Kickstarter is an investment

Hey everyone. As we approach the launch of the Kickstarter I wanted to talk about what it means to be a Kickstarter. I have had several conversations with friends and strangers about Kickstarting projects and thought I would share my thoughts on the subject.

I believe in helping out the little guy. Giving him a chance to step up and get his game made. That idea is what lead me to build my company Kingmaker Games. Its all about helping the little guy. The guy who doesn't have a shot on his own. The team that doesn’t have the funds to get it made. The friends working out of their garage who could’n’ make it any other way. Give them a chance at doing something different. Maybe even take on some of the big guys who have all the money and marketing clout.

I am a believer and a backer of Kickstarter. I have backed 38 projects, all of them in the Games category. In most of those cases I backed the little guy. There are a few well funded projects, but for the most part they are all indi developers. Games that would never have been made without some help.

I have had a few conversations with people who take the stance of a customer and here are some of the anti-Kickstarter comments I have heard. Saying things like “Ill buy it when it out in the store”. Or “I would give them money if I thought they had a chance”. “I don't believe in Kickstarter because they should only be able to make it if they can pay for it themselves”.

Is Kickstarting is a risk? Yes! Its scary to give your money to an idea and never know if you will get a return on your investment. Maybe they might fail. Maybe they don’t make something that meets your expectations. Maybe their dream was grander their their abilities. But maybe, they will build something never seen before. Maybe you will help them build something out of reach for most people. And maybe, just maybe they will forge a path that the big successful companies dare not to tread because the financial risk is not in their Shareholders best interest.

In most cases I will never change the minds of these people with such a negative idea about Kickstarter. In their minds they have made their decision. They are locked in the old way of doing things and can’t escape the old brick and mortar ideology. But I hope I can convince a few people to not think that way. Because without a little help these games will never get made. You won't be able to buy it in the store. Without the funding they creators will have to get a job and may never have the time to build this new idea.

Without you, it will never exist.