Not Following the Crowdsource Crowd

 

I really dig this game! ...ok I'll stop

Saying I enjoy Shovel Knight is an understatement. I’ve changed my phone background, jammed out to the soundtrack in my car, and started drafts for a Shovel Knight costume for Halloween. I’m in love. Shovel Knight is definitely one of, if not the best, game I’ve played this year. It’s a beautiful success story on Kickstarter, but that’s not enough to convince me to back games on crowdfunding sites.

Crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo have been a popular source of funding for Indie developers. With crowdfunding, developers can appeal straight the end user (in this case gamers) to invest in their project. This also allows open communication between developers and gamers, making game development a collaborative experience. In an ideal world, I would gladly participate in this model for game development. However, there are developers and companies who abuse investor trust.



Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn is Shaq’s way to redeem himself from the stain on gaming known as Shaq Fu. The way A Legend Reborn is going, Shaq might have to redeem himself again. The Shaq Fu team argue that Shaq’s appeal to Indiegogo isn’t a rich guy asking people for more money, but rather an opportunity to develop A Legend Reborn as a collaborative process. But judging from the perks offered, I would say otherwise. Many of the prizes include Shaq following you on Twitter and Instagram, eating lunch with Shaq, and a guest appearance from DJ Shaq at your next party. While a few perks are actually relevant to the game, most are dedicated to selling Shaq’s stardom.



The latest update is from a month ago. The Shaq Fu team hopes to finally sit down with Shaq to record the promised personalized messages and receive shipments from manufacturers. Perk delivery will finish before game development proceeds.

 

If Shaq and the team at Big Deez truly wanted this game to be made for the fans and by the fans, then where’s communication about the actual game to the fans? New concept art? Maybe some in-game music samples? Anything? It’s apparent Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn is an opportunity to continually sell Shaq’s face instead of create a decent game. That’s what made the original Shaq Fu so bad!


Looks like they already Fu'd it up

What is probably the worst abuse of the crowdfunding system is the recently canceled Yogventures. Yogventures is a sandbox game utilizing the IP of the Yogscast, a group of YouTubers with 7 million subscribers who provide gameplay commentary. Back in May of 2012, the Kickstarter successfully funded half a million dollars and was in development…until last month. Amidst the cancellation, problems behind-the-scenes including the loss of $35,000 due to loose employment guidelines were brought to light. The six-man team at Winterkrewl did not have the proper resources to complete a game of this scale, but it's Yogscast lack of communication to backers that made this a grand failure.

The description of the Kickstarter is written from Yogscast's point-of-view and even links back to their site.

With a huge subscriber base, Yogscast knew backers would flock to this project. But with vague descriptions such as Winterkrewl being a team of “long-time veterans and game companies,” fans had to rely on the Yogscast name to convince themselves this was a good project to invest in. What infuriates me is how Yogscast quickly distanced itself from Yogventures when it tanked. Despite the Kickstarter page positioning this as a “Yogscast game”, Yogscast seems quite content to call it “Winterkrewl’s game” when things went south.

To add fuel the fire, Yogscast insists they don’t have any legal obligations to refund anyone, which is true. It’s only by the "graciousness of their hearts" that backers get beta codes for TUG, a game they didn’t invest in. Yogscast shares responsibility in the failure of Yogventures because they hired the wrong people for the job. They’re dismissive actions and lack of communication during problematic development are an insult to fans and ultimately damaging to their brand.

If your name and IP are all over this game, do you only take credit when it’s convenient?

 

Of course, there are more crowdfunded success stories like Shovel Knight than failures like Yogventures. I hope games backed by crowdfunding gain a better reputation, for some are truly made with backers in mind. Unfortunately, the risk I could essentially throw away my money to poorly thought-out projects from the likes of Shaq and the Yogscast keep me from backing games. It’s a shame really, a model that allows gamers to communicate directly with developers to help shape a game is appealing. Alas, I feel more confident supporting a crowdfunded game after launch, even if that means some great games won’t see the light of day due to a lack of funds.    

The Mecca of Nintendo Fans

Last week, my family and I went to the Big Apple to visit my sister. Of course, we went to the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Empire State Building, all that New York stuff. But there's one place down Rockefeller that we had to visit before I left. I finally made the holy pilgrimage to the Mecca of Nintendo fans...

NINTENDO WORLD!

 

Be still my beating heart.

Walking in the store, we were greeted by the security guard and a tower of Mario plushies with more Toads than the Mushroom Kingdom. For a small store in respect to other New York stores, there was quite a bit to take in. To the right was a real-life Mario Kart to promote Mario Kart 8. You might recognize it from events like this year's South by Southwest (SXSW). Unfortunately, you couldn't sit in it. We took a look at the shirts, toys, and 3DS demos before following the racetrack upstairs.

Unbeknownst to my brother, that racetrack would lead him to riches greater than El Dorado. As a collector of video game plushies, he naturally spazzed seeing all the Pokémon toys. While he bumped into people grabbing everything he could hold, I made my way to the museum in the corner of the store. 

Consoles, games, and memorabilia spanning generations of gaming were all on display. A DS signed by Carried Underwood when she promoted Nintendogs, a Luma from Burger King, the Master Sword and Hyrulian Shield Miyamoto held promoting Skyward Sword, a damaged Gameboy from the Gulf War that still works, and so much more. It was surprising they didn't charged admission.

  

Going to Nintendo World, I felt inspired. It's an odd thing to say about a video game store, but Nintendo World's atmosphere was unlike any I've experienced. When a young family went up to the museum display, the parents gushed over the NES they played with as kids and shared a good laugh explaining how they made games work by blowing the cartridge. A young kid was having the time of his life driving as Luigi in Mario Kart 8 despite getting 5th. I even had a chance to swap stories with the employees and reminisce about the good times we had playing Zelda. Nintendo World is sort of like Disney without the rides and expensive cotton candy. It's a magical hub where people from all other gather, united by their love for Nintendo.

My family created our own memories playing Shovel Knight (which I will be streaming on Twitch in the near future so stay tuned). We took turns playing, cheering each other on as we repeatedly fell to our death. We had so much fun we revisited Nintendo World...twice. There was nothing greater than sharing the joy of gaming, and I know I will always cherish my visit to Nintendo World. It helped remind me why I fell in love with games in the first place. The N64 promotional poster said it best, it's all about fun.