Square Enix today announced plans for a new crowdfunding platform called Square Enix Collective, the purpose of which is not to attract money for its own projects, but instead is meant to allow independent developers to get feedback and funding for their game ideas.
Based on today's brief announcement, Collective sounds like a cross between Kickstarter and Steam Greenlight. Developers can propose a game concept on Collective, at which point it will have 28 days to attract enough positive feedback to make it clear that gamers have some interest in it. At that point, Square Enix will use some unspecified criteria to determine whether the developer has the capability of actually creating the game it's thought up, as well as help to calculate how much money would be needed to see it through to completion. If everything checks out in that process, gamers will then be able to pledge money to the game through Indiegogo, a Kickstarter-like crowdfunding website that Square Enix has teamed up with.
In theory, this allows for prospective backers to have some sort of reassurance about the credibility of the developer seeking funding. While there is an existing level of trust when a company like Double Fine turns to Kickstarter, lesser-known or outright unknown developers can find it more difficult to convince people of their trustworthiness. Square Enix's involvement through Collective still doesn't guarantee a crowdfunded game will be developed to completion, but it may alleviate the concerns of those who haven't already joined in on the bandwagon that's seen millions of dollars pledged to projects like Mighty No. 9 and Star Citizen.
Pitches can be made through Collective for free, provided the developer accepts the terms and conditions of doing so. Interestingly, Square Enix will be allowing some developers to work with older Eidos IP from the company's back catalog.
More details on Collective, including just which Eidos IP will be available, will be coming early next month during GDC Next, which runs from November 5-7. Square Enix community boss Phil Elliott is scheduled to give a talk called "The Story Behind Square Enix Collective" on November 6.
