Some of them will blame you for refunds that started because of you...
Also CIG lost money from sales that did not happen because you started your crusade against CR..so when SC fails I bet some cultists will blame you not CR...
Most likely.
Personally, I think DS is having an effect, but its overstated. The game is still raising millions every month.
What hurts fundraising and refunds more is...I believe...the lack of progress from CIG and the flawed presentations.
Showing what SHOULD have been a highly polished demo at GC17 was a good move.
IF it had worked perfectly. Or nearly so.
Having it crash...having it highlight the lack of persistence...having them show the sync and lag issues...not showing a full mission loop....that capital ship fight at the end?...the buggy exploding....the aged graphics...the performance issues...and more.
Showing THAT was not a good idea. That demo needed to be polished to within an inch of its life and it needed to work....and that it didn't only reinforced the impression that CIG didn't really care, especially after the delays.
That one event probably had more of an impact on fundraising and refunds than everything Derek Smart has said over two years. Hes had an impact...but a small one.
That isn't going to stop people scapegoating him.
Personally, I'd say let the people keep pushing their money at CIG. Let them deal with the fallout. But Derek Smart is probably right...given the crowdfunding nature, the fallout from any collapse will be negative for the industry.