We don't need any "if". I already did it in a way you describe. It called WW: Midforest Episode v0.2.2 (kinda a mess in version names, but this was a third content version and there was a fourth after). There are assumptions by your side and experience by mine.
You always act like the failure of WW was on everyone else, and you had no fault in it at all. You need the knowhow to actually use already developed market practices, and know the workings of the platform itself that you want to use for funding. Own up to it, you just weren't as good at it back then.
With WW, what you experienced was the lack of awareness of your project between your potential supporters, not the failure of the early access model itself. There wouldn't be a hude oversaturated market dedicated to it if you are indeed correct in your assumption. Plenty of projects do better with the same model WW failed with.
You did indeed gain experience throughout the years, but not in what works and what does not, you gained experience in basic marketing, after which you copied the most predatory practices that marketers in the gaming industry use to manipulate people to drop a few bucks, and ran with it.
Not to forget, you also combined it with the (in your words) already failed Early Access model just to double down, and make it more fun for the whole family. With this particular approach of course you will gain support more quickly, what a jolly suprise.
Difference is that the people you fish for are those who aren't that concerned with spending money, and are willing to
give you some cash to get rid of all the annoying popups, and
gain the most basic functions/user experience along with it, which in most cases create the most basic form of the product. If you couldn't guess, this lack of the most primitive user experience is what's pissing everyone off. Only problem is, the supply of these kind of consumers is limited, so it basically caps what you can actually earn from them, unless you try to exploit the big fish even more. I'm not even going to go into retention and loyalty.
The only thing I can commend you on as someone who works in marketing, is that, I'm certain you knew beforehand how the backlash would give you a boost in awareness. Not to mention, the people talking about it would basically do your job, thanks in no small part to the ample negative word of mouth.
Well done on making the user experience the bare minimum I guess, pat yourself on the shoulder for that one, you cunning fox. Golden star.
