Mount & Blade did this. They allowed players to buy the game while it was still in development. Early versions started off quite cheap, and they raised the price as they did releases (culminating with version 1.0 at the final retail price). Some info here:
Cortex Command is another game doing the same. The message on their website reads:
"Please note that Cortex Command is currently a work in progress and NOT a finished product! The campaign mode and missions are not yet present in the version available right now. However, you may buy a discounted license today, which will unlock the features of all future versions up to and including the final with the full campaign in it!
As we at Data Realms continue to release more complete builds of the game, we will also be reducing the discount gradually until we reach the final version and full price of the product. So the earlier you buy, the better value you get! Although we are very passionate about this project, we cannot guarantee that it will be completed - that's why we offer the discounted price instead of a pre-order deal at full price."
Cortex Command is basically a one-man operation. Dan currently sells the game at $18, with identical bits at $38 labeled as a "support data realms" version. He is very clear that the versions are the same; only the price is different. A nontrivial amount of people buy the $38 version! Full disclosure: Dan is a good local friend of mine.
http://www.taleworlds.com/mb_buy_en.html
Cortex Command is another game doing the same. The message on their website reads:
"Please note that Cortex Command is currently a work in progress and NOT a finished product! The campaign mode and missions are not yet present in the version available right now. However, you may buy a discounted license today, which will unlock the features of all future versions up to and including the final with the full campaign in it!
As we at Data Realms continue to release more complete builds of the game, we will also be reducing the discount gradually until we reach the final version and full price of the product. So the earlier you buy, the better value you get! Although we are very passionate about this project, we cannot guarantee that it will be completed - that's why we offer the discounted price instead of a pre-order deal at full price."
http://www.datarealms.com/games.php
Cortex Command is basically a one-man operation. Dan currently sells the game at $18, with identical bits at $38 labeled as a "support data realms" version. He is very clear that the versions are the same; only the price is different. A nontrivial amount of people buy the $38 version! Full disclosure: Dan is a good local friend of mine.