You are essentially producing a software product, one made massively more complex because of the video and audio, that is expected to come with it. Also you have to do the writing. A daunting task in and of itself. One hell of a challenge.
But you're not doing it to make money. My bet is that you use the monetary support you've gather to defray costs.
I would love to know what percentage of the people who frequent this site have ANY real world experience developing complex software programs. I'd guess is that it's a rather small minority. You're responsive about your progress (and your hours as you mentioned) so only the clueless can hold the view you're somehow profiteering.
The other piece that these loons ignore is that they aren't buying the game. There are many completed games that sell for $20-$35+ that cost hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to develop. So yeah the pay a modest cost along with so many others that the development cost is spread among the masses. Your game is in development. Heh. Sad little impatient minds, don't let them get you down.
As a pro writer in a different language i can honestly tell you that the few devs on this site who actually know how or what to write can be counted with one hand.
naughtyroad does the "less is more" or "boring is more interesting" approach and nails the entire thing right from the get go.
Write about stuff you know cause if you write about stuff you know absolutely nothing, you will find out very fast that you either lack alot of information you gotta research. Or and that is worse you will make a damn fool out of yourself while writing yourself to a point you have absolutely no clue how to get out of again.
Other devs overthink this story thing way to much and go with "superhero/superpowers" or "Corruption of the mind" without ever reading anything about psychology etc. NTR and other stuff but lack to transport the feeling for the players or audience across the screen.
I would say that "good writing" alone could save any game regardless the renders and the animations. Otherwise text based games would have no market whatsoever. But the amateur approach of many of those games are just unbearable for me but still very enjoyable to others.
However good writing takes a toll on you as any other job you do for many hours a day. If we add all the other stuff you need for a game to work you could end up with overworking or burning yourself out pretty damn fast. Thats why i and many others appreciate the work
naughtyroad is doing and don't mind the long wait as we know at the end of the day it will be worth it.
You can't please everyone. And some will always get mad for waiting, not having their kink satisfied or just for the heck of arguing.
I remember someone asking me to write for him for a year as his game would be done by then.
And when i provided the price for such a task i got a very rude response.
If we consider what naughtyroad makes a year i would say based on the quality of stuff he is severly underpaid despite providing a free game and having a day time job. Knowing many writers who can not live from what they write despite it being very good you come to the reality that most ppl are ok with absolute garbage in terms of almost everything.
If we consider some Triple A Games who cost millions of dollars to make who also have a story that is so boring and lifeless not even copperfield himself could bring it back to life this gets even more ridiculous. Be it movies or games. The past shows that many gems got created because someone tried his best no having money as motivation behind it but making a good story or present a good experience or even making good songs.
The mind can do wonderful things of imagination if your motivation is not driven by greed, personal benefits or fame. And i think we lack that in our world today. Thats why this game and a few others show what people can do if they let their mind flow and provide something for others without a catch attached to it.
Yet for some this is still not enough and those ppl can't be satisfied no matter what you do. But what you can do is give kind words to
naughtyroad and ready a fucking trebuchet in the background.
