Challenges and Difficulties Game Publishers Face on Kickstarter and Gamefound Campaigns
For game publishers to bring their vision into reality, crowdfunding has become their magic stick. Platforms like Kickstarter and Gamefound are the most popular tools not only for funding projects but also for building a strong game-passionate community. The thing is, running a campaign is not an easy thing to do. Here is where the game publishers struggle! Let’s dive into the real challenges publishers face as well as some advice that can help overcome those challenges.
1. Standing out in a crowded space
The market is getting more and more challenging with time, the competition is getting fiercer as hundreds, if not thousands, of campaigns are catching the backers’ attention. Thus, the competition is getting fierce in the industry and in Gamefound and Kickstarter precisely. This is why the challenge here is to stand out in the crowded market with a special, unique campaign that serves to the liking of the backers, your campaign does not grab the attention quickly. If it doesn’t, it might get overlooked entirely, which leads you to a failed campaign.
How to Fix It: Focus on creating a strong first impression. Use eye-catching visuals, a gripping video trailer, and a clear, compelling story about why your game matters. Pre-launch marketing is also crucial—start building an audience before your campaign goes live so you’re not starting from scratch.
2. Reaching the right people
Actually, the crowdfunding platforms can be different from one another, they are not created equally. For example, Kickstarter is made for a wide range of creators and backers across industries. On the other hand, Gamefound caters specifically for tabletop enthusiasts. That’s why targeting a niche can be quite challenging on both platforms. To put it differently, game designers need to put more thought and work into where their target audience is more active.
How to Fix It: Tailor your messaging to appeal directly to your ideal backer. For instance, if you’re launching a strategy board game, highlight its unique mechanics and replayability. Partnering with influencers who already have credibility in the gaming space can also help you reach the right people.
3. Navigating economic uncertainty on Kickstarter and Gamefound
Statistically speaking, crowdfunding has been a victim of economic shifts. Statistics show that the dollars raised on Kickstarter dropped by 12.4% in 2022. Moreover, the percentage kept on going down over the years. Thus, even though Gamefound has seen good feedbacks and growth, the publishers and game designers still need to consider that global financial trends could significantly impact their campaigns.
How to Fix It: Be realistic when setting your funding goals. Break down your budget transparently so backers understand exactly where their money is going. Offering flexible reward tiers can also encourage smaller contributions, helping you reach your goal without relying solely on big-ticket backers.
4. Balancing creativity and practicality
Having a colourful vision and high hopes for ambitious designs is great. But overcomplicating ideas can lead to major problems and can take you downhill. Hence, balancing creative vision with the practical reality of production costs and timelines is a common challenge among game designers and publishers.
5. Managing backer expectations
This is one of the trickiest parts of crowdfunding projects: Keeping the backers happy and satisfied. Being a backer, you naturally expect quick delivery and flawless execution. However, delays and unforeseen issues are very common in game production. Especially when crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Gamefound use the all-or-nothing model, they raise the backers’ expectations and add extra pressure on the game designer. Which makes failing to meet the backers’ high standards and meeting their expectations inevitable. Thus, no funds at all.
How to Fix It: Communication is key. Be upfront about potential risks and include buffer time in your timeline to account for unexpected delays. Regular updates during and after the campaign show backers you’re committed to delivering on your promises.
6. Building trust as a newcomer
For newcomers on crowdfunding platforms, earning the trust of backers, especially on Gamefound and Kickstarter, is like climbing a mountain! Backers are more likely to support and trust creators with a proven track record, which leaves the newcomers at a disadvantage. Building a community of tabletop enthusiasts that trusts you is not an easy task; it requires a lot of patience and hard work.
To wrap up, at the end of the day, crowdfunding is about more than just raising money. It’s about connecting with a community that believes in your vision, shares the same passion, and matches your enthusiasm for board games. Lastly, now that you are aware of these challenges, you can go ahead and turn your game-publishing dreams into reality.
