Questions regarding release and monetarization

[chimei]

Hi

I have a question regarding Patreon and Subscribstar or the general monetarization and release of a game.

I notice that most devs have a Patreon as well as a Subscribestar page setup. I guess the reason is that Patreon is more common and convenient because of PayPal support, while Subscribstar is not as restricted regarding sexual content.
Let's assume I have a game with sexual content that would conflict with Patreons rules. I could avoid breaking them by uploading only pictures without that specific content and distribute my game by just sending my subscribers a link to their email instead of posting it directly on Patreon. Is this how a lot of the devs do it?
In that case, what would be reasonable benefits for (different tier) subscribers? If a lot of explicit content couldn't be posted because of Patreon rules. Or do subscribers don't care much about that and it's more important that they have a convenient way of supporting your work?
If it is mostly about the support, why not just post an address to your bitcoin or ether wallet, for people that don't want to pay a monthly subscription?

My next question is about redistribution.
Could I upload it on a temporary upload site and just contact the mods here on the forum? I guess it lands here anyways and I wouldn't have a problem with that, quite the opposite.
Also, do I create the forum post for the game or do the mods do that?

My last question would be about legal stuff.
I made sure that all assets I used (audio, music, etc.) are free for commercial use and that I credit all authors in the credits (if necessary).
The assets I used in Daz3D shouldn't be a problem since I only monetarization my own rendered pictures of them. Witch is allowed according to the official shop and other websites for Daz3D assets that I checked so far.
Is there something else I should double-check before release?

The story of the game is loosely inspired by Harry Potter, but only remotely (I never actually read the books or watched the movies). Of course, all places and characters have different names etc. so I guess that should be fine? (I saw games here that go as far as copying the names of official characters).

At the start of the game, I put a Disclaimer that all characters are over 18 years of age, are fictional and a Warning about adult content that should only be viewed if you are at least 18 years old. Is there something specific I should also include in the Disclaimer or is this sufficient?

I think that are all the questions I have right now. I hope someone can help me. I didn't think I get as far with my game that I have to think about releasing it and now I'm a bit overwhelmed and scared to do something wrong.

 

[LightmanP]

Let's assume I have a game with sexual content that would conflict with Patreons rules. I could avoid breaking them by uploading only pictures without that specific content and distribute my game by just sending my subscribers a link to their email instead of posting it directly on Patreon. Is this how a lot of the devs do it?

Don't know anyone that does that to skirt the rules. Sending a link directly is usually used situationally, e.g. an update was delayed to the beginning of the next month and a dev sends an update to everyone who was subbed last month). You'd probably need to somehow publicly inform patrons that that's how you distribute the game and that would look suspicious as hell if I were Patreon.

You can probably get away with many things while the game is small, but is it worth the trouble in the long run? Maybe make a patch for conflicting content or just go with SubStar.

In that case, what would be reasonable benefits for (different tier) subscribers?

I mean, it's totally up to you and what you can provide. I'd suggest checking different benefits of other devs for ideas.

Crypto is not that popular to be viable for many people. Itch.io page is usually set up for a one-time payment/donation.

You can have 1 upload and then ask uploaders here to help you with other hosts. Here's how you post a game.

Sounds like you're covered for the legal stuff. Do not worry too much, you'll be fine. Good luck with your game!

 

[chimei]

Thank you for your answer. I think I will go with SubStar then and see how it goes from there.

 

[Rich]

Hi

I have a question regarding Patreon and Subscribstar or the general monetarization and release of a game.

I notice that most devs have a Patreon as well as a Subscribestar page setup. I guess the reason is that Patreon is more common and convenient because of PayPal support, while Subscribstar is not as restricted regarding sexual content.
Let's assume I have a game with sexual content that would conflict with Patreons rules. I could avoid breaking them by uploading only pictures without that specific content and distribute my game by just sending my subscribers a link to their email instead of posting it directly on Patreon. Is this how a lot of the devs do it?
In that case, what would be reasonable benefits for (different tier) subscribers? If a lot of explicit content couldn't be posted because of Patreon rules. Or do subscribers don't care much about that and it's more important that they have a convenient way of supporting your work?
If it is mostly about the support, why not just post an address to your bitcoin or ether wallet, for people that don't want to pay a monthly subscription?

Some people probably have Patreon and SubscribeStar for the simple reason that no every donor is on both platforms.

If you're taking contributions on Patreon for content that violates their ToS, you're violating their ToS no matter how you distribute the game to your patrons - email, third-party web site, etc. There have been people taken down for just about any combination you can think of. Of course, Patreon doesn't go looking for this, so you'd have to be reported. But if you're going to distribute via email, don't do it using Patreon's send-messages-to-people. Download the email addresses and do it from a separate email address.

My next question is about redistribution.
Could I upload it on a temporary upload site and just contact the mods here on the forum? I guess it lands here anyways and I wouldn't have a problem with that, quite the opposite.
Also, do I create the forum post for the game or do the mods do that?

It can work either way. If you want to be able to control and edit the OP, then create the post yourself. You can create it in the "Game Requests" area, but using the "Game" template, then "report" the thread to the mods and ask them to move it do the Games forum. Similarly, if you "report" a new game version on your thread and include URL's to downloadable content, one of the uploaders will probably upload to a variety of F95-approved sites and also arrange for it to show up in the Latest Updates section.

My last question would be about legal stuff.
I made sure that all assets I used (audio, music, etc.) are free for commercial use and that I credit all authors in the credits (if necessary).
The assets I used in Daz3D shouldn't be a problem since I only monetarization my own rendered pictures of them. Witch is allowed according to the official shop and other websites for Daz3D assets that I checked so far.
Is there something else I should double-check before release?

Sounds like you've covered your bases.

The story of the game is loosely inspired by Harry Potter, but only remotely (I never actually read the books or watched the movies). Of course, all places and characters have different names etc. so I guess that should be fine? (I saw games here that go as far as copying the names of official characters).

"Inspired by" should be fine. Of course, it's VERY unlikely that the owners of the Harry Potter franchise would come after someone even if they were reusing names, etc., although it's theoretically possible. But they don't own the entire concept of child wizards.

At the start of the game, I put a Disclaimer that all characters are over 18 years of age, are fictional and a Warning about adult content that should only be viewed if you are at least 18 years old. Is there something specific I should also include in the Disclaimer or is this sufficient?

If you're going to post via Patreon, just saying that the characters are over 18 isn't sufficient - they also have to LOOK like they're over 18, and be in a setting where it's likely that the people would be over 18. People have been told "college is ok, but high school isn't," for example. Plus, people have gotten hit for young-looking characters even with the "over 18" disclaimer.

Also, note that SubscribeStar is not COMPLETELY unrestricted as to adult content, although it's a lot looser than Patreon. Child pornography, for example, is still verboten, I'm sure.

That's all just my $0.02 worth.

 

[chimei]

Thanks for the detailed answers, that clears up a lot.
I thank too young-looking characters will not be a problem with my game but beastality will. So I will do without Patreon for the time being.

 

[Rich]

I thank too young-looking characters will not be a problem with my game but beastality will. So I will do without Patreon for the time being.

Yes, that would be a problem there. Note that I've heard people report that "furries" are OK, as long as they're more or less "human," but (obviously) being "too animal" would be a problem.