(KICKSTARTER) Prodos Games Aliens/Predators: Recent developments pp.35ff

[obsidian3d]

Using a KS campaign for anything OTHER than producing the product described in that campaign is against Kickstarter's rules. Doing this is exactly what happened with Dust's campaign and is one of the contributing factors to the huge shit storm the backers there are suffering through. If they or Prodos had been up front about what the money was actually being used for how many people would have actually pledged? I'm guessing almost zero.

Transparency doesn't garner you any good will after the fact, it just proves you lied in the first place. I'm not a backer of the AvP campaign or any of Prodos' others, but after reading this I certainly won't be supporting them in the future either. Sure they made mistakes, but that doesn't really excuse some of the decisions that were made.

[supervike]

Didn't really read it, I cant be bothered with that block of text this time of night on Friday.... But what does it boil down to? No permission to send stuff, no capacity to pack & send stuff, or no money to send stuff? All of the above?

If they're seriously considering selling up the company in the middle of KS delivery, then I guess they're already given up on the idea they can sort it out themselves?

It's a bit of them robbing Peter to pay Paul.....

First, they tried to use this Kickstarter to help cover a previous Kickstarters shortcomings...

Boiled down, I think the crux of it is that they cannot ship in waves because of prohibitive shipping costs, and they cannot release unapproved (but already made) merchandise.  So, even the 'core game' sits and waits to be shipped because they cannot afford to send it without the add ons (which are not yet approved).  A bit like a merry-go-round, it seems.

Plus, they put the core game out to retailers, hoping to get the cash to cover this latests Kickstarters shortcomings.

Really boiled down, they haven't a clue what they are doing.

[grant]

They really should just let Warlord buy them. They've improved dramatically in getting themselves sorted out apparently.

[Argonor]

Really boiled down, they haven't a clue what they are doing.

And didn't know from the start.

I read that statement as: We just did/do what everybody else does, and thus face the same problems. Well... duh...

How about researching what problems other kickstarters have faced before committing to the same mistakes...?

[seldon]

mmm.. yes this is all very frustrating as a backer..

The only consolation, if any, is that the product is surprisingly good quality. The minis are great, the boards are great..  I would recommend this game any day...  It was simply a bad idea to support the KS  , but hey.. at least you guys buying it from the stores should thank us for providing the funding  ... I do hope the game survives all this because it looks good and fun...

Oh, well.. let's just not torture ourselves and simply let's hope that they get everything delivered.. I just hope they don't go with the KS option for the funding because I doubt they'll get the funding... And once you get your AvP just have glass of wine and enjoy...

all the best fellow backers..
Francisco

[rwwin]

I have yet to participate in any Kickstarter or Indiewhatever, and I'm increasingly convinced that this is a very good thing.

Meh, while I've had some real stinkers from Kickstarter, they're the minority.  Most of what I've gotten through kickstarter has been pretty close to advertised.  Although with a few notable exceptions, they've all been late in delivering.

[Michka]

This was me when they said "We're making an Aliens game". This is what's biting me in the ass now. Thanks Fry!

[Argonor]

This was me when they said "We're making an Aliens game". This is what's biting me in the ass now. Thanks Fry!

That was my initial reaction, too, but a very baleful reaction to constructive critcism (not exactly revealing a professional approach to the whole thing), combined with the GW-like pricing Prodos practises, put me off early on.

I'm glad it did. I still would like to have and play the game, but, well...

[CptJake]

the boards are great.. 

No, they really are not great by any realistic definition.   They are massively repetitive (same three shipping containers) and frankly boring as a result.  The newer 'retail' version are supposedly thinner than comparably priced games.  (I wouldn't know for sure as I still have NOTHING from the KS).

[Momotaro]

Just out of curiosity, has Prodos released a miniatures only set or sets of their AvP figures?  Surely, that could get them some much needed revenue?

Depends on the licence - it may be only for boardgame + playing pieces, and the rights to produce "figures" belong to someone else.


For example, Hasbro has the Star Wars figures licence, and Fantasy Flight the boardgame one.  I believe there was some... legal friction... between the two over what exactly X-Wing wan.

[Elk101]

I'm pretty sure recent updates said that the figure packages were still only part approved by Fox. They'll apparently follow on. That's all I'm waiting for funnily enough as I didn't want the boardgame.

[Knightofspades]

Whenever I sent Prodos an email I gotten answer back within two days at most. I dont understand what problem is for some of you. Maybe try contacting Rob Alderman here on the forum?

[Agis]

Whenever I sent Prodos an email I gotten answer back within two days at most. I dont understand what problem is for some of you. Maybe try contacting Rob Alderman here on the forum?

For me it is a 50/50 experience.
During the Warzone KS it worked fine, I had some issues with some models and could easily communicate with them and exchange minis. Happy!

Now I asked about my shipment and received an answer within a couple of days:
"your game will be shipped at beginning of October."
I asked again on 11.10.15, no answer...

[NurgleHH]

For me it is a 50/50 experience.
During the Warzone KS it worked fine, I had some issues with some models and could easily communicate with them and exchange minis. Happy!

Now I asked about my shipment and received an answer within a couple of days:
"your game will be shipped at beginning of October."
I asked again on 11.10.15, no answer...

First: you had 3333 Post!

Second: I also got no real answer. Hope for the promised 500 Parcel coming Week, but After all These broken promises and lies I Expect another disappointing week.  It is hard to believe in Prodos words

[Mako]

If they're not fulfilling adequately, and/or misappropriating funds for other projects, complain to Kickstarter.

It probably won't do any good with this issue, but might get them banned from starting up similar ones.

Ken Whitman and D20 Entertainment have been allegedly banned from Kickstarter, for non-performance on SIX Kickstarter projects he and his company have opened up, in the last few years, all of which have failed to meet their goals.

So, complaints do have some impact.

Various KS failures that I can name off the top of my head for him include:

Knights of the Dinner Table

Spinward Traveller

Pencil Dice

He's allegedly generated almost $180,000 in sales through KS, but apparently few if any have received their items, after months, and years of waiting for pre-paid items.

That doesn't even include all of the alleged non-delivery of stuff sold by Ken Whitman and D20 Entertainment, directly, from their website, e.g. resin and metal, Traveller spaceships, DVDs/CDs, t-shirts, posters, books, scripts, etc., etc..