Are we ok with backing a game which at the moment only exists as a few nicely drawn pieces of art?
I'd prefer if there were some kind of gameplay footage, surely there must be some if they managed to find other sources of finance?

That's the reason why I largely only post about Kickstarter campaigns that have been funded or are on the verge of being funded from reputable campaign starters. Something like this from a person that has a tremendous reputation seems like a fairly sure bet. Even if more funding is needed, there are publishers that can see the interest in a project or a game like this and will probably step in to lend help if necessary. Same thing with Yooka-Laylee. Ex-Rare devs (plus), spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie (another plus) and realistic expectations in their proposal (third plus) go a long way.

Of course, those who aren't well known in the industry will have to go the extra mile and fund their own project until they can produce a playable demo, or a detailed proof of concept video at the very least, before going on Kickstarter. In the case of Citizens of Earth, there was a free demo with a lot of content to play with. The Kickstarter failed, but because they already have something playable to advertise to both media and publishers, Atlus was convinced enough to publish it on PC and consoles. Super Slam Dunk Touchdown also has a playable prototype (not a demo, but a WIP build), and although that Kickstarter failed, the amount of attention the playable build had at conventions (PAX, etc.) helped bring the game on to Steam through Greenlight. These are projects reliable enough that even if Kickstarter fails, the creators have proven the idea isn't too risky as they were willing to invest their own money into it, and have something to show for it as a result.

Even the developer behind Mutant Football League learned their lesson where a playable demo is needed to show the value behind crowdfunding their project. It's a good thing the first Kickstarter failed, since it was originally for a mobile game with 2D horizontal scrolling cartoon graphics. Now it's a PC/console 3D online multiplayer violent arcade-style football game after they surveyed the public asking what was wrong with their Kickstarter (including the lack of a demo to prove their project is worth the risk; creators need to risk their own money as well).

My point is, if a demo exists and decently playable, and the media is talking about it because there was something to actually try out, then it should be safe to back even if the creator doesn't have a well known reputation. Even if it fails, the creators put enough money in to produce something that can be shopped elsewhere.


But yeah, what Zips says is the easiest way to see if a Kickstarter will likely succeed or not. Mighty No. 9 only had a song composed, sequentially numbered T-Shirts, Phoenix Wright's original English voice actor (not for voice acting mind you), and a commercial produced by 2 Player Productions, and that obliterated their goal. I mean, yeah, Capcom wrecked the Mega Man/Rockman anniversary, so that helped, but Comcept and Inti Creates didn't really have anything to convince us to back the project aside from Keiji Inafune's reputation.