While video games continue to have a bit of an identity crisis between lower Kickstarter completion rates or the ever shifting user base (or the “who is a real gamer" debacle), board games have evolved to sit quite comfortably in their own niche, not making a lot of outward noise, and raking in the money of fans that seem to genuinely like what they are buying. I found myself a little awed at how unpolarized Pax Unplugged 2018 felt. Stepping away from the familiar promise->develop->release->outrage game cycle it was really great seeing big name and small name companies together delievering, for the most part, exactly what it was their audience was asking for. In a CEO panel, chaired by Scott Gaeta, Patrick Leder, and Tim Fowers, a lot of topics were discussed but some of the best advice came from the panel in relation to Kickstarter and timing the release, scope, and expansion of an intellectual property.
What makes Kickstarter so good for board games and so bad for video games" Well, Kickstarter really helps a board game developer determine demand/interest in their game and prevents an unpopular idea from gaining traction. This is all much more important for a physical product because, in general, you have a whole lot less back end promises for a board game. You promise to make the boardgame on Kickstarter, usually with your story and mechanics already well understood. You get money for the board game. You make the board games and ship them. Easy enough. ...