[2023] Crowdfunding: Crafting the Future of RTS Together

Originally posted by DANCINGLINGS

Well all I can say is, that I will buy the day you drop the link. Thats all I have to add.

Edit: By the way I did a post on Collectors Edition a long time ago so if you want specific thoughts on that, feel free to check that one out @FGS_Gerald

https://reddit.com/r/Stormgate/comments/xj5nht/thoughts_on_collectors_editions/

Originally posted by bitbytebase

It's more difficult to incentivize me to back a free game. That said paying for beta access in the lowest tier and some offline goodies in higher tier seems reasonable. Maybe you can do something about Stormgate plush <

Originally posted by kaelaris

Hi my first post here.

Yes unpainted give me please I want to paint it!

Originally posted by loocas94

Not sure what you mean by reward tiers tbh.
All in all im not interested in a collectors edition.

Im only interested in a beta key here :)

Originally posted by idispensemeds2

Would you need to also buy the game when it releases? I'd only buy a beta key if I had a real key on release with it.

Originally posted by Eterlik

Normally I'm happy with a kickstarter campaign. Especially for a game I'm looking forward to, like I do to stormgate. But so far the rewards do not interest me at all.

I have no interest in collectors editions of any games. So this is nothing I would buy.

But I get mixed feelings when a free to play game wants to go buy to play for a beta. To be honest, this catches me by surprise and gives me a bad feeling for what might await us on full release regarding monetization.

With the information we got right now I would not participate in the kickstarter. I would have been willing to pay money for additional in-game features.

Originally posted by Friff01

Thanks for the update! I haven’t done much with crowdfunding but will support this project 100%. I think the more physical rewards the better, like plushies or clothing and the like. in-game cosmetics are nice but will be a thing anyway with a F2P model. I would give my first born child for a beta invite so yes I think that should be included as a tier. This is also the first game I’ve ever considered getting a collectors edition for and would be proud to display a badass Vulcan on my shelf 🖖

Originally posted by Drict

So where is the link?

Originally posted by KeithDavisRatio

Is Frost Giant not a part of Dreamhaven anymore?

Originally posted by halpmebogs

I’m insta backing out of principle the day the link drops. Let’s f**king goooo!

Originally posted by DarkChronos32

I would absolutely shell out for beta access, and if a cool painted statue comes out looking real slick a Collector's Edition is very much on my radar. And cause I'm extremely biased towards them, maybe a cool Enamel Pin or maybe 3 for the races...

Either way sounds like I should start saving money~

Originally posted by turok643

I would say before the collector's edition...announce the other factions. They don't have to be complete, but we should know what we're getting into before we buy something for a free to play game.

Now that being said. I watched your debute, signed up for alpha, didn't get in. Second wave alpha, didn't get in. I'll wait patiently and come when you guys let me. I would say some kind of digital badge in the game to show beta or founder player. As well as a statue of an internal or mech choice and maybe an enamel pin.

These would be on a tier system.

$10 - digital badge $25- beta code $50- enamel pin (choosable faction) $100- statue of infernal or mech $150 - name in the credits as a producer or something.

You can mess with the price structure pending on the needs for pricing and scale necessity.

I'll see you in the Storm.

Originally posted by TenchiSaWaDa

excited. when is it coming?

Originally posted by KeithDavisRatio

Interesting, tell us more. I could have sworn when Dreamhaven launched, Frost Giant was one of the studios on their website. I think that’s how I learned about Frost Giant. Are there different tiers of relationships with Dreamhaven and why didn’t you go full Dreamhaven?

Originally posted by copasetikmatt

ill give whatever money is required to get everything on offer please and thank you

Originally posted by Taronz

I'm gonna level with you here Gerald. Despite my disappointment that my alpha/beta invites seem to keep getting lose in the mail, I will buy access if I must. Want to tinker with that co op and try to form some coherent thoufhts about it as it will be one of my main ways to play.

Other rewards are pretty ancillary, depending on budget at the time, but if there's a small/medium opt in beta key price, at the least that would be happening.

Originally posted by Pylori36

Reward tiers: What kinds of reward tiers would you find most appealing in a Stormgate crowdfunding campaign?

Personally I've always had issue with introducing any sort of FOMO elements, especially before a game is released. Ethical concerns aside, I guess some sort of badge/way of showing I was involved in it? E.g. I'm quite fond of my HotS collectors edition profile badge. Can't really think of anything else on this one except out of game goodies like the statue mentioned later.

Beta access: How important is earlier access, particularly beta access, to you? (We’ll be giving out a few beta keys to commenters below, as our thanks for reading this far.)

Hard to say as I've got access hahaha. Doesn't feel fair to comment on this sadly.

Collector's Edition: How interested are you in owning a physical Collector's Edition (including the Vulcan mech statue)? Would you be interested in an unpainted version?

very interested. Personally I'm not a fan of tying it to a kickstarter, as I simply do not do crowdfunding, but if it was available to purchase directly, I would be buying it for certain, especially for the statue! I'd prefer a painted statue though.

Originally posted by Buzerio

I think if backing it on Kickstarter would give me access to later co-op commanders, campaigns, etc that I'd buy anyway then I'd definitely do it.

Originally posted by AnxietyNo8032

Hey Gerald! Amazing job with this community! What about a Kickstarter to help fund a map editor, or some sort of version of UEFN, to keep the game and it's community alive long after development support has slowed or stopped. Coming from the StarCraft 2 modding community which started my career in games, really wish there was more support for modders to profit while also bringing players to your game. I get that this might be too soon to plan for, but wanted to make sure it's on radar.

Remembering Star Citizens Kickstarter, I wished I'd been aware of it because, for hundreds to several thousands, they offered a day or interview with the founder. That's valuable to me as a 2 year designer and I'd pay as much for time to explore ways of thinking and insights. Maybe offer 2 options for discord/zoom/in person meeting. Valuable to a fan too because nothing like understanding development or lore of the world.

I also paid 140 for fortnite founders edition, before it was a BR. I did that because the skin they offered was a white and gold "legendary" ninja outfit that non founders can never own. Felt super special. I love tech and scifi and all that Stormgate and StarCraft is about, and I imagine when it comes to skins you could offer 1 set of cosmetics, never to be offered again, that would be so bad ass and in line with what this audience is here for.

Will look for you on LinkedIn btw! Again, amazing job with this community lol.

Originally posted by renok2504

Hopefully the Collector's Edition will have international shipping(?)

Originally posted by m4ma

Alright this scares the shit out of me. Last "crowdfunded" game I played took years of development, was released half baked, and shuttered within a year.

Originally posted by Talnir

Before going to the questions, I think there is one essential thing that needs to be mentioned even if it is going to sound trivial. Goodies & bonuses are good but I think the industry those days sometimes lose sight of what really matters: that the game is great.

I know you said you already have enough money to release the game but I bet that most people on this sub would be GLAD to give you some money just to increase the quality of the game itself and with no goodies attached to it. I know it sounds a bit unrealisitic (ofc ppl are going to want something for their money) but what I mean is that most of us is going to found the crowdfunding more because we want to support you & for the game to be awesome than to get goodies.

That being said, to the questions :3 :

REWARD TIERS: I think ingame things like skins, portrait, voicelines, UI designs, basically any type of cosmetics are great, & pbbly the most accessible.

Access to the game soundtrack or exclusive soundtracks would be awesome as well.

For real stuff, I'd like things like posters, miniatures (or equivalent).

BETA ACCESS: MEANS THE WORLD TO ME :3. HAND OVER THE BETA KEY :p.

COLLECTOR: unfortunately I am not a big collector guy so I would not give too much weight to my opinion. I think artbook & miniatures/statues, as well as accessories you can wear/display, would be the most attractive to me.

I guess the painted statue would be the preferred option for most ppl.

Keep up with the great work, I cannot wait to play, and I feel you guys have the awesome, wholesome and authentic attitude of people who are deeply passionate and care for the community. Big thumbs up & much love!

Originally posted by Oneandonlymightyduck

Commenting for my little brother, on the off chance I could give him a beta key for Christmas. He's had the family signing up emails and filling out surveys for awhile now.

Originally posted by PineappleLordLive

Thank you so much for this clarification

Originally posted by LuckofCaymo

Careful, crowdfunding an already funded free to play game sounds bad. Why not just run it through your website. Have it as something purchasable with your account. Doing it through Kickstarter has bad vibes to me.