Words must mean something
When is a goal not a goal?
Altered publisher Equinox is in a bit of a pickle. Despite raising €574,855 on Gamefound against a stated €50,000 goal, the trading card game phenomenon’s creators shared dire news with backers in a recent update. As BoardGameWire reported, the Seeds of Unity expansion apparently needs another €2.5 million in combined contributions and retail sales before it can actually become real. Quick math puts that much larger number at 50 times what the crowdfunding campaign’s goal advertised.
Equinox explained that the real target includes card orders placed by brick and mortar stores through a dedicated retailer platform, a figure which has not yet picked up enough slack to assuage their worries. “There’s a scenario where the combined total of Gamefound and store preorders falls short of what’s needed for the project to continue with the quality we aim for,” the update reads. “The funding goal displayed on Gamefound is symbolic, as it usually is in crowdfunding campaigns.”
Falling short means Altered’s “adventure will come to an end,” and the publisher will issue everyone a full refund. Despite an 1,100% success rate on a major platform. I understand that crowdfunding involves some stretching of reality for the sake of advertising and building that ever-important hype, but this feels like a Rubicon crossed. A step beyond the pale. Words must mean something, as the title of this blog intoned, and I keep tripping over this supposed new definition of “goal.”
