Niffler says funding platform is now 'crowded' but can be used as a pre-purchase system instead
UK-based developer Niffler says funding platform Kickstarter is also a great way of raising pre-orders.
It is currently using the website to raise funds for its upcoming title Chuck’s Challenge 3D. It’s offering the game for half-price to early buyers.
"Kickstarter is great," Niffler’s executive director Barn Cleave (pictured) told Develop.
"However, like the Apple App Store, it’s now already crowded, so it’s all about discovery. If you are looking to get funding, you have to treat it with as much strategic planning as a game launch.
"We've taken a slightly different approach with our Kickstarter project. Instead of asking for the full development budget, we're using Kickstarter as a pre-ordering system. It’s ideal for pre-orders.
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"It's a way for us to reward fans who want to get involved with development. So Kickstarter is more of a collaboration tool. It’s definitely worth asking your fans if they want to contribute more, most don't, but a few really do."
Niffler says the game will be priced at $10 when it goes on sale. But it’s rewarding those who purchase it early by asking them to pay just $5 on its Kickstarter page. It’s aiming to generate $12,500 before Sunday, April 29th.
Niffler is one of several mobile developers that form publisher consortium AppyNation.
I came to the same conclusion that Kickstarter = pre-orders in a blog post about a month ago: http://www.mygamehud.com/post/7/did-double-fine-need-kickstarter
Two Points:
1... You have to be American.
From the Kickstarter help page :
To be eligible to start a Kickstarter project, you need to satisfy the requirements of Amazon Payments:
Be a permanent US resident and at least 18 years of age with a Social Security Number (or EIN), a US bank account, US address, US state-issued ID (driver’s license), and major US credit or debit card.
2... Crowd funding is illegal in the UK. Only registered charities can accept donations or pledges.
I've read so many articles in the UK about Kickstarter and none of them mention these facts.
#1, "ZOMBIES, RUN!" was developed by a UK team who partnered with an American for their Kickstarter bid.
#2, in the UK we can use crowdfunder.co.uk
