If you follow our monthly Kickstart This! feature, then you will no doubt be aware of the trials and pitfalls associated with launching a Kickstarter campaign. Now, the popular crowdfunding platform is making it easier for creative types (including game developers) to give birth to a new project.

The first step is by simplifying the rules for what can, and cannot, be deemed an acceptable project:

1. Projects must create something to share with others.
2. Projects must be honest and clearly presented
3. Projects cannot fundraise for charity, offer financial incentives, or involve prohibited items.

If you can follow these three conditions, then you are halfway there. If you are making a physical working item, like an Ouya, for example, then you must show some type of prototype.

A more exciting new feature, “Launch Now,” is being rolled out in the next few weeks. According to Kickstarter, it will make it easier for project creators to know when their vision is ready to be shared with the online masses.

The feature uses an algorithm incorporating thousands of data points to check whether a project is ready to launch — things like the project’s description, rewards, funding goal, and whether the creator has previously launched a project. If the project qualifies for Launch Now, the creator can go live whenever they’re ready. If the creator wants to connect with someone at Kickstarter, we’ll review the project and offer our feedback and advice. If a project doesn’t qualify for Launch Now, the creator will need to share the project with us for a review before it can launch.

If you are launching a new video game-related Kickstarter campaign in the near future, let us know so we can feature it in the next edition of Kickstart This!