If I were a game developer, I would manage expectations by delaying releases by one full update. For example, say v0.3 is the most recent publicly released version. Then, I'd be working on v0.5 with v0.4 already 100% complete. I only release v0.4 once I complete v0.5, etc. to stay ahead. In this way, you never have to scramble to push out an update to meet a release date - you can release almost at your leisure without pressure.
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This comment got me thinking ...
How to keep this scam rolling OR come back and build new trust quickly?
Assuming he for whatever reason actually has some ready-to-release stuff lying around.
What is one more delay, even cobbled together with a pause of pledges? Your credibility isn't there anymore, people aren't expecting this one release to be different - so what can you gain by this one release being fulfilled as promised?
On its own - nothing - it can't match expectations regardless of what you do and how good it might be.
It also doesn't solve the problem of keeping stuff coming from right now on or how to keep the scam rolling without too much actual work needed that distracts you from spending your cash - whatever the situation might be.
But what if you delayed one more time, and then split up your stash and released 100 renders a week? You could pretend a good amount of momentum and consistency before you had to provide actual new content / the next excuse cushioned by your late new credibility and all the new unsuspecting Patrons you gathered in between.
Of course, for this to work there had to exist actual renders in the first place.