% adventure-game oriented.
The ideas so far are of a museum with artifacts that you could name and give a backstory to, with a plaque of your name next to it. My idea (which doesn't seem to have caused much reaction!) to do a science fiction quiz and people set the questions is another, and I was also thinking along the lines of a Hall or Fame / Prisoner's Row, where we use a digitised version of your mug-shot, alienise it, and use your name as the basis for the character.
IF we did this, should these features only become available after you complete the game? Be in the game itself? Be extras you can access independently of the game?
An area you can access in game partway through, Then after finding in game in unlocks the ability to go to it through the menu?
I personally think we should save in-game content for the higher reward tiers (not too high but just enough to incentivise fans to want to pledge a little more). I wouldn't mind having the lowest tier be a "pre-order" tier anyway...a sale is a sale whether pre-ordered or not in my opinion.
As far as the quiz, a side game might be a good incentive as it is...I'm not sure if a quiz game is it, maybe, but the fact that you get a free copy of this side game is a pretty cool option to me.
Quote from: LTGiants2000 on Mon 02/07/2012 17:17:53
I personally think we should save in-game content for the higher reward tiers (not too high but just enough to incentivise fans to want to pledge a little more)
^Agree.
What if the museum was included in the credits of the game, At the end or whatever instead of having it scroll through the stuff they go through a developer thing and then supporters.
I normally leave the room or do something else while credits roll, That may keep them interested enough.
Quote from: Frito Master on Mon 02/07/2012 17:32:13
Quote from: LTGiants2000 on Mon 02/07/2012 17:17:53
I personally think we should save in-game content for the higher reward tiers (not too high but just enough to incentivise fans to want to pledge a little more)
^Agree.
What if the museum was included in the credits of the game, At the end or whatever instead of having it scroll through the stuff they go through a developer thing and then supporters.
I normally leave the room or do something else while credits roll, That may keep them interested enough.
This is actually a good idea....interactive credits. Gives them a reason to READ THEM and also a reason to finish the game LOL
Quote from: Frito Master on Mon 02/07/2012 17:32:13
What if the museum was included in the credits of the game [...]
I normally leave the room or do something else while credits roll, That may keep them interested enough.
I almost always watch the credits the whole way through, just to see if there's a little reward for doing so, even a simple 'thank you for playing our game' (because that touches my heart and is meant especially for me of course :wink:). Yes, I am that guy who sits in the movie theatre until the credits are finished..
Some ideas:
1) A physical dvd box - this is reason enough for me to preorder/kickstarter your project. I want a proper box I can put on my shelf and show off, not some intangible digital code.
2) Early beta access - not sure what the reception would be asking people to pay for a beta, but I think they may have done this for Frozen Synapse. Minecraft pretty much did this too. Just the community input would create a nice feeling all round.
3) Development videos, concept art etc - doesn't matter how messy, just getting the inside scoop on the development process is very rewarding and inspirational
4) The Game Soundtrack - i'm not too moved by this, it would have to be an amazing soundtrack, but it's a nice touch
5) Signed posters, mugs, t-shirts, mousemats - doesn't have to be super expensive, just having some ordinary little nik-nak that is game-related would please me something silly
6) Feelies - maps, mini-comics, your short stories for those who didn't pick them up seperately, an object from the game (look at the handmade stuff on Etsy, you can knock stuff together from all kinds of objects)
6) Similar to the museum idea - a fan-art gallery either as part of the game (a photo album or something similar that suits) or outside it, like at the end of the credits
7) My name in the credits - i'm putting this last because it's really overdone imho. I do like it, and I like to be recognised as having helped out, but that doesn't mean I should get my name in the credits just for throwing $10 at a game. That's not exactly creative input.
Every (wo)man and his/her dog seems to be doing kickstarters these days so I think the more creative the rewards, the more it will stand out.
Anyway, the game is looking great so far, can't wait to order a copy :smiley:
Hey guys, I wanted to draw your attention to a post on Kickstarter best practices (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=46341.msg622841) that I've just made, in case it's helpful at all.
To be honest â€" you won't “catch†me with being credited or the separated museum, sorry. (wrong)
I'd prefer something real in-game, not separated. Becoming part of the game is more special (for me as being a normal gamer that will never be able to make a game).
Something like create an item (maximum size specified by you) that will be placed somewhere in the game and used.
The character will read the badge of the sponsor and get an information needed for a puzzle or decicion that is to be made. If the item is of good quality you can also make it usable in inventory. For example it can be smashed to get a key or note, too.
This way EVERY player will use MY item. THAT would be something special for gamers like me for to become involved ...
and I could brag with it :grin:
Quote from: Tabata on Mon 02/07/2012 21:37:37
To be honest â€" you won't “catch†me with being credited or the separated museum, sorry. (wrong)
I'd prefer something real in-game, not separated. Becoming part of the game is more special (for me as being a normal gamer that will never be able to make a game).
Something like create an item (maximum size specified by you) that will be placed somewhere in the game and used.
The character will read the badge of the sponsor and get an information needed for a puzzle or decicion that is to be made. If the item is of good quality you can also make it usable in inventory. For example it can be smashed to get a key or note, too.
This way EVERY player will use MY item. THAT would be something special for gamers like me for to become involved ...
and I could brag with it :grin:
I agree 100% Tabata, the previous rewards are definitely not geared toward people who are already creating adventure games OR are capable or doing so, they would certainly see less value in it (it's like offering to take a picture for a photographer). I'm sure we could brain storm a few other ideas to entice the hardcore crowd to chip in as well, if a well made, enjoyable adventure game wasn't enough! :) 8-)
Found this on Indie Games:
"Gamasutra is conducting a survey to gather information on both those who have and have not contributed to Kickstarter projects, researching the importance and influence of what motivates pledging, the ways contributors help promote projects, and the demographics of potential contributors."
http://indiegames.com/2012/07/take_this_survey_on_the_motiva.html