I’ve been following the Exploding Kittens Kickstarter since it launched. I even threw money at it. It reached 1000% percent of its goal within the first few hours the campaign was live. Going from success to success, Exploding Kittens got everything right with Kickstarter, smashing all the records along the way.
When Exploding Kittens broke through 110k backers, it became the most backed Kickstarter ever. The Kickstarter is now completed and boasts a whopping 219 382 backers with a total of $8 782 571. That’s a record, too.
WHOA! @gameofkittens just became the most funded Games project of all time! https://t.co/GR14kkQhne pic.twitter.com/71kYNfAghC
— Kickstarter (@kickstarter) February 20, 2015
This means that the average backer was only giving about $40, way less than the OUYA’s $136 or Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity with $55. By keeping the monetary amount fairly low and instead pushing for tons of supporters, Exploding Kittens had massive momentum, and a ton of community support. Plus, by promising simply an awesome looking card game, even those who don’t know much about game development or crowdfunding can feel confident that they will receive their rewards. It’s a much less daunting pre-purchase.
I think this campaign serves as an excellent lesson to those considering Kickstarter. Start with an attainable and realistic goal, and don’t overdo it on the stretch goals. Instead, stay true to your original ideas and your backers will appreciate you more. Oh, and remember that cats always win the internet. Cats, and goats.
Last Updated: February 20, 2015
RinceThis
February 20, 2015 at 14:39
DAPHUQ? Bluudy cats http://media1.giphy.com/media/PqdfIrXEza6fC/giphy.gif
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 20, 2015 at 14:40
That’s why cats are the worst! Even Boo only went for the eyes.
RinceThis
February 20, 2015 at 14:41
True dat.
Admiral Chief
February 20, 2015 at 14:41
There is a joke in there about violence against the same type, but I ain’t going there
RinceThis
February 20, 2015 at 14:41
XD
Hammersteyn
February 20, 2015 at 14:42
Oops
HvR
February 20, 2015 at 14:46
Trying to spin it into Orange is the New Black joke, but just to vulgar.
Hammersteyn
February 20, 2015 at 14:42
Fishy. You can see the lips sync. I call fake.
Ranting Raptor
February 20, 2015 at 14:53
sis. Tis all I am saying
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 20, 2015 at 14:40
Only reason I didn’t was because of shipping costs. Practically doubled it the price, & I’m a cheapskate.
RinceThis
February 20, 2015 at 14:41
The last part of your sentence http://replygif.net/i/1095.gif
TehBrad
February 20, 2015 at 15:50
I wanted to back a Cthulhu Steampunk card deck but the shipping was a killer.
I backed Exploding Kittens though. I’m in the UK now and the shipping showed up as $15. Same as SA?
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 20, 2015 at 20:35
I think it was $20 to ZA if I remember right.
Ross Woofels Mason
February 20, 2015 at 16:02
I think it’s also go to do with the fact the oatmeal has a stupidly large fan base as it is. They are currently sitting on 3,181,265 likes on facebook, never mind any other form of social media and people who visit their site.
I agree wholeheartedly that goals need to be kept with in realistic expectations, but let’s be honest. It’s a hell of a lot easier to get backers when you already have a 3mil+ strong fan base compared to being something no-one has ever heard of or only has a fanbase of a few thousand to hundred thousand odd people.
TehBrad
February 20, 2015 at 20:49
This is true. This guy was already very popular and has been in the public eye for a long time. There was a campaign he ran a while back for charity because someone tried to file a lawsuit against him or something.
As soon as his Kickstarter opened the news was flooded to many web news sites. I saw it on about 3 and Reddit. Correct, it helped a lot.