Gareth is such a piece of work. I really don't know how he does it. You know what, i'll share his own words and some responses from the Far West Kickstarter Comments Section. Because seeing is believing:
Translation - sure, I promised to put stuff in your hands prior to the end of 2016, but actions taken by certain backers in 2017 prevented me from doing so...
BTW, I encouraged others to file right here at The Tavern. So Luke, I'll stand with you when the Sharka Shit starts to flow down hill.
Wow. There are parts of the above I wish I had said.
In any case, add "Contacted by the Kansas AG in 2017. This prevented me from producing what I had promised by the end of 2016" to the Sharka List of Far West Excuses.
...and yet people refer to this guy in a positive light? Under investigation by the Kansas State Attorney General's office. Perhaps more to follow?
ReplyDeleteBecause he's a "stalwart."
DeleteIt's all fun and games until the AG's office actually contacts you...
ReplyDeleteYou should all be ashamed of yourselves...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDSqODtEFM
;)
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ReplyDeleteI really wish that reputable game companies would refuse to hire writers who fail to fulfill their obligations to their crowdfunding customers. There are a lot of designers who should be on an industry-wide blacklist, and yet I see them get hired time and time again by other companies. This would be one way the industry could police itself and try to eliminate bad actors.
ReplyDeleteGMS lost a chance to work on his dream project (Modiphius' Conan game) because Far West wasn't done.
DeleteThis earned Modiphius a few extra nickels from me.
I didn't realize that. That's good to hear. I'd like to see that done more broadly by other companies, but good for Modiphius!
DeleteAs a participant in that Conan project I am very glad they didn't hire him. They already have had some timing setbacks with various projects so hiring this guy is a risk they just can't afford.
DeleteYou missed the twitter exchange which was documented here:
ReplyDeletehttps://boardgamegeek.com/article/24865817#24865817
I'll give the guy points for the fact he at least occasionally comments on his project(s). Contrast that with Ken Whitman who hasn't said a peep to backers since July (after many months of silence). And only then to say he was kicking the can down the road a full 13 months.
ReplyDeleteKen seems intent pretending his kickstarters never happened.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if I can get away with using "arrogant asshatery" in a work email? Really glad I passed on this project. Feel bad for all those that are putting up with this clown.
ReplyDeleteDelay, deny, deflect...
ReplyDeleteSkarka's behavior is just so weird. His communication is terrible, and he has missed deadline after deadline -- yet I can't help but think that he really is still trying to finish the game. It doesn't seem to be a "take the money and run" situation, but a genuine dream project that somehow turned into a years-long clusterfuck. It has to be miserable for him, too -- but of course his way of responding to (rightful) criticism has only exacerbated people's anger and disgust. Other creators have had delays but have managed to keep backers on their side with good communication (and, usually, partial releases over time). Gareth, not so much.
ReplyDeleteMr. Blackburn, I was there at the con where Whitman showed off part of Spinward Traveller and then ducked out on meeting with you about the KoDT movie. And he just keeps moving on to other projects without resolving anything. Now *that* guy is shameless.
ReplyDeleteWell of COURSE being contacted by the Kansas AG in 2017 prevented him from producing what he had promised by the end of 2016. I mean come on, how is the guy supposed to complete work on the time machine that's going to take him back to 2011 with the AG breathing down his neck?
ReplyDelete;)
He wouldn't even release a text dump of what he has so far! If it's so close to being finished then arguably doing so would help him! People would see how complete it is and be re enthused. He makes no sense!
ReplyDeleteHe said (on Twitter, but never directly to the KS backers) that he backed out of releasing the unfinished book on 12/31 (as he'd said he would ten days earlier) because a disgruntled backer had threatened to put it up on the Internet immediately, and for weird reasons of pride he doesn't understand himself, he'd rather it be the finished work that is pirated.
ReplyDeleteHow is that excuse any different from the last ten or twenty times the dog ate his homework? How can you possibly believe a single word he says at this point?
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