nottravisgames
patreon
It's the production question...
🕑 Added 2020-11-18 09:10:02 +0000 UTCHi everyone,
I said earlier I have quite a few things I want to ask you and so...well here I am with the first one. With this not being a content poll and for being information collection it's open to all tiers.
So to start. On the plus side we all want the same thing. H5 knocked out as quickly as possible to it's current, if not better, standard of quality and content size. Another plus we have is that people who tend to play the remaster, do seem to like it. So far so good.
On the negative side of the board is the IT issue. (God, she's going to bang on about her single PC again!). With a just single PC (Called it!) and the render demands it's much slower than we'd all like. Now, alright there has been a slice of bad luck at times but even so it doesn't get past the problem of the render needs. Partly this is my fault. One of the reasons the render frame needs are so high is that I don't loop animations. The quick showcase lewd animation in VR in Three was 1,750 frames. Now I could do what everyone else does and use loops. That's where actually you do say 120 frames and just repeat them but they lack a sense of both realism and cinematography to my mind.
The other, and perhaps larger, negative is giving you both value for money and content in a timely fashion. Can I really expect you to wait three or four months for a chapter with my current set up?
So what we do? How do we square the circle of getting the game out more quickly yet not losing quality and keeping you all happy and content?
In an ideal world I'd have another one if not two machines. It's perhaps rather simplistic but the more hardware I have the quicker the animations can be made and the quicker the game comes out. And one day we'll get there. But that's down the road. What do we do now?
To my mind I see three paths open to us.
1) I just keep on as I am. Taking the time I need to produce what I have to make, crossing my fingers and toes that you all stay with me and building up the funds for the extra hardware. It's the easiest solution in a way. I can slog on, make the quality and content I want and on release you get a lovely chunky chapter that you can lose yourself in for hours. The risk here is.....well, what are you getting for your money? Nothing for several months and then "Bam" - a complete chapter. Would you wait? Is it worth it to you? These sort of questions fly through my mind.
2) Part release. This model would see me releasing the next chapter in parts. The section of the game before the free roam, then the free roam, then the individual night time modules. The pro is you get regular updates. The downside is would H5 work like this? In theory yes, but since so much of the game is path dependant perhaps not. A good example would be, say, an MC who went on the mission to rescue Walker and was friendly with Sarah, vs an MC who decided to stay and work on the power plant instead. The content balance was uneven. One had a lot to do, the other less so. Although taken as a whole the chapters balance out for paths, the individual parts don't necessarily. I can already hear the cries of "No content this update", and quite understandably, from some.
3) Work on the marketing. I suck at this. I'm awful. And maybe this is part of the problem? Those who have tried the remaster like it. The quality is high, the entertainment entertaining, the plotting plotty, the mini-games actually contribute to the gameplay, the dialogue zings, the lewds are lewd, it's full of innovation (Oh Hai Chris) and the paths....you don't need me to tell you that your choices actually matter in this game. So maybe this is my problem? The marketplace these days is fairly crowded. Over 2,000 games released last year alone with the majority of them having barely a fifth of the content and certainly fewer knob jokes. So maybe the key is to work to get more people to play it? That would increase patronage (hopefully!), increase the fund flow and get me the hardware to make it quicker. The upside is if it works....well we all get what we want. The downside? Maybe it won't. Maybe it will make no difference and all I ended up doing is slowing production whilst I flail around at this.
What do I mean my marketing? Well discord perhaps, social media, hitting a mass of forums, spending some cash on advertising. That sort of thing.
4) The thing I have missed. The trouble with the thing I've missed is...I don't know what it is. I suspect some of you are reading this and going "It's simple! You just need to do the the thing you've missed!" The trouble is I dunno what that is :)
Any other suggestions you can post below or indeed, since Patron post are a bit rubbish to allow discussion, here at my forum.
Anyhoo. Detail suggestions aside, I would welcome your thoughts on the above.
And again, apologies for the spammy questions this week. It's just I see this as a bit of a journey we're all on as I make this game and, as trite as it may sound, I see us working together to achieve that.
Take care,
Notty.
Comments
Nottravisgames
That's fair enough robbo. I just get into that much of a panic of trying to get things sorted....but you're right, it's crappy behaviour on my part regardless.
The longer releases are fine by me however if something goes wrong I don't want you to revert to silence like you have in the past. Keep me informed and I am happy. Silence will see me go.
Nottravisgames
acac, aye. You're right, thank you
Nottravisgames
Thank you. Yep I'm not a fan of part releases myself (and it seems no one else is either!). Good point on the communication front
Corypheus
You should probably put some more effort into marketing. As for if you should release in sections I don't like that idea the guy who makes Healslut releases every few weeks but they are only little updates where you play for a few minutes and you are done that just annoys me I would rather wait a few months if needed just make sure to post status updates every two weeks and maybe some teasers to show show you are making progress.
acac
My perspective is that whether you make a small release every month or a big release every 3 months, it will still take just as long to get the complete module. Maybe longer with the more frequent releases, because you have to work to make it presentable each time. Perfection cannot be rushed. Just take your time. The porn game scene is not a market where quality products are made overnight.
colin r
I don't know how the pricing will work out for you, but you might want to at least look in to cloud render farms instead of buying your own hardware? https://rentrender.com/all-render-farms-list/
Hatchetman
Eek Gaming puts their game House Party up when it is still in development so there is nothing stopping you from doing it. It's not a bad idea.
Nottravisgames
I wonder if, for things like Steam etc, I should pop the first chapter up for free or for notional 1 cent or whatever? *will think*
Nottravisgames
I think you're right with the rebuild. Equally tho, as you say it was also the right thing to do. In retrospect I started with too little kit but we are where we are. With luck I've slayed the dodgy PC prob so timeliness shouldn't be hostage to disaster but I do think you make a good point re promo. If people would be so kind as to leave reviews, mention the game etc it can only all help.
Hatchetman
In regards to marketing, a lot of this genre of games is word of mouth. People on forums will state something like "Hey, I liked such and such game, is there any more like it" at which time someone will say "Have you tried Heavy Five, that's a great game." Concentrating on making a good game is one of the best marketing strategies you can do. When it's complete you can look at perhaps a Steam release or something to reach a wider audience.
hisstoryman
Part of the problem in obtaining and keeping Patrons is a two part situation. The 500lb gorilla was the rebuild. Now this was not entirely a you problem. The number of games that have fallen down the rebuild rabbit hole is large and have left many would be patrons and fans tentative to support many games. I will not criticize your decision to rebuild H5, it was well worth it , but it may have left potential supporters tentative to open their wallets. For now I would release shorter updates to show potential supporters progress. It may relieve some of their fears. Notty, I love your dedication to providing quality in your prodcution but don't let perfect be the enemy of good. If you roll out some timely updates I believe things will turn around. Your core members will be here, and will support you. Then, and here the term is relative, at your leisure; you can readjust things to your liking. Just include them in he next update. Your current Patrons, me included, should take up the job of helping promote your game. Add a signature pic to your profile guys and gals. Write a review on the various websites that um....."host" the game. Name drop this jewel into comments about other games.
Nottravisgames
Thank you, that was kind of you to say. That's a fair point on the animations. For the smaller non lewds tho they do tend to be quite small (60-90 frames) it's the lewds where the ooomph goes. I think Chadders had about 3,000, VR about 2,500, Becca over 2,000 and it would be hard to see where I could trim. That said it is a good point and one for me to keep in mind.
Valerio De Ambroggi
As this is by far the best game I have played so far, I don't really mind waiting (as long as I don't die in between the chapter release). Just my 2 cents... are ALL the animations worth a complete rendering. Could you use some loop for the ones less important to the story or for the shorter ones?
Dante Red
I'm happy to wait until a new chapter is released but I cast my vote on you focusing on the marketing. Why? Because I truly believe that your game is a diamond in the rough and more people SHOULD know about it. You said you suck at this. So? No one was born an expert. I think you should try some of the things you listed above (not all at once, mind you) and see how things go. Might some of those tries be doomed to failure? It's possible. But this way, you will learn what works and what doesn't And if you're friendly with other developers, you can also ask them for ideas. Perhaps they can tell you something that you didn't think of before. So, in short, I think you should give marketing a few tries from time to time, until you get used to it.
Nottravisgames
*noddities* I am thinking about it still, as part of the larger how do I this better questions. So, it's part of my overall strategic thinking - if that makes sense.
Phoenix
I guess I have had my say / made my offer already, but as it stands I will wait a few months for a full update if that is what it takes.
Nottravisgames
Thank you Quintus. Maybe I'm worrying too much? I dunno. I just know you guys work hard for your cash and I have an obligation to make sure you're getting bang for your buck y'know?
CrashedAT-AT
For material of this high standard, I think you’re doing just fine! As you mentioned, you could cut corners and compromise but then it wouldn’t be the same. Quality takes time, and that’s what you’re producing. For something that features conversation and story branches, mini games, hidden objects - I for one think a release every few months is great!
Nottravisgames
*smiles softly* Thank you Grey
Grey
I’m gonna be a Patreon for as long as development continues so I don’t know if I can speak for everyone but I’m fully expecting to wait a few months to play the next chapter and I’m fine with that, every thing takes time especially when your doing it alone on one system. Hopefully some day you will get enough funds to get a new system and we will get more content faster but the wait is fine in my mind.
