CraigARouseWIP@NUCA: BA5 Contextual Studies: Platform and Distribution: Kickstarter

The last twenty years has seen many developments in the Game Industry...

Here's the first of two advances that have changed the way Games are developed and marketed.

Kickstarter launched in April 2009. In it's own words it is "a funding platform for creative projects".

Category	Successfully Funded Projects	Less than $1,000 Raised	$ 1,000 to $9,999 Raised	$ 10,000 to $19,999 Raised	$ 20,000 to $99,999 Raised	$ 100 K to $999,999 Raised	$ 1 M Raised
All	35,006	4,094	23,472	4,281	2,745	394	20
Theater	2,507	356	1,913	174	62	2	0
Technology	541	33	217	70	152	65	4
Publishing	2,835	468	1,903	300	155	9	0
Photography	973	150	670	112	41	0	0
Music	10,088	1,058	7,587	1,056	374	12	1
Games	1,284	85	556	243	294	94	12
Food	1,073	57	589	268	153	6	0
Film & Video	8,665	844	5,426	1,341	981	73	0
Fashion	665	79	431	93	54	8	0
Design	1,138	92	428	206	301	109	2
Dance	774	68	660	36	10	0	0
Comics	927	141	586	116	71	12	1
Art	3,536	663	2,506	266	97	4	0

Last Updated: Tuesday 4:15am EST January 15 2013

(source http://www.kickstarter.com/help/stats)

With recent recognition from mainstream and online media, Kickstarter has become an important source of "Crowd Funding" and investment for Game development Projects worldwide.

Kickstarter enables Stakeholders to become directly involved in fundraising for Projects that might otherwise struggle to find the major investment required to research and develop new technologies and bring them to a commercially viable stage.

It has also become an important tool for Marketing and advertising as well as providing a bridge between consumers and business. Higher stages of Investment will often offer the ability to directly develop and influence aspects of the final commercial product.

Here are just a few Projects that have been successful at finding direct Investment through Kickstarter. You can find many more at: http://www.kickstarter.com/discover/categories/games/most-funded#p1