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Kickstarter to launch in the UK this month

US crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter will launch in the UK at the end of the month.UK ‘creators’ can establish their project now on the website, and will be given the go-ahead to launch their campaigns on October 31.

The platform allows entrepreneurs to pitch their idea and appeal for donations from the community. In the US, it has facilitated successful projects such as the Ouya games console.

UK projects will be based in pounds sterling, but projects will sit alongside their stateside counterparts, so that backers can pledge from around the world.

The company say the mechanics of the UK version are exactly the same, although those wishing to pledge money will enter their payment information directly on Kickstarter as opposed to Amazon Payments, as they do in the US. Kickstarter charge a 5% fee to successfully funded projects, and no fee to unsuccessfully funded projects in the UK.

Richard Wilson, CEO of videogames association, TIGA, noted that Kickstarter has been responsible for helping to finance a number of games, and was positive about the impact it would have on the UK games industry.

He said: “Not only does crowdfunding generate funds for projects, it also encourages backers to get involved in a project. They begin to feel close to the project and this level of enthusiasm and funding enables developers to produce better, more creative games.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .