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

[Overlord]

I don't believe Prodos is out to screw folks. I do believe there must be something going on back stage that they just can't get the balls to say.

Edit: I'm betting this has something to do with the licensing agreement that whacked them with unforeseen costs which couldn't be recouped via the kickstarter.

I also don't believe that they set out to do that, but the lack of (or mis-) information regarding the prospect of meeting their obligations is of their own doing.  I know they had difficulties dealing with Fox, who didn't even understand their own IP, but it has undoubtedly been used as an excuse far beyond the reality of that situation.

Many Kickstarters undoubtedly have problems, but honest information regarding them can go a long way.  Another project I backed had difficulties and delays, but an open discussion of the situation meant the backers continued to support the project to its eventual complete fulfilment.  I have no such similar confidence with Prodos handling of AvP.

[CptJake]

Nothing in their licensing agreement forced them to lie to us KS backers.   That was a choice they made.  Frankly, I don't care about the reasons/excuses they've made and continue to make for the dishonesty.

Beasts of War has an interview with Jarek from Prodos:



http://www.beastsofwar.com/the-weekender/prodos-casts-and-firestorm-taskforce/

It starts a 01:01:15 and in it Jarek gives us the sob story about why they have bungled the AvP KS.   He starts with stating 'obviously they had to take down the KS page' and mentions they provided explanations. He doesn't state they clearly lied with those explanations. The whole 'it was an accident' thing...

"Game was ready in Sep 2014'. Yeah, and even now in April 2016 the rules are a damned mess.

He also claims 'In order to ship we have to have the retail packaging approved', yet none of what KS backers are getting except the boxed game itself is showing up in retail packaging. I wonder if Fox approved shipping without this packaging.

I can't help but wonder if Fox approved the switch to different colored stands for the doors (they screwed the pooch and didn't order enough, and the new vendor supplies them in all kinds of colors, one KS backer got purple door stands for example).

Sorry, even after listening to Jarek tap dance I have zero sympathy for them.

Bottom line, they made shitty choices, including the choice to lie to backers. Screw Jarek and Prodos.

[Ray Rivers]

Bottom line, they made shitty choices, including the choice to lie to backers. Screw Jarek and Prodos.

Our perceptions and reality are not always aligned.

In this case, there could (and most certainly are) legally binding clauses hanging over Prodos which actually prevent them from telling the truth.

Dunno... but from my limited knowledge of the situation, if I was to point a finger, I would point at Fox.

[Basement Dweller]

I was lucky (as it turned out) to experience struggles with Prodos during the Warzone kickstarter.  It was handled poorly and was my first kickstarter that I thought I wouldnt get my stuff...in the end I did get my tuff after receiving boxes with just bases (who were these for?) and a box with a single mini I didnt order.  I was also lied to multiple times via email that my order had shipped, that it has been sent to the wrong address, that it had come back unclaimed.  It opened my eyes to the risks of a kickstarter and that I should be more selective and pessimistic as to what I should expect from a unproven company.

Based on this experience, I didnt touch the Alien/Predators kickstarter despite wanting aliens really bad.  Based on the questionable practices I experienced during the Warzone kickstarter, I struggle to think that Prodos isnt largely responsible for this messed kickstarter and feel bad those who pledged and haven't got their stuff.  I would be furious if I saw stuff being sold for retail when I was still owed stuff...I understand the anger...

[CptJake]

Our perceptions and reality are not always aligned.

In this case, there could (and most certainly are) legally binding clauses hanging over Prodos which actually prevent them from telling the truth.

Dunno... but from my limited knowledge of the situation, if I was to point a finger, I would point at Fox.

Big, GIANT difference between 'We are contractually bound to not discuss this' and being dishonest.  Fox did not make Jarek or any other other Prodos employee lie to backers.    That was a choice Jarek and pals made.   

[Nikfu]

Suppose that Fox was not forcing prodos not to answer any of my Emails....

[tomcat51]

Some of you guys may want to check out the Weekender on Beasts of War. Sorry if someone has already mentioned this.

[Ray Rivers]

Big, GIANT difference between 'We are contractually bound to not discuss this' and being dishonest.  

How do you know that? The one can lead to the other.

Hey, I'm not involved in this kickstarter, I ordered nothing. Just looking in from the outside, but what I have seen says that something has caused a lot of mayhem in this project and to be quite honest the only thing that is for sure is that Fox will walk away without any blame.

So you can wail on the people trying to bring you a game, but if you have no idea what is REALLY happening in the background (which I don't think anybody does), then you are plan and simple being played.

If you really want to get to the bottom of all this, you should demand to see the licensing and/other agreements made with FOX first. Then start pointing fingers...

[CptJake]

How do you know that? The one can lead to the other.

I know this because many of the lies have had nothing to do with Fox issues.     



 

[NurgleHH]

I know this because many of the lies have had nothing to do with Fox issues.     



 

@Ray Rivers ( in the moment i believe, that your are working for Prodos),
Cpt Jake mention several times the problem of prodos ambition to lie! When they are honest, the proved it in the past. Best example is the promise to send out all the missing stuff until the end of February. Why do all the people still wait. And it is very unbelievable, that one company with one product has as much problems as Prodos is telling us. Now only sending out would be honest!

@ Cpt Jake:
I think you would not change the view of Ray Rivers. I can't understand his view, but I think it si time to stop this discussion about Prodos-Fox. Fact still is, that we didn't get our paid stuff and Prodos - in this state - steal our money!

[6milPhil]

Well... I hope for the backer's sake, they sell everything they bring to Salute.

I'm not a backer but having witnessed all this I'd never buy from Prodos, not even if all the pledges were delivered.

I'm surprised no-one has sent an open letter to Fox licensing about this, it's their IP which is suffering from all this. I'd be surprised if Fox actually knew much about it.

[Wachaza]

I'm surprised no-one has sent an open letter to Fox licensing about this, it's their IP which is suffering from all this. I'd be surprised if Fox actually knew much about it.

Not a backer myself but putting some pressure towards Fox might help. After all it's fans of the IP who are getting screwed here with the blame (apparently, according to Prodos) with Fox themselves.

This thread has 1125 posts and 115813 views. Maybe just written letters and emails to Fox pointing towards threads like this on various forums might be a way to go to indicate the damage being done.

[Ray Rivers]

I'm surprised no-one has sent an open letter to Fox licensing about this, it's their IP which is suffering from all this.

There you go. They are the ones who have the most to lose. Without them, this game doesn't exist.

I'd be surprised if Fox actually knew much about it.

You're kidding right? A multi-national hasn't a clue what's going on? 

Like I said before, the FOX folks are going to walk away clean from this with everybody blaming Prodos. In the end, however, it is FOX who has the ultimate responsibility to protect their IP. Yet, you all give them a free pass...

The folks over at FOX must be having a great laugh at all this...

[6milPhil]

You're kidding right? A multi-national hasn't a clue what's going on? 

No, I don't share the concept of the licencing departments of multinational corporations being oracles of wisdom. They have no contact with this project beyond that with Prodos, their main source of information being the same. So long as the royalties are paid why would they know any more? That's not what they do.

There's a long list of corporations making mistakes, many linked to a lack of relevant info.

[Overlord]

No, I don't share the concept of the licencing departments of multinational corporations being oracles of wisdom. They have no contact with this project beyond that with Prodos, their main source of information being the same.

That.

Fox didn't even recognise their own IP, asking what the "dinosaurs" (Queen) and "spiders" (face-huggers) were, for example.  They are more used to major merchandising , with little or no experience in the table-top gaming environment.

Undoubtedly this caused some headaches for Prodos, but I believe they have been economical with the truth for KS backers and used Fox as a convenient excuse for many aspects.