Perhaps a largely less popular viewpoint, but one from personal experience, is I am now a tried and true believer in, "If you can't fund it somehow yourself, then don't do it."
I think like anything, unfortunately, when something good happens for someone - everyone rushes to replicate it somehow. That's human nature after all. But in truth, people miss a big thing in many instances - particularly when it comes to dreaming big. And that is some of those success stories simply have factors specific to the situation that you simply can't "Just add water and stir" type forumulae to, no matter how much it may seem to make sense on the surface. People can't bottle or encapsulate things like: raw talent and innate skill, heartfelt, sold out passion for something, personal determination, unique aspects of those involved personalities, abilities, etc. It's sort of like, for example, why there are soooo many diet and self help programs out on the market, right? The Atkins works great for some, while others do better on Weight Watchers and still others do well on Nutrisystem and so on... The truth is there is no one RIGHT or WRONG answer here. Just a lot of complex factors truly make up why these things work for some and don't work for others. The same is true with those great "success stories" we're always seeing and reading about.
Now, mind you, I'm not out to destroy anyone's dreams here - I'm a big dreamer myself. However, the truth remains that sometimes, no matter how good our ideas are, they aren't meant to be. I believe that firmly. And if I can't find a way, by say, taking on extra work, selling some things or taking out my own loan if I know I can pay it back, to get something accomplished, then I firmly believe I shouldn't be doing it. (Sadly, that's a lesson I learned much later in life than I would have liked and only learned after one very huge, horrible FAIL) So I'm not a big fan of things like Kickstarter as rule. Keep in mind, however, this is just yet another opinion, and based on _my_ personal beliefs and experiences.
But i do very much like what some of the others here have already stated - and that is my firm belief that it is NOT "pitch perfect" music, stellar graphics or even a solid story that makes a good game - but rather a culmination of all those things combined with the one magical ingredient that cannot be "faked" or generated or bought - passion. If you truly love and believe in what you are doing - whether it is writing lines of code, singing a song or sculpting a vase - or of course, making a game - somehow that passion in us, that love or determination or use whatever word you want to describe that "it" factor - seems to osmote from us into whatever it is we're working on. And it's that rather intangible element that draws people to what's been created. I've seen the BUTT ugliest games in the world doing exceedingly well - and I've seen some of the most GORGEOUS million dollar budget games with breathtaking effects and custom soundtracks that were award worthy that ultimately SUCKED royally. Granted, most games that do well are a good balance of eye candy, ear candy and good balance in design - I'm just saying it doesn't take "perfection" or "professional" resources, necessarily to make a success formula or in this case, a good game.
Anyway, I just wanted to add that bit in - please don't be offended. I hope you're successful - and many people using Kickstarter do get their funding. But just take it from an old broad with lots of life experience, the best things in life - including our successes really come from how determined and passionate we are about seeing them through - as cheesy as that might sound.
Good luck!
