Well ... maybe as far as most MMOGs go, but those races aren't all that unique. In fact, two can be seen in the Master of Orion series of turn-based strategy games.
In any case, people do understand the appeal of crowdfunding, yes? Rather than simply ask for donations, you state terms by which you agree to compensate according to the level of commitment a person makes.
It's up to the person whether they find the terms acceptable, but there are promises to deliver in return for the contribution, through the use of an arbitrary agency (indiegogo, kickstarter, whatever), which can be rendered to any pertinent courts of law.
It is designed to accrue large fund bases through a large number of painless contributions, rather than a few heavy investments, trusts, or so.
Now, those promised deliveries can be almost anything, as I said. I've seen it range from printing of a name in the credit roll, to a free copy and some goodies, up to VIP privileges and creative rights.
And, again, any legitimate such agency also promises that its terms have been and will be provided in the event of any legal proceedings which may result. They work on the same legal ground as does any purchase of goods or services.
If Atomic Blue do have an appreciable pool of collected funds already, I find it less likely that they would enter into some crowdfunding arrangement. It's probably not the money, but the other resources or even the budgeting.
