Others Is Subscribestar Worth It?

[Deleted member 107261]

 

[Orlox]

Westy's subcribestar seems to be doing well:

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[steelsmiter]

It's a complete binary. If you have a game that has content not supported by Patreon then putting it on subscribestar is a good avenue you are less likely to get kicked from. If your content is patreon compliant it's fine if you just have that.

Also you can put patches on subscribestar for your patreon compliant works

 

[fulcrum]

mind control porn is rated sexual violence by padreon (not a typo, its catholic), especialy if the story describes it as uncompliant hypnosis (or similar mechanisms).

 

[MissFortune]

Maybe it's because most of my supporters prefer Patreon, but I've had very little come from SS as well. I've had a few foreign players tell me that SS won't accept their card/information, so I'm not sure if SS reject by certain countries or not. The thing is, SS is basically built on banned Patreon users and political (typically Conservative) commentary, or people who just want a second support valve for players to use beyond BMAC and Patreon. The political antics SS is associated with may tend to make some shy away from it.

 

[BigIrishLug]

Subcribestar is a better option as it allows less restrictions versus Patreon. Also Patreon takes a larger percentage of your revenue plus is likes to stick it's fingers into all your creative endeavors claiming DMCA privileges to any characters, images or games it considers exclusive to your Patreon Account. Plus as an added bonus, the single tip option at Subcribestar is a nice treat.

 

[fulcrum]

what about itch.io? i see some stuff there that will be shot on sight on padre. Though i dont know how to search for adult only software in their link engine.

 

[MythMackay]

Westy's subcribestar seems to be doing well:

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MrDots Games (DMD) has 2800+ subs on SS, as well, so it's definitely a viable platform.

 

[anne O'nymous]

MrDots Games (DMD) has 2800+ subs on SS, as well, so it's definitely a viable platform.

MrDots had 4000 patreons, years of presence on the scene, one finished game and two games in progress, and he was one of the best known creators (once among the most successful), when he created his SubscribeStar account. This make a big difference and partly explain why he achieved to also find his public on SubscribeStar.

Someone that would starts on the scene will not achieve the same result.

 

[MythMackay]

MrDots had 4000 patreons, years of presence on the scene, one finished game and two games in progress, and he was one of the best known creators (once among the most successful), when he created his SubscribeStar account. This make a big difference and partly explain why he achieved to also find his public on SubscribeStar.

Someone that would starts on the scene will not achieve the same result.

I certainly don't disagree with your points, but for me at least, when given the choice, I support creators on SS, which I prefer because they don't censor to near the extent that P@tr30n does. I support MrDots, Westy, Perverteer, NaughtyRoad, and many others on SS, because they gave me the choice to. And, when I decide to support a new creator, I always look to see if they have a SS page setup, and if so, I support them there.

 

[graykingdom]

I think your mindset is all wrong on this one its a stream of income regardless of how much or how little it makes you and has the potential to net more over time, more streams of income is a good thing. Little bits add up over time.

The issue you have is it worth it for you to do the setup and put the effort in if you only make x off of it and that's mainly a question of what you from it and how much effort you want to invest in it to have x return.

That's something only really you can answer for you and what you from the project and what limits those and other options have for you.

 

[MissFortune]

I think your mindset is all wrong on this one its a stream of income regardless of how much or how little it makes you and has the potential to net more over time, more streams of income is a good thing. Little bits add up over time.

The issue you have is it worth it for you to do the setup and put the effort in if you only make x off of it and that's mainly a question of what you from it and how much effort you want to invest in it to have x return.

That's something only really you can answer for you and what you from the project and what limits those and other options have for you.

The overarching problem with SubscribeStar beyond it's limited userbase, is that you need a certain amount to even withdraw the money. If you aren't Dots or Westy, you're going to be waiting a while for enough to withdraw. Even then, there's been a few devs recently reporting that as they get closer to the withdraw amount, money seems to start disappearing in small amounts when they should've had more than enough to withdraw by that point. Fees aside.

Sure, multiple income streams are great, but if they're sketchy/stealing from you, then what's the point? So, not only do you have to deal with a limited audience on that side, but you worry about them lying about how much they're giving you.

 

[graykingdom]

The overarching problem with SubscribeStar beyond it's limited userbase, is that you need a certain amount to even withdraw the money. If you aren't Dots or Westy, you're going to be waiting a while for enough to withdraw. Even then, there's been a few devs recently reporting that as they get closer to the withdraw amount, money seems to start disappearing in small amounts when they should've had more than enough to withdraw by that point. Fees aside.

Sure, multiple income streams are great, but if they're sketchy/stealing from you, then what's the point? So, not only do you have to deal with a limited audience on that side, but you worry about them lying about how much they're giving you.

what your saying makes little to no sense without proof, If what your saying is true then a company is opening itself up to lawsuits, damage to reputation in the corporate world etc which is against their best interest.

it's more likely some of the donators canceled payments or something than a company worth x money is risking way more money than they could skim off the top of users or some other billing issue from banks that causes a payment to fall through.

With all that said companies can do dumb shit that loses them money and reputation and i don't have personal access to records for those saying this or from SS to say yes its true or no it's not but I'm more likely to side SS because they have a lot more to lose overall.

With all this being said you answered your question on whether it's an option for your project, You have a lack of trust with the company shown by your statements on what others have said don't work with someone you don't trust.

it's worries you don't need and if your questioning things like this your not hurting enough for the money you might get from it anyway and the worry will distract from the project your working on.

More advice if your worried about money streams due to lack of cash hire someone to vet options and weigh the value of the income from that option it's worth the money long term if you can afford it.

 

[anne O'nymous]

Some context is needed her:
Subscribestar is a US based society, that only have a mailbox in the US, while being officially owned by a guy living in Russia ; the address on all the legal papers being the one of his flat there. Be noted that his name and address have been added after the creation of the society, this guy isn't even the creator of subscribestar.; I'm too lazy to search for the links, by I already gave them last year in one of the threads talking about this subject.

Now, this being said, lets looks at your arguments:

what your saying makes little to no sense without proof, If what your saying is true then a company is opening itself up to lawsuits,

What lawsuits ?

Firstly, only an US based justice court could handle the lawsuit. This mean that for the majority of the devs, it would be an international lawsuit and they would need to pay two lawyers ; one as consultant in their country, and one as representative in the US.
Secondly, the society having only a mailbox in the US, US justice have no way to force them to participate to the trial.
Thirdly, once you'll win the trial, the US justice have near to no ways to enforce the application of the sentence.
Fourthly, all this would only happen if the dev, who struggle to reach the US$ 150 needed for a withdraw, is ready to spend years and thousands in a lawsuit, in order to get back the few bucks stolen from him.

damage to reputation in the corporate world etc

What reputation ?

They don't even used the society name and address when they registered the domain name, like any serious business would have done. In the corporate world, they are as serious than a guy who would start a website to sell some spiritual gems ; if not less serious since this guy would probably be dumb enough to use his own address to locate his society.
They can't damage their reputation in the corporate world, they have no reputation in the corporate world. Nopy had more credibility and legal value, due to the funding through Patreon (and so the possibility to know who really is behind it), than they have.

which is against their best interest.

What best interest ?

They have nothing to loose if the words spreads. Between people like you that will defend them with invalid arguments, and those who have no choice than using their services, they still have a long time ahead.

Even regarding money it's not a big deal. Half of the creators on Patreon would need at least one year to earn enough to withdraw their money, and there's no reason for this to be different on a platform with less patrons ; during all this time, the said money stay on subscribestar account. They also need less than $6.000/month (it's what Nopy was paying) to pay their bills, what mean that even with their low fees, they only need few accounts like MrDots one, everything else is pure benefit ; and obviously there's the interest earned with all the money stuck on their account. They already earned a good amount of money. Assuming that the guy in the Russian's flat is really the owner, he already have enough to live the rest of his life ; he even already have enough to leave his flat.
At worse, they would just shutdown the business, and obviously keep all the money. Even MrDots wouldn't try to get his back, it would cost more than what was stolen, without guaranty that he would effectively get his money back.

 

[Rell games]

About $150, it sounds like outdated information. Or it may vary from one country to another.
The payout page for my SubscribeStar page has the following info:


I think it is a great service, at least it feels safer than Patreon where you can get banned and lose all income whenever they decide to do another witch hunt on Adult VN creators, as it happened before.

 

[anne O'nymous]

About $150, it sounds like outdated information. Or it may vary from one country to another.

Their ToS state clearly that it vary depending of the country. It's US$ 150 by default, and can be less ; for memory, for the US it's US$ 30. I guess it have something to do with the transfer fees from their account to the author's one.

 

[graykingdom]

Some context is needed her:
Subscribestar is a US based society, that only have a mailbox in the US, while being officially owned by a guy living in Russia ; the address on all the legal papers being the one of his flat there. Be noted that his name and address have been added after the creation of the society, this guy isn't even the creator of subscribestar.; I'm too lazy to search for the links, by I already gave them last year in one of the threads talking about this subject.

Now, this being said, lets looks at your arguments:




What lawsuits ?

Firstly, only an US based justice court could handle the lawsuit. This mean that for the majority of the devs, it would be an international lawsuit and they would need to pay two lawyers ; one as consultant in their country, and one as representative in the US.
Secondly, the society having only a mailbox in the US, US justice have no way to force them to participate to the trial.
Thirdly, once you'll win the trial, the US justice have near to no ways to enforce the application of the sentence.
Fourthly, all this would only happen if the dev, who struggle to reach the US$ 150 needed for a withdraw, is ready to spend years and thousands in a lawsuit, in order to get back the few bucks stolen from him.


I disagree here US based does not mean there are not others using the platform from different areas of the world there are content creators from Russia even on SS which means a lawsuit could be done from that point and expanded.

Even if its a international lawsuit enough ppl could pool the costs to lower it if its really as much of issue , it happens all the time in lawsuits that involve alot of ppl affected by say food poisoning from bad batches of chicken or toxic waste affecting a large group of ppl over a area etc.

As far as the struggle to reach the 150 goal that's not on SS that's on the devs who don't spend the time to flesh out their whole concept before they make the product, companies of any kind take years to make a profit normally.

If they can't make 150 usd monthly as a company which is what they are in this context they aren't stable and have a lot more to worry about than cashing out 150 usd on SS, there are legit homeless ppl who beg for money on the street making more then 150 usd a month. I personally spend 150 usd in soda/water for the month for me and friends let alone what a company should be making to cover proper expenses.

No offense to the devs making very little money I do get it and as they improve and perfect what they learn and what their product is they should make more money as time goes on this is proven in every other field, but if your not making the kind of money wanted to work on improvement and getting better at and producing better products is what should be the focus.

I would also like to point out that most devs do this is part-time( yes most would likely want it to be full time but that's not the case currently) While I can't say you will make the same Mrdots or Darkcookie make if any dev can sit there and say with 10 years of hard work and self-improvement on their project that they wouldn't be able to make a living off it I'd say they didn't take it srs enough or they didn't improve over time.


What reputation ?

They don't even used the society name and address when they registered the domain name, like any serious business would have done. In the corporate world, they are as serious than a guy who would start a website to sell some spiritual gems ; if not less serious since this guy would probably be dumb enough to use his own address to locate his society.
They can't damage their reputation in the corporate world, they have no reputation in the corporate world. Nopy had more credibility and legal value, due to the funding through Patreon (and so the possibility to know who really is behind it), than they have.


This comment has to be a joke of some kind SS is mentioned as one of the biggest names alongside Patreon, Kickstarter, etc when enough ppl mention you you have built a reputation even if some dislike what you are as a company or you have a bad reputation like EA.

The bit about using a po box or a small office to avoid taxes or have a different tax system as a company is used by Ubisoft, EA and more and that's just the gaming industry let alone the software industry or others its common practice yes it's shit practice but most larger companies do shit things to make more money.

I dislike Applebees i never eat there they suck but they have buildings all over the us and ppl know them, me hating them or thinking they have sucky food doesn't change that they have a reputation and that it's stable enough for them to be known and have buildings and take out loans or that they have stocks, etc.

What best interest ?

They have nothing to loose if the words spreads. Between people like you that will defend them with invalid arguments, and those who have no choice than using their services, they still have a long time ahead.

Even regarding money it's not a big deal. Half of the creators on Patreon would need at least one year to earn enough to withdraw their money, and there's no reason for this to be different on a platform with less patrons ; during all this time, the said money stay on subscribestar account. They also need less than $6.000/month (it's what Nopy was paying) to pay their bills, what mean that even with their low fees, they only need few accounts like MrDots one, everything else is pure benefit ; and obviously there's the interest earned with all the money stuck on their account. They already earned a good amount of money. Assuming that the guy in the Russian's flat is really the owner, he already have enough to live the rest of his life ; he even already have enough to leave his flat.
At worse, they would just shutdown the business, and obviously keep all the money. Even MrDots wouldn't try to get his back, it would cost more than what was stolen, without guaranty that he would effectively get his money back.

This bit sounds personal I don't even use the service what I said is based on sound arguments and what I know is based on personal exp.

To your point's of nopy A. they basically went under B. they were a hosting site that didn't directly deal with money this is handled through banks and has a lot more legal issues than just hosting data which you can't just handle with 6k/month which might be one of the reasons nopy isn't offering hosting services or has limited them it costs more then ppl think it does long term and there is legal stuff in regards to hosting data and privacy I don't enough about this enough to comment on it too much but you get the point.

Patreon is older has had a longer time to figure out their shit and has a larger reputation that comes with time, they had the time to refine billing and system issues that SS hasn't had time for( I am not saying they will fix all that or that they need to just that they younger and haven't had the time that Patreon has had to refine said systems)

At the end when you said "At worse, they would just shutdown the business, and obviously keep all the money. Even MrDots wouldn't try to get his back, it would cost more than what was stolen, without guaranty that he would effectively get his money back." you are belittling what that means for them personally as ppl and what impact that would have on them long term for future companies they wish build etc and what that could mean in their personal lives.

As they deal with banks to process money the banks would do something too as to what it's hard to say as I don't know the laws in regards to that in each area and it depends on the amount and the damage to the bank's reputation from their partnership to whatever degree that was.

If you think them stealing money closing the company and skating with the cash wouldn't end up with ppl posting their info all over social media and lambasting them for that and most likely worse your crazy, companies have had worse done to them for far less.

Your view sounds personal and sounds like it comes from someone who has been slighted by them or by one like them and has bias leaking into your arguments, I get why one could or would dislike them or some of what they do or stand for as a company, but it just is not true that they have less to lose then the devs that use their platform they have more to lose.

Ppl who have more to lose are less likely to take risks that would lead to losing the things they have yes there are exceptions to this but they are in the minority not the majority.

 

[anne O'nymous]

Difficult to answer you in those conditions you know, but I'll try:

I disagree here US based does not mean there are not others using the platform from different areas of the world there are content creators from Russia even on SS which means a lawsuit could be done from that point and expanded.

Did you even read what I wrote ?
"Firstly, only an US based justice court could handle the lawsuit. This mean that for the majority of the devs, it would be an international lawsuit and they would need to pay two lawyers ; one as consultant in their country, and one as representative in the US."
I explicitly said that there's creators using subscribestar who aren't US citizens.

But the problem here is the futility of a lawsuit intended outside of the jurisdiction under which the society is placed. Simply because only this jurisdiction have the power to apply the sentence. You're from whatever country that isn't the USA and win a lawsuit against subscribestar in your country ? Good for you, you spent times and money for a paper that worth nothing.
This being said, most of the time the only answer you'll have will be: Sorry, but we aren't qualified to fulfill your demand, they are outside of our jurisdiction.
Even a creator who would be Russian wouldn't have more success, since you can't sue the founder/owner/director of a society in place of the society itself.

Even if its a international lawsuit enough ppl could pool the costs to lower it if its really as much of issue , it happens all the time in lawsuits that involve alot of ppl affected by say food poisoning from bad batches of chicken or toxic waste affecting a large group of ppl over a area etc.

Yes and no. Firstly only the cost of the US lawyer would be split between all the creators, while the cost for the lawyer hired as consultant/relay in your own country would be split between the creators that live in your country, if there's at least one other.

Secondly we still are talking in tenths of thousands US dollars. The average hourly rate for a lawyer in the USA is US$ 225, since it will be an international lawsuit, you'll need more than the average lawyer, and since the lawsuit will imply a tons of exchange between the different lawyer, he'll have to works for many hours. Expect the sole US lawyer to cost around $10.000, this to gain what ? The $50 stolen from you ? Because for most of the complainants it wouldn't be more than that.
Even assumed that you achieve to not need a consultant lawyer in your country (not something to do), you would need to find (how), then convince (hard) 199 peoples to join you in this lawsuit, if you don't want it to cost you more than what you'll gain in the end.

If they can't make 150 usd monthly as a company which is what they are in this context they aren't stable and have a lot more to worry about than cashing out 150 usd on SS, [...]

No, they aren't a company, they are individuals making side money. Even in the USA, there's a limit under which you don't need to declare as a company/society/whatever to earn this money ; what don't dispense you to pay taxes, obviously. And they also have no need to worry, since at least 75% of them have a regular job and do this on their free time.
Did you really believed that there's a company behind each one of the

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of adult games on Patreon, behind each one of the more than

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?

No offense to the devs making very little money I do get it and as they improve and perfect what they learn and what their product is they should make more money as time goes on this is proven in every other field, but if your not making the kind of money wanted to work on improvement and getting better at and producing better products is what should be the focus.

Over the said 4.759 creators listed as adult game creators, more than 2.100 earn less than $150/month, and more than 1.500 don't even earn $50/month, . But they are just people that haven't yet done the right market study, obviously...
Most of the creators on the scene, and in fact on all the amateur scenes whatever the field, hope they'll have their expense covered, while not really expecting it. They are creating by pleasure, not to be rich or to make it their full time job. They don't try to optimize their game in order to earn as much money as they can, they are making their game the way they want for the (sometime few) people who enjoy it.
Take one by hazard,

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. Six years that he create adult games, he never earned more than $300/months, and still continue, at his pace, doing it. And the same apply for most of the creators on the scene, and like I said on all amateur scenes ; it's their hobby, possibly their passion, but it's not their life, nor their main income.



And I'll stop there, because it's really difficult to find what you effectively wrote. And like so far everything you wrote in this answer is wrong, I assume that the rest will not be really different.