Code Hero was intended to be a game that taught players how to code their own games within the Unity3D engine. Shooting Javascript from a "code gun," the player can apply code to the environment. It's a really cool idea.
It was funded through Kickstarter. The goal was $100,000 (USD), but the idea drove in $170,954 from 7,459 backers
The Kickstarter ended February 24, 2012. Over a year later and all of the funds are used up. An alpha version is available for all to test, but many of those with accounts cannot log in. The alpha doesn't have all that much. The promised rewards for Kickstarter backers have not been sent out at all. People are demanding refunds left and right.
The worst part of all? The lack of communication.
Who is Alex Peake?
Code Hero is the self-proclaimed life's work of Alex Peake. He is founder and CEO of Primer Labs.
He's done a lot of interesting programming projects, including those that teach others how to code. You can check out his list of achievements here.
So, what about lack of communication?
When a year goes by and you've been silent to the point that the people who gave you $170k think you've run off with the money, that's not exactly good.
Mr. Peake has apologized and promised to do better. However, it would pretty much repeat. It's basically become him being silent for weeks at a time, only to pop in and promise an update but to not follow through. It appears to take places off of Kickstarter chatting about the troubles before Mr. Peake decides to take it seriously.
So you hate this guy and are out to get him?
No.
Are you even a backer?
No, I am not.
What made you make this site?
On May 20, 2013, Mr. Peake posted on the Code Hero website stating how new alpha build was shipped off to PAX and he would release it the next day. This did not happen, which I have a very hard time understanding. If there was a working version done, what is stopping it from being uploaded?
It would not be until June 6 that Mr. Peake would speak again within the Kickstarter comments:
We're going to release a major update and answer your concerns monday. Skepticism and frustration is understandable, but I think you'll be pleased with the new release.It would be followed by a few comments not long after. The first I will share is by a Dustin Decker:
That's the 6th time in the last few months you've promised an impending major update. I can't muster much enthusiasm, but I can say I'll definitely try out the new build, assuming it gets released and I can log into it with my own account.Another is one by Jonathan Jou:
I don't think skepticism or frustration is really what you're faced with at this point, Alex. Since you announced an upcoming date instead of releasing something more immediate, the burden of proof is yours. I'm not holding my breath, and I don't think anyone else is. Will your response to our concerns include an explanation as to why you didn't just respond first? As far as your legal obligations go, a major update on Monday isn't going to resolve the current situation.Mr. Decker and Mr. Jou...their words are rather unfortunate to read. It's just sad. It really makes me wonder why Mr. Peake is failing to deliver so badly. Why is he not sharing a build good enough to ship to PAX? Why is he going so silent for so long and, when he does talk, why does he say so little?
I don't think we're asking for an update here anymore, or even a release. We'd appreciate your honesty, and I'd like to think we'll listen to your side of the story, but you need to provide results and answers, and even if you provide both of those things that won't change the fact that you promised people products, and from what we've seen there's no reason to believe that you'll ever be able to deliver those products.
I hope you have more than a few new tutorials and editor features come Monday. I hope you have answers, and most importantly, I hope you have an actual plan, some sort of peace offering, and an exit strategy. We need to know when you'll be ready to give up, and what we get when that happens, since our confidence in your success aren't what they used to be.
That Monday came and went, along with nearly a month of silence. On July 4th, when backers were thinking the project was done for with the website down, only then did Mr. Peake decide to speak. And speak to other websites he did, as opposed to just directly addressing his backers on how everything was going.
What are you going to do with this site?
I hope to use CHCB to try to get Mr. Peake to actually talk to his backers. Since he seems to respond when other websites get on his case, why not a website dedicated to it?
What are you hoping to accomplish?
If it is possible at all, I would like to get Mr. Peake to actually talk and talk regularly. I would like him to not keep his backers in the dark. If he is going to keep working on this like he is, he needs to do more than just make promises for later that he can't seem to keep. Actively update, and actively explain.
Why his backers are so ignored, I just don't understand, and maybe drawing attention from outside of the Kickstarter comments will do some good.
When Mr. Peake does good, I hope I am one of, if not the first, to sing his praises.
Don't you have anything better to do?
Apparently not? ;)
Look, I am not trying to be some sort of attacker. I'm not saying to go grab torches and pitchforks and hunt this man down. I'm sincerely hoping this is just a case of a smart and well-meaning person just going about things in a rather not-so-good way. And, well, just sitting here isn't helping.
If Alex Peake was reading this right now, what would you like to say?
Mr. Peake, although part of me wants to know why you have done all the things you have that I do not seem to understand, that's not really important. That's all excuses. Instead, I want to see some action, action that does not include running to other websites to tell your story. (Here included.)
Talk to your backers and talk to them regularly. Stop holding off communication until this or that, just communicate.
