Every now and then, I check in on WVM to see if the needle has moved. It is pretty incredible to me how loyal the fans are in keeping WVM's finances as high as they are. I first came across WVM maybe 2 to 3 years ago. In that time, I have released a novel series, written a successful Literotica series, and landed a writing role with an AVN studio. All this, while struggling with ADHD, anxiety, and depression.
My thoughts regarding the steadfastness of paid followers for WVM fluctuate often. On some level, I even admire that kind of dedication and hope that one day I can write something that commands that much ardent support and fervor from a community (not for the monetary sake, but more for the knowledge of knowing I've created something that means that much to so many).
However, since coming to work in the AVN space, I will admit I often feel a sense of envy for the situation the DEV has here. Even achieving what I would consider a moderate level of success in my creative ambitions and dreams, I do not think I have earned in a year what WVM makes in a month. Money is always tight, and completing scripts, updates, etc, is an actual necessity just to live month to month.
Through my dips in and out of the threads and updates (or lack thereof) of content for WVM, I often see calls for players to drop support as a means to incentivize the game's development. But, in recent times, I kind of wish the supporters of this game would send even a portion of their WVM sub to lesser known devs and creatives (NOT ME IN CASE IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M ANGLING FOR A HANDOUT).
Still, I see so many promising solo devs and games stuck in situations where they genuinely want to get their story out, to be able to quit a day job to devote more time to projects, or to invest in better hardware and assets so their game doesn't look like it was birthed on the PS1. There are so many creators out there with great promise and a genuine drive to deliver, but whose situations mean they simply don't have the monetary support to do so, especially in the economy we are enduring today. Great concept games are abandoned because newer developers simply have to choose their 'day job' work and paying the bills over making games, worlds, and characters they are passionate about and wish to share with the world.
It makes me wish that, for even a month, the community around WVM would just consider diverting some of that money they pour into WVM elsewhere, to other worthy projects and causes in the AVN sphere.
If Graphtreon is to be believed, WVM earns between $7-18k a month. Imagine what that would mean for a smaller developer starting out and needing just a little goodwill and public support to get over the initial hurdle of setting up their game and devoting the time needed to get it off the ground. That $11k WVM receives a month could probably help a solo developer keep going, buying assets, working full time on their passion, realizing their dreams, and keep the lights on for possibly a whole year. Even spread across a swathe of different projects and developers, that kind of money would go a long way.
I do not know what kind of overheads WVM and the developer has. But I find it hard to conceive them NEEDING $7-18k a month to survive.
Of course, I say none of this expecting anyone who supports WVM to change their attitudes or support. To be fair, I don't even want to discourage anyone from supporting the game. I know it has meant a lot to a lot of people, myself included. I still pop by now and then in the hope that something has moved. Still, to actually see the figures WVM is making a month compared to their yearly output, and contrasting this to the developer updates I have to read now and then where a struggling creative has to tell their community they are pausing their project because they need to focus on their day job and simple survival... it's disheartening to think about.
This is all an excercise in futility making these grand thoughts or arguments. I know it won't change anything. Still, it was on my mind as I made my yearly pilgrimage to check on progress here, and I felt I needed to pen it down for my own sake if nothing else.
