So as some of you know I started this crowdfunding project in Indiegogo, now I’m not here to pimp it or anything, I just wanted input. I have found in the last few days that people will put funds into this campaign as payment for contract work. So in essence I do end up working for the money in there (not hand outs). Does anyone else feel like that’s a good solution to possibly market on the forums? I could offer development services, building low poly (mobile optimized) characters or vehicles, or props or environments. In exchange they would pay a reduced rate into the campaign. It all works through PayPal, which is how I normally get paid anyway. I’m starting to think this might work as a funding method.
I’m curious to hear other’s experiences or thoughts with crowdfunding in general and in relation to this idea.
I don’t really see the difference from just freelancing and using the earned money ?
Apart from you sharing the income with indiegogo, obviously.
It’s not really crowdfunding, as far as I can tell, than, where you offer directly game related prizes and a copy of the game.
However, why do we even care, if you have the money in the end, you have the money
Well there are “perks” and they are offered to everyone contributing (including contract work)…so it is crowdfunding in the end. The doing work for contributions helps in a big way with the publicity of the campaign…the more visible contributions the better! Yeah in the end it’s all about funding the game and making that dream a reality.
The issue with trading assets is if your campaign fails you will lose all the assets that you traded for contributions. In a way, the perks are there to not only offer incentive to supporters but to protect the campaigner as we’ll. Now on the other hand, if trading assets is working and you don’t mind potentially losing everything - then I’d say go for it.
@Forge Vault - Oh I think you’re thinking of Kickstarter funding. Indiegogo has the flexible funding campaign, so I don’t lose anything. I receive everything contributed in real time, there is no wait or anything (all direct through PayPal). It’s not a fund everything or completely fail kind of thing, which is awesome. It will allow me to make this game happen even if I don’t reach the end goal completely. So in essence I don’t lose anything for the assets! This method of helping myself get funded works using this kind of funding campaign…still have a ways to go and can use all of the help I can get.
Sounds kinda insulting to me. Crowdfunding is supposed to be people pledging/donating to a project because they believe in it (and yes, they get perks related to that project).
This feels more like A: You’re buying votes rather than earning them. And B: These people aren’t really supporting your game, they’re feeding on desperation and just using you as cheap labor.
@khanstruct - Sorry did not intend to insult you by any means. It’s called being creative to fund your own dream. Almost 95% of these contributions I have in the campaign are people pledging on their own free will for perks. They are contributing because they either like karting, supporting a fellow game developer, are helping support a friend’s dream and they are getting their perks that are offered. It’s straight crowdfunding at it’s best. I was speaking of augmenting that process naturally by doing contract work. Does it matter if it seems like I’m “buying votes” lol or however you want to term it, if I can manage to fund my game? I’m not doing anything shady, I’m trying to make a karting game for the app stores, that’s really all it is. No crazy scheme or plot. I think personally man, you need to kind of relax or go fishing, cause you’re being passive aggressive there and it’s not professional.
EDIT: I’m not working with desperate people by any means, these are two reputable companies. I did character work on the mobile game called 50 Ways to Survive for the band Train (all of the character models and animations) and they we’re by no means desperate. They wanted a Unity professional and someone capable to help see their game to market (its announced but not on the app store yet). The other is Happy Giant Games who are very well known, and have had app store success. Again they needed a Unity professional as well. This is not anyone looking for cheap labor, my hourly rate is $25 per hour and has been for years.
Sorry, you misunderstood me. I meant that it sounds insulting to you. You’re trying to raise funding and support for your game, and instead of showing that support, these people are having your work for it. I realize that, breaking it down, its just contract work, but in this context it feels like you’re being taken advantage of (they know you’re looking to raise money, but instead of just supporting you because they believe in your project, they’re putting you to work).
Well it hasn’t been that kind of relationship. These are not people who are strangers, they are people I’ve worked with before the campaign and know well. Plus I didn’t work any cheaper, or for much less…The only hit I take is the fees from Indiegogo. I’ve worked at my normal rate, I only asked that rather than pay me directly through PayPal, please route through the campaign. I don’t care what reason people contribute money for, as long as it continues to raise funds and I can make this game. It’s really all about the end goal of making this game happen.
It’s a win-win to me. You’re good enough to work for contract and you also get advertising buzz from the IndieGoGo campaign. Really like this attitude, good luck!
Hey James, if you only raise 2500$ or so will you still have the funds to complete the game . I’m really weary about crowd funding since the one project I donated to on KS ran out of money and might never see the light of day .
@ keithsoulasa - That’s the joy of Indiegogo, it isn’t a fund all or get nothing deal with the flexible funding campaign. Most of my close friends have donated to this as well as a couple of Go Karting businesses. I’m staking my personal reputation in this industry, and relationships with old friends that this game will be finished. It will be released during the time frame I put on there. The most I would flex the timeline, might be a month (30 days) depending on how well QA goes and bug fixes. I don’t need to fully fund the campaign to be able to make the game. I’m also augmenting funding it with contract work. It will get there. If I meet the halfway of $2,500 I will be in GREAT shape.
Still two days away from halfway in the campaign, but really need the help with this one. It’s very close to my heart and I need your help seeing it get there. I don’t need to meet the entire end goal to be able to make this game (using Flexible Funding Option on Indiegogo) so I’m in a good position! I just need every bit I can muster to pay for the plugins/software needed and audio/artwork services.
If you’ve contributed, please disregard this or help pass it on elsewhere on the web if you can. Some of you have done more than I could have ever expected and for that I’m very thankful!
WOW! My campaign now has 26 days! I had 16 days remaining in the campaign up until today. Indiegogo has compensated downtime that occurred the last week with a campaign extension. Now I have 36 emails to send out updating backers though, which is fine, it only adds 10 days to production.
Super Kart Racing is gaining traction! I need kind souls to assist a fellow indie developer fund the development of this game. I’m not asking for something for nothing though, check out some of the perks. I think the coolest one is your ability to brand the levels with your own logo, web URL, image or whatever you can think of that isn’t offensive or vulgar.
If you’ve contributed, please disregard this, but feel free to help spread the word!
So I was working on a way to setup custom paint color and logo selection in my menu system for Super Kart Racing. The following tutorial is a walk-through of exactly how I got that working for my game. Thought I’d share the knowledge.
