FAQ
Manage Categories
Go Back

Genesis

General Overview

Genesis is a crowdfunding system designed to help game developers (specifically Project Owners) raise funds to bring their projects to life.

How it works:

  • Users support projects financially and receive exclusive rewards, such as:
    • Early access to content.
    • Exclusive in-game items.
    • Unique rewards like digital artwork or special editions.

Why Genesis matters:

  • Developers engage directly with their community to gauge interest in their upcoming game.
  • Supporters play an active role in the project’s development and gain access to rewards not available after launch.
  • Allows developers to be financially supported and invested into outputting a great project.

Genesis benefits development in several key ways:

  • Direct Funding: By offering their projects to the iGames community, developers can raise funds without relying on traditional investors or publishers, giving them more creative and financial control over their projects.
 
  • Early Engagement: Genesis campaigns help developers build a passionate community around their game, creating excitement before the game’s official launch. Early backers often become ambassadors for the project, spreading awareness and helping with marketing.
 
  • Feedback and Improvement: Developers can use early support and feedback from backers to improve game features, mechanics, or even storylines. This early interaction allows developers to refine the game before its full release, ensuring a better final product.

Contributing more to a Genesis campaign results in more compensation through the reward tiers. However, there are multiple things that should be taken into consideration when determining how much to contribute:

  • Reward Tiers: Each Genesis project offers different reward tiers, with more valuable or exclusive rewards at higher levels of contribution. For example, lower tiers might offer in-game currency or digital wallpapers. Higher tiers could offer early access to the game, exclusive in-game items, or even special recognition within the game. Review the rewards at each tier to see which ones offer the most value to you based on your interests.
 
  • Project Potential: Evaluate the project’s potential and likelihood of success. If you’re confident that the game will be completed and delivered, and you're excited about the concept, you may feel comfortable contributing more.
 
  • Community Influence: Higher-tier backers may also receive opportunities to influence the game’s development. This could range from voting on design decisions to naming characters or items. If being actively involved in the game’s creation appeals to you, you might want to consider contributing more.

 

Always read through the campaign details and assess the game’s goal, timeline, and developer history before deciding how much to contribute.

Genesis for Supporters

By clicking the ‘Support this Campaign - Choose Your Rewards’ button, you will be taken to the rewards section where you can then choose how much you would like to contribute and what reward tier will be received based on that contribution.

After submitting a contribution, funding will immediately be transferred from your iGames Wallet into the Genesis campaign. If there are not enough funds in your wallet, you will be prompted to add additional funds.

Rewards vary by project and tier but may include the following items:

  • In-game currency
  • Rare or exclusive items
  • Early access
  • Recognition within the game
  • Custom content, like a character designed with you
Rewards are determined by rewards tiers: By going to the rewards section you can view these tiers and how much it costs to purchase. 

You can increase the contribution to a Genesis campaign, however you are unable to withdraw your funds once investing. Once the campaign has ended no extra investments can be made. Contributions are not cumulative, meaning that extra contributions will not go towards reaching higher tiers. 

Rewards are distributed based on the project’s milestones:

  • Some rewards, like early access or beta invites, may come sooner, while others are only available after the game's full release.
  • It is the campaign manager’s responsibility to dictate the milestones and be transparent about development progress.
It's important to note that developers are unable to withdrawal any money until all supporter rewards have been satisfied. Just like backing projects in other communities, there is a risk that developers will not satisfy the rewards of supporters. iGames will do everything in its power to prevent this, but this is not a guarantee that can be made. 

Genesis campaigns are not considered failures if they don’t meet their funding goal.

Key Points:

  • Contributions are locked in once made and cannot be withdrawn unless in the event the goal is not reached, the campaign manager issues refunds.
  • Even if the goal isn’t met, developers are still responsible for delivering promised rewards to backers—unless refunds are provided.

Not all genesis campaigns will reach their desired funding goal. This ensures developers can continue working on their projects while maintaining accountability to their supporters.

Yes! The iGames Platform allows campaign managers to share updates about project development. The campaign manager is responsible for reporting these updates to supporters, which could include: milestones achieved, reward distribution schedules, and development updates.

Updates are mutually beneficial:

  • For Backers: They stay informed and engaged with the project’s progress.
  • For Developers: It helps build a loyal community of invested players.

Regular updates create transparency and strengthen the connection between developers and their supporters.

Genesis for Developers

Now that your game is becoming more fleshed out, you can set up a genesis campaign to begin funding and creating awareness for your game. In this segment, we will be going over the process to make a quality genesis campaign.

 

1. Campaign Details

 

The Campaign Details is where setting up the genesis campaign begins. 

 
  • Logo: Unknown
  • Icon: The icon appears in the campaign title.

  • Header: The image shown when browsing the genesis campaign list.

  • Public Contributor List: Here is where you can set the contributor list to show contributors accounts who have set their status to be public. You also have the ability to show no contributors at all. The order of the contributors can be edited in this section as well. 

When contributors are set to public, contributors are shown in the ‘Meet The Team’ section of the campaign with their profile icon and description. 

 

  • Public Supporters List: Enabling this will allow people to see who has supported the campaign. Supporters still have the ability to set their contribution as anonymous in the check out. 
 
  • Tip Input: Allows users to give an additional donation along with their reward tier purchase. By enabling ‘Give Tokens”, supporters will be gifted tokens for their additional donation. You can also set a percentage of the tip input to be the competitive fund. The competitive fund is a portion of money that can only be used to support game tournament prize pools, and is kept in a separate ledger account. The competitive fund and tokens split the donation amount based on the percentage set for the competitive fund. For example, a tip input with 70% competitive fund would receive $7 for a $10 additional donation, and the supporters would get 300 tokens if enabled. 

  • About This Project, What is This Campaign, Who is Behind This Campaign: The following text blocks appear in sequential order on the ‘About’ section of the genesis campaign. 

This is the main section of your campaign, and it is therefore vital to have answers that are informative and structured to gain interest from potential supporters.

 

2. Creating Perks

 

Perks are the campaign rewards that are given when supporters purchase a reward tier. A perk is an individual reward, while the tier is the bundle of specific perks. Oftentimes higher reward tiers contain the perks of lower tiers, with additional perks and higher currency value. Campaign rewards that are enabled as currencies (USD or tokens) can be changed for each individual reward tier. Remember to make realistic perks, as each reward must be satisfied. 

 

The tiers show the title of each integrated perk, and the ‘View Tier Perk’ button includes the description of each perk 

 

 

 

3. Organizing Reward Tiers

 

Now that you have a good idea of the perks that you would like to offer your supporters, you can start organizing reward tiers. The reward tiers offered will populate the tier section of the campaign based on the information provided. 

 

 

Redemptions: Sets a limit to the amount of supporters can purchase a tier. 

 

Cross-Sell: Options listed as cross-sells are considered an optional add-on that can be included to any reward tier. When the ‘Purchase This Tier’ button is clicked, the checkout displays the cross-sell rewards that can be purchased.

 

 

4. Publishing Media

 

The media published will be front and center when a potential supporter opens your campaign. The media editor allows you to publish either an image or a youtube video. After all your media is published, you can choose a ‘Main Media’ file that will be set as the first media seen when opening a campaign. 

 

 

5. FAQ Questions

 

Supporters are going to have questions and concerns regarding the game and the genesis campaign itself. Here are some basic questions that can be implemented into every FAQ:

 

  • How will my contribution assist the project?

  • What will Tokens be used for?

  • When can I expect to receive my rewards?

  • Are there certain milestones for the campaign funding?

 

Once you create the questions and their respective answers, the FAQ section of the campaign will be populated. 

 

 

As the project and campaign matures, you may receive comments from viewers with questions about the game. The FAQ can be updated at any time to add relevant questions. 

 

6. Building Interest With Updates 

 

Campaign managers have the ability to share updates on project development, including milestones and reward distribution schedules. These are a great way to maintain interest and engagement for your game. Posting updates for a Genesis campaign is crucial for both existing supporters and potential backers for several key reasons. It builds trust and capability, engages supporters, and attracts new supporters for future fundraising. Updates are posted in its respective section in the campaign, showing the date that it created. 

 

7. Interacting Through Comments

 

Any viewer has the ability to post a comment regarding the game and campaign. Comments are stored in the creation side of Genesis, and can be replied by the project owner from there or directly in the genesis campaign. Be aware that all posts and comments remain public.

 

 

8. Conclusion

 

In summary, setting up a Genesis campaign is a valuable opportunity to secure funding, create awareness, and build a community around your game. By carefully structuring campaign details, organizing compelling reward tiers, publishing engaging media, and maintaining an informative FAQ, you can create a professional and attractive campaign that draws in supporters. By following these steps, you can establish a genesis campaign that will be a strong foundation for your game’s success and long-term growth.

Yes, you can offer physical items as rewards in your Genesis campaign. This can include items such as branded merchandise, art prints, signed collectibles, or any other tangible items that would appeal to your backers. However, there are important considerations to keep in mind:

  • Cost & Logistics: Physical rewards will involve additional costs like manufacturing, packaging, and shipping, especially if you have international backers. It’s essential to factor these into your funding goals to avoid underfunding the physical reward fulfillment.

 

  • Fulfillment Challenges: Managing inventory, production timelines, and delivery to different locations can add complexity to your project. Delays in shipping or manufacturing could impact your relationship with backers if rewards aren’t delivered on time.

 

  • Simplicity & Value: We recommend that you keep physical rewards simple, traceable, and high-quality. Offering fewer but more meaningful physical items ensures that you can deliver them without overstretching resources while still providing value to your backers.

 

Physical rewards can be highly appealing to backers, but they come with significant risks and costs. To balance this, it's wise to focus on digital rewards for most tiers. Reserve a well-crafted, unique physical reward for higher-tier backers. This approach allows you to offer something special without overextending your resources.

Your Genesis campaign pitch is the most critical element to convince potential backers to support your game. Campaign managers should invest lots of time developing an interesting and realistic pitch for their project. Here's what a strong pitch should include:

  1. Project Description: Provide a detailed description of your game, explaining the gameplay mechanics, story, key features, and what makes your game stand out from others. This helps potential backers understand the value of your project.

  2. Funding Breakdown: Break down your funding goals by showing exactly where the money will go. Include costs like asset creation, hiring developers, licensing, marketing, and testing. Transparency builds trust with backers.

  3. Reward Tiers: Clearly describe the different contribution tiers and the rewards associated with each one. Explain why each tier is valuable and why backers should consider higher tiers for exclusive perks.

  4. Development Milestones: Outline a clear timeline with milestones that show your progress from the current phase to the game’s final release. Setting realistic goals, and reaching these milestones historically makes backers more confident in your project. Backers want to see that you have a plan for delivering the game and rewards on time.

  5. Media and Visuals: Engage potential backers with concept art, gameplay videos, screenshots, or animations. Visual content adds excitement and gives backers a better idea of what they’re supporting.

  6. Team Information: Introduce your development team. Showing that your team has the necessary skills and experience adds credibility to your project. Being personal to potential investors will provide empathy and trust. 

A well-crafted pitch is a mix of vision, transparency, and engagement. Your goal is to make potential backers feel excited and confident about supporting your project.

Setting your funding goals and reward tiers is a critical step that requires thoughtful planning:

 

Funding Goals: Start by calculating the total amount you need to fully develop and deliver your project. This should encompass all costs: including game development, asset creation, GigEconomy services, marketing, and fulfillment of rewards (especially if you’re offering physical items). Having an unrealistically high goal can dicentivize supporters, so be realistic with your goal. 

 

Reward Tiers: Structure your reward tiers so that they progressively offer more valuable and enticing perks as backers contribute higher amounts. Here’s how you might organize them:

  • Lower Tiers: Offer accessible digital rewards such as a copy of the game, early access, exclusive in-game items, or recognition like having the backer's name listed in the credits.

  • Mid-Level Tiers: Provide more personalized rewards at this level, such as exclusive developer updates, custom in-game skins, or early beta access.

  • High-Level Tiers: For top-tier supporters, consider premium or limited-edition rewards like physical merchandise (collectibles, art prints, etc.), special editions of the game, or unique experiences, such as a private game design session with the development team.

Limited Backers: You can cap certain reward tiers to create exclusivity, which can drive demand for higher contributions. For example, offering a tier limited to 100 backers for a custom figurine ensures you can manage production efficiently by ordering in bulk. Limiting backers allows you to maintain control over costs, and makes the supply chain more predictable and simpler.

 

Each tier should offer a clearly defined and unique benefit to the backer, adding value as the contribution amount increases. However, it’s important to avoid overcomplicating your reward structure; too many tiers or complex rewards can confuse backers and make fulfillment difficult. Focus on keeping rewards clear and manageable at every level.

Yes, there is a fee associated with running a Genesis campaign on iGames. iGames charges a 10% fee on the total funds raised through your campaign. This fee covers the use of the iGames platform, including its tools for creating and managing your campaign, processing payments, and engaging with your backers. This fee is deducted from the money raised before it is transferred to your Project Wallet.

Account for this fee when setting your overall funding goal to ensure that you will receive enough funds to fully complete your project. 

Reaching your funding goal is a great accomplishment! As long as the campaign has not reached its ending date, the campaign can still be funded over its goal. This give you more financial flexibility to enhance your project, as well as stretch new goals:

  • Enhanced Features: You can use the additional funds to expand on your original project scope. This might include adding extra features, improving the quality of assets, expanding game content, or optimizing the final product. You can also use the funds to improve marketing efforts or support post-launch content.

  • Stretch Goals: If you anticipate exceeding your funding target, consider setting stretch goals ahead of time. These are additional features or content that will be unlocked once the campaign surpasses certain financial milestones. Stretch goals usually indicate that when a certain threshold is reached after completing the goal, a new feature will be brought to the game. This motivates backers to continue contributing even after the initial goal is met, ensuring ongoing engagement and investment in the project.

  • Reward Obligations: Regardless of how much you raise, you are still responsible for fulfilling all the rewards promised to your backers. Be transparent about how the extra funds will be used to further improve the project and keep your backers updated with any new developments. Remember to set a limited number of backers for certain reward tiers if the reward provided is limited and exclusive. 

Exceeding your goal can open up new opportunities for the project, but it also requires additional planning and communication to ensure you meet all your promises.

Genesis Project Management

The Project Wallet is designed to centralize and manage all funds raised through Genesis campaigns. Here’s how it works:

  • Centralized Fund Management: Tracks all contributions, payments to developers, and other financial activities.
  • Public Summary Ledger: Provides a transparent view of fund usage for backers, investors, and other stakeholders.
  • Accountability: Funds cannot be withdrawn by project managers until all backer rewards are delivered, ensuring rewards are prioritized.

This structure promotes transparency and accountability throughout the project.

Transparency is key to building trust. The iGames Platform supports transparency through several features:

  • Public Ledger: Every Project Wallet has a detailed record of fund inflows and outflows that backers can review. The ledger offers backers and investors a clear and transparent view of the project's financial health.
  • Project Updates: Developers can share updates, either public or private (exclusive to Genesis backers), to keep everyone informed.

These tools help backers feel confident in the financial health of the project.

If you find that additional funds are needed after completing a Genesis campaign, you have the flexibility to relaunch your campaign on the iGames Platform. Offer new rewards, updated milestones, or fresh content to incentivize backers. This approach can help re-engage previous supporters while attracting new ones.

Risks and Safeguards

iGames is not liable for refunding backers in the scenario that a project does not deliver its promises. However, if Heroes of Newerth: Reborn fails to fulfill its commitments, we will collaborate with them to ensure rewards are delivered or refunds are issued as appropriate.  iGames will work with (or against) developers until the backers receive complete compensation on what they were promised.

 

iGames will push developers to offer refunds if they cannot deliver, but a refund is not guaranted. To protect yourself, carefully review each Genesis campaign before contributing. Your understanding and support help developers bring their visions to life.

 
iGames is an intermediary for developers and players. iGames will try its best to work with the developer to determine the next steps in instances that the project is canceled or suspended, which could include refunds or alternative rewards. Our policies heavily discourage project managers from cancelling a Genesis campaign without compensating the supporters. Project Managers will not be able to withdrawal money to their account until all supporter rewards are satisfied.
View FAQ