What should it matter whether a kickstarter has a famous name behind it or not?

It brings two things to the table: Credibility and customers.

If you're starting a kickstarter for a product and have no history of producing similar products, you're gonna have to convince people that you can. If you have a portfolio of work, it lends credibility. These guys have that.

If you are well known and have fans, that's easy marketing. If no one knows who you are, you have to work for that.

Being a big name doesn't necessarily mean that you have the money to fund something yourself. Games cost a lot, and traditionally, that money would come from a publisher, but let's face it, publishers believe that Adventure Games Are Dead.

It's not exactly the same as if a person (or company) worth millions or billions was asking for money for their new endeavor. This isn't Steve Balmer asking for funding for Windows 9, or The Rolling Stones asking for money for an album.

It's just some guys who like adventure games, trying to make an adventure game.