You're probably aware of Kickstarter. It's a popular crowdfunding website which has been used to fund all sorts of creative projects, from vinyl album releases to lock-picking tools. One of the downsides to the rampant success of Kickstarter is that with every other creative type trying to use the site to fund a project, it can be difficult to decide which projects to support. I've taken the hassle out of this decision making process, and hand picked five projects which deserve at least your consideration, and possibly your money.
“So, How Did All The Damn Scientists Die?” by Scott Bateman
This is a 24-page minicomic depicting fictional causes of death for 22 famous scientists. Presented as an homage to Edward Gorey (possibly best known as the man whose handwriting was converted into a typeface by MC Frontalot), you can get hold of an autographed copy of the minicomic for a measly donation of $5. At that price, this creative nugget of nerdery is well worth a look.
Funding status: Successfully funded (but more can't hurt!)
Time remaining: 3 days (hurry!)
Europe OR Bust! - Random & K-Murdock @ The London Anime Con
Random, also known as Mega Ran, has emerged as one of the most talented and prolific nerdcore rappers of recent years, and has earned a lot of love from the community as a result. This level of support gave him the confidence to quit his job as a teacher a few weeks ago. The least we, as fans, can do is support his efforts as he begins his quest to make a living doing what he loves most. After his successful 2010 Kickstarter campaign with K-Murdock (the ultra-talented Panacea beat-maker and Random's collaborator on the Forever Famicom album), they're back at it, this time looking for funds to make their way across the Atlantic to perform for the first time in front of UK audiences. Check out the Kickstarter project, and have a listen to Ran's latest release, the TeacherRapperHero 2 Mixtape, which I also highly recommend (expect a review in the near future).
Funding status: Successfully funded (but I'm sure their budget has room for expansion!)
Time remaining: 7 days
The Magic Comic Book: Teaching Magic In A Comic Book Format
OK, I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for magic tricks. I had to include this project to create a 20 page minicomic (the last minicomic in the list – I promise!) teaching the techniques behind easy magic tricks in an original and engaging way. Whilst the video on the Kickstarter page didn't include a single magic trick (a heinous oversight), creator and amateur magician Matthew Martin won me over with the clear motivation behind the project. He's not doing this to make money (he's giving the publishing rights away for $75, for frig's sake!); he's doing it to engage kids with a hobby he finds fascinating. I know that I would have loved something like this as a child (and as an adult!), so whether you know a kid with an interest in magic, or you never lost your fascination with the art, help this worthy project see fruition. Do it for the children!
Funding status: Nearly there! ($15 more needed at time of writing, but as more is pledged his plans for the book are expanding!)
Time remaining: 21 days
Relatively Prime: Stories from the Mathematical Domain
Any mathematician (myself included) appreciates the delight and wonder to be found in the subject. Unfortunately, these aspects are often overlooked by the general public, whose opinions are tainted by memories of classroom boredom. Whether you are already familiar with the more beautiful side of mathematics, or struggle to stay awake when you hear it mentioned, you should see the value in the collection of audio-stories Samuel Hansen is proposing. As a mathematician, I feel that it's very important that projects like this are allowed to flourish, so that they might one day inspire the next Gauss or Euler to follow a mathematical path (as well as for my own entertainment!). I can promise the non-mathematicians among you that once Samuel Hansen has begun to draw back the curtain currently obscuring the glorious panorama of mathematics from your sight, you'll be glad that you gave him the opportunity to do so.
Funding status: A few more thousand dollars needed (so get pledging!)
Time remaining: 50 days
We all know that browser-based flash games can be fun, and it's clear that the future of this mode of gaming lies in HTML5. It's a young technology, but one which has shown great promise in the projects already starting to surface in our browsers. HTML5 is the future, and Time Hammer is laying claim to the title of the first full-featured, plot-driven HTML5 based game. Combining this trailblazing approach to game development with a strongly rooted retro aesthetic, it looks like it's going to be a fun game. However, the biggest reason to support this project is that as well as creating a game, Torgie Madison and Christopher Flanagan are creating an HTML5 based game engine, on which other developers can build the next generation of browser-based games. On top of that, the whole thing will be open-source. This project has real potential to catalyse the evolution of this medium of gaming. By supporting Time Hammer, you're not just supporting an open-source game and game engine – you're investing in the future of your own procrastination!
Funding status: A way to go yet (but there's plenty of time left)
Time remaining: 54 days
Keep an eye out for my forthcoming review of Mega Ran's new mixtape, and in the meantime let me know if any of the above projects has piqued your interest!
