VN Ren'Py The Assistant [Ch.2.9] [Backhole]

[Bloodguard]

As much as I'd love to see the Dev respond here, it's completely understandable if he doesn't want to get flamed by a bunch of pirates.
I already bought season 1 on Steam, but was holding off on Season 2, as I like the Patreon version better. If the Patreon and Steam version are the same going forward, it's disappointing, but understandable.
Most likely Dev would lose more support by having a super long delay between updates, than by just having one version of the game on all platforms.

 

[neronwtf]

As much as I'd love to see the Dev respond here, it's completely understandable if he doesn't want to get flamed by a bunch of pirates.
I already bought season 1 on Steam, but was holding off on Season 2, as I like the Patreon version better. If the Patreon and Steam version are the same going forward, it's disappointing, but understandable.
Most likely Dev would lose more support by having a super long delay between updates, than by just having one version of the game on all platforms.

I mean, they already did. It was just an idea taking advantage that the dev log in often and sometimes engage in this thread. Just to have a clear message from him instead of spending numerous messages elucubrating about.

 

[Anteron]

As much as I'd love to see the Dev respond here, it's completely understandable if he doesn't want to get flamed by a bunch of pirates.
I already bought season 1 on Steam, but was holding off on Season 2, as I like the Patreon version better. If the Patreon and Steam version are the same going forward, it's disappointing, but understandable.
Most likely Dev would lose more support by having a super long delay between updates, than by just having one version of the game on all platforms.

Except the steam version is terrible. A good version with a long delay is much better than a terrible one with a short delay.

 

[wookie ookie]

Most likely Dev would lose more support by having a super long delay between updates, than by just having one version of the game on all platforms

Well that can work both ways, it seems by vote having both wins if the time he stated to have both is correct it really isn't a bad delay to have both updated in 3.5 months or so is actually really good. If it ends up only being Steam only it's pretty much dead here and on Patreon as you can't post Steam games on any other platforms

 

[RNasc4444]

Except the steam version is terrible. A good version with a long delay is much better than a terrible one with a short delay.

100%!
I agree that the Steam version looks like absolute dogshit. Lisa and Piper look revolting to me. I wouldn't play it if it leaked here. Free is too expensive for that version. Hell I wouldn't even play it if the dev paid me 10x what he charges on Steam for it. That's how bad it looks to me. It's a shame because I was into the story and was curious about where it was going.

But all this is moot. Makes no sense to develop 2 versions at the same time. It's a lose-lose for both as the development time would be insane. And if he does earn 4x on Steam then that is absolutely the version he should keep! Devs don't do this as charity. Everyone should be compensated for their work.

That said, best of luck for Blackhole! Hope he makes a killin'! He just won't get a cent from me

 

[SomeoneX22]

The poll should have been if he will develop Steam version or abandons the game, because this is what will happen if he tries to do both.
Why not just finish Steam version first and than make remake with old graphics if enough people want it on Patreon.

 

[VForValhalla]

Will any of my favorite game ever get completed? First Midlife Crisis and now this!

 

[SomeoneX22]

Will any of my favorite game ever get completed? First Midlife Crisis and now this!

Patreon financing model is cancer. Developers are not motivated to complete games if anything its opposite.
People should only buy complete games, not support empty promises.

 

[VForValhalla]

Patreon financing model is cancer. Developers are not motivated to complete games if anything its opposite.
People should only buy complete games, not support empty promises.

I both agree and somewhat disagree with this statement. We as consumers (paying or non-paying) want to see regular updates to the AVNS we follow and in order to do that, devs need to make a good enough money and invest a lot of time. A graduate who is making a game full time can't survive of love and support from a pirate website, unless they have rich parents.

But when a project does start making money, devs have very little incentive to work hard everyday to bring the story to its conclusion. Since you are your own boss, you no longer need to meet any deadlines. If the update could've taken 2 months to complete, you can stretch it out to 3 months, in order to prolong the development process and make your patreons keep on paying you.

Then devs see the amount of money BaD is making and thinks that monetary wise, instead of catering to a niche audience, they could just make a vanilla AVN for the mass and make a very good living, which I don't blame the devs for. Money is great. But then don't fucking change your entire AVN for it!

 

[SomeoneX22]

A graduate who is making a game full time can't survive of love and support from a pirate website, unless they have rich parents.

Starting you career by developing porn games is bad idea anyway, its very risky venture which can leave you homeless.
Nobody should try to live out of it because when you finish the game you will just lose your job, and i doubt that porn games makes a good entry in resume.

If it's just a hobby or side project than I see no problem with buying only complete games. Yes it might take longer to develop without monetary motivation, but at least milking practice will stop and we won't see dozens of abandoned games by bored devs that go on with their lifes. Market is oversaturated anyway, so if less dedicated people will leave I have no problem with it.

 

[VForValhalla]

Starting you career by developing porn games is bad idea anyway, its very risky venture which can leave you homeless.
Nobody should try to live out of it because when you finish the game you will just lose your job, and i doubt that porn games makes a good entry in resume.

If it's just a hobby or side project than I see no problem with buying only complete games. Yes it might take longer to develop without monetary motivation, but at least milking practice will stop and we won't see dozens of abandoned games by bored devs that go on with their lifes. Market is oversaturated anyway, so if less dedicated people will leave I have no problem with it.

This is the problem. Since 99% of the devs are part-time AVN makers, we are stuck in a perpetual hellhole (not criticizing the devs for it). If they are not making enough money, why would they put 2-4 hours a day making games after coming back home after 8-10 hour work? If it's only a hobby, after a couple of years they get burnt out or realize that time could be used to do something else. Sometimes an irl issue may come up for the dev to take months long break and then they might decide it won't be worth it for them to come back.

I am saying these as a guy who has never spent a dime on AVNs (because of the problems we mentioned). I am with you about only buying completed games. I have over 4,000 games on Steam. I have never purchased an early-access game or ever pre-ordered any game. And to this day, the number of times I purchased a game without any kind of discount is exactly once (The Wolf Among Us, it was going to get taken off the store). But sadly this kind of purchase behavior is not sustainable for AVNs. Especially the ones with a niche or extremely risque fetish/content.

I mean we live in a time when most people won't even bother playing before an AVN gets a third update, even though it's completely free lol And as such we are going round in a circle of doom.

 

[Anteron]

Maybe there should be a contract thing, that if something is abandoned they have to pay back everyone who is still a supporter back everything they made. Good incentive to complete.

 

[cxx]

Maybe there should be a contract thing, that if something is abandoned they have to pay back everyone who is still a supporter back everything they made. Good incentive to complete.

that wouldn't hold in any court.

 

[VForValhalla]

Maybe there should be a contract thing, that if something is abandoned they have to pay back everyone who is still a supporter back everything they made. Good incentive to complete.

lol I didn't give him a cent and I am still mad, because I spent over 5-7 hours with the game and loved it. I can't even imagine what my reaction would be if I was a paying customer and the dev took my money, basically wasted my time (in hindsight) and just gave a "I am about to make more money. Sorry sucker lol". Devs like these are making life harder for newer devs.

 

[flaviopaganini]

Maybe there should be a contract thing, that if something is abandoned they have to pay back everyone who is still a supporter back everything they made. Good incentive to complete.

The lawsuit against the creator on Patreon would likely not hold up, as the focus of the platform is not on purchasing products but on supporting the creator, allowing them to work on their projects. On Patreon, supporters contribute voluntarily, and the benefits offered are considered bonuses or extra rewards, not guaranteed as part of a commercial transaction. In contrast, on Steam, when you buy something with a clear promise of delivery, the consumer has the right to complain if the product is not provided, as Steam operates as a product-selling platform.

 

[Anteron]

The lawsuit against the creator on Patreon would likely not hold up, as the focus of the platform is not on purchasing products but on supporting the creator, allowing them to work on their projects. On Patreon, supporters contribute voluntarily, and the benefits offered are considered bonuses or extra rewards, not guaranteed as part of a commercial transaction. In contrast, on Steam, when you buy something with a clear promise of delivery, the consumer has the right to complain if the product is not provided, as Steam operates as a product-selling platform.

If there was a contract they had to (electronically) sign to be able to have anything on Patreon, it would.

 

[cxx]

If there was a contract they had to (electronically) sign to be able to have anything on Patreon, it would.

maybe but that could lead to 1-2 updates (tiny) per year.

 

[Anteron]

maybe but that could lead to 1-2 updates (tiny) per year.

Another good way would be if instead of by month they got paid by update, with a maximum of 1/month.

 

[cxx]

Another good way would be if instead of by month they got paid by update, with a maximum of 1/month.

well then tiny updates once a month.

 

[Anteron]

well then tiny updates once a month.

If they pulled bullshit, sane people would drop patronage...