Susan, let me quote some things and please, we all would like some honest answers. No more of this mind game crap.
$50,000 STRETCH GOAL: Creative Commons Custom Asset Library Available for Free to the Indie Gaming Community
Why is this a $50,000 stretch goal now? Where is the $23k+ going? You no longer need a laptop or RPG Maker camp. Let me quote:
Philip Tan, Creative Director for the MIT Game Lab, is volunteering 1 week of his personal time in the Summer for in-person 1-on-1 mentorship sessions on game production and design with Mackenzie Wilson to help her produce her game. This volunteer time will be given whether or not the Kickstarter succeeds as it is in the spirit of replacing the RPG camp she can no longer attend.
And we just learned Dell is seeding Kenzie’s project with a portable Alienware unit so she can take it with her to Istanbul, MIT, and anywhere else she’ll be working to make her dreams come true.
Okay, so no more RPG Maker camp. And now she no longer needs a laptop (which you set aside in your budget 2.5k for, yes?). So, some money will be spent going to MIT, but I don't believe the 6k you budgeted for it seems appropriate. I could do a lot on 6k, and I live outside of the country. All you are doing is flying a few miles north. The CCL got moved to $50,000 stretch goal. So a bit of money going to MIT.. you specifically stated no money from KS would go to website, but I don't believe folks were saying you shouldn't use that money on it. So where does it go? If I could make a suggestion, please, for the love of god, pay someone to get a better design on PinkieSquare. It's a train wreck right now. While I wasn't a fan of the cityscape picture up top because it felt like a site about something else in terms of mood it sent, now it looks like a project a kindergartener worked on with crumbled paper, horrendous color choices, and paint splashes.
Please, really, save that site and get someone to make a nicer layout. That would be money well spent. That's assuming you want to prove folks wrong, right? Sure, it's not what the KS was originally about, since that has been chopped to pieces, but what's that matter? Everything else has been fair game to change.
Again, it may be semantics, but the Kickstarter campaign was always positioned as an RPG Project w/the end result being an RPG made by a 9 year old. The details were vague b/c she intended to make the game at RPG camp and supporters backed that dream. They didn't care about the story or what the game was about (which is interesting and important to note b/c they backed this project simply because they wanted to support Mackenzie and that's not something anyone can ever take away from her story). So much so, that they donated far beyond her goal. THAT IS PROOF THAT WE ARE GOOD. This can be good. Good is a choice.
No, it was initially about getting your girl to camp. The "game" was something tacked on to make it appear KS worthy. Actually, it wouldn't even matter if you'd given more time with the game. July release? That's like saying yall aren't even going to try much. That's disappointing. Also, off topic for a second, but how much yall plan on selling Kenzie's FIRST GAME for? I can't imagine many folks paying much for it. And fact you are even contemplating DRM goes to show you have a decent enough understanding of this stuff than you'd like to lead folks to believe.
Anyway, back on topic, I'd like to ask, why is it that backers back something makes you legit? Shouldn't it be your own
ACTIONS that show you are on the up and up? So all those folks before who backed a project that didn't go through for whatever reason, they backed a legit person, right? So they thought. This isn't any different. What you fail to realize is that your previous actions speak louder than words. Towel capes for example. Seriously? Backers backing proves nothing other than folks giving up their money. The only one that can restore any faith is you.
All I'm asking is that you answer folks legit questions. The only thing I've seen you touch upon was the iPhone case. While you claimed to have hired a CAD designer to help you with that, we can't be all that sure what you say is true because nothing else we've seen gives us reason to believe you. Tackle these questions. You will get trolled no matter what.* But I'd seriously like some answers on your past attempts at projects as well as what your budget will be on this. I would post this on KS but I'm not a member. And to be honest, this wouldn't last there because there are no rainbows, ponies, unicorns, or hearts spewing from this post. I'm just trying to seek the truth. Isn't that what you are about?
* When I say this, it means you'll get trolled for telling lies and for telling truth. So no matter what you say or do on the internet, you'll have that problem. But give folks a reason to believe. All I want is the honest truth.
Now back to my original post...
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Seems a new update is up. I guess it's a flimsy intro to "the game". The best typo quote from it..
She knew the Isle of Kent like the back of her hand. What she didn’t know was who the creatures were that wreaked suck havoc and why?
Then you have awkwardly phrased things such as..
The Square was packed and people were everywhere.
Though this thing doesn't sound like something a 9 year old wrote.
Beyond the story is Kenzie is now giving "free" content to backers. AT NO ADDITIONAL COST! Wow, they're really trying.
Love the addition of a 50k stretch goal.
And some lovely snipets from the Special Thanks section for your enjoyment:
Dell has invited Mackenzie and me to be their guests at the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, June 2-4th in Istanbul, Turkey.
Philip Tan, Creative Director for the MIT Game Lab, is volunteering 1 week of his personal time in the Summer for in-person 1-on-1 mentorship sessions on game production and design with Mackenzie Wilson to help her produce her game. This volunteer time will be given whether or not the Kickstarter succeeds as it is in the spirit of replacing the RPG camp she can no longer attend.
I guess she's canceled the camp because they were silly enough on the receipt to post too much information. Now she's afraid Kenzie will get stalked or something.
And we just learned Dell is seeding Kenzie’s project with a portable Alienware unit so she can take it with her to Istanbul, MIT, and anywhere else she’ll be working to make her dreams come true.
Plus, at the end of it all, you can see some drawings.