I am glad you kind of mentioned that, as I am one of those: "I wonder what would happen if..." sort of people that wanted to see if me creating a game would be better or more well received than my novels (which it, thankfully, was).
That reminds me of one developer who (probably to avoid burnout), has been publishing short alternative stories for his characters (often involving NTR). There is a contingent who are whining at the developer for "wasting his time on things no one likes instead of the real game."
I'm glad the transition was good for you. I only did fanfic before, so I don't have the pedigree you do.
I think the biggest problem that I see from a majority of creators out there is that they think that this is "quick and easy" money and it really isn't.
No allusions in that regard. Part of my inspiration for getting into this field is seeing cases where the "quick and easy" approach was done leaving an unsatisfying product. I was about correct it to "work," but I think "product" fits in those cases.
There is a LOT of time that really goes into making a game. Even more-so, I am finding, since I switched to using Daz Studio to making one... rendering times take forfuckever and animations inside of it is pretty much impossible (and requires the use and knowledge of Blender, which I am trying to learn now, but yeah... may just hire someone that can).
I'm just starting out, but I hope I become successful enough to have a team to help streamline my process.
And that is another thing, having a team... it is pretty HARD to do anything without a good team, doing everything yourself takes even more time to produce something worth noting.
Definitely!
Then there is advertising and marketing, just because you make it doesn't mean people will come and buy it... like I said, I had 2.9 million downloads on mine just from here alone, but still could've made more money working at a McDonalds if you figure out the time (per hour) I work on building and rendering my game, versus the money I make from patrons.
Right now, my biggest resource is F95. Since my work is still in production (I bought a new 4090 machine, but I'm waiting on the RMA to send it back to get it fixed), all I can do is a few discussion threads.
So, you REALLY have to love what you are doing, because if you are expecting to get rich doing this... you are WRONG. Patrons and Pirates alike are privy now to those out there who will take advantage of them by milking them... so they wait till the game is far along in the development cycle or just plain finished before they will support someone anymore... and rightfully so.
I always wanted to spend my retirement years doing something creative. Right now, this satisfies that itch.
That's one of the reasons I decided to put my big stories on the back burner and work on a few short projects. I want to have some completed games out there. Also, I've seen how many people develop their craft in their first months and then become dissatisfied with early chapters. By doing stand-alone stories, I can let those works be what they are and hopefully move forward without trying to "George Lucas" them.
And, I think this is why we see so many unfinished games out there... also, in such cases like my own and "Agents of Karma", I realized that I was biting too much storyline off for just one game and had to divide it up a little more, plus I also have shitty health lately (3 major spine surgeries in almost in as many years... my third one will be in August/September)... I can't go out and work another job like some of these other creators... so, this is the only thing I can do to make money for my household...
Sorry to hear that. I'm now mildly disabled due to osteoarthritis and long covid exacerbating my asthma.
...and, while it isn't much, every little bit helps, and I also like the fact that I have people out there who are enjoying the adventures that I am working on creating for them (and myself).
That is my hope as well. I don't expect my works to be mainstream enough to have a huge support base (for instance, any "harem" scenarios will include LI agency), but I think there will be enough a mature player base to enjoy my stories.
I am lucky to have the friends that I have made here along the way, I am lucky to have the support that I have and I am lucky I have the talent to do something that I can to help take care of my wife and bring some money in so it isn't all on her to do.
So, yeah, LUCK plays a big part in it too!
I know what you're saying. I've made a lot of connections to some of the "elder" participants who value the same story driven works I do.
I guess I do have one "staff member." I recently moved in with my daughter's family, and that includes sharing a unit with my ex-wife. She's been a valuable help by being a person I can speak candidly about all this, my projects as well as the good and bad of F95. She's helped refine a few of my ideas.
One just needs to learn to either block it out or be a stubborn asshole like myself.
I've already starting preemptive ignoring. Ignoring the people whose opinions I can not an iota about. I know they will have nothing but complaints about my approach to writing AVNs, my approach to sex, consent, and agency.
Yeah, as you know, I don't mind community involvement when it comes to mine. I don't mind adding more situations of such and such in the game or even bringing characters back (such as our loveable FAP, Syrina), but yeah... discarding things that or characters meant to be in the story, because people demand it... well, fuckem... many of those who bitch the loudest would never pay in the first place, so why the hell would I listen to them in the first place?
Yup. I'm open to feedback. I presented one idea in a discussion group, something my housemate inspired. I had both "that sounds neat," and "That's going to be a pain to do right," comments.
I REALLY like it when someone yells at me and says: "I can't believe you did that!" or "What are you, Crazy?"
What about those who try to offer business and marketing advice? "If you would take out this kink, you'd make so much more money..."
Um... I am a writer who has multiple character voices in my head, all yelling and clamoring to get out... what part of that exactly sounds sane to you in the first place?
I definitely get that. One of my magnum opus projects is a steampunk story. I initially thought I'd create it with a multitude of gender/orientation options. Over time, the cis female character has spoken to me the most. Makes a huge project much easier, so win/win
A number of my latest story ideas have come out of my dreams. So those characters definitely exist in my head and continue to develop. There is one idea I might not do for a long time, if ever.
Two nuns in a car on a road trip. They pick up a hitchhiker (canonically male) and continue their cross country trip. At some point they must stop for the night. They can only manage one room, one bed (yeah classic), and the AC is out so they must sleep in their underwear. The three of them lay down to bed.....
Nothing happens because they're nuns and he's not a creep. That was the dream--honest!
In any case, my ADD brain has provided me stories. So many stories that I'll need to have a staff if I want to get this list done within my lifetime!
I did pretty good sales on my novels... I probably would've done better if I hadn't self published them, actually go through a publisher and let them handle the marketing and stuff... but I didn't want to sacrifice control of my characters or story to them, so self-published. Had enough of the lose control of my IP to places like Marvel... so yeah, didn't make as much as I probably could have made, but definitely have made more long term with my games.
Good to hear you were successful. My it expand exponentially with the games. Sounds like we both approach our works as works, not mere products. Like you said, if you think you'll be hugely successful, the chances are pretty slim is this more saturated environment. That's a reason I'm dedicated to story driven AVNs instead of "porn games."