Seven people working on a indie-level game is an insane amount of manpower. I presume you count with that even sprite artists and hired help, because even considering the baseline median income of Portugal (they are Portuguese, if I'm not mistaken) of around 900 euros that's not going to cover even basic life expenses.
I seriously doubt we'll get a good analysis of "porn game financing", but if this was a "indie game" (and theoretically it is, even if peculiar in content) that amount of money is seriously low (most work I've seen focuses of course on the American/Canadian "indie" situation, we europoors aren't relevant enough to be considered). Sure, they cut some expenses with the engine and the baseline assets, but for chrissakes seven people? They aren't going to make money out of this, but there's a risk of barely going from month to month.
I don't think they're all working on the game. I think two of them are doing free work such as the community managers in exchange for probably free copies? But then again I assume they would want to support the game anyway so I don't know how they have it set up.
What I do know is Starke needs to make money. Issac works on the game. Mukuyaki and Tigerlyla draw. Blackmage apparently scripts and Mattseb apparently makes sprites. This is all information you can find in their Patreon wall and they are not even mentioning the unique soundtrack which is obviously paid for. All those jobs at least are
definitely paid for.
Unless Starke has some serious money set aside or he slangs dope on the side, I just don't see how they get by with that money. Starke claimed that he quit a high paying job which I remember he mentioned something like 4.5k euros a month but that's probably before taxes, just to work in this game. That's 5000$ dollars for reference. They are earning 3.4k dollars a month, before Patreon takes their cut and before taxes.
He was earning
way more money by himself than the entire team combined. In fact, he might be paying them from his pocket which is the only thing that makes sense to me.
I understand the "work on my dream" perspective and the passion for the project but Starke is in his mid thirties I think. Once family and other priorities show up, I won't be surprised if this project dies. I'll be sad about it, but not surprised.
I'll tell you what tho. The community hating on them heavily when they started. Working through his parents illness. Mom dying and still delivering a patch and you could tell by how he talked about her how close they were. Uncle dies a month later, allegedly an uncle that was a father to him. His father goes to the hospital in life threatening conditions a month after that. Community once again decides to show how great they are by calling bullshit on all of the above to which he had to post proof with hospital reports, dead certificates, you name it. All because the community couldn't take his word at face value after always backing it up.
I've been talking to him on Discord on and off and read a few of the conversations he has and he always been the nicest guy.
In the end he gets paid shit to deal with all of this. If any, this is an amazing story that sadly I won't be able to tell my kids.
"You know kids. A friend knew this guy who made porn games..."
