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Have these types of things happened on Kickstarter before (or has anyone attempted to just completely game the system?) What types of recourse do investors have

Have these types of things happened on Kickstarter before (or has anyone attempted to just completely game the system?) What types of recourse do investors have? Any?

andypants 15y ago
They are not investing, they are buying. There is no guarantee that any kickstarter project will ever get finished. It's up to the backers to decide if they think the project owner is capable of finishing the project.
- Palomides 15y ago
  it isn't investing /or/ buying; you're literally just giving money
Rinum 15y ago
There is a kickstarter for a game (Echos of Eternia) where the creators are making the game using RPG Maker (a free tool anyone can use). They raised over $26k. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1465600975/echoes-of-eternia-a-modern-take-on-a-classic-desig http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1465600975/echoes-of-ete...
- Fargren 15y ago
  A lot of great games have been made on RPG Maker. To The Moon is the most recent example I can think of. You wouldn't say that a program is worth less because it's written in c, a free language anyone can use.
- zarify 15y ago
  Where do you draw the line about where you believe people shouldn't raise funds? Are they allowed to use a toolkit like RPG Maker or GameMaker? Are they allowed to use game engines? The point of making successful games isn't about doing everything from scratch, it's about making something that people want to play. Even with the OP if (perhaps because of head trauma) people feel they want to play the Ron Paul platformer, they should be free to throw money at it. If the project delivers what it promised and it's not actually infringing on others work, then where's the problem?
- shpoonj 15y ago
  I don't mind them using RPG Maker... but I don't understand how they have any investors considering how cliche the project sounds and how terrible their presentation skills are. Possibly the worst pitch I've seen.
- nknight 15y ago
  > a free tool anyone can use So, no more gcc, clang, Eclipse, Blender, nasm, or GIMP. Anything built with free tools is not worth supporting. Do you want to let the entire Fortune 500 know they need to close up shop now, or should I?
glimcat 15y ago
Here's some snake oil for $270,000: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1047510073/remee-the-rem-enhancing-lucid-dreaming-mask?ref=category http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1047510073/remee-the-rem... Kickstarter isn't particularly thorough about vetting technical projects.
- andypants 15y ago
  Yeah, kickstarter just says it's up to the backers to do their own research into the project owners.
- SatvikBeri 15y ago
  There are a lot of lucid dreaming devices, and people report varying degrees of success with them, but I've never heard that any of them are completely worthless. Is there any particular reason why Remee wouldn't work?
  - mbell 15y ago
    > Is there any particular reason why Remee wouldn't work? There is no reason it wouldn't work in the same way that there is no reason that there couldn't be a giant teacup orbiting the Earth.
    - dcosson 15y ago
      Ok so you're a realist, fine. But I'm curious, do you not think lucid dreaming is real? Or do you just not think it can be triggered with flashing lights?
      - mbell 15y ago
        I've had many lucid dreams, non of them involved flashing lights in my face. More importantly of all the methods to induce lucid dreams, flashing lights in your eyes isn't among the practices normally used in scientific studies. If it were actually reliably effective, it is highly likely it would be used in studies as a reliable method of initiating lucid dreams.
yrral 15y ago
Here's one funded almost 2 years ago: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/schuyler/lockpicks-by-open-locksport?ref=live http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/schuyler/lockpicks-by-op...
mattchew 15y ago
I've heard of non-delivered projects. So far, I don't know of any big money high profile ones, but I'm sure there will be one sooner or later. Like the other guy said, you're not investing, you're buying. Or maybe donating. I don't think there's any recourse for a failed project, and I don't think there should be one. If you're thinking about contributing to a Kickstarter project, understand that there are no guarantees and moderate your contribution accordingly.
jasonlotito 15y ago
> Have these types of things happened on Kickstarter before What exactly do you mean "these types of things"? People using free tools to create something other people find valuable?

Have these types of things happened on Kickstarter before (or has anyone attempted to just completely game the system?) What types of recourse do investors have? Any?

andypants 15y ago

They are not investing, they are buying. There is no guarantee that any kickstarter project will ever get finished. It's up to the backers to decide if they think the project owner is capable of finishing the project.

Palomides 15y ago
it isn't investing /or/ buying; you're literally just giving money

Rinum 15y ago

There is a kickstarter for a game (Echos of Eternia) where the creators are making the game using RPG Maker (a free tool anyone can use). They raised over $26k. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1465600975/echoes-of-eternia-a-modern-take-on-a-classic-desig http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1465600975/echoes-of-ete...

Fargren 15y ago
A lot of great games have been made on RPG Maker. To The Moon is the most recent example I can think of. You wouldn't say that a program is worth less because it's written in c, a free language anyone can use.
zarify 15y ago
Where do you draw the line about where you believe people shouldn't raise funds? Are they allowed to use a toolkit like RPG Maker or GameMaker? Are they allowed to use game engines? The point of making successful games isn't about doing everything from scratch, it's about making something that people want to play. Even with the OP if (perhaps because of head trauma) people feel they want to play the Ron Paul platformer, they should be free to throw money at it. If the project delivers what it promised and it's not actually infringing on others work, then where's the problem?
shpoonj 15y ago
I don't mind them using RPG Maker... but I don't understand how they have any investors considering how cliche the project sounds and how terrible their presentation skills are. Possibly the worst pitch I've seen.
nknight 15y ago
> a free tool anyone can use So, no more gcc, clang, Eclipse, Blender, nasm, or GIMP. Anything built with free tools is not worth supporting. Do you want to let the entire Fortune 500 know they need to close up shop now, or should I?

glimcat 15y ago

Here's some snake oil for $270,000: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1047510073/remee-the-rem-enhancing-lucid-dreaming-mask?ref=category http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1047510073/remee-the-rem... Kickstarter isn't particularly thorough about vetting technical projects.

andypants 15y ago
Yeah, kickstarter just says it's up to the backers to do their own research into the project owners.
SatvikBeri 15y ago
There are a lot of lucid dreaming devices, and people report varying degrees of success with them, but I've never heard that any of them are completely worthless. Is there any particular reason why Remee wouldn't work?
- mbell 15y ago
  > Is there any particular reason why Remee wouldn't work? There is no reason it wouldn't work in the same way that there is no reason that there couldn't be a giant teacup orbiting the Earth.
  - dcosson 15y ago
    Ok so you're a realist, fine. But I'm curious, do you not think lucid dreaming is real? Or do you just not think it can be triggered with flashing lights?
    - mbell 15y ago
      I've had many lucid dreams, non of them involved flashing lights in my face. More importantly of all the methods to induce lucid dreams, flashing lights in your eyes isn't among the practices normally used in scientific studies. If it were actually reliably effective, it is highly likely it would be used in studies as a reliable method of initiating lucid dreams.

yrral 15y ago

Here's one funded almost 2 years ago: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/schuyler/lockpicks-by-open-locksport?ref=live http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/schuyler/lockpicks-by-op...

mattchew 15y ago

I've heard of non-delivered projects. So far, I don't know of any big money high profile ones, but I'm sure there will be one sooner or later. Like the other guy said, you're not investing, you're buying. Or maybe donating. I don't think there's any recourse for a failed project, and I don't think there should be one. If you're thinking about contributing to a Kickstarter project, understand that there are no guarantees and moderate your contribution accordingly.

jasonlotito 15y ago

> Have these types of things happened on Kickstarter before What exactly do you mean "these types of things"? People using free tools to create something other people find valuable?