*reads thread*
I'm not a big PA fan, they're just one of the comics I read on the applicable mornings. But I have to say:
Really Internet? This is what we are? You make me sad.
At first I figured it was either someone spoofing PA or a joke by PA, since they've done at least two strips on the absurdity of some Kickstarter projects, both of which are posted in this thread. Those rewards were clearly meant in jest.
And then I was rather confused at just how much RAEG there is here. The site being held hostage? PA scamming and blackmailing its fans? Did you all forget how Kickstarter works, or do you just not know? First, if the goal isn't reached, no transactions are made and it will be as if this thing never happened. That is common to all Kickstarter projects. PA will go on with the ads it currently has, and those who don't like it can use an adblocker. Just like now. Bringing words like "scam", "hostage", and "blackmail" into this discussion is simply a stupid thing to do, and many of you are stupid people for doing it.
I don't really doubt that the goal will be met. The PA community is well-known for its generosity in the Child's Play drive and in keeping the site alive in its early days, and it includes people who can and do donate thousands of dollars to any given cause the company happens to be supporting. I'd be surprised if the goal doesn't get met. I don't have a problem with it because everyone who's donating money feels as if they're in a position where they can freely do so. I don't, so I'm not donating, and that's the extent of my interest in this matter, aside from the spectacular display of ignorance in this thread.
So, if it does go through? Then PA will fund whatever it needs to with the money, Mike and Jerry will post a thank-you and perhaps a special appearance strip or two (a day under a year from when the goal is met, most likely), and the overflow will probably go to Child's Play.
As for the people who think one million dollars is a lot for PA, I'm guessing you don't like the comic, and therefore don't go to their site often, and therefore don't really understand just how much stuff PA does. All of that has been outlined above, but seriously, one million dollars is not enough to run that company at all. It's probably the remainder of the expenses they need to cover AFTER the revenue from PAX and their merch has been taken into account. Actually, I was under the impression that the ticket prices for PAX went to paying for the event, meaning there wouldn't be any revenue from it.
Again, all of this has been said above, but it is a series of points that people are obviously failing to get, so perhaps it's worth repeating.