Kickstarter – Rise of the Beasts Cancelled
So this is how you should never use Kickstarter. The Rise of the Beasts toy project (mentioned here) was cancelled with very little time to go . . . and with no concrete reasons. You can read the cancellation notice and user comments at Kickstarter, but basically what we’re seeing is what happens when a community-funded project like this is yanked away from fans.
A fantastic opportunity has presented itself that Plastic !magination simply could not refuse regarding the Rise of The Beasts line. This opportunity allows them to bring the line to market without asking the fans to make a pledge in advance and allows them far greater flexibility regarding the frequency of new characters being released. They are ecstatic about this opportunity and believe the fans will be as well.
Kickstarter is as much about the marketing power of the site as it is generating funding from fans, and to pull the project from fans in this manner is sure to damage both fan opinion of the project and, more disturbingly, overall fan impressions of the entire Kickstarter process. And it’s that second point that troubles me most; Kickstarter is still growing, and leaving users with a bad taste in their mouth does not make it easy for people to get behind other projects.
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As someone who has backed a few Kickstarter projects, as well as seen the backend of a few as they’re put together and put out there for funding, I agree that the above is definitely not how you should use Kickstarter. After reading the cancellation notice, as well as some of the guy’s replies to folks in the project’s comment area, I think his excuses are rather flimsy and his platitudes ring quite hollow.
Fortunately this type of thing seems to be the exception, not the rule, with folks who use Kickstarter. I’ve helped fund maps by Christopher West and seen the launch of a new RPG company and game like (Infinite X Studio and its Quantum RPG), not to mention seen the behind the scenes action for the Demolished Ones by Rite Publishing (I do a lot of freelance project management and work for RiP) and this move is obviously an end run around the fandom that gave the Kickstarter a name, which is quite sad. It’s not like the hobbyist industries are so vast and hefty that folks can just afford to create bad press such as this, and it’s gonna cause a lot of bad press because ain’t no vocal customer like a righteously angry one.
I’ve backed about 25 projects to date (both really small and very huge) and only one has actually cancelled (after receiving funding). It’s not common enough that it tarnishes Kickstarter. If anything, it’s a sign that the people behind the project were at fault.
A message from Jon K.
“Hi guys,
Here is what happened.
I found out this morning that the factory came back late last night and said they can only do the figures at the 80mm scale which is 1/3 larger than the 60mm they promised. According to them, 60mm is just too small for them to handle. There was simply not enough time to notify everyone and give them the option of cancelling their pledge. Had this news come a week ago, an update would have gone out letting people know and the Kickstarter would have lived or died based on the 80mm size change. So really, the only option was to cancel.
That being said. The gold lion has already been paid for and is being made at 80mm instead. It will be available for free to everyone who pledged at the $45 or higher level (as promised).
The upside of this whole situation is that there are a couple other avenues that will allow the figures to be made at 60mm and sooner. Just not at this manufacturer.
I just found out about this deal breaker early this morning, P! found out late last night. So rather than take your money and hope for the best, we cancelled. There really was no other option.I hope this provides some clarification for those of you who are rightfully upset and confused. For those of you who are still pissed after reading this, all I can say is I am sorry that we hit this bump, but cancelling the Kickstarter was absolutely the right thing to do, based on the last minute info from the factory.
I will gladly take egg on my face over this hiccup, when the alternative was letting the project fund and taking a gamble with your money.
I’m sorry guys, but there really was no other way.”
First and last time i use kickstarter probably. This has left a bad taste in my mouth.
MM
@Marv – Please don’t rule out Kickstarter because of one bad project. More great things happen than negatives (I’ve backed several Kickstarter projects and only had two turn a little sour).