Wow - the things you have to do to get your password reset on this forum - my bank has less security. And really ? Forcing me to read Todd & Pete misspell ERgo Draconis to get my password back ? Kinda cool but still...
At the Codex, we value our members
paranoia security.
Yes, we (well, I) did ruin it a little bit as detailed elsewhere in this thread, but we're scrambling, and we actually could use some feedback regarding what rewards you'd like to see.
I gathered from some posts you're not really happy with our rewards, but what I'd really like to know is, what is it that would make you... well, not happy... but ... well... less unhappy ? Honestly, we are making the type of game you guys (and occasional girl) should actually like, I think, so your thoughts actually do matter to us. (You cannot even start to imagine what this does to our psyche). So if you feel like offering some ideas, we'll pick them up (insert big disclaimer here)
Personally, they're too personal.
Starting with one of your lowest rewards, which has only 1 backer:
Kickstarter Potion: You will receive a unique personalized code that will unlock a Kickstarter potion in your game. Drinking this potion will do several things to the game showing you how much we appreciate your support. (Potion will not affect the game balance.)
No detail on what the potion does. Are its effects unique to me - or does everyone who gets the potion get the same potion? For $10, the potion can't do much, otherwise you'll be making a lot of different effects.
Divinity Dragon Commander Digital Copy: Two games, two times the fun! You'll recieve a code for Dragon Commander as soon as it is released (ETA July 2013). You won't have to wait for your Divinity Fix with this package! Dragon Commander Digital Edition will be DRM-free, and will be localized in English, French, German, Polish and Russian. Additional languages may be added. The game will initially be available for PC. If Mac and Linux versions, and other languages, become available they will be free to owners of PC copies (digitally). Digital copies will have to be downloaded via your preferred digital retailer such as Steam or GOG.com if available. This low price is only available to those who help fund.
Now we get reward tiers that include other games (other games which then seem to disappear from the later tiers). Is this a KickStarter for Divinity or a sales pitch for your other games? Why do I want Dragon Commander? Nowhere on the page does it say what "Dragon Commander" is. Is money for this KickStarter going to this "Dragon Commander" thing? Of course we all know it's a completely different game (an RTS) - but you aren't selling to those who know. Is Dragon Commander in jepoardy if this KickStarter is unsuccessful? Are you trying to pitch two games? Besides, I like RPGs so why would I want an RTS game too?
Message in a Bottle: You will receive a unique personalized code that unlocks a personal message in your copy of the game. You write the message! This message will be written on a scroll within a bottle, and will inconspicuously wash ashore in the beginning of the game. You can give the message to any person you'll be playing Divinity: Original Sin with.
Now we get completely lame. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to mod any message I want into my own copy of the game. Whoop-dee-doo. $100 for that? If I contribute, I want to impact YOUR game. And I want OTHER PLAYERS to see it. Not just my friends who may play the game with me. I want the official wiki to have the explanation that "the message you find in xyz is from so-and-so who contributed to the $$$ tier". I want EVERYONE who plays this game to know I contributed something. Not just some other person I may happen to give it to when I'm in co-op with them. This is "too personal". It only affects me and my copy. I can affect my own copy myself. And I want to find other people's messages in my game. That's the point of crowd-funding isn't it? To see what the crowd can come up with?
Name the Undead: You will be able to name one of the undead creatures in the first area of the game. This name will only show up in your copy of the game by using a unique personalized unlock code. Near the starting village, there is a place known as the Black Cove. Within the black cove are a number of ghosts. You could be one of them! (Well, we mean, at least, one will carry a name you give them, you won't actually become a ghost, obviously.)
Again, whoop-dee-doo. MY copy of the game has me fighting zombies called "Bob". Again I'm pretty sure I can mod that shit in and again, who gives a fuck? I don't want the wiki to say "Green Zombie: This green zombie will be named differently if you donated $125." Wow. Can it get lamer? I want the wiki to say "Borgen Storkmurkers are so named and attack you by peeing yellow acid on your face because DarkUnderlord of rpgcodex.net paid $1,000". And I want EVERYONE to fight them in THEIR copy of the game. Not just me.
After that I can name a pet (again, only in my copy), a dialogue that nobody else will see and a henchman no-one else can play with. And really, shit like this should be a default option. I can't name my own pet without paying for the privilege? Text fields are too hard?
The $1,000 for an item is good and $500 for a combo seems all right. But then for $5,000... I get to name a jailer. $5,000 for a text field update? Ok, so it will kind of look like me, maybe if I squint really hard but I don't get to design him myself? Same with the Committee.
And for other KickStarters we've had inns, locations and entire parties to encounter for $5,000.
And again for $10,000 I get... a name. Ok in that instance I can design him. Neat. But you focus on the name far too much. Mysterious Stranger seems more interesting by comparison.
My suggestions:
- Keep your other games separate. Focus on pitching the one product.
- Keep your rewards to benefits related to that one product (cloth map, box, digital assets, art book, original concept art prints etc...)
- Throw in special things I won't get elsewhere. We all know that digital shit's gonna be all over the internet the minute the game's released, so throw in some reward tiers with tangible stuff. You've done some of this but I'd put in T-Shirts, Special limited edition figurines etc...
- I don't want things that effect just MY copy, I want to have an impact on the Divinity world. If you want to name something, I want the bartender in the 2nd city in town to be named as I choose. Or I want the bar wench in the inn in the first city to be named as per my choice, or I want the evil zombies outside of that town named because I bought that. Not just my copy. And I want those names in EVERYONE'S game. I want everyone to know about my small contribution to the Divinity world, not just me.
- The codes would be more interesting if EVERYONE could use them. Being able to combine multiple codes, to share your code on the internet and unlock someone else's things (as well as your own) in the game would be semi-interesting but it's still a far cry from "everyone gets to find my message in the bottle".
Other than that, other points are:
- You went too early, Torment is still running. We've got no interest in promoting your KickStarter here until we complete our Torment fundraiser. That's less publicity for you (not much but means it gets lost in the wash - and we're fans here! If your fans aren't talking about your game, why would anyone else?).
- The fact that the game is already completed and at no risk of not happening if the KickStarter fails is a major disincentive. If we raise $1,000 for an option and your KickStarter fails, do we still get our thing in the game?
