While other people may say 300k is too much, But I Ponder How will Uber make something that awesome with that little amount? from the kickstarter: Features include: Procedurally generated galaxy map, play a different galaxy every time! Single player and co-op for local play Online multiplayer mega-battles. Join a faction and plunder the universe! Clan wars servers for fighting the galactic war between clans Dynamic story system that logs your fight and generates exciting counter attacks and special missions that up the challenge level. So, what is it? (for dummies) *Infinite-playable Non-linear campaign. (with a mission system) *Co-op Story mode *Increased multiplayer support, with CLAN support, which may be up to 200 player games. * Player made clans/factions Uber, what is your secret? 300k for this? wow I'm actually going to be suprised if they can live up to this awesome stretch goal with the funding they stated.
I didn't follow the kickstarter system much until PA, but so far I didn't see any direct obligatory links between a goal's value and the production cost for the named feature. e.g. I see no special reason to conclude, that from the 200k from water to gas planets in kickstarter stretch goal values follows that those 200k are used exclusively for the named feature, just that at a value of 1300k the named feature will be included as a confirmed feature. I would assume (might be wrong here, business stuff isn't my area of expertise) that a for an existing company, which plans to create a product, the kickstarter sum would be just part of the long term financing plan (existing investments, projected sales ..), which would throw most guesses of their aim. PS: and judging the amount of work and the involved costs from a few lines of goal description is ambitious anyhow. (either way too much too few)
It would certainly cost more than that, but at that point they have would have amassed enough much money and interest that spending extra to develop it would be less of a gamble.
Don't forget they can still sell the game for $$$ after its done. Plus there isn't a publisher to share the profits with. Backing the kickstarter is just like fronting them the money for our copies now. Under funded projects are sometimes rushed to market half-baked (usually by publishers). So dig deep people. Empty out your swear jar and check under the couch cushions. I want GALACTIC WAR!
It has been said elsewhere that the funding now means these features will be properly funded to be included in the game at launch. They can still add the features afterwards, but they will very likely be pushed to a post release patch afterwards.