Regarding crowd funding...

[TonyV]

Couple of notes regarding crowd funding.

First, a HUGE thank you!!! to everyone who has been posting in the "Halls of Titan" threads on the official forums and here.  That thread was specifically designed to put some feelers out to get an idea of whether starting any kind of crowd funding effort would be worthwhile, and seeing the hundreds of replies and over 18,000 views and counting, I definitely think it would be!

I haven't set up any kind of crowd funding project yet, though I've played around with some of the tools.  It's not that I don't want to get it kicked off ASAP, but I don't want to sabotage any crowd funding effort by jumping in too soon.  All of these crowd funding sites require that you have put in some pretty detailed time and effort into your project plan, something that in two days I haven't had a lot of time to write out.  I'm working on that now.  Also, I genuinely feel like we need to test the waters at NCsoft to try to get some sense of how willing they are to work with us before we go and start getting people to shell out their hard earned cash.

I've seen several references to "Kickstarter" or "kickstarting".  Just as a technical note, we probably won't actually be using Kickstarter™, the specific web site.  After reading their rules and project guidelines, I don't think that they are really conducive to the kind of fundraising we need to do.  They're more about funding new, original projects, with a heavy focus on the creativity aspect of it.  Acquiring existing property, starting up a new company, that kind of thing isn't really their cup of tea.  As an alternative, I'm considering going with Indiegogo, which allows a broader range of crowd fundraising efforts.

Also, I might submit multiple projects to be funded.  The big one, if we go this route, will undoubtedly be the drive to raise the capital to buy or license the City of Heroes IP, code base, and distribution rights from NCsoft.  That's going to require a very large number.  However, I might put some smaller projects out there, things like commissioning artwork or videos to use to pitch what we're doing to companies, making media ad buys, that kind of thing.  I'll post any of those types of projects as a Call to Action.

If you don't have money, please don't feel left out!  For one thing, we don't just need money, we need expertise.  Translators, artists, business wonks, lawyers, tech geeks (and being one, I use that term with affection),... you probably have some skill or knowledge that we're going to need at some point.  Keep watching this forum for ways in which you can pitch in.  We also need front line soldiers, people who are willing to do stuff like writing letters to NCsoft, things where numbers really count.

[Golden Girl]

I haven't heard anything yet, but I can't help thinking that at some point during the past couple of days at least one dev hasn't raised the subject with one or more other devs about reforming as an indie studio.
If that were to happen, or if even a few devs were open to the idea of a buy-out from NCSoft, then I think that would make pitching the whole idea a lot easier, as we'd already have a core development team who knew the game inside out.

[TonyV]

This would be an ideal solution with the full backing of us. If you or anyone else gets wind of a plan like this--because I'm pretty sure they couldn't discuss such things publicly as a condition of severance--please try to pass along that I'd like to talk to them. Any discussions including the fact that discussions took place would be held in strict confidence.

[Taceus Jiwede]

I think getting in contact with the devs is a really good idea.  I know we aren't using Kickstarter but the things that often get people to donate more money is perks.  Now of course any of us posting on this board will happily donate the money just to save our game but others may not.  But if perks such as design a costume, or for $1000 dollars design a power set people would stop dropping more money.  An example I have is recently is a Kickstarter fund for a guy to publish his web comic.  He said he didn't have the money but if his fans could fund it he would happily do it.  Everyone who donated money got a copy of the published comic as well as other perks for the amount of money they donated.  His goal was $50,000 dollars.  He raised about 1.5 million

[Golden Girl]

Suggested perks could be history plaques mentioning your hero's deeds, and for the most expensive ones, in game statues - and as I'm talking like $1,000 minimum for the statue perk, that'd probably be enough to mean that the zones wouldn't be flooded with them.
Statues could also be quite small, like 1 and a half or twice the height of the actual person, so several of them could be placed in just one park area.

[jordanhb]

One thing to think about in terms of crowd funding.  You said Kickstarter isn't quite designed for the kind of project that this would be.  That may be, and there may be no way to work around that problem, but I'd urge you to try before writing them off.  If there's any way we could make Kickstarter work, I think it would be worth trying.  I think we'd get a lot more money that way, simply because a lot more people have heard of Kickstarter (or at least that's my impression).  I know personally I go on Kickstarter at least a couple times a month just to see if there's anything cool on there, and I've donated to a couple different projects.  I'd never even heard of Indiegogo until you brought it up.  The difference in the amount of money raised at different sites might not be large, but on a project like this, I feel like we're going to need every advantage we can give ourselves.

[Golden Girl]

One thing to think about in terms of crowd funding.  You said Kickstarter isn't quite designed for the kind of project that this would be.  That may be, and there may be no way to work around that problem, but I'd urge you to try before writing them off.  If there's any way we could make Kickstarter work, I think it would be worth trying.  I think we'd get a lot more money that way, simply because a lot more people have heard of Kickstarter (or at least that's my impression).  I know personally I go on Kickstarter at least a couple times a month just to see if there's anything cool on there, and I've donated to a couple different projects.  I'd never even heard of Indiegogo until you brought it up.  The difference in the amount of money raised at different sites might not be large, but on a project like this, I feel like we're going to need every advantage we can give ourselves.

Name recognition does offer a feeling of security for people donating their money, so Kickstarter would probably be the best one to go for.

[chief536]

Hey guys I am not rolling in the money by any means but I can comfortably commit to about $100 a month donated to the cause.

[Juncyard]

We have means but we aren't rich but I'd be glad to make what used to be our 2 subscriptions into a monthly donation to the project.

[NecrotechMaster]

i would also gladly dedicate my sub fee to this and possibly extra if i have it

[Christine]

Count me in ... got 2 accounts and I'd easily pay double that at least.

-- C.

[MisterMagpie]

Name recognition does offer a feeling of security for people donating their money, so Kickstarter would probably be the best one to go for.

I'm not sure how widespread the problem is, but for some reason Indiegogo won't let me offer ANY sort of money to anyone, says it's over my limit.

But I reckon what I'll actually do if you guys do go to Indiegogo is find someone trustworthy and paypal them money so they can fund in my name.

[Soundtrack]

I'd give my monthly subscription fee to the cause.

[Zaltar99]

I maintained 2 accounts for my self and a third for a friend. I couls help with that.

[Paragon Refugee]

I have played COH since 2005 and if there's any way to keep it going I'm in! Kickstarter or whatever I'll give till it hurts.

Bring back all subscriptions to keep it going, lock it down to what it is right now until it's all sorted out. Keep the family together!

Paragon Refugee

[Warhawk2012]

I'm like everyone else.  I'm not made of money but I can put an amount together and then pony up for a service fee if we get this rolling.

[LastRonin]

I've used Kickstarter... it's a great site. The down side is Kickstarter has never been used to buy a video game from a company. Things like; Who will own the property? Are very large hurdles. And not knowing how much we need is another. We can amass a huge sum and find that it was for nothing. Kickstarter holds the funds in proxy and returns it if the goal isn't reached. Sooo.... we have to have a goal and we have to know who's gonna take over the day-to-day of running the servers and the billing and the secrurity costs.

Now if an indie firm does want to make a play for the game and they need start up capitol; kickstarter may be a good way to go. It would be there Kickstarter that we would support. Until we find out these kind of answers (like the OP said) we have to not rush into anything.

But you have my money either way.

[cernenus]

Name recognition does offer a feeling of security for people donating their money, so Kickstarter would probably be the best one to go for.

Yeah but after the Tesla Museum thing that TheOatmeal is doing right now (1.2M and counting) I think a lot of people, especially geeks, will come to know about indigogo. 

And his example raises a point, publicity is important..  once something is setup, what would really help is some mention by someone like PA or PVP

[angelo.pampalone]

I too will give my monthly subscription to the cause

[neonphysalis]

My monthly subscription will go to this cause.