Scandal: Game Publishers Attempt to Profit from Kickstarter

It appears that game publishers are attempting to use the gaming public's naivety and good hearted enthusiasm in order to benefit from Kickstarter projects. Obsidian's Project Eternity could be the tip of a very cynical iceberg if the company's CEO Feargus Urquhart is to be believed.

Kickstarter projects are idealistic. At base they ask for the public to support the creation of new (or in some cases, nostalgic and a bit twee and safe) projects such as games or hardware.

Companies that would not usually receive venture capital or "Angel funding" or even the support of large publishers - and the attendant creative dumbing down that often entails - pitch their ideas on Kickstarter. The public responds in the expectation of a finished product and some smallish bonus.

According to Urquhart on the Obsidian Kickstarter page, however, "We were actually contacted by some publishers over the last few months that wanted to use us to do a Kickstarter."

Given the Kickstarter model, this makes little sense. Urquhart agrees and explains:

"I said to them 'So, you want us to do a Kickstarter for, using our name, we then get the Kickstarter money to make the game, you then publish the game, but we then don't get to keep the brand we make and we only get a portion of the profits'?

"They said, 'Yes'".

Amazing levels of cynicism or simple capitalism at work? Discuss on our Free and Friendly forum.

Via CinemaBlend