KickTraq

Who knew a 9 year old’s $829 Kickstarter listed under Small Projects would grow to give millions of kids all over the world free access to experts, tools, knowledge and resources so they too can make and play their very own games? As this little... (Read More)

4 Days Left:  Mackenzie had fun thinking up today's exclusive game-related reward (but there are only 14 available and then they're gone forever). We hope you enjoy adding a piece of YOU to Truth & Trolls as there's certainly no doubt there will... (Read More)

They’re mean and vicious and they just might come after you next. You’ve got to help! They have to be stopped. They have to be exposed. Alex didn’t ask for this. All she wanted was a chance to chase her dream. She didn’t even know they... (Read More)

Thanks again to all of Kenzie's supportive backers. It's been an odd process to say the least but apparently when a protective older brother with a wicked sense of humor steps in, art begins to imitate life (or is this life imitating art) because... (Read More)

OK, the Susan Wilson Kickstarter story is getting seriously weird now… Ever seen the film Catfish? This is the sequel. Real movie stuff. I’ll even end on what will undoubtedly be the closing line of the inevitable Kickstarted documentary on the affair. (Read More)

Susan Wilson describes launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise $829 with her 9-year-old daughter Mackenzie as akin to a weekend crafts project. The girl's teenage brothers were making fun of Mackenzie's goal of creating her own video game at a STEM camp and doubting her abilities, Wilson says. Mom and daughter sought to teach them a lesson by raising money for the camp on the popular crowdfunding site. (Read More)

Susan Wilson is far from the first parent to help her underage kid experience the power of crowdfunding. There’s been mother-daughter and father-son short films, and parents, including Wilson, are generally forthcoming that they’re writing on behalf of their kids. Kickstarter’s policy allows this, so long as the parent’s role in the project is clear. (Read More)

Did Maryland mom dupe Kickstarter community by using her daughter's gender to exploit the lack of women in technology? (Read More)

When Susan Wilson of Stevensville, Maryland launched a Kickstarter campaign for $829 to send her nine-year-old daughter Kenzie to role-playing game design camp last Thursday, she never expected donations to surpass $20,000. She also didn't expect to be branded and scammer, a manipulator and a child abuser. The threats of violence were also a big surprise. (Read More)

People positively lost their shit over this particular Kickstarter, and I have no doubt much of the hatred directed towards Susan and her daughter is due to a game of telephone; “Did you hear about the kid asking for $829 on Kickstarter? Weird, but kind of cute!” “Did you hear about the mom who made a Kickstarter for her daughter to send her to camp? Who is she, anyway?” (Read More)

1. The campaign launched late Thursday evening. Please note AGAIN this campaign was approved by Kickstarter.  If you have a problem with that, contact Kickstarter. On my end, as soon as it became apparent this campaign was resonating and we were... (Read More)

There's no rules against being a millionaire and operating a Kickstarter but some have called into question adding a $10,000 stretch goal to the campaign because the Kickstarter isn't about the end result of going to "RPG Camp" - it's about raising money to send the girl there in the first place. (Read More)

The conspiracy theories swirling around a seemingly benign crowdfunding campaign turned into a tornado over the weekend. Crave's Eric Mack investigates. (Read More)

What began as a cute and inspirational story about a girl gamer has turned into a major divisive issue. When news first broke about nine-year-old Mackenzie Wilson’s Kickstarter to create her own RPG, the coverage — including ours — was largely positive Her goal was to raise $829 to cover the cost of a programming camp. She’s since earned more than $21,000. (Read More)

Update: This story was originally written last week and, following some investigation by its author, was being held until details regarding the Kickstarter creator's authenticity could be verified — which some commenters in this post have highlighted. It was not intended to be published, and was left as a draft in our system; a draft which was accidentally published this afternoon following tests on our video surfacing by a member of our support team. We apologize to you, the reader, and to the original author, for publishing a half-finished report. (Read More)

Destructoid ran a story two days ago praising the Kickstarter campaign of Susan Wilson, a mother who was asking for $829 to send her 9 year old daughter "Kenzie" to RPG camp. Turns out this Susan Wilson is the same Susan Wilson that also happens to be a millionaire, now asking for $829 to send her daughter to "RPG camp." (Read More)

This is Kenzie's mom, Susan.  I'm overwhelmed by the response and Kenzie is just over the moon.  Yesterday was a day that you just never imagine.  The response was amazing and so much fun.  But eventually some negativity crept in and sadly, it... (Read More)

After just one day, Mackenzie has already raised $11,471 from 650 backers, surpassing her goal by a longshot.  Since Mackenzie is only nine and therefore not legally able to have a project on Kickstarter, the project is under her mother Susan Wilson's name. The funding will help Mackenzie cover the cost of attending an RPG STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) camp where she will be able to make and design her own game.  (Read More)

Mackenzie Wilson's older brothers said she couldn't raise $829 for a game design camp for kids. They were right. She's raised more $16,000. (Read More)

She wants to encourage other young girls to get involved in tech. (Read More)

In addition to amazing individual backers, thanks to Ben Forta and Adobe.  The amazing folks at Adobe are giving Kenzie a complimentary subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud so that she has access to all the tools and software she'll ever need... (Read More)

This is so exciting.  I don't even know what to say except I'M GOING TO CAMP AND GETTING A LAPTOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My oldest brother Zach is being really mean to me and my mom.  He says he... (Read More)

All I can say is, "Wow, thank you!"  Kenzie's at school so she doesn't even know that she got fully funded.  I'm so excited for her because I know she'll be so excited.  Just being shy of 50% when she woke up this morning is what got her bouncing... (Read More)

This is AWESOME!  I just wrote everyone that backed me a response because I wanted to see who the people were.  It was cool seeing each person's avatar and where they're from.  Most I don't even know and they're from all over the world!!!  I'm... (Read More)