1-UP Show/CO-OP Alumni: Kickstarter: VG Culture Docu Series (210K Goal)
- Thread starter Chairhome
- Start date
wait what?
While I'm interested, I do have to flag this up:
To be fair, I've been involved with some BBC documentary projects and they always get turned down as they aren't deemed interesting enough. But then the BBC don't know how to do journalism on video games.
Poorly fleshed out idea, but the short of it is that I love all the content they have produced over the years, but grew increasingly frustrated by the minds behind it. Can't explain it well.
I would agree with you. I find it quite sad that once again they continue to live off the backs of fans nostalgic from a product half a decade old. Figured after it birthing the abomination of Rebel FM, and then that EGM thing. People would be more protective of their wallets. Do the fans feel that bad about what happened that every alumni who starts a venture needs to be funded regardless of actual creative output? Maybe I'm just too cynical.
Does anyone?
Mmm, I wonder if the same is true of both HVCTW and Gameswipe: it's less "wanting to make programmes about video games" and more "throwing money at Charlie Brooker to make something *he* wants to make for our channel", and *Charlie* wants to make programmes about video games.
metsallica
Member
http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/area5/outerlands-season-one/
Should exceed it by quite a bit, but these things almost always start fast; tracking them is not an exact science.
That's how I feel about this project—that they're capitalizing on this group. I mean, c'mon, a million dollars?! And I bought a RebelFM shirt in the early-goings (Kill the Leps...), so it's not like I haven't supported them in the past. I just think that they could use Kickstarter to get initial funding and rely on some angels or something to get the rest of their output going. It's not like they don't have a strong record of clients they've worked with, so why is it so hard for them to fund the project?
[EDIT] And to be clear, I'm by no means trying to dissuade anyone from supporting the project. There's just a lot more convincing needed on my part before I toss some money their way. Also, EIGHTEEN MONTHS!?!?!
MikeJAMoran
Member
It's not like they're just coasting on their name. Their high quality work speaks for itself, I'd say.
Does anyone?
Mmm, I wonder if the same is true of both HVCTW and Gameswipe: it's less "wanting to make programmes about video games" and more "throwing money at Charlie Brooker to make something *he* wants to make for our channel", and *Charlie* wants to make programmes about video games.
Hah yeah, seems so. What gets me is a lot of gaming documentaries don't really seem to hit the spot that resonates well with gamers, except a tiny few.
Vigilant Gambit
Member
I'm strongly reconsidering my self-imposed ban on Kickstarter projects (backed 37 projects since Double Fine Adventure; enough is god damn enough) after seeing that Disasterpeace and Phil Fish are involved.
Ecto311
Member
Glad that dude is healthy but goddamn is it creepy to me. Like someone deflated a Ryan suit and is wearing it around. Sounds the same but looks too different for me.
I really like the concept and the idea of what they want but that is a huge fuckin goal.
And their high quality work should afford them more paying gigs from companies. But something is clearly off, that they (and other former 1up members) continue to come back to the well of their fans.
The project seems more of a pat on the back to people who espouse games as art instead of doing anything necessarily new. So, it seems like it's playing it pretty safe to me. If they don't feel it's a "risk", then why not fund it themselves if they plan on basically interviewing their friends.
Maybe I'm just a cynical curmudgeon, but this doesn't really seem like a "humble indie plea" but a vampiric play on nostalgia.
NoPiece
Member
Paying gigs don't let you do what you want to do. People want to be creative and do their own thing. Saying go work for a big company is fine if your goal is to get food on the table and pay rent, but if you want a happy life, and to do something fulfilling, probably not.
It's one the reasons I love Kickstarter, whether it is Obsidian's Project Eternity, or Area 5, or Broken Age - it is helping people not have to go work for big companies, and letting them follow their own path. So yes, you are being a curmudgeon.
I haven't heard many stories of interesting indie film makers that asked for funding in similar ways. I have heard plenty of stories of interesting film makers that put everything on the line for their fulfilling creative venture. Maybe I'm a sucker for a starving artist story, instead of a simulacrum of one.
If it was made today, the original Evil Dead movie would have been made through kickstarter. Instead, they asked and begged everyone who would listen to help back their movie, including their dentist. I think if you delve into those indie stories, you'll find plenty of situations like this, which didn't use kickstarter simply because it did not exist.
CrashPrime
Member
How many times are these guys going to rise from the ashes? My hesitation is the string of cancelled projects in their wake. I enjoy their stuff, but my god they seem to really be awful at managing their budget/workforce. It feels like they've come "back" from the 1up days 3-4 times and failed to stick around each time.
Zeouterlimits
Member
Although I far and away enjoyed the 1up Show more than their CO-OP efforts, I've backed it.
I do agree that the stretch goals don't particularly set me alight.
I do agree that the stretch goals don't particularly set me alight.
Sure, everyone would want to make a project that's properly funded. Who wouldn't? My argument lies in the idea that those stories, maxing out credit cards, mortgages, or begging as you mention, separate the wheat from the chaff.
If you want something that just says, "hey! Video games are awesome" A Life Well Wasted did it in strides without resorting to these measures.
I'm a fan of these guys and their previous work, but I'm just trying to implore people be more critical of what they spend money on. I hope I'm articulating my point well.
NoPiece
Member
The effect of what you are saying is, if you are rich, or your parents are rich, or your parents friends are rich, you deserve to make money. But if you don't have access to money, and are poor yourself, then you don't deserve to make a movie, and are chaff. Kickstarter, which gives a lot more people access to money is a GOOD thing. Instead of filtering our filmmakers based on their fundraising capability, lets filter them out based on their idea, or pitch, or better yet, based on their finished product.
What are the 3-4 failed projects you are talking about? All I have heard from them since the 1up days has been COOP which was great and ran a long time, the Street FIghter documentary, which I haven't watched, and the Last of Us documentary, which was awesome.
What are the 3-4 failed projects you are talking about? All I have heard from them since the 1up days has been COOP which was great and ran a long time, the Street FIghter documentary, which I haven't watched, and the Last of Us documentary, which was awesome.
Probably just that they don't have a regular presence/show like they did at 1up or at first with CO-OP. People done realize the cost of production if you're on your own doing a podcast/show. It's why a lot/most of them are crowdfunded.
Probably just that they don't have a regular presence/show like they did at 1up or at first with CO-OP. People done realize the cost of production if you're on your own doing a podcast/show. It's why a lot/most of them are crowdfunded.
They're uh only asking for $210k dude. That's really not a lot of money for an entire documentary series.
I should add that the SF documentary is AMAZING. My favorite part of that entire anniversary box. Backing this when I get the money.
Yes, but the stretch goal goes up to $1m to reach their initial goal as well as produce a second season. That just sounds absurd to me.
Yikes, I backed this on the first day but couldn't find this thread since the Kickstarter name isn't even in the topic's title. Oops!
Instead of turning this into yet another "people don't understand how much money it takes to make good stuff" thread like this debacle, perhaps you should look at the specific breakdown they offer, extrapolate what it would take to reach their stretch goals, and isolate exactly what part of it you disagree with?
Instead of turning this into yet another "people don't understand how much money it takes to make good stuff" thread like this debacle, perhaps you should look at the specific breakdown they offer, extrapolate what it would take to reach their stretch goals, and isolate exactly what part of it you disagree with?
Particularly since they didn't bother to map stretch goals beyond $620k.
TheTylerRob
Member
Do you guys remember the one or two episodes of coop live? It was cool, but also a train wreck. This sounds good enough for me though. I haven't followed these guys since Arthur Gies became unavoidable so It'll be good to see them again.
(Ryan's hot now)
(Ryan's hot now)
The Dutch Slayer
Member
Holy shit that new update video !
I SAID wow amazing quality fantastic work.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/area5/outerlands-season-one/posts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaoZ2oDMJ04
I SAID wow amazing quality fantastic work.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/area5/outerlands-season-one/posts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaoZ2oDMJ04
firehawk12
Subete no aware
I thought Frank gave away a lot of those mags to a museum or a library? Crazy.
The Dutch Slayer
Member
He was on 8-4 podcast in the middle of last year but he is looking for the best place to house them and he would like that to be in the bay area.
Moosehole
Member
Wow I'm beginning to wonder if this is actually going to get funded. Really hope it does. Their work is second to none.
With that in mind I have to throw out a random thought: I'm absolutely baffled that these guys haven't been hired by Gametrailers, IGN, or re-hired by Revision 3 to make weekly content. They're all way too talented.
With that in mind I have to throw out a random thought: I'm absolutely baffled that these guys haven't been hired by Gametrailers, IGN, or re-hired by Revision 3 to make weekly content. They're all way too talented.
captscience
Member
That video is fantastic! The Super Mario Bros review is hilarious.
I backed the project and hope for their success!
Ecto311
Member
I thought the opposite. The video started with a cat running around and went over old video game mags? I was backing it for $25 and stopped my backing because of this video. Too much of a hipstery vibe for me. I like the area 5 stuff and dug the 1up stuff back in the day. I might get into it when its released and buy it then.
7DollarHagane
Banned
That update clip was incredible. I think I will back it now.
But I really don't see why this costs so much to make? YouTube channels like the game chasers, the nes pursuit, the video game years, etc do very similar content on a much lower budget.
I honestly don't need all the high production values and artistic camera angles and clever editing that costs so much. I'm interested in the content of the video.
Why can those youtube channels put out content weekly at almost zero budget while these guys need $200k?
Im not saying drop the quality to nothing, but the divide in costs is so extreme, that I don't understand why a $10k budget wouldn't accomplish a similar product?
Is it mostly because were paying for these guys rent and food because they don't have more traditional jobs as well?
But I really don't see why this costs so much to make? YouTube channels like the game chasers, the nes pursuit, the video game years, etc do very similar content on a much lower budget.
I honestly don't need all the high production values and artistic camera angles and clever editing that costs so much. I'm interested in the content of the video.
Why can those youtube channels put out content weekly at almost zero budget while these guys need $200k?
Im not saying drop the quality to nothing, but the divide in costs is so extreme, that I don't understand why a $10k budget wouldn't accomplish a similar product?
Is it mostly because were paying for these guys rent and food because they don't have more traditional jobs as well?
chrominance
Member
I think Matt Chandronait may have mentioned pursuing opportunities along these lines on a Rebel FM episode from a few years ago? I remember him referencing the CBC in any case. That said: the above show was a one-off special, not an ongoing series, and it's basically a countdown of 25 highly influential games. That's a very different thing from, say, a documentary on game preservation or game jams or whatever.
First, A Life Well Wasted is a podcast, not a video series. The production costs are a lot higher for video. Radio stories can get away with lots of things that video can't--for example, you pretty much need to be on location to shoot video of an interview subject. Video of a Skype recording isn't going to fly. Radio doesn't require proper lighting or location setup/scouting, either.
Second, A Life Well Wasted is made by one guy, and as far as I can remember Robert Ashley works freelance gigs to pay the bills (as well as relying on the financial support of his spouse). He's not paying himself any sort of salary for producing A Life Well Wasted. Area 5 is a four?-person video production team who need to take gigs to survive. There's no way you should expect four people to donate tons of their time and knowledge to create the video equivalent of an episode of A Life Well Wasted on a regular basis; the eventual shutdown of CO-OP should've told you that.
Third, A Life Well Wasted last released an episode in March 2013, and before that the last episode was 2010. Seven episodes over the course of five years is not a great example of how Outerlands-style storytelling can be done without resorting to a Kickstarter.
None of that is to downplay what Robert Ashley does with the podcast; the episodes I listened to were great. But it's really not the same thing as Outerlands in terms of scope.
...groan
Please explain exactly how much you think something should cost, and how you came to that cost.
And surely you understand that people do need to earn a living, right? People cost money. How much are you going to pay those people?
Also, lucky you, right on their Kickstarter page is this helpful graphic:
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
I won't support this because of Phil Fish's involvement.
Petty? Sure. I don't really care.
Edit: Actually, I probably will, just because there are so many talented people working on it. But I still can't stand that guy.
Petty? Sure. I don't really care.
Edit: Actually, I probably will, just because there are so many talented people working on it. But I still can't stand that guy.