I have cancelled my pledge for the reasons listed already as well as my experience with the pre-alpha. This is a cash grab and it honestly doesn't feel like they have the best intentions. I'm sorry to have this opinion when the dev was kind enough to stop by. I wish them the best of luck and I would be happy to buy it if they make it and it turns out well, but I have little hope at this point.
Just thought I would throw my two cents in to this.
I actually agree with you in some ways, apart from the point of their intentions, and on a personal note will not be withdrawing my (notional) pledge.
It IS a 'cash-grab', and unashamedly so. But one man's 'cash-grab' is another man's 'funding-drive' and in this case I sympathise entirely with a couple of academics who have been abundantly honest in the terms with which they are requesting cash - and what actually it will give them - which is not much more than a little bit of extra time to work on this, or pay external artists etc.
I'm not even giving them the benefit of the doubt - in this case I do not genuinely know whether they have the capability to complete this particular venture, and I think they are well aware of the challenges. It might be a bit of a 'punt' from them - but to me that is what Kickstarter should be about, particularly with respect to certain types of Vidyagames. Communally contributing to give someone else a CHANCE to create something interesting that would otherwise founder.
It's nice to think that we could all chip in and give them a little bit more time to devote to the game, rather than making the only sensible decision of having to solely concentrate on their primary jobs because of food and shelter and stuff. This is the point I guess where people should be careful - in interpreting the intentions of the project and making sure they are content with the terms of engagement.
I choose to believe these guys are honest, this is a well-meant kickstarter - and they will use the pledge as best they can, but I accept that might be a difficult choice for some people. To me the honesty and apparent humility in some of the aspects of the kickstarter are big reasons for me pledging against this as opposed to various other, apparently similar projects, which I have avoided.
I also don't see that a couple of academics would gain anything from potentially sullying their reputation with something that they don't believe they can be successful in.
Perhaps I am a bit naive, or soft, or whatever, but I'm still in