Molyneux: Kickstarter can be "very destructive to the final quality" of projects

Godus creator Peter Molyneux isn't as keen on Kickstarter as he used to be.

Godus has had something of a mixed reception since its Early Access launch in September 2013, and one of the key criticisms fired at it is that it's not what backers expected when they helped fund it back in 2012.

Speaking to TechRadar, Molyneux said that the game and its reception both suffered because of Kickstarter and Steam Early Access.

"What I've learned is that doing Kickstarter and Steam Early Access, before you've got something which is defined and playable, is a hugely risky undertaking that can be very destructive to the final quality of the game," he said.

Molyneux said that if he could start all over again, he'd do a Kickstarter much later in development, once design ideas are hammered out, and backers can check out a demo before committing to fund the project. Kickstarters can be very misleading, especially when the developer is trying to do something new, he added.

"What ended up happening with Godus is that people get a view of what the game is going to be like from what you've said here, and that view is quite often different from what the final game is," he said.

It's sort of sad to see Molyneux's faith so shaken, as he was so excited by the prospect of working with gamers to bring his vision to life rather than to make money for a publisher.

Godus is available now on mobiles and Steam, although it's still in Early Access.