Pretty much, the reason people are mad is because it violates the spirit, if not the actual rules of kickstarter. Kickstarter cannot be used to raise money, or for "fund my life" projects. A project has to have a clear end. A project will eventually be completed, and something will be produced as a result.

If all that…

I guess it will be up to the courts to decide if "Download of the Game" means "Download the game" or if it means "Download an unfinished prototype of the game, but not the actual finished game".

The massive point that you seem to be missing is they only told everyone their goal was to build a prototype to secure more funding after the kickstarter was already over and the money ran out.

Except they did not promise to make ONLY a playable prototype, and then stop.

Except at no point during the kickstarter were backers offered a game demo, they were offered a full game. In fact nowhere on the entire kickstarter page is the word 'DEMO' at all, not even once.

It is called a "Push to Talk" button.

I'm sorry, but the trackpoint is one of the best input devices ever created, due to the fact it has no dead zone and allows allows infinite movement without repositioning the device. Only the trackball surpasses the trackpoint in speed and precision.

Well clearly being a published sci fi author doesn't.

And how much of the money they spent on the game, did they spend on their own salaries? I could spend a half mil pretty easy hiring myself and all of my equipment to a shell company I created for six months. I am a very expensive programmer, after all.

And I have a lot of equipment.

Yeah, you are right - depending on how the project was incorporated he may not be liable for anything... his company will be though.

There is no getting around 'the company' being held accountable. There is a deadline attached to kickstarter projects and by putting it on hold 'the company' is violating the terms of the…

That is exactly what this is. Neal Stephenson is legally obligated to give each and every one of his backers on Kickstarter exactly what they payed for, or he is legally obligated to give them their money back.

Good thing he is a world renowned author with multiple successful novels, because he 'prolly has enough money…

You seem to be under the impression projects on Kickstarter are not legally obligated to provide what they say they are going to make.

Exactly... and that would be why my game is not on kickstarter yet. I want to be able to actually deliver what I promise, and the only way to do that is to have a functional prototype before you collect a bunch of money to produce it.

So... what you are saying is the project ran out of the funds they raised on kickstarter, and is now unable to finish the project with the funds they raised on kickstarter? That is the very definition of "can not fulfill".

There is clear legal standing for a class action lawsuit.

Is a creator legally obligated to fulfill the promises of their project?

Is a creator legally obligated to fulfill the promises of their project?

Clearly Neal Stephenson was floored at how difficult it was.

People defending him are incredibly ignorant for multiple reasons.

It has been common knowledge since at least 2001 that the Echelon system is able to intercept any electronic communication. Furthermore, it has been known that the USA uses the spy network for economic warfare, stealing foreign trade secrets to give crony corporations an advantage in the marketplace.