Originally unveiled at the start of the year, equity-based crowdfunding platform Gambitious has finally launched in an official sense, offering developers a new way to seed fund their games.

The firm's model is notably different from platforms such as Kickstarter, turning those who back a game's development into investors.

That means, rather than simply being awarded token trinkets or added extras, those who donate become official stakeholders in the game in question. If it begins to turn a profit, then they get to take a cut.

Meeting margins

"The main reason Gambitious went with this equity model is because it gives developers a boost towards a successful funding campaign," MD Paul Hanraets told us back in February.

"Numerous donation and pledge-based crowdfunding efforts fail to reach their targets by significant margins.

"To quote one of the many reactions we received on our plans: "I'd rather invest in a game idea and have the game and a piece of the pie than the game and a signed shirt!" That is our philosophy in a nutshell."

The only immediate downside of the Gambitious approach is that the equity investing model won't be legal in the US until 2013, meaning the Amsterdam-based company will have to focus on Europe for the foreseeable future.

More details on Gambitious can be found on the firm's website.