Hello Everybody!
My name is Blake, and I am a representative of Broadsword Entertainment Group LLC. We are currently running a Kickstarter campaign for our first game, a card game called Stormweavers (http://kck.st/1gabyNV). This is our first Kickstarter campaign, and we are trying to raise enough capital to start manufacturing in bulk.
I wanted to ask some of you Veterans for advice. What are some do's and don'ts of running a successful crowdfunding campaign? Check out our website and let us know where we can improve. Thanks!
Comments
I don't have personal experience with KS
I don't have personal experience with KS, but I have backed a few projects, talked to a lot of people, and have considered it.
Things I have noted:
-You're essentially creating a company. You're taking in income, buying supplies and/or applying design to something that you'll sell to the public. Some people just want to be designers. By going KS, you're doing everything which means...
-Your game has to be pretty much done, because you'll probably be spending most of your time doing things like approving/reapproving product quality, marketing, shipping and distribution. Even after all of this...
-You must always be communicating with your backers. I've personally backed 5 KS projects. 2 canceled, 1 thing I actually have in my possession, and the last 2 I'm still waiting on...and it's been months since they said it was going to be at my door. While it is really disappointing to know that a group of people couldn't make their goal, regular updates quelled my anger...just a little.
-Backers first. I've seen many projects almost about to ship and they suddenly decide that the next biggest con is going to get the first shipment instead of the backers. So the public, that didn't back the project originally will get the product before the people that believed in the project did? I've seen it happen enough times for me to write this thing.
After all I've researched into KS, I've decided that it's not for me...not now. But since you've already started the ball, the only thing I can advise is to make sure ALL your ducks are in a row and always account for (what is known as) unknown unknowns: things or events that are inevitable; there is no way to plan these things. Stuff like...the dock strike on the West Coast...customs issues...printing errors...stuff like that.
Just...be prepared. Make no shortcuts.
We've done a series of blog
We've done a series of blog posts on this topic: http://news.thegamecrafter.com/tagged/how-to-run-a-kickstarter
Stonemeier blogs
Also check out http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter/
and http://www.jamesmathe.com/some-useful-kickstarter-links/
Egads
I really, really wish you had asked that question *before* you launched. Just a few things, from a quick look at what you have:
- Your video is really, really long, and it's hard to understand what the narrator is saying at times. It would have been better to make a gameplay video and include it in the Kickstarter *description*, but not pitch video. (I would have also made a note that the cards shown in the video (probably?) aren't final art -- they look kinda cheap).
- How are you going to spend the money? I would love to see a breakdown of what you're putting towards art, packaging, etc.
- Have you spent time already building up a fan base on social media & in your local area (by attending meetups, cons)? Your social media links on your website don't work. Really, your website needs some attention -- missing links and missing sections.
- Looks like you haven't backed any projects (at least with that account?). The more Kickstarter projects your project has backed, the more reputable it seems to backers (shows that you're interested in games in general, and not necessarily trying to fleece anyone.)
The graphic design of your project looks nice, and the page has a good aesthetic, but the copy and social support need work. I wish you the best of luck, but I'll be *very* surprised if you meet your funding. $20K is an ambitious goal for an unknown/upcoming company.