This document discusses the state of crowdfunding for games through Kickstarter. It provides data on the growth of Kickstarter since 2012, including an increase in the number of successful and funded video game projects as well as the total dollars raised for video game projects. While the overall success ratio has declined slightly in 2014, opportunities remain for projects with very low budgets, strong communities, playable demos, and high production values in campaign assets. Certain types of projects, such as mobile, console, free-to-play, or kids games, present more challenges to getting funded.

1. Online Games Consulting & Services
THE STATE OF CROWDFUNDING FOR GAMES
T H E S T A T E O F C R O W D F U N D I N G F O R G A M E S
THOMAS BIDAUX
CEO @

2. Online Games Consulting & Services
INTRODUCTION
ME
AUDIENCE
CROWDFUNDING (MOSTLY, KICKSTARTER…)
DATA DISCLAIMER
Date
Methodology (support from Potion of Wit)
No Ouya
Some survey data
All data available after the lecture

3. Online Games Consulting & Services
KICKSTARTER - HIGH LEVEL PRINCIPLES
All-or-Nothing
USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands,
Scandinavia and Ireland
Largest platform for games:
Kickstarter to date: $115m
Indiegogo to date: $4m (est.)
Ulule to date: $1m (est.)

4. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER
PRE-2012 GROWTH

5. T H E N … D o u b l e F i n e A d v e n t u r e h a p p e n e d
Online Games Consulting & Services

6. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER
# OF SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS

7. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER
TOTAL $ RAISED

8. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER
# OF FUNDED VIDEO GAME PROJECTS

9. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER
TOTAL $ RAISED - VIDEO GAME PROJECTS

10. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER
# OF SUCCESSFUL PROJECT PER TIER (TOTAL $ RAISED) VIDEO GAMES

11. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER
$ RAISED BY PROJECTS PER TIER (TOTAL $ RAISED) VIDEO GAMES

12. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER

13. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER – pre 2012

14. Online Games Consulting & Services
SUCCESS RATIO IN 2014 SO FAR
20%
(was 24% in 2013)

15. Online Games Consulting & Services
SUCCESS RATIO IN THE UK
To date: £5.625m across 114 projects
Kickstarter GBP platform to date: £7m+

16. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER IN EUROPE

17. Online Games Consulting & Services
STATE OF KICKSTARTER IN EUROPE

18. Online Games Consulting & Services
WH AT A R E TO D AY ’ S O P P O RT U N I T I E S ?
Projects are more likely to succeed with:
Very low budget (<£10k)
Strong community (see Homestuck)
Playable demo
High production on the campaign’s asset

19. Online Games Consulting & Services
RED FLAGS CHECKLIST
Projects are more difficult to get funded when:
On mobile or console games
Free-To-Play
Games for kids
Uninspired pitch/overcrowded genre
Unrealistic objectives

20. 2 0 1 4 – T H E S T A T E O F C R OWD F U N D I N G F O R G AME S
Online Games Consulting & Services
Q U E S T I O N S ?

21. Online Games Consulting & Services
CONTACTING ME
thomas@icopartners.com
www.slideshare.net/ICOPartners
www.icopartners.com/blog
@icotom
www.facebook.com/icopartners