Touhou really started with the idea from ZUN thinking that game shouldn't be something that requires a lot of money to make. The corporate world of mainstream has always been about "how to make this so we can milk as much money as possible?" and, the disconnect between hardcore gaming and business has been established. Japanese culture with Touhou derivative works has developed itself to be a cult, where majority believes in the subculture that disconnects itself from monetary gains.
Now, for crowdfunding.
For Westerners, the spirit of the crowdfunding is very similar to the basis of "disconnect from corporate world" that keeps Japanese Touhou community together, but also add "if you have a good idea, there's no shame in making money out of it", in the land of opportunity. For Easterners, this is an absurdity, mainly because, a good idea should not generate money, but it should generate even more good ideas. The phrase, "money is the root of all evil" is applied much more seriously and mercilessly in the Eastern community, and that's a hard barrier to break.
Reality Check.
Touhou Smash is a big project. Crowdfunding was needed to cut-down 5 years of working in to 1 year. Sure, this is a noble cause enough to be accepted in the Western community. Personally, I think it was a mistake in trying to promote this game so early to Japanese Touhou community. If this game was to adapt and survive in development in favor of both Japanese and Western community, Touhou Smash should have downsized even further for its pilot project - Let's say, starting with 4 characters and 3 stages. The game will then be sold at Reitaisai / Comiket / Western convention or whatever, and if the reception is good, the game will be "patched" for next con with additional characters and additional stages. This is the format that the conventional Japanese 2nd derivatives.
What also alarms me is that this simple crowdfunding meant to get enough donations to get the required software, is turning into (or at least appears to be evolving into) something more dangerous. I see that they added new perks recently, "$3000 USD for Fifth Shrine Maiden" and "$600, $800, $1000 for Mini Story". Sure, a good game requires money, and I personally would like to see this game with full voice support with a lot more Touhou characters, but at this point, it doesn't seem to bring more innovations. What stops them now from making the new perks for 6th Shrine Maiden? 7th Shrine Maiden?
