But there is nothing to buy from this guy. It seems all he did was to set up a company (even this, there seems no evidence that he really did). All the rights and models etc were returned to the creators and artist.

Kickstarter benefits known commodities and whoever can jam the most extra toys in to the product. And that's fine...except that everyone keeps insisting it's about 'new creative voices' while only shelling out for familiar names and sequels.

I agree with you there. The main issue is not the fact that he couldn't deliever what was promised, the problem is that he apparently scammed both backers and the artists that designed the game.

Yes, a pledge to Kickstarter is a donation. No doubt about that. But it doesn't mean you can do whatever you want with the money and show backers the middle finger. He should have spent money on the game, and apparently this was not the case.

This is why i never pledge a high amount of money on Kickstarter. Ths risks are too high, even for successful and well established indie companies. See Double Fine's project, for example. My highest pledge was U$25 and i don't think i would donate more than that. There's always the risk that the project will never get made, but at least losing U$15 ou U$25 will not be a big deal.

Which was exactly my point, only spoken much better. :)

The support just isn't there for most indies or no name brands, despite any sort of goodwill we generate prior to asking for pledges.

As I recall on my initial Kickstarter I got one pledge from a GOG'er for $120, but the funding wasn't there because I was asking for help with upgrading my musical gear as well as helping me pay for professional studio time. The second and last kickstarter I attempted, I got 2 pledges totalling $30 over 30 days, and that was with people spreading the word of their own free will.

I gave up on the whole idea of kickstarter, truth be told, because unless you have wealthy friends or are a well known entity, there's a very good chance you aren't getting funded, no matter how much publicity and good will you or others on your behalf generate.

Honestly, I'd love for my music to not sound so rough, but I can't afford to record it with better production values. I use free recording software, because the alternative is no music.

And no, this isn't a pity party for me, but as I said earlier there are people with a genuine need for funding to release a better product who go largely ignored.

Frankly, I'm surprised that these "incidents" don't happen more often. From my point of view, Kickstarter is a donation scheme with no strings attached. You donate money and hope for the best.

This sound like my government, but seriously this sucks. Kickstarter needs to start being more transparent and accountable. The developers should be ashamed.

Edit: After mostly reading through the article, it sounds like this guy spent all of the money on "Blow and Hookers".

It's really hard for me to buy in to a Kickstarter if it's not someone with a proven track record. To some extent that is a shame because I really do want to support people who want to live out their dreams, and a lot of people really are capable of doing that. Whether it's a game designer at EA or a programmer at Adobe or something that has the skillset but hasn't managed a big project I think it's great they get support. But it's still risky knowing that you are buying into a project like that.

They don't have any reason/ incentive to do so - they've already collected their fee (which won't/ can't be claimed by anyone regardless of the outcome of this mess) and they have legally ensured that they can't be hold co-liable (is that a word?) in cases like this one.
There's a reason they point out in a dozen different places and ways that they accept no responsibility and that it's up to the potential backer to investigate a creator before pledging - they even go so far as to use the term "use your internet street smarts".
Or is it a coincidence that the constant changes of their ToS, rules and guidelines only serve to further shield them from any responsibility, accountability or liability?

One could argue it's a blow to their reputation, but this is not the first incident (nor will it be the last, I'm afraid) and Kickstarter's reputation or popularity doesn't seem to suffer.

This would've never happened if Chuck Norris was still alive.

THe only thing I ever backed was a christian movie called "where is the halo". It seems that it didn't make the amount they wanted though. Hope they still do it.

Shame the tabletop rpg / novellas project i was an artist for didnt come near its mark (though it's now going ahed through other means at least!), but I had no say in how the indiegogo was setup etc - not that i really understand those things too well.
However, Don McGowan's blog may be of interest to those still thinking of funding stuff on KS (specifically) as he's former Microsoft lawyer and works in various creative / entertainent legal roles. Nice guy too - actually breaks the sterotype

http://legalminimum.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/two-easy-ways-to-succeed-on-kickstarter.html

Edit: interestingly i forgot it mentions shadowrun also

Couldn't have said it better myself. I've probably said it before, but this is exactly why I would never give money to a kickstarter project. It makes no financial sense. Why pay for a product you have no guarantee of receiving?

If you want to develop a game - do some actual work, release a demo to get interest. Then sell the game for money when it is completed. Thats how a consumer market is supposed to work: exchange finished product for money.

Only ever funded one, Divinity OS, proven dev, great track record with a game mostly in the can. Only other one that tempted me was Planescape, but nXile are not a particularly great ...even good...dev, so I wasn't enticed in the slightest, but I do hope to be proven wrong with their endeavors.

Me too. Larian are pros. I also backed Grim Dawn. A smaller group but with a lot of experience.