Penny Arcade The Kickstarter

[Ink Asylum]

Originally Posted by Zero

Because they want to?

And if the fans want to support them, where's the problem? Some people like rewarding creators that have given them free content. Everyone here is doing something they want to do. I simply don't understand why anyone can look at this situation negatively when everyone involved is a willing, eager, informed participant.

I can understand not wanting to participate, but saying creators shouldn't ask their fans for direct support rather than ad-based support is simply odd to me. Would it be better if they took the free comic offline and told everyone that Penny-Arcade was now subscriber only? If you want to read you have to pay? No one seems to have a problem with that business model.

[Ravenlock]

Originally Posted by Ink Asylum

I simply don't understand why anyone can look at this situation negatively when everyone involved is a willing, eager, informed participant.

Man, wait 'til you find out how some people react to what other folks like in their sex lives.

[Ink Asylum]

With the $250,000 goal met today, they've announced the rest of the stretch goals up to $1mil.

• Jerry Cosplay: Jerry has agreed to Cosplay as the character of the community's choice (by vote) for one day at both PAX East 2013 and PAX Prime 2013.
• Strip Search Web Show: Discussed in a flurry of tweets, Penny Arcade: The Series Season 4 will be our version of America's Next Top Webcomic titled... STRIP SEARCH. This incredibly ambitious and expensive production will bring together over 10 up and coming webcomic hopefuls for a week of grueling challenges and horrifying social experiments, hosted by Mike and Jerry. For what? A considerable cash prize and integration into the Penny Arcade offices for one year.
• Twisp & Catsby Children's Book (free online): Mike and Jerry will create and publish online (for free) a Twisp & Catsby Children's Book.
• Original Tabletop Adventure: Mike and Jerry will write a completely original tabletop adventure, not tied to any particular system, to be released for free.
• Free PA Comic Reader developed for iOS and Android
• PA Blanks/Creative Common License: We will release, with each Monday, Wednesday and Friday strip, a blank version of the comic (art without word balloons) for your editing and remixing enjoyment. In addition, we will open the ENTIRE PA archive to a Creative Common License under CC BY-NC-SA.

That's not including the already announced goals of Automata and Lookouts comics and the DLC podcast.

[Doogie2K]

But remember, this isn't a "real" project and they aren't offering any meaningful rewards.

[Krispy]

Well, to be fair it looks like they didn't think this through until after the fact and I'm sure if it wasn't for skepticism broadcasted by folks such as violent then they wouldn't have considered so thoroughly what original content they could provide for the money. Let's admit it, these additions weren't in the original scope of the Kickstarter.

In any case, I think it is pretty damn cool.

[Ink Asylum]

Originally Posted by Krispy

Well, to be fair it looks like they didn't think this through until after the fact and I'm sure if it wasn't for skepticism broadcasted by folks such as violent then they wouldn't have considered so thoroughly what original content they could provide for the money. Let's admit it, these additions weren't in the original scope of the Kickstarter.

From the very start their Kickstarter page had $250,000 as the minimum goal and a long list of stretch goals, most of which were listed as "???????". Once they hit $250,000 they revealed all of those mystery goals as the ones listed above.

These additional goals very likely were in the original scope, they just held them back so they could get some post-minimum buzz. They were always planning to give everyone something at each of those donation levels. I don't think any of them are a response to skepticism.

[Zero]

I'm inclined to agree with Ink on that (except for the cosplay thing, wtf?). Most of those aren't really going to be spur of the moment kind of things. Releasing the blank strips under Creative Commons is a pretty heavy decision.

[muddi900]

No mention of Cardboard Tube Samurai. This kickstarter sucks.

[Pigeon]

I donated. I don't get the complaints.

[TheKeck]

Originally Posted by Zero

I'm inclined to agree with Ink on that (except for the cosplay thing, wtf?). Most of those aren't really going to be spur of the moment kind of things. Releasing the blank strips under Creative Commons is a pretty heavy decision.

Ditto that. It seems pretty clear to me that they most certainly had that all planned from the get go.

[violent]

Originally Posted by Krispy

Well, to be fair it looks like they didn't think this through until after the fact and I'm sure if it wasn't for skepticism broadcasted by folks such as violent then they wouldn't have considered so thoroughly what original content they could provide for the money. Let's admit it, these additions weren't in the original scope of the Kickstarter.

In any case, I think it is pretty damn cool.

In fairness, the skepticism itself doesn't belong to me but rather, I can easily see where it derives from for many. For me personally, my interest in Penny Arcade has waned dramatically. As the years went by, I thought their comic writing has become weaker, their posts more pretentious, and their readership too willing to wait for PA response before forming their own opinions. I still strongly support PAX and Child's Play, though. And their games aren't all that bad.

[TheKeck]

Originally Posted by violent

and their readership too willing to wait for PA response before forming their own opinions.

The funny thing I've noticed recently about myself is while I'm almost always interested in their take on things, I often find myself disagreeing with it.

[violent]

Originally Posted by TheKeck

The funny thing I've noticed recently about myself is while I'm almost always interested in their take on things, I often find myself disagreeing with it.

Sometimes I agree with them, sometimes not. Their opinions aren't usually so far on one side of the scale to make it easy to disagree, but their opinions on certain details tend to be where I disagree most. And with so many subtle variations in any given opinion, it becomes evident when one is simply echoing their beliefs.

Still, I would rather read an opinion different than mine over one that is identical.

[Vandabo]

Originally Posted by TheKeck

The funny thing I've noticed recently about myself is while I'm almost always interested in their take on things, I often find myself disagreeing with it.

I've found that I have a very different taste in games from both of them (I tend to have closer tastes to Jerry than Mike), but after hearing their opinions on so many different games I can use them as a consistent data point to gauge whether I will like a game or aspects of a game.

I usually agree with them on non-specific gaming matters, and I really enjoyed the discussions they would have on the podcast about all sorts of shit, from other media to politics. And most of all I love hearing how the comics actually come about.

[TheKeck]

Originally Posted by Vandabo

I've found that I have a very different taste in games from both of them (I tend to have closer tastes to Jerry than Mike), but after hearing their opinions on so many different games I can use them as a consistent data point to gauge whether I will like a game or aspects of a game.

I usually agree with them on non-specific gaming matters, and I really enjoyed the discussions they would have on the podcast about all sorts of shit, from other media to politics. And most of all I love hearing how the comics actually come about.

Yeah, that's one of the biggest things I was thinking specifically is on game reviews. Like you, I find that my tastes are often very different from theirs. But at the same time, I really like hearing what they have to say about a game, regardless. A bit strange.

[Ravenlock]

I don't think it's that strange - they're well established personalities and they share their opinions consistently and honestly. You don't have to agree with them to respect them as folks with integrity who will tell you what they think, and that data is useful in guessing what your reaction to something will be.

[Ink Asylum]

Kicktraq is currently projecting they'll raise over $1.4 million. These projections tend to drift downwards as donations slow, but I hope they can at least make it to $825,000 so we can get the podcast back.

[Doogie2K]

Originally Posted by Ink Asylum

Kicktraq is currently projecting they'll raise over $1.4 million. These projections tend to drift downwards as donations slow, but I hope they can at least make it to $825,000 so we can get the podcast back.

Is there a last-day frenzy that usually boosts numbers as fence-sitters jump onboard? Or is that mainly for projects already on the fence? (Like Rock Vibe, which I sponsored a few months back.)

[Ink Asylum]

Originally Posted by Doogie2K

Is there a last-day frenzy that usually boosts numbers as fence-sitters jump onboard? Or is that mainly for projects already on the fence? (Like Rock Vibe, which I sponsored a few months back.)

There usually is a spike on both ends of the sale, when it's first announced and the final drive to either meet the goal or get to as many stretch goals as possible. A lot of fence-sitters usually wait until the last few days to contribute, too.

[Doogie2K]

Originally Posted by Ink Asylum

There usually is a spike on both ends of the sale, when it's first announced and the final drive to either meet the goal or get to as many stretch goals as possible. A lot of fence-sitters usually wait until the last few days to contribute, too.

There was also a definite spike when they announced a lot of their stretch goals, as people who were uncertain of the veracity of the KS finally jumped onboard.