Stupid post incoming.
We don't know how its going to fare for Elite, but we can hope that both of these games get the funding they require to potentially do something good. That's what this is all about, facilitating the opportunity for potential greatness in others in order for them in turn to deliver what we want. That takes a little faith, knowing that we gamers are a really picky bunch usually with lots of games to choose between.
Paying upfront for something goes against most common sense checks, but then again it is something I assume most do because we love games. If you're a really active gamer and it is a big hobby I guess you're more often willing to invest money into it. Like other people do with other hobbies, some cost money to practice. Buying games, hardware etc, and in this case forking out some money for potential. Its really interesting though as we haven't really seen any big budget titles coming out successful as a result of Kickstarter, but that alone isn't the point of crowd-funding don't forget. If one of these games, be it the Double Fine one, the Project Eternity or Star Citizen, comes out successful, that's because of the devs and only those guys.
If one of these games do happen to turn out okay, that'll be enough for most people, at least that's what I think. if they don't, then I don't think hating on Kickstarter or crowd-funding in general is a solution that'll remain on the table for very long simply because we all knew what we were getting into. "Investments" can go this or that way, even when you thought you had a sure thing, and that feeling sucks beyond belief, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't ever invest again. Its totally up to you, and as long as that fact remains, I'm okay with crowd-funding. Don't spend more than you can afford. In one of the Kickstarter comments I read referenced that a guy had asked his local bank for a loan to buy one of the thousand dollar pledge ships. To me that's crazy, but its really none of my business.
Roberts spent over a year working on the demo he showed people at GDC. It was playable. It had some really advanced features in it compared to what was previously seen of games on Kickstarter. That instantly gave an indication that he had put thought into it in advance and not just woke up one day and did the crowd-funding the next day. He created a new company. He built the website. He started working on the demo with some few select people.
I have a lot more memories from Wing Commander games than I do the Elites to be honest. The "movies"/FMV stuff with Mark Hamill, Tom Wilson and others helped that even though the games didn't feel top notch even back then. They just had a more likable universe in their games, more distinct characters with identities, like the most known "Maniac".
This was really cool as a kid and that tends to stick with you. I got trapped as a result of some nostalgia with all the old game devs' talk, visions of video games, changes from then to now and the inclusion of old Origin members. The two chats between Richard Garriot and Chris Roberts was geeky but in a good way.
Sandi Gardiner and Eric "Wingman" Peterson from the "basement". Two of the team members I didn't know much about prior to the Live Stream that lasted close to 24h. Wingman was a good guy with a high potential for crazy and that was not what I expected at all from him, and he probably took things a bit too far for my taste, but some of the stuff he pulled was really entertaining. Not what you'd expect a grown man to do and say in front of camera.
This lamp hunkered down and was the only thing holding the fort in front of the Live Stream cameras for over three hours while the team members celebrated the Five Million milestone by going out for dinner and drinks. The crazy thing is that while the lamp was on-screen it somehow massed a following and gathered $150.000 that day as it was provided its own private camera for the remainder of the stream after the team returned and noticed the pledge total. Now it is said to appear in the final game.
A game can't be everything for everyone, and I think its dangerous what some games do that try to cover all the bases as it can, I'm not saying it will, but it can make the game lose its identity and turn too bland for some players that really like 'that' or 'this' aspect of a game, but felt it wasn't delivered with enough depth in those areas and so on.
Again, knowing this community I will probably get flamed for this as I've mentioned it once or twice before, but I was really disappointed in Giant Bomb. Why?
My favorite website for games and forum nonsense didn't mention this project at all in an official article. This was weird. Because I usually identify with a lot of people here, and when the site and really few of the forum-goers took interest that was odd to me. It is way easier to sit on fences, I do too a lot, but sometimes its fun to get a little more involved even when things aren't a surefire hit, but mainly just by the fascination of the ideas and possibilities that could be.
Pardon my English.
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