what if steam feedback is not very good…
steam users may be more interested in adult games like AI Shoujo and Honey Select
Can't imagine their reaction to a visual novel with few adult contents
anyway best wish to Hope and Deluca Family
The game is very well regarded here, in a community full of thirsty perverts, for reasons that don't have much to do with its sexual content or scarcity thereof. What makes this game excellent for many people, me included, is the plot and the characters. In a marketplace like steam, that's not as thirsty, I'm certain it will do well, as long as it gets discovered (which is another hurdle altogether).
The thing is, (I'm no expert but from what I heard and seen) channel growth seems to be a lot more complex than that.
Just because it is updated frequently doesn't necessarily equate to increase in Patreon numbers (take another mafia game Oath of Loyalty for example, a good game, which if I remember correctly had pretty consistent release schedule yet had nowhere near enough Patreon support. And with OOL Part 1 done, now dev has put up a goal which would allow Part 2 to be made, but there is nowhere near enough support for it).
Also, if the game has some kinks (like incest etc etc) which people may go crazy over, the update frequency would not matter, people would still likely support the game even if the dev doesn't release for 6 months or 7 months (the whole power of the devoted kink-fandom lol).
Seen at least 1 or 2 games (which I won't name) out there which I don't think are good games at all, plus update frequency has been awful to say the least, yet amount of dough the devs get due to the game having particular kink is staggering.
Having said that, I'm not saying Hopes shouldn't update the game frequently. In fact, myself and probably every DeLuca fan would welcome it very much wholeheartedly.
It's just that I'm saying even if Hopes updates frequently, the growth of the Patreon members may not be as great as one would expect due to a lot of factors which would come into play.
Maybe another big factor are the amount/quality of sex scenes?
Don't get me wrong, i really like the in-game character development pace and it would have been weird if the sex scenes happen to fast.
But with more frequent updates you would of course implicitly achieve the character development stage earlier where sex scenes/ more naughtier scenes are more reasonable.
Another potential problem will be steam. While i think the inital feedback will be positiv. Steam users are way more prone to review bomb (in-develompent, erotic) games if the updates take to long...
Well maybe the incoming steam earnings encourages hopesgaming to go full time.
This dude was born to be a storyteller and not to work in a restaurant
what if steam feedback is not very good…
steam users may be more interested in adult games like AI Shoujo and Honey Select
Can't imagine their reaction to a visual novel with few adult contents
Another potential problem will be steam. While i think the inital feedback will be positiv. Steam users are way more prone to review bomb (in-develompent, erotic) games if the updates take to long...
Well maybe the incoming steam earnings encourages hopesgaming to go full time.
This dude was born to be a storyteller and not to work in a restaurant
I don't see it quite that negative. Steam has a gazillion of games, if not more, so people are looking for their niche. I don't think too many not interested generally in the first place will stumble across this game. And if - maybe they get hooked? I did the Steam travel starting with HuniePop and then discovering VNs there, which led me here in the end.
I don't see it quite that negative. Steam has a gazillion of games, if not more, so people are looking for their niche. I don't think too many not interested generally in the first place will stumble across this game. And if - maybe they get hooked? I did the Steam travel starting with HuniePop and then discovering VNs there, which led me here in the end.
I have to disagree.
People who are into the genre or specifically the game, are more likely to be demanding/'emotional invested' and to actively follow the development, and per se be more demanding.
The 'i work half-time on the game' will not work with the steam base. Even with the 'in-development' tag, steamers (is that a word? lol) will feel more like they bought a game and not that they support a guy on his hobby side project.
I have to disagree.
People who are into the genre or specifically the game, are more likely to be demanding/'emotional invested' and to actively follow the development, and per se be more demanding.
The 'i work half-time on the game' will not work with the steam base. Even with the 'in-development' tag, steamers (is that a word? lol) will feel more like they bought a game and not that they support a guy on his hobby side project.
Ah, sorry, then I misunderstood your point, that is of course true. I was thinking/understanding it more along the lines of the other post I was replying to, that they have a certain (limited) expectation of how a game can be gameplay wise and may be discouraged by the VN style. But you meant the development style. My bad, reading before the second coffee is a plan that failed.
Even with the 'in-development' tag, steamers (is that a word? lol) will feel more like they bought a game and not that they support a guy on his hobby side project.
So do a lot patrons. It doesn't make them correct.
Absolutely correct that people don't manage their own expectations very well. But, really, that's on them.
Being on Steam, as well as Patreon, indisputably opens the door to more potential supporters.
It's like only selling your product in one shop.
If you can increase your market exposure & sell your product in 2 shops (& the new one's much bigger) then you have far greater potential to reach more people &, therefore, make more money.
Also, I'm pretty sure that the Steam release is planned for after Chapter 1 is completed. In fact, I think it's why Hopes is moving to "chapters".
So people paying on Steam will be buying the whole first chapter of the game. But not the whole game itself.
So do a lot patrons. It doesn't make them correct.
Absolutely correct that people don't manage their own expectations very well. But, really, that's on them.
Being on Steam, as well as Patreon, indisputably opens the door to more potential supporters.
I think the pressure for frequent updates is higher on steam than on patreon and i think people buy/support the dev on steam with a different mindset than on patreon.
Being on Steam, as well as Patreon, indisputably opens the door to more potential supporters.
It's like only selling your product in one shop.
If you can increase your market exposure & sell your product in 2 shops (& the new one's much bigger) then you have far greater potential to reach more people &, therefore, make more money.
I also think that publishing the game on steam could be a huge financial/fame win. I was just pointing at the fact that most people who buy an early access game on steam expect that the devs to work fulltime and deliver what they promised in the game description (Obviously its up to the dev what they promise in there). The pressure on the developer is higher.
Also, I'm pretty sure that the Steam release is planned for after Chapter 1 is completed. In fact, I think it's why Hopes is moving to "chapters".
So people paying on Steam will be buying the whole first chapter of the game. But not the whole game itself.
I think the pressure for frequent updates is higher on steam than on patreon and i think people buy/support the dev on steam with a different mindset than on patreon.
I also think that publishing the game on steam could be a huge financial/fame win. I was just pointing at the fact that most people who buy an early access game on steam expect that the devs to work fulltime and deliver what they promised in the game description (Obviously its up to the dev what they promise in there). The pressure on the developer is higher.
Unfortunately, many expect that very same thing on Patreon, too, despite it not being what the platform is about. I mean anything explicitely promised should be kept as good as possible, but that goes without saying for any promise within patreon or wherever else. But many people think they buy a product and are entitled to certain developments, time schedules, and so on, which they just are not.
I think the pressure for frequent updates is higher on steam than on patreon and i think people buy/support the dev on steam with a different mindset than on patreon.
I agree that frequency needs to be higher, for greater commercial success on Steam, but I don't think it's negative pressure, unless the dev allows it to be.
If I was a Steam customer, I would probably expect a full Chapter each year, or thereabouts, maybe.
If it took 3 years, instead, I'd probably still play the 2nd, if I enjoyed the 1st.
I don't dispute that they buy with a different mindset, but it's still on them to manage their own expectations.
Not all patrons think they're entitled to a completed game. A number unjustifiably do. It's the same thing.
Read the terms of purchase, before agreeing and paying, then they shouldn't have false expectations.
I also think that publishing the game on steam could be a huge financial/fame win. I was just pointing at the fact that most people who buy an early access game on steam expect that the devs to work fulltime and deliver what they promised in the game description (Obviously its up to the dev what they promise in there). The pressure on the developer is higher.
Yeah, bigger customer base doesn't automatically equate to more customers, but it does equate to more chance of customers.
Again, though, "they expect".
I would expect that Hopes would make clear on Steam, same as on Patreon, precisely what people are buying into with their support.
If they choose to expect something other than that, it's on them.
As it's the whole chapter that's being released there, it's a moot point, really.
That's what they purchase & that's what they'll receive. Chapter 1.
That's a good point. People who buy Chapter 1 on Steam, but don't want to wait for Chapter 2, may well become Patrons.
I agree with you about the length of time per Chapter. As I say, I would probably expect a year.
Half Life 2, Episode 2 took about a year & a half, after Episode 1.
But, as he's stated upfont that he's a one man team, working as a hobby, I don't think I'd be fair to place the same expectations for output on this.
Unfortunately, many expect that very same thing on Patreon, too, despite it not being what the platform is about. I mean anything explicitely promised should be kept as good as possible, but that goes without saying for any promise within patreon or wherever else. But many people think they buy a product and are entitled to certain developments, time schedules, and so on, which they just are not.
Can add "content" to that list of believed entitlements, also.
Those "My kink must be catered to!" types. lol
The opposite side, too - "I don't like this kink, it must be removed from the game!".
Looking at the image above, I thought perhaps the events might happen like the following :
Gracie and MC watching a video (on Gracie's laptop).
Gracie: (watching oral sex) Why are they doing that?
MC: To give pleasure. It's called oral sex, but people also refer it as "eating a girl out" or "going down on a girl"
Gracie: Haha! That's weird way to describe that.
MC: It is what it is.
Gracie: ..... I......I want to learn why it gives pleasure.
MC: This isn't something you find out unless you experience it yourself.
Gracie: I knew you'd jump at the opportunity, Mr. Indecent!
MC: Hey, you're the one who said you wanted to learn!
Gracie: Unlike you, for me this is purely for educational purpose!
MC: Well, as I said, you won't find out why unless you've had oral sex.
Gracie: ....................(in tiny voice) Fine.
MC: What?
Gracie: I said fine! Go down on me!
MC: (thinks to himself) 'I just don't get this girl'
Can add "content" to that list of believed entitlements, also.
Those "My kink must be catered to!" types. lol
The opposite side, too - "I don't like this kink, it must be removed from the game!".
Looking at the image above, I thought perhaps the events might happen like the following :
Gracie and MC watching a video (on Gracie's laptop).
Gracie: (watching oral sex) Why are they doing that?
MC: To give pleasure. It's called oral sex, but people also refer it as "eating a girl out" or "going down on a girl"
Gracie: Haha! That's weird way to describe that.
MC: It is what it is.
Gracie: ..... I......I want to learn why it gives pleasure.
MC: This isn't something you find out unless you experience it yourself.
Gracie: I knew you'd jump at the opportunity, Mr. Indecent!
MC: Hey, you're the one who said you wanted to learn!
Gracie: Unlike you, for me this is purely for educational purpose!
MC: Well, as I said, you won't find out why unless you've had oral sex.
Gracie: ....................(in tiny voice) Fine.
MC: What?
Gracie: I said fine! Go down on me!
MC: (thinks to himself) 'I just don't get this girl'
If I didn't know her any better, I might be inclined to say "Damn girl, your mixed signals are confusing the heck out of me. You need to make up your mind."
If I didn't know her any better, I might be inclined to say "Damn girl, your mixed signals are confusing the heck out of me. You need to make up your mind."
Looking at the image above, I thought perhaps the events might happen like the following :
Gracie and MC watching a video (on Gracie's laptop).
Gracie: (watching oral sex) Why are they doing that?
MC: To give pleasure. It's called oral sex, but people also refer it as "eating a girl out" or "going down on a girl"
Gracie: Haha! That's weird way to describe that.
MC: It is what it is.
Gracie: ..... I......I want to learn why it gives pleasure.
MC: This isn't something you find out unless you experience it yourself.
Gracie: I knew you'd jump at the opportunity, Mr. Indecent!
MC: Hey, you're the one who said you wanted to learn!
Gracie: Unlike you, for me this is purely for educational purpose!
MC: Well, as I said, you won't find out why unless you've had oral sex.
Gracie: ....................(in tiny voice) Fine.
MC: What?
Gracie: I said fine! Go down on me!
MC: (thinks to himself) 'I just don't get this girl'
Are there any, well... let's call it"dangers" - because lack of a better fitting therm, for a dev (any dev who decides to take this step) to put a game on steam? Is this in any way connected with financial obligations or the equivalent? Or can a dev just throw his stuff on steam with a hit or shit mindset and watch what happens?
As there any, well... let's call it"dangers" - because lack of a better fitting therm, for a dev (any dev who decides to take this step) to put a geam on steam? Is this in any way connected with financial obligations or the equivalent? Or can a dev just throw his stuff on steam with a hit or shit mindset and watch what happens?
As far as I'm aware there's an admin cost of a 100 bucks or something. Once up there's review process to make sure the game's worth a damn and not just a "Hello World" type thing, but beyond that you're golden.
There's some guidelines Steam enforce from games on its store, but it's pretty high level. Obviously they used to ban all sexually explicit games but now they're allowed so long as it's not too extreme I'd guess.
No exact date, last update on his patreon was he was going to collate what he's got early next month and see what else is needed so we will probably know more then
