6 days left, it looks like the indie home console is doomed

[Moizabug]

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/drmikey/the-indie-console


hey this guy is making a kickstarter to create an indie console, for $320 for the machine and the software, but I don't think he's going to hit his 70,000 goal in 6 days


which kinda sux


I posted on my facebook account but I didn't really think anyone would read it, I don't think he's going to make it. But it's a cool idea.


you can take a look at his pitch video if you're interested. Not necessarily in pledging but just to see what he's doing.


yea I don't think he did enough marketing leading up to kickstarter, surely he could have generated more interest. On the other hand $370 is alot to put down to get the main reward.


However for $20 you get the software which includes the indie game store - which you can install on your gaming machine. - I'm definitely doing that.


So its probably likely its not going to get finished or something?


it probably won't get funded which means that the machine won't go into manufacture and distribution at this time but he said that if there's reasonable interest he will still go forward with producing the software - especially the indie game store, which you can load onto your pc or w/e


I pledged a couple of bucks to support him, just cos I thought it was a good cause.


That's pretty cool though. Maybe he should work on getting attention for his product as well


yea, there is bound to be core areas on the web where his marketing could be focused for a strong result


like openpandora forums etc.


Wouldn't he need to branch out to more well-known websites than just forums?


Yea that too. Interviews on magazine websites has had huge success in the past.


Ah right. What about like, printed magazines as well?


Yea good idea. There was a documentary about a cinema that I didn't think would make it, but with the help of a similar marketing campaign she made it through.


One of the kickstarter campaigns has even been on CNN.


That's awesome.


Yeah, your friend should like, get into contact with software/computing magazines and see if an interview can strike up.

 

[craigix]

$70k. What utter bullshit. That would pay for nothing.


Dreamland.


People like this give KS a bad name.

 

[Prometheus]

This is a truly strange first post. Is this not, perhaps, marketing for the guy who founded the Kickstarter campaign in question? If so, it's not any different in my eyes than the "I WANT SALE YOU ROLOX"/"BUY VIAGAR!"/"PANDORA JEWELLERY FOR CHEEP, NOT FAKE HONEST"/"SHOES!!!!!" sorts of spam posts that we occasionally get around here.

Open hardware The basic hardware is just a media PC with no proprietary technology. You can build your own machine, use any controller, install new hardware, whatever. If you can make it work, I won't stop you.

So, it's just an x86-based personal computer in a "console" casing, plus a concept for a download store, like a number of similar failed devices?


The guy wants $70,000 for, what, a software package on generic hardware that anyone could put together themselves for much cheaper (even down to having television output for "proper" console usage, since even entry-level graphics cards all seem to have HDMI-out nowadays), AND he wants to charge developers $10 for the privilege of registering to make software for it, when they could make it for the generic hardware for no fee?


I can easily see why this isn't taking off - it's the Infinium Labs Phantom all over again, and far fewer people are falling for it this time, and they're thankfully protected from it being a potential repeat of the Phantom's alleged investor scam (I'm absolutely not saying that that's what this guy is doing, but the similarities between this scheme and Infinium Labs' one of oldey times are far too great for me to not comment on) by the way that Kickstarter operates.

 

[Link]

A lot of wasted breath in that video. Hope your Product 3 video is more entertaining and has some funny things like that old X-Mas video on the roof Craig!

 

[mcobit]

Well, sounds like he just needs to cover starting the business. The console will be a pc with his software. He won't need lots of money, but only if he gets the devs convinced to support his store, what seems unlikely.

 

[Moizabug]

I don't work for him and I don't know alot about hardware. I just thought an indie console sounded cool.


It's not my first post, I had an account here before.


What you're saying makes sense. Just wanted to get some feedback from people into open source/independent gaming.

 

[craigix]

Well, sounds like he just needs to cover starting the business. The console will be a pc with his software. He won't need lots of money, but only if he gets the devs convinced to support his store, what seems unlikely.

That isn't allowed by Kickstarter though, it has to be a completed project.

 

[Prometheus]

I don't work for him and I don't know alot about hardware. I just thought an indie console sounded cool.

Oh, it does - I just personally don't think that this is a viable way of doing it. I'm not even entirely sure that there is one on this sort of level, as I'm pretty sure that it's a rather niche market - I suspect Craig, EvilDragon, GCW, or even GamePark Holdings might have a better idea than myself, there.

It's not my first post, I had an account here before.

My apologies. I realise with hindsight that my previous post comes across a bit harshly, though it wasn't my intent. (I just remember the Infinium Phantom all too well - a lot of folks got conned, so anything similar-sounding makes me a bit wary.)


Good to know that this isn't spam, at any rate.

 

[EvilDragon]

Heh, for 70K we could probably produce a home version of the Pandora with HDMI out and iCPs as controllers

 

[Link]

^


Product 4?


Any word on the gent who streamlined all the XBox Homebrew & Emulation?


We need that for the Pandora console to really have a chance.

 

[Nintendo]

Tell 'em he's dreamin'

 

[erico]

This is a truly strange first post. Is this not, perhaps, marketing for the guy who founded the Kickstarter campaign in question? If so, it's not any different in my eyes than the "I WANT SALE YOU ROLOX"/"BUY VIAGAR!"/"PANDORA JEWELLERY FOR CHEEP, NOT FAKE HONEST"/"SHOES!!!!!" sorts of spam posts that we occasionally get around here.

Now I WANT the jewellery rolex viagra pandora! how can I get to that?


PS:. Sorry for the bad joke Prometheus, I got too tempted into doing it. ^_^

 

[Nintendo]

lol

 

[WizardStan]

It's basically just the software, it seems. If I understand, the "console" is just an x86 media PC. I take it that he'll provide hardware as needed, but the important aspect of the project is the software being developed which can run on any existing desktop.


I think I need to have an objection to the use of kickstarter for this. It's not creating something new, it's bundling existing (free) work and wrapping a pretty ribbon around it. It's the kind of thing that a motivated person should be able to accomplish in spare time over the course of a few months: $70'000 is the salary for a dedicated developer for a year, far more than should be required, especially given the 6 month estimated timeframe.


The fact that the guy needs to justify the amount he's asking for by explaining how 10% is removed in fees seems really unprofessional, too. The amount of effort displayed on the page is frighteningly poor. Overall, I simply don't trust the guy to accomplish what he thinks he can (or at least what he's telling us he can).

 

[GiraffeeDreams]

I'd pay to have a home version of the Pandora (I talked about using it as a home console before), up the processor and ram and get full speed DC emulation and you'll have my money

 

[Moizabug]

if it could emulate the DS and PSX as well as sega and nintendo and had a indie game store and various office apps I would be keen on it. Especially with upping the ram and processor so it can actually run the DS roms.

 

[Ian J]

All seems a bit dodgy to me.

 

[Moizabug]

the biggest issue seems to be his business model. ie asking for 70k to manufacture and distribute the machine, rather than asking for a smaller amount to set up the software network first, then use any success to finance the machine.

 

[Ian J]

That is a big issue when you're asking for money off people.

 

[WizardStan]

the biggest issue seems to be his business model. ie asking for 70k to manufacture and distribute the machine

Distribute the software, you mean. The machine is part of the package at higher contribution values but I suspect that that's only as incentive to get more money. The computer that he's listed at the $350 mark is a (comparatively) pathetic little machine that I could build for about $250. And then I did some searching and learned that the "Zotac ZBox AD04" is actually a pre-built system that can already be purchased right now for $250, and he's asking a $100 premium to have the software pre-installed.


He wants too much for too little and even if he gets it his plan will put him in way over his head.