P 500 is a version of crowdfunding, indeed.
The games developer may have several new ideas and projects to add to the existing range.
They can opt to have those products printed/made. They have to invest to do this of course, not knowing whether the product will sell or not. If it doesn't sell they have created a financial problem and are stuck with loads of boxes that need to be stored somewhere, potentially generating more debts.
Hence P500.
The ideas/projects are presented directly to those that may have an interest in them, in this case gamers and immediately the people who follow the developer/publisher who launches the P500.
The developer : "Hey folks, we got some great new stuff in mind. Would you be interested in this? If at least 500 people show interest we can have it manufactured/printed."
Players who want the product sign up for the P500. If enough people do this, then the project is launched and those who participated are charged for the purchase, receiving perhaps extra and/or exclusive stuff or a discount in prices compared to retail price.
If a project isn't embraced by enough people, the whole thing is cancelled, nobody gets charged and the publisher does not lose their pants due to a bad decision.
The stuff shown on the website has been presented and funded by enough people. It is on the verge of being printed and then shipped to all participants.
Some of these projects generate extra sets for purchase by other people who missed the P 500. Sometimes only those who participated get the stuff.
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