Kickstarter? I hardly even know her!
Former Double Fine COO has just launched Fig, a curated, games-only alternative to sites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. It’s only for games and only for games approved by the advisory board, which consists of the like of Double Fine’s Tim Schafer, inXile’s Brian Fargo, and Obsidian’s Feargus Urquhart. All successful crowdfunders themselves.
While Fig lets folks back for rewards, like Kickstarter, it also allows for investment crowdfunding, allowing for investors to receive a share of the project’s revenue (though Fig keeps distribution rights and the original developer its IP rights).
“Look at what happened to Oculus,” Bailey told Wired. “It was sold to Facebook for 2 billion dollars, and the people who were involved, the superfans who were getting behind Oculus to make that possible, they didn’t see any of that. It would seem like they should, since they had a pivotal role in that coming about.”
Fans with wads of cash and risky tendencies can’t make bank yet, but it will be an option in the future, according to statement released by Fig ” Investment crowdfunding is currently limited to accredited investors only, but pursuant to a recent regulatory development, Fig plans to open up investment opportunities to everyone in the near future.” It’s an interesting alternative method to get games funded, but I kind of wish Bailey did a Kickstarter for Fig.
The first genital-covering Fig Leaf is Outer Wilds, 2015’s Independent Games Festival’s grand prize winner: “Equal parts astrophysics simulation, narrative adventure, and backpacking in space, Outer Wilds is Majora’s Mask meets Apollo 13.” It currently has received $51,000 of its $125,000 goal, with $34,000 committed through investment.
