Jan
patreon
Custom Character Final Update
🕑 Added 2025-02-05 18:17:18 +0000 UTCHey there. So, I've been debating making this post for a while. I've been hesitant because I'm not one to let go of something (Even to my detriment as my friends would tell me), but I'm just going to come to terms with it.
Unfortunately, I have come to the decision to cancel all orders* for the custom characters commissions. Before I explain why, I want to say that I am willing to issue complete and full refunds depending on the circumstances. If you still want the other benefits of your trainer information being in game, and have discord access, I am willing to a partial refund. However, if the custom character was all your incentive for subscribing to that tier, I completely understand. Just let me know and I'll refund everything back to you.
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So, when I started that tier and perk for that tier, I did not expect so many people to sub to that specifically for the custom character perk. I suppose that comes down to people really liking my work when it comes to overworld sprites? In that case I should be flattered, however, I got a TON of them all at once and tl;dr it has become far too much for just me to handle.
Last week I went on a break because things were becoming too much for me. On Wednesday I found myself unable to sleep until 10 am the next day. Due to guilt from this and just guilt from taking so long on v14 already. I know things take time, and I know a lot of you have expressed that you're willing to wait, but that's just not good enough for my brain. I think when something keeps me up at night, I think I need to re-evaluate some things, and that's what this is now.
I've tried to get help for it in the past, but even with multiple people working on them, I could not keep up with the demand. Between irl responsibilities, working on the massive project that is Rejuv... I'll be honest, it was killing me.Every day the weight of that huge extra task was a huge weight on my mental. To the point where I suffer many sleepless nights, and that's just not healthy at all. There were so many tasks that just the sheer size of it would stop me from doing anything. And trust me, I am fully aware that this is my fault for not setting limits. I've never done commissions before so I lacked the experience to know what I needed to do to protect myself workload wise.
To put it in perspective, I have 19 current open orders. For each one it takes about 13 sprites/graphics to complete. Each sprite set takes about an hour give or take depending on complexity.
19 x 13 = 247 sprites. If we say each sprite takes an hour, that's 247 hours, or 10 days of nonstop work. It's just impossible for one person and I should have realized it was impossible a lot earlier but a few years ago I was more determined and ready to tackle this. But as time goes on and as time wears on me, I find it harder and harder to replicate that kind of energy.
If you've gotten an update before with work shown, I will honor that time and finish those up, but for the rest, I just have to cancel. I'm very, very sorry. If I decide to do custom characters again in the future, I'm -definitely- using a slot system. (1-2 slots open at a time with breaks between more open slots). But yeah, that's all for this post. Not one of my best times and I hate letting people down.
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On the topic of refunds, I have quite a few, so I'll be doing them in batches. Please DM me on PATREON (So I can see your tier history). I won't respond through my normal emails for my own (and your own) security.
I'll be doing them in small batches so that I am in a stable financial place after they all are done.
Again, if you ordered and was excited to receive your character, or if you were anticipating me reopening them soon, I am also very sorry.
I hope to be back with a new post soon about something a bit more positive. These past few weeks (especially irl lol) have been really rough. With this weight off my chest I'm hoping I can finally get back to doing what I love, which is making and FINISHING this dang game.
Comments
Chris
Correct decision. Get some sleep.
uxgino
No worries here Jan. One can only do so much, and I'm PROUD to support you even if I miss out on the custom sprite. I'd rather you not be overworked as is than to add even more to it. I've enjoyed Rejuv enough throughout these years and I'm sure the best is yet to come. Thank you for being transparent and being human about your struggles. I hope everyone else understands!
Leone
I know that this is easier said than done, but you need to be kinder to yourself about development time :) The work that you and your team put out is second to none, and it is evident just how much care and effort goes into every update. I recently played through Pokemon Sword after buying it used (I was completely disinterested at launch), and it was yet another reminder of how awful the main series can be in terms of effort, attention to detail, depth, etc. compared to fan creators such as yourself. I wish that you could get even greater recognition for the amazing work that you do - it certainly outshines the work of the actual Pokemon Company and GameFreak who have much, much bigger teams and budgets (albeit with unrealistically short dev times). I've been a Patron for years, and I will support you for as long as it takes to see your vision to the end (and likely whatever vision comes after that). Thank you for everything that you do.
Amethyst Liddell
proud of you for making the leap. <3
