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Decisions... (Patreon)

Published:
2025-07-01 21:00:57
Imported:
2025-07

Content

Hey guys,I hope you're all doing well! I'm currently dying from the heatwave we're dealing with... but I've also been thinking about the future of the game and my future as well... you guys know that I'm always transparent, sometimes even too transparent as what's going on...I love working on Shadows of Ambition and it's something I never thought I'd be able to do, but thanks to your support, I'm able to work on something I truly believe in. So much so that recently I've been considering on either cutting my hours with my job to have more time to work on the game or the completely stop with my job in order to work on the game fulltime. The reason why I've been considering it, is mainly due to how much of a work-a-holic I am... I work 18 hours a day, but I also notice that it's starting to catch up to me. I thought the break would refresh me, but at the same time, I'm struggling to find the energy to be as productive as I'd like to be.

For me personally, I'd love to be able to prioritise one over the other. Currently, especially with how things are going, I love the stability of my job. I get paid a decent enough salary for my age and for my profession, but at the same time, since working on Shadows, I get more enjoyment out of creating this game than anything else. However... I can't commit too much time on Shadows, while the big boosts during update times are nice, seeing 50% of you guys leave after an update... is a bit rough for me personally. I understand everyones reason for doing so, but maybe I let that stuff get into my head. The graph below will show the drop off, but this is only the first wave. Around 300 people have cancelled since the update... which is kinda heartbreaking..

I thought that after Chapter 5, a lot more people would stick around... to support the development of the game, but maybe I was expecting a bit too much on that front. With how much the membership fluctuates, it's holding me back from fully committing to the game one way or another. So I'm kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place...

Maybe this is just a little rant or maybe I'm just looking for some advice from you guys on what to do. Because I'm running low on energy these days. I don't think doing both 100% is sustainable for the long term, at least not for my mental health.

Either way, I'll post a dev log tomorrow with the progress as things are progressing nicely. Much love,AbyssGames

Files

Comments

Erin Gabriël

I genuinely resub every update, and only unsub because I dont like autopay (cuz i tend to forget when it comes out). Ive seen devs offer updates for a price on Patreon too, like you're buying an expansion deck in a store. Perhaps an idea?

DenSasaki

Brother, thank you for sharing your thoughts. The burnout is a hell of a thing and I go through this for a couple of months now. The important thing is to go further. It's ok to take a break somethimes. Couple of days. Make that weekend longer. Your health is more important than anything else. That amount of unsubscribers may be discouraging, but it's just a period. I loved a lot the last update. Maybe some people this days wish to see more and more content and they just don't have patience to wait for the next chapter. That doesn't mean that your story is bad. It's amazing! Take care of you, your health, I wish you well, hope to see the story continue in the future.

JS

The tough truth nobody wants to say is that you have to do what makes the most sense for you. You enjoy working on this game more, so you have to sit down and do the math on if you can support yourself from just working on this game including the fluctuations. If it doesn't make financial sense to quit or slow down your job and you're working too many hours between the two, you need to slow down the game EDIT: As an extra note, it just may be healthier to view those people who never unsubscribe as your supporters, and watch for that number to go up or down. The people who unsub between updates can be appreciated visitors in the mental

Book

Thats a hard choice indeed, i've been subbed since the launch of ch2 and i wish people would keep the sub aswell cus you guys really deserve it with the time you put in, you especially with how hard you go at it

Fabien

There's always a drop after the month of the update, I've seen other (now successful) devs complain about that too in the past. The good thing is, most of those who stayed will probably never leave if you continue the game. And even of you stopped making games, a large part would remain subscribed for some weird reasons, I've seen it elsewhere. So while it's hard to keep your new patrons the first month, afterwards it's very easy, you gained those that stayed almost for good.

MegazordDoForro

If being a game dev is what you really like to do, do the math and see if the earnings are enough for you to live off of it. I'm sure that the few who can support and who really like your work will always be around.

Velvet Ink

I think the best approach is to find a healthy balance—enjoy the process as much as you can and try to quiet those perfectionist devils on your shoulders (easier said than done, I know). My advice would be: if you decide to go full-time on the project without addressing those internal pressures first, you might just end up in the same cycle—working 18+ hours a day, but this time with the added instability you mentioned. Hope my comment helps! Personally, I really love your project and I’m excited to see where it goes from here. Take care of yourself first!

sac812

I can certainly understand your frustration with the subscriber fluctuations, but I do hope you're able to find a perspective where you don't take it personally. The thing to remember is that it's a numbers game, and there are many developers worthy of support (and many who are not). I consider myself to be fairly selective, but at last count, I had somewhere over 70 accounts that I "follow" at a minimum on Patreon ... to support all of them on an ongoing basis is simply not sustainable without unlimited resources (which I don't have). It's important to me to support the work that goes into these, and for that reason, I always make sure to sign up around a release at the $22 level so as to maximize that support. But I can't do that *every* month for every developer I'd like to ... I'd go broke pretty quickly if I did. I may or may not represent your typical AVN enjoyer, but for me, as a consumer, it's a monthly battle to avoid spreading myself too thin while still contributing as much as I can to the games I enjoy and the people who create them.

Newbe163

One way to change: Have the monthly fee increased, but offer more than 10% reduction on the yearly one. MNGF has done it, was one of the first, where I chose to sign off on a yearly base. People are often greedy and hop from release to release on a monthly base. The quality of your novel deserves a long lasting support.

Blade

I like to sub when an update is around just to get it faster. But since the world is expensive nowadays i mostly cancle my sub after that. Since you can buy huge Story videogames in sales for around 30€ it is not especially cheap to pay even the lowest tier sub with Update access (5,50€ + Tax) multiple times for a game that is not even finished. I still do it for the games that i like on Patreon but i won't pay for a month without an update. Especially since there are more then one good game that i pay from time to time to get a faster release. Since there are many that do it this way i think it is normal no matter how good an update is the subs will drop after it. The question for work is difficult. I think it depends on your living sittuation and the kind of job you have. Do you have to feed someone else and would not be able to get an equally good job again if you want then don't quit. But if you could an no one depends on you maybe go for full time. Then you could try one Update a month which would solve the drop of Problem. Last thing where i can just speak for myself is that i like it more to make a one time payment. Like if i could just buy the game now and get every future Update. I know that Abos are better and make more money but it could be an Option.

GreenRex

Im from a third world country where the exchange rate doesnt reflect how much of a paycheck is invested. While i would love to support the development through and through, the reality is that i cannot afford it when there is no update. I would like to propose shorter updates content wise, but make the update monthly so it is more frequent. Slow and steady wins the race

Tristan vdm

This is a tough situation. But be careful — many of the responses you’ll get might be a bit biased. Most of the people who’ll comment are either still subscribed, or hoping you'll push out updates faster. A big part of your audience probably won’t fully engage with the position you’re in. Some might not even follow the more personal discussions on Discord. They have their own lives and subscribe mostly for the new updates, not necessarily to support your well-being long-term. That’s why, in my opinion, your decision should be pragmatic: “If I go full-time on game development, will I realistically earn more (cumulatively) than if I stick to my current job or reduce development time?” One possible middle ground could be changing your update rhythm — maybe consider releasing smaller updates more regularly, like once a month. (For the record, I love your current rhythm because the updates are so generous! But in the end, this is primarily a way for you to sustain your life.) Another option: introduce a higher-tier subscription. That way, the most passionate fans who can afford it could support you more directly and help offset those who unsubscribe right after an update.

Angello Belmont

Your transparency and honesty is appreciated. It takes guts to be open like that, especially when you’re trying to navigate such a personal and professional crossroads. I work in business, and I wanted to share some perspective that I hope helps you stay grounded and focused. Here’s the thing: A lot of people don’t see Patreon as a way to support you, they see it as a way to get the game. For them, it's less "supporting a creator" and more like "buying access." That mindset might feel discouraging, but it's also a business opportunity. Here's what I mean: 1. Treat the game as a product and sell it like one. There’s a real audience for Shadows of Ambition out there. If you haven't already, promote it on itch.io, Steam (wishlists!), Reddit, Discords, and forums where fans of narrative, NTS, or indie games hang out. Many people won’t subscribe monthly, but they will buy a finished game or come back for paid expansions. That’s normal — and expected. 2. Don't fear the chart, just learn its rhythm. Growth in any work is never linear. The drop-off you're seeing? It’s part of the cycle. Big spikes during updates followed by dips are natural. But if you zoom out, you'll see the bigger picture: even with cancellations, your current audience is larger than it was in January. That means you're growing, even if it doesn’t always feel that way week to week. Subscriptions, expansions, engagement, it’s all variable. What you can control is how you position your product and your brand. You’re not “just” building a game. You’re building a studio, a reputation, a long-term presence. That takes time, energy, and resilience, but it also takes stepping back and treating this like a business, not just a passion project. So, give yourself permission to breathe. Reassess. Maybe it’s not all-or-nothing right now, maybe it’s just a shift in how you think about your time and energy. I’m rooting for you man. A lot of us are.

Yamamoto

Do whatever makes the most sense for your life and your financial situation. Full stop. Would it be amazing for us if you did switch and work on SoA full time? Absolutely. But if that happens and it turns out that it's the wrong decision and you need a full time job for the stability it provides or anything else, you'll have cut ties with one that works for you, and it could easily spiral. Your work so far on the game has been nothing short of exemplary, and the worst case scenario would be leaving it unfinished. Take care of yourself first, and everything else will work itself out later.

Uwanova

Most would see it as a bite-size purchases per update, and lean towards the fear that "support' does NOT guarantee that the contribution would be used for the Development, or that the game can be abandoned at any time during an ongoing subscription. It's also unfortunately the business model of this particular type of genre/monetization. As most would abuse and stretch as long as they can before patrons start getting impatient. Rinse and repeat... Also take into account that we're buying a somewhat "invisible" product and or services with no end in sight. Meaning that there's no guarantee of when the next update going to be or if the quality and quantity would be consistent. My advice is to invest your income to build a larger team that can guarantee release schedules. This does not mean cutting corners and releasing smaller content in quicker successions. Just mean that you have a better grasp on deadlines and goals per chapter. The fluctuations of payments are also a reflection of fluctuating schedules. So if you can guarantee that, I think more would be more confident in sticking around.

balboa1964

Hello everyone, unfortunately I’m not a member (yet) but I do have 11 Patreon memberships, I really like how transparent you are with your members, it’s a great value to have, some of my favorite devs have great communication and put out updates every week, the devs that I admire most are the devs that release updates faster but are shorter, it keeps the interest of your community/patreons instead of releasing larger updates every several months, every dev that I have a membership with I found on F95, I have hundreds of games on the F95 updater and within the last couple of months some very popular and big time games have gone abandoned, ya know why, the devs burnt themselves out, 18 hours a day is waaaaayyyy too long of a day, you are going to burn yourself out and be very miserable in the end, I am not a dev and I don’t know how much work it entails to develop a game but you have to try and find a happy medium!!! Do you know any other devs? Try to ask them how to manage work and developing a game, to me it seems like your game is very popular and well liked, it would be a shame to you and the community to abandon it, but you can’t burn yourself out either, anyway this is just my opinion, I hope you find a way to manage everything and I wish you the best of luck

AbyssGames

I see a lot of people suggestion smaller updates, and while it is something I could do, at the same time, I want every update to feel "worth it". I want plenty of progression and plenty of content per update so that everyone can really enjoy it (and bust multiple loads hehe). I might just be overthinking things, the heat is just sucking my energy out currently. My days are just a bit shit at the moment, hopefully I'll be able to get back on track though. Every update drops between 45-75 days. It's a medium and length I'm happy with as it's not too long of a wait between updates.

AbjectlyCasey

You're getting great advice already. I worked for Bethesda on TES4 and 5 and hated it, mostly. And the only positive I got from it was what I learned and left with, nothing I created. Anything I did was mutilated, cloned, processed and spun... for the greater good. Having said that, I got paid well, every payday. They could afford it because they were always punching out updates, storylines, code and artwork on an hourly basis because they could afford lots of people like me. And why Skyrim cost $55 even back then. Add people to your mix, drop big updates 3 weeks apart, or small ones every 2 ... religiously. Your biggest issue is tackling a narrow trope... it doesn't appeal to the majority of gamers. And I've said it to anybody who'll listen that from a strategic marketing standpoint the storylines have to expand beyond the netorare/netorase limits to choices that allow the submissive cucks to be shamed and used, AND the harem oriented base an option to dip their toes without going down the slutfest rabbit hole. It's not you, it's your market that causes the problem. Until you're pushing out stuff like NLT gaming is, this won't be a source of income like a full time job provides. The most well known players in this genre see the same spikes you do. Don't let your pride keep you from reaching out to them on Discord. It can't hurt. You can't fulfill the desire for your product because you don't have enough resources and time. But you can't bring anyone else on board and pay them to take parts of it off your plate for the exact same reason. Which means this can't be a fiscal success, but rather an artistic one. This is your baby, and right now you can't have anyone else babysit. Talk to like minded people with the 3080s or 4090s to do your renders. See if they're interested in helping and learning the stuff you do. They might even do it for free. Network with the artists and coders on Patreon, pick their brains. Maybe they'll offer a few hours to advance your code based on the story if it's far enough along. You've taken the first step by talking to us, now go talk to the folks who make the parts. That's the best and most straightforward two cents I've got. You've done the work and people like it. But you've got to define your market and your goals. If you hybridize your paths to bring in more mainstream interest you may lose the hardcore fetishists to some degree. Which means more paths, more choices and more work. I'm NOT telling you what I think is right, only my opinion based on what I've seen myself. Absolutely the best of luck no matter what you decide, you've earned it!

AbyssGames

I'm probably just overthinking a lot of things. I think I was expecting a bit too much at times or setting my own bar a bit too high. I will probably reduce my hours at my job, not so that I can work on the game more, but to have a bit more... time to rest up, a better balance so to speak

Sludge

Try not to take the drop in subs personally. It is not a reflection of your work or anything like that. This sort of thing just comes with the territory when operating with relatively long dev cycles. Many people just do not utilize many of the alternative benefits of a Patreon membership. (e.g. People who are social are not going to see value in discord access. And, people who play for the buildup and writing are not going to find as much value in individual renders, and so on.) As such, when a month rolls in that does not have an update release, it can be difficult for a lot of people to justify keeping a sub active. Especially given the difficult economic situations that many people around the world are in right now. It can feel harsh, I understand. Especially considering that the platform's primary purpose is creator support. However, the reality is that money is scarce for a lot of people right now. So, people just can't afford to support every single dev they follow and instead opt to sub to different devs at different times for specific benefits (usually update releases) and then move on until the next release rolls around. In this regard, long dev cycles are a double edged sword. They allow updates to have much more content but make it easier for a lot of people to cancel their sub knowing that they would not get an update with their next monthly payment. That is why you usually see more stable sub counts for developers that use shorter dev cycles (e.g. Le Stag)

solaryo

Oh wow, I didn't thought that much people would leave after an update :/ But man maybe wait a little bit more, you need a solid base of monthly subscribers to do that move I think. You need no have enough to live to go full time. Of course it would be perfect for us and you but I'm sure that moment will come ! You guys are putting so much work and passion on it to make it work, trust the process it will pay ! Much love

solaryo

As you said a lot of us are rooting for him. And we just have to check all the answers here (in a short period of time), people take time to answer and encourage. That's really nice to see all of this love and interest for the project. There's something more in his work, and im sure he can gain that reputation as u said

J Baron

It’s a tough decision to make. Let’s look at two developers I support besides you. Mircom is the developer for The Adventurous Couple. Thst game has been out for 6 years and just last year did he make enough $ so he could work full time on his game. He puts updates out every month and on top of that shares spoiler scenes and lays out the characters he will incorporate in the next update. Realize there are two things to take away from that, first is it takes a long time to build up a base of fans and the second thing is you have to give people a reason to stay as members besides the updates. The other is Exciting Games. That has been around for four years and is a fun game. But he doesn’t have many paid members because (and he has admitted this) he isn’t good at communicating. So take that for what it is and realize it may just take some time.

AbyssGames

I wouldn't consider my dev cycle long. I also don't like comparing myself to phone games, even though Le Stag's is a good example of one done right, they also require substantial less effort than a VN.

Harted

I think you'll get more people who stick every new update, tbh i wont cancel mine and this is since chapter 5, this became my favorite game and i guess alot of people will be like me in future with future chapters. Dont overthink it brother let it happens i think someday you"ll be able to focus fully on the game without fear. Love you bro, keep the game going like you always did if you're able to. The important thing you have to see is how many peoples stay after each update and if it grows i think you can consider this number a definitive one and i would add do what you like to do without any regret. And btw i think the heatwave is killing us all and this is probably working your mind too ahah

Harted

I dont know if smaller update would make things better. I wrote you a message. Wait for the end of the heatwave i think dont overwork take care of yourself bro <3

balboa1964

I like the way you think, options options options, people like to control the game and make their own decisions, at least I do, I don’t know how hard it would be to change the story but if you were to give more options like not sharing if ya don’t want to, or maybe having a mini harem as an option , this way like Kevin said the game will appeal to more people and that means more members, it’s just my lowly opinion, I hate see games become abandoned, it makes me feel bad for the dev and the community, but what do I know lol, for instance, one person in this discussion said to put your game on itch.io, I think that might be a good idea as well, I can’t really afford anymore memberships right now but I just purchased a game on there from another dev, he/she also mentioned steam, in my opinion steam sucks, they ban everything that they don’t agree with, but again I wish you the best in your decision

AbjectlyCasey

Good point about itch.io - and something I didn't get into is multiple platforms cuz my fingers were outthinking my brain LOL You put it very transparently - players controlling the game being key. If players aren't controlling the outcome then it's a comic book with a predetermined ending. It's also a bitch to add multiple choices, weight them appropriately and code them into one of 3 or more endings. It's a nasty circle that needs time and attention, both of which indie devs have very little of at the start.

PatreonTed

Smaller updates is fine IMO, its feels like it's just a small number of vocal morons that whine about updates being too short. I think there's a decent chance of burnout if you try to push too much too fast. If it were me, I certainly wouldn't quit my job to work on it, but you have the best viewpoint on what will work for you.

Sludge

Fair point! I should have defined what I meant by a "long" dev cycle. I did not mean that your dev cycle was a long period of time. Basically, what I meant was, the longer the dev cycle relative to other dev cycles, the more difficult it is to retain subs because the primary reward (game updates) is given less frequently. You see the same trend in all sorts of Patreon content, not just phone games. It is never a reflection of people's work. It is just Patrons trying to spend as efficiently as possible. However, despite all of this, I should really clarify that this does not mean a shorter dev cycle is better than a longer one by any means. The shortening an update window can absolutely negatively impact quality, update length, developer health, and many other aspects of the experience lol

isleepizi

I believe even some of the top creators see down points in subs between content updates, unfortunately that's just the way the dice roll, but the more content that is released I think the more steady income of subs you'll have. You could try incentivizing people more such as more polls for in game decisions, giving an animation voted on by the community outside of the story sort of as a "What if". Other than that I think you do a really great job communicating developments and thoughts you're having which is really nice to see in a creator. In all honesty I wouldn't take the drop in subs too personally, I understand its easy to get excited and set your expectations high but like the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day, just give it a bit more time and as the content grows, so will your supporters. We appreciate you!

Daniel

This is not intended to sound cold or uncaring but it's honesty because i care about people in general. Sometimes being honest comes off as being cold but facts can sometimes be cold and hard (giggity) Finances are tough right now and because creating these kinds of games are slow and tedious (not a knock at creators, I completely understand they take time to create and polish and write and code - I actually wrote an episode for 2 different creators and it took me a few days each but writing doesn't rely on rendering and photoshop which take longer) so we have to subscribe to a wide net of creators to keep consistent content which takes up money. For people who can't afford $5-15/mo per creator you've got to subscribe at drop and then unsuscribe to be able to afford a new one. It's no disrespect to the creator or lack of faith in your product. It's the opposite bc we keep coming back. This is the part I dont want to come off the wrong way bc I don't meant it negatively - most updates are 30mins-1hr of playtime and 1-2 months in between drops. A video game is dozens of hours of game time at $50-60 one time purchase. VNs take years to complete and it's a lot of money to keep up with. Again, this isn't to be rude or anything but I revolve between 10+ creators bc play time is short and wait times are month(s) and I can't justify spending $50-100+/month on VNs. Please know you make an awesome product and I keep coming back and I enjoy it and look forward to it and you being the creator means I want you to feel that love, appreciation and excitement when the update drops. I know this is your livelihood so you've got to take that seriously, just don't take it personally. It isn't you or your product that causes those drop offs. I know that doesn't help your bottom line but I hope it at least helps your mindset.

CN Lin

I THINK this is because the update is too slow。 besides if I subscribed every month。 this may cost more than a newly released sony ps5 game in total。

SunnySenpai

You don't have to worry much about it, it's normal. They'll be back when you post the next update. Also it's good to take a breather sometimes now and then.

OsirisHeir._

So much has already been said in this thread, but I just want to add that I can’t imagine how tough it must be to juggle a demanding job while still pouring so much heart and energy into SoA. That said, as others have mentioned, please prioritize your well-being. Burnout is real, and no one can sustain 18-hour days forever—you absolutely shouldn’t feel like you have to. Your health comes first. Don’t let the numbers shake your confidence too much. What you’re creating is something truly special, and the people who genuinely believe in it will stick around. The rest? That’s just part of the nature of this space, especially as an AVN dev. It’s often transactional, and while everyone has their reasons, that doesn’t mean your work isn’t deeply valued by your core supporters. As you've mentioned before, shorter updates don’t necessarily solve anything, especially given that your genre typically takes 45–75 days per release. In the end, I really hope you find a rhythm that works for both SoA and your personal life. Just don’t forget to take care of yourself in the process. We’re all rooting for you, no matter what you decide. I've been a fan since Chapter 2, and it’s been incredible watching this project evolve through both the highs and the learning moments. Wishing you good health and continued success. We appreciate you and your team!

Rizz Fizz

Hey man, just a quote from spiderman "But the one thing they love more than a hero... is to see a hero fail, fall, die trying." I think you should focus on your job, you have a family to feed, and in this world it's so tough, so if you have a well paying job, don't think of leaving it. we ain't going anywhere. The updates might come a bit late, but none of it is more important than your health. We as just well wishers, gooners or people who appreciate you from heart will move on, if something were to happen or if the game comes to halt eventually (human nature) . But your family, your own sense of self, you're solely going to be the one facing it the most.

RexGames

Your regular jobs gives stability and safety for you and your family, hold on to that for deer life. I understand the dream of only living from the income of your game, but how do you plan to do that long term? In 10- 15 years? Most devs burn out, and I think it's naive to stop having a steady income to chase your dreams. That said, if you keep up the quality of what you make, and can continue making the game interesting and it dosent get too drawn out or boring, you will have people willing to pay for it. I understand that people who live in low salary countries to take that risk and quit their job, but if you make a good living off of your regular job, and is situated in Europe, we have less to gain and more to lose than if someone took the same risk in other parts of the world.

Cristian Emmanuel Vazquez Olmedo

Just wanted to say I really appreciate how honest you are about all this. It’s clear that Shadows of Ambition is something you put your whole heart into, and that means a lot. I know it must be exhausting working so many hours and then seeing people drop off after each update… but please know that a lot of us are here not just for the game, but for you and the passion you put into it. If you need to slow down, take a break, or get some help so you’re not doing everything alone, do it. We’d rather wait a bit longer and know you’re okay than see you burn out trying to do it all at once. And if there’s anything we can do — share the game, spread the word, stick around longer — just say it. Many of us really want to see this grow and keep going strong. Thanks for all the effort and love you put into this. We’re here for you. 💙 Big hug

Liam Altair

It's not personal, and my situation echos a few others in this section. Love the game, and keep up with the updates. I do pop up each update, buy the highest tier to get the content now... and unsub. It still occasionally results in more money vs what I would otherwise be subbed at if I stayed long term. (shrug), I'm following many creators, alot of whom I'd love to support more, but can't. That said, SoA is currently one of my top 5 VN/games in development. If you want to get an appriciation boost, look at the growth of your account totals, vs your # of subs. Subs will fluctuate, but the total income might just keep growing with more consistancy as your audience grows.

Fabzo447

Ich muss leider zugeben das ich auch gekündigt habe .. doch es liegt an finanziellen Gründen und nicht an dem Spiel! Leider muss ich gerade auf jeden € achten .. doch sobald ich finanziell wieder besser aufgestellt bin werde ich zurückkommen! Für mich ist Shadow of Ambition das beste Spiel in dem Genre! Zusammen mit My new Girlfriend und Moonripple! Am Ende des Tages musst du selbst entscheiden ob du dieses Projekt oder deine Arbeit dem anderen vorziehst .. es wäre echt traurig wenn Shadows enden würde doch das wichtigste ist deine Gesundheit und das was dich wahrhaftig glücklich macht! Alles andere ist nebensächlich! Hast du mal daran gedacht nach Sponsoren zu suchen die dein Projekt finanzieren? Oder Werbung einzubinden wäre vllt auch eine Alternative .. ich bin zwar kein Fan von Werbung (was wahrscheinlich jedem so geht) aber solange es nicht mit der Werbung übertrieben wird und man dennoch spürt das der Sinn dahinter das weiterführen des Projekts ist ist es glaube ich für jeden vollkommen akzeptabel! Ich hoffe du findest eine gute Balance .. und ich hoffe das Projekt geht noch durch die Decke!

FL3

looks to me like it spikes then there is a drop off but the floor of paid users is still steadily rising.

ZER0

I wouldn't take the fluctuations to heart, and if anything seeing a surge of paid members on release is a testament to the quality of your game. Also that surge is huge! I'd be super proud of it even if there is a drop off after it. I'm one of those that only subbed on release for chapter 5, because I try and cycle through different projects and can't afford to sub to everything I like. Take stock of the wins and consider what you think is best for you going forward. But if you keep going the way you're going I would not be worried about the success of this game.

Madao

I recomend you to maintain you current job and if you need time for rest spend less time per day developing, also maybe you could pay for someone to help you in the developing I saw that some devs relay tasks in others so they can rest a bit. In the other way don't mind too much in the ups and downs of the subs there is a lot of ppl that just sub for the month that there is a release, in my case for exemple I just can't afford stay supporting monthly and I just sub when I can because here where I live the payments are quite low, so don't worry and enjoy your time developing this great game

Scott

As many people have already said, keep your job while maybe easing up on development. You can potentially lighten up hours for your job, but don't give it up. We'll always be here. People will come and go, don't let the numbers get to you. You're building a good fanbase, and your clear and constant communication helps keep us around. You'd be surprised at how long people can wait as long as they hear from the dev consistently. You need to prioritize you over everything else. If that means taking break from developing for a bit, do it. Or whatever else you need. Just look out for yourself, that's what we all truly want I believe.

dinkledorph

we're in a recession man, not everyone can keep it up i'm sorry

Korrupt

Tbh this is how the graph should look like - nothing wrong with it it is still increasing overall each update when you look at it. Your subs are paying for each update - You are making more money than what these people would pay for GTA lol - You can make more frequent updates like monthly to see if it helps.

villegas palacio

Take your time to think, you will make the best decision for you, we support you bro

Burcounting

I'd suggest maybe creating something that makes it worthwhile to stay subscribed in between updates. CGs and stuff are cool but I think like special teasers for upcoming chapters, peeks behind your workflow, discarded CGs released in between updates might incentivize people to stay subscribed

Stonehands Jones

Something I've seen other creators do is have super consistent (or at least try to) updates every month to encourage people to stay subscribed. Don't know if that works for your game specifically, but maybe an idea. I'm sure it would impact you workflow and enjoyment making it. In terms of subscribing at all, it's usually based on how much I like the creator and want to support them, versus how much I love the game. So your transparency is very refreshing, I hope you get more positive feelings of this gig than negative <3