by Arlos » Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:19 pm
For me for this, it was a case of the game they were pitching is one I can pretty much guarantee I would buy were it to be released on the market. Beyond that, it is, as Durothil said, a game type that just isn't made any more, and I have been itching for a new one to play. So, since I know I'll be buying it anyway, I have no problem doing what is effectively a pre-order now to make sure the game gets made, and when it does, I'll get a copy of it.
The companies will do it, because what they are putting on kickstarter might be something that is really risky, or where they don't have an idea yet about how much demand is really out there. Steve Jackson Games just did one like that, for a special huge anniversary edition of their old board game Ogre, just this time with vacuum molded plastic parts for buildings, and 3-D assembled pieces, etc. Initial costs to produce it were too high if there was no interest, so they put it up on kickstarter. Turned out they got so much response, that they were effectively able to double the amount of stuff that is getting put into the box, including more counters, more maps, higher quality pieces, etc. So, by spending the money I would have spent eventually anyway to buy the game, I am now getting a much better game than would have been produced if they had just gone with their original plans.
So, VC certainly has its place, I agree, but for a specific targeted item, especially when demand levels are uncertain, I think kickstarter has real value. By investing early in a product that you are interested in, you increase the chances of it getting made int he first place, and you can end up getting a far superior product to the original idea pitched, simply because they have enough proven demand to have the funds to put into those improvements.
To date, those are the only 2 items I've put money into, but I have no regrets about doing so.
-Arlos