I assumed the reason a game that hadn't even been funded was the prize for Curiosity was because PM was making up things as he went along. But in the latest interview PM mentioned that his team were always going to be making Godus and that if Kickstarter hadn't worked they would have moved on to find money from elsewhere.
With Godus, PM said it was mainly for 'the feedback'
On the other hand he never actually mentioned that he needed money on the kickstarter anywhere. Just that it would mean they didn't have to be involved with a publisher. On the other other hand, he signed up with a publisher anyway, despite saying he wouldn't.
Interview: RPS [http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/05/29/molyneux-on-curiosity-godus-and-forgotten-promises/]
Some people spent up to 5000 pounds on that kickstarter. I'm not sure they would have done that if they knew the game would be made anyway. When the Project Eternity or Wasteland 2 got funded, the people responsibility made it clear that there was no other way to get that game made. The Wasteland 2 guys spent ages going between publishers trying to get a deal and turned to the fans generosity as a last resort.If we had been delayed by the Kickstarter not being funded, we still would be developing Godus.
With Godus, PM said it was mainly for 'the feedback'
So the whole Kickstarter was basically an easy way to create a closed beta. I think people would have signed on for that without asking them to give you money first. People already gave him money for a 'copy of the game' which has since turned out to be available free-to-play.What I really wanted is to use a controlled stage approach to developing the game. In the next 48 hours it will go out into 900 people?s hands. We?re going to look at the way they play, get feedback from them. We?ll be asking them to fill out surveys. We?re going to be looking at analytics on their play style. We?ll be taking their suggestions on the forums and refining and polishing the game. Then we?re going to open that up to a bigger audience for the beta pledgers. That?s around about 17,000 people. Then we may even open it up to a wider, more public audience, depending on how it goes.
On the other hand he never actually mentioned that he needed money on the kickstarter anywhere. Just that it would mean they didn't have to be involved with a publisher. On the other other hand, he signed up with a publisher anyway, despite saying he wouldn't.
Interview: RPS [http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/05/29/molyneux-on-curiosity-godus-and-forgotten-promises/]