Y'know, some devs would just not release an update during the holiday season while still collecting that fat patreon check. Most devs have a day job and do this in their spare time. So during the holiday season most working people take what is called a vacation. It's where you don't work. Devs like Bobby release a small, non-canon holiday update to fill the gap to please the fans while also having time to travel and see their families.
You people are insufferable with your entitlement. "Wahh, I pay $5 a month, why aren't you working on my new story update 24/7?" Grow up, get a job, go touch grass, then come back here with some respect and human decency.
All this arguing about "unnecessary" animations is just wasted time. Devs are going to make what they want to, if they want to listen to their patrons, that's on them. If not, it's still their choice. Frankly, what the average person wants doesn't matter. Sure, it's probably more lucrative for a Dev to listen to their fan base over what they want out of the media being created. But if what their fans want goes against what the Dev personally wants to do or convey, I'd say stick with the original plan. Devs lose sight of their own games when they keep listening to people they disagree with. That's what causes burnout, and that's what causes a game to get abandoned. Likewise only doing the same kind of animations for months to years at a time will get you burned out quickly. You gotta break up the monotony, and sometimes Devs just want to have fun and see what they can do, or learn how to do something new.
You gotta know, you're not going to a restaurant and ordering a steak. You're going to the theater to see a movie. This movie is still a work in progress and the script is still being written, but you wouldn't be messaging James Cameron how Avatar 3 should end. These people think so highly of themselves that they actually believe if the Dev doesn't do everything they want, the Dev won't make any money. Successful directors, same as Devs, are successful because they have a story to tell. It's their story, let them tell it. These people act like they read Steven King and email him later to make a book with a happy ending. Or email George RR Martin and tell him to stop killing off his characters. Tangent aside, this isn't "Interactive game developing 101". While some engagement with fans is good, I believe the silent majority outweighs the vocal minority. Weird a game is popular even though it has things I don't like in it, must be doomed.
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Just to mess with people: every time Luke and Kath walk outside, it should be animated. Every sip of coffee, every shift in posture. That's what the people really want, immersion. Trust me, I'm a professional armchair Dev. /s
Keep up the good work Bobby, take a break, see the family, travel, or don't.
Same to you all, happy holidays, and take a freaking break once in a while.
