I don't share the idea that failures are going to sink crowdfunding.
If that's the case, then gamers have even less sense than venture capitalists, and that's saying a lot.
What could really hurt it is if people outright scam crowdfunded projects, which could very well happen since we don't have the same kind of intelligence and oversight with these companies, that you would as a potential investor. That's a weakness.
It's also why I think it's important to keep expectations low if you're gonna get into this. It's not gonna be a picture perfect thing where every game just turns out golden.
Ultimately you're paying to assume some of the risk and take some of the hassle away from developers, and allow them to develop their games in relative peace.
It would be cool if you got dividends on what is essentially a bond in a game, but I guess that's where the charity aspect comes in.
I don't have any illusion that I'm funding these amazing efforts that are gonna blow everything, ever, away. For me it's about jumping at the chance to simply give some inspired developers room to work.
I don't get dividends from the profit, I'm not assured a great experience, but ultimately I've helped to make sure that a good game can and will be made without the idiotic machinations of the publishing industry.
Actively supporting that kind of environment and potential makes me feel a lot better than I would buying a AAA product. It's worth every kind of disappointment. Unlike say, preordering RAGE.
