Areal (aka S.T.A.L.K.E.R. / Metro 3.0)

[Architecture]

Regardless of the truth, Kickstarter should be a little more forthcoming when it suspends a project. It should be clearly presented on a project's page. Even if they speak in vague terms ("investigating potential fraud"), it's awful to shut something down with little to no information and then cut off the interaction between the crowd and the project's team.

 

At the very least, they should've informed West Games about the suspension and given a reason for it. Instead, you go to the page and get "This project has been suspended" as a banner with no other information to suss out the details.

[singlespace]

At the very least, they should've informed West Games about the suspension and given a reason for it. Instead, you go to the page and get "This project has been suspended" as a banner with no other information to suss out the details.

 

What makes you think they didn't inform West Games?

[Dewar]

I imagine that huge funding jump at the end was probably determined to be self-funded. If there were concerns about the software itself being a fraud, I find it hard to believe the campaign would have gone on this long.

[Cordeos]

What makes you think they didn't inform West Games?

 

The story i linked from Polygon says that:

 

http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/22/5927175/areal-kickstarter-suspended-stalker-west-games

 

"Kickstarter doesn't disclose why it suspends campaigns, but said it will take such action if campaigns misrepresent or fail to disclose relevant facts about the project or its creator; provide inaccurate or incomplete user information; or misrepresent support by pledging to their own project."

 

"Our Kickstarter was suspended without any warning. As per Kickstarter's policy, we cannot contact them to find out why. "

[feelthedarkness]

That seems kind of shitty, right? 

 

If you're protecting potential donors, and you feel there is some verifiable financial shenanigans then be up front about that. If you're trying to protect people, and you don't say from what, what's to stop a possible scammer from just moving it to a different place?

[juv3nal]

If you're trying to protect people, and you don't say from what, what's to stop a possible scammer from just moving it to a different place?

 

How would informing the scammer prevent them from moving it to a different place?

[Bjorn]

That seems kind of shitty, right? 

 

If you're protecting potential donors, and you feel there is some verifiable financial shenanigans then be up front about that. If you're trying to protect people, and you don't say from what, what's to stop a possible scammer from just moving it to a different place?

 

Because they probably believe are risking libel if they say anything at all.  I agree that I would like to have greater transparency on these projects, but I'm not sure how to achieve that without getting into really complex legal waters for KS. 

[feelthedarkness]

How would informing the scammer prevent them from moving it to a different place?

 

Oh, I mean more in the sense of posting a public reason they're suspending a KS, besides just a big suspended banner, though I also get what Bjorn is saying. 

[singlespace]

"Kickstarter doesn't disclose why it suspends campaigns, but said it will take such action if campaigns misrepresent or fail to disclose relevant facts about the project or its creator; provide inaccurate or incomplete user information; or misrepresent support by pledging to their own project."

 

"Our Kickstarter was suspended without any warning. As per Kickstarter's policy, we cannot contact them to find out why. "

 

Ah, that's super shitty. They should be upfront about why a Kickstarter is suspended for everyone's benefit.

[kaputt]

Because they probably believe are risking libel if they say anything at all. I agree that I would like to have greater transparency on these projects, but I'm not sure how to achieve that without getting into really complex legal waters for KS.

Exactly. At least here in Brazil it could be a crime to state that the project was a fraud depending on the circumstances, not to mention the possible civil damages. Of course, if it is really a fraud then they're right, but it's just too much trouble until you can actually prove it consistently. It's wise to avoid all that.

If they want to act nice on this, they just should send the material they have to the police for further investigation (if they have a serious proof that this project was just a fraud).