Is backing projects on Kickstarter worth it?

Two years ago, I wrote a column about getting hooked on Kickstarter. The website — which allows people to raise funds for new products, arts projects or anything else they can dream up — was suffering from some misperception issues at the time. A number of high-profile projects, such as a much-derided film campaign from actor/director Zach Braff, were criticized for going against the Kickstarter ethos of helping those truly in need of funds.

The problem, as I saw it, was that Kickstarter was not really a site for handouts and donations. Most of the Kickstarter campaigns felt more like visiting a shopping mall for mysterious, new and exciting products of the future. It wasn’t for charity, like other sites more geared to nonprofits and causes such as Indiegogo and GoFundMe. And, up to that point, I was pretty pleased with what I’d gotten for the money I’d spent on Kickstarter campaigns.

But the bulk of the money I’ve spent on Kickstarter has been on merchandise — board games (an educational one for the kids called “Robot Turtles,” a lot of zombie games for me), a podcasting fundraiser for a show I really wanted to hear, a new album from an Austin band I love and a card game featuring art from a popular Internet artist.

I thought it might be useful to take a look at what happened to some of the projects I’ve backed over the last two years as well as some newer ones that are still works in progress.

The 20 Kickstarters I backed that did succeed cost me a total of $1,645. That sounds like a lot of money, but for some Kickstarters I paid as little as $10 and in other cases I pledged much more than necessary, $100-$200, to support a friend’s efforts.

Here’s a look at what was promised, what I paid and what I’ve gotten out of some of these Kickstarter projects:

Wild Child’s second album, “The Runaround,” December 2012

How much I pledged: $200

What I got: Autographed vinyl, CD and digital versions of the final album, a limited edition CD of acoustic demos, tickets to an Austin show and a T-shirt.

Worth it? I wonder now if I may have overpledged at the time because I was so infatuated with the local band's first album, but it felt good to hear the album for the first time, and the band has gotten much more successful since the Kickstarter. No regrets.

“Zombicide” Seasons 2 and 3, March 2013 and July 2014

How much I pledged: $285 and $150, respectively

What I got: Five gigantic, boxed zombie-themed board games and two expansion packs, loads of individually packaged zombie miniature figures, dice and accessories that arrived in multiple waves of shipments over the past two years.

Worth it? It seems ridiculous to spend hundreds of dollars on a set of board games, but these are really great "Walking Dead"-inspired sets with endless replayability. That said, I haven't played the games as much as I'd hoped; I've spent more time painting some of the hundreds of zombie figures that are included in the games.

“Robot Turtles: The Board Game for Little Programmers,” September 2013

How much I pledged: $29

What I got: A very fun, lovingly crafted board game for kids that my two daughters have enjoyed playing. I don't know if it taught them programming, but they were definitely fans of the game's art style. It arrived before the promised Christmas 2013 deadline.

Worth it? Yes, it's a game we'll continue to play at least until my kids outgrow it.

The Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan 1994 Museum, February 2015

How much I pledged: $10

What I got: Buttons, photos, brochure, map and party invitation (in New York City) and knowledge that I'm contributing to sports culture.

Worth it? Absolutely. What sounded like a joke at first turned into a very earnest effort from New York City comics and roommates Matt Harkins and Viviana Rosales Olen to create a museum out of their modest hallway. I've gotten hilarious emails and exchanged Tweets with the curators, resulting in a genuine friendship with these funny roommates. All of it has been worth much more than the $10 I paid.

Pon, the Punctureless Push Pin, March 2015

How much I pledged: $10

What I got: 60 steel coil pins that are like thumbtacks but allow you to hang photos or other pieces of paper without puncturing them.

Worth it: These arrived last week, a month later than promised, and while I wonder if $10 on a small tin of push pins is a wise investment, I received 20 more Pons than expected (the pledge was for 40) and they work exactly as I'd hoped. They're actually pretty awesome.

Kickstarters I’m still waiting on:

“Glow: The First Smart Headphones With Laser Light”

How much I pledged: $164

What I expect to get: A set of earbuds with cables that glow, "Tron"-like, and pulse with the music. They should arrive later this summer. This is me being extravagant.

“Exploding Kittens” card game

How much I pledged: $35

What I expect to get: A regular and "not-safe-for-work" set of cards for this game, illustrated by "The Oatmeal" creator Matthew Inman. There've been lots of hilarious email updates, and the creators have promised a specially designed storage case and extra surprises for backers of the hugely popular $8.7 million campaign. The game should arrive next month.

“SolarPuff: A Unique Little Solar Light”

How much I pledged: $55

What I expect to get: A solar-powered LED light that folds down into itself. For the $55 I pledged, I'll receive a light, and another will go to relief efforts in Nepal. The lights have begun shipping to Nepal. I'm not sure when the one headed my way will arrive.