Bubsy’s Paws Weren’t Hot Enough for Crowdfunding
It’s been a hair over a month since the Bubsy: Paws on Fire! Spicy Extras! Kickstarter campaign went live, a crowdfunding initiative for more extra content in this endless runner installment in the franchise. The developers planned to add new outfits and new lines for Bubsy himself from deservedly disgraced voice actor Vic Mignogna if it reached the initial goal. Accolade also planned to add more content if it reached the stretch goals. There were several questions about this when it started, the key one being whether enough Bubsy fans existed to get the campaign funded, particularly after the critical and commercial reception to the last game. For a time, it seemed like it would at least make the initial goal.
Yet, the number of pledgers peaked early here. After its good momentum at the outset, the funding rate slowed to a crawl at the campaign’s midpoint and never recovered. Despite asking for $25,000, it finished at only $17,773. It obtained a good amount of early promotion thanks to the trailer released (especially the original version, which included a box art with an accidental M-rating on it) and press coverage, but the momentum fizzled down the line. Unlike several other game-related crowdfunding campaigns, this one didn’t receive a significant increase in pledgers near the end of its run.
In addition to Bubsy’s audience simply not being that big (undoubtedly thanks to the series’ dubious history), the biggest issue here was the paltry amount of content Accolade planned to add. When companies embark on crowdfunding campaigns for extra content, the gaming audience typically likes for it to be more significant. Take Skullgirls, for instance, where Lab Zero Games launched a campaign for several extra characters and stages. Bonus outfits and voice quips are hardly “significant.” It also didn’t help that Accolade only posted five updates throughout its entire 30-day run (the sixth one was posted after the campaign ended), far below the amount necessary. They should provide at least ten.
I’d also like to think having a known pedo creepster saddled to your campaign also hurt it, but that’s tough to determine given how forgiving the gaming audience can be regarding even worse incidents. Not to mention Vic also has several ardent defenders.
Whether Bubsy has a future from here might depend on sales from the main Paws on Fire game, which will release for PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC sometime in April. I said “might” because this one is coming despite the last game’s reception, so you never know.
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Geoff
News Editor | Geoff is some nerd who writes for a blog and thinks he's knowledgeable. He write a lot about video games, but is capable of writing about other subjects, too. Twitter
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Hmm, I’ve heard about the Vic mignyanya situation, I’d recommend avoiding the situation wholeheartedly especially on twitter…Though admittedly…I have enjoyed his voice on FMA and Disgaea 3, yeah seperation and all that. somthing of this level needs to be dealt with in the court, the whole thing is just a shitshow *sigh* Anywho Bubsy was pretty much doomed to fail hell even his original creators dont care somhow i doubt that even accolade care lol.
Yeah, mentioning Vic on Twitter was a good way to get into trouble at one point, especially with his defenders. Someone should try it now and see if that’s still the case (not me, though!).
All of this makes me wonder what the original Bubsy creators are doing now. I’ll have to search for that.
It’ll likely be the case, just use the right hashtags and tag Vic then watch a storm brew lol. Still I’d recommend any avoiding it completely until some of the fire has died down.
Hmm, I do wonder about that myself he is still around and so are Accolade Its just being handled by other devs. At least the makers of Bubsy 3D are doing well, I look forward to days gones 🙂
It’s honestly mind-blowing to see how far Bubsy 3D’s creators have come. This is an even bigger success story than Naughty Dog going from Way of the Warrior to the games they do now.
Yeah! How did they pull it off I find myself wondering….However its a shame the reverse is also true, there too many examples to give and I do hope those studios recover their once great glory of old. Anywho I’ll stop bothering you now lol otherwise i’ll end up droning on and on about stuff.