TonkatsuCHAN
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IMPORTANT NEWS: Adapting Story Image sets content
🕑 Added 2023-04-19 09:57:39 +0000 UTCHey folks,
I have a bit of news to share with you, regarding image content. So I hope you'll read this all the way as it is important.
Back in around September, I decided to start experimenting with new formats of image content delivery. The goal was to split the workload between game dev and image content 50/50. Where before it was more like 75 percent Image content and 25 percent game dev.
At that time, I proposed the concept of "Image singles" or "Image shorts". Very small and short images. No longer than 20 page maximum. Here is one such example: https://www.patreon.com/posts/story-short-tier-74120969
Each set in this format would take me 3 to 4 days to produce (Images and story included) and so, I could realistically make 3 image sets (Two voted for characters and one OC character) in a period of two weeks (Leaving the 2 following weeks to game dev). These Image sets only consisted of ONE base image with variants.
From this, I had adapted the Tier III and TIER IV sub rewards to that new format.
However, it was made very clear that while this format worked, the image sets were a bit to lack luster compared to the older "+100 or even +200 images mega sets" (Which mind you were released every two months, not monthly as things are now.)
And so I experimented with a "middle ground" variation. A 40 to 50ish image set with two to three base images, usually secondary characters on screen was tested. The result is something like the Marin set for example: https://www.patreon.com/posts/image-set-marin-80876962
From the feedback I've received, it is clear that folks enjoyed the format of the Marin set a lot more. And hope this would be somewhat the goal from now on.
But, It is important to understand that the delivery of three sets was proposed in september under the idea of image SHORTS. Not sets that are 40-50 pages long. So, things need to adapt.
This brings us back to my goal to split Game Dev and Image content 50/50 in workload.
Again, the three image sets to release monthly was on the condition that these were the story shorts that were not longer than 20 pages. If I am to produce image sets to the level of the Marin set however, things are not the same.
A 40-50 is pages set with two to three base images takes me at least 6 to 7 days to produce. Meaning that to deliver three of these every month would take me at least three weeks. Only leaving a week of game dev. Which is not an acceptable outcome.
Last month I did two sets instead of three of that 40-50ish image set format (Taking a break from the OC set). And this felt like the PERFECT sweet spot. It allowed me to produce two fairly well balanced beefy image sets. And I had plenty of time to do some very good progress on 3072 AD. All and all, this really felt like the perfect balance.
This month however, I returned to three sets with now the current 40-50 pages long sets. Just to see how it goes. And this is a challenge for sure. I had to work all weekends to make that happen (barely) and still be able to squeeze in work for 3072 AD.
All and all, the conclusion is that three images sets per month in that 50 pages format (That's 120 to 150 pages monthly) is a bit too much for me to handle. I had to give it a try to be sure, but now I have my answer.
So, I have two options:
A) I go back to the idea of image shorts: Very small 10 to 20 pages long sets (only one base image with variants. Like this https://www.patreon.com/posts/story-short-tier-74120969
B) I adapt and change things to work with two 40-50ish proper sets with each having two to three base images at least. Which would Like this: https://www.patreon.com/posts/image-set-marin-80876962
I took the weekend to think it over and I have decided that option B was the best. It allows for good juicy sets to come out monthly, while keeping my workload manageable at around 100 or so pages to produce in two weeks. Giving me the last two weeks to work on the game. As I said before, last month proved to me that this was the perfect sweet spot.
So, how do I re-adapt to image content to fit this?
Well, I have to settle for ONE character vote (instead of two) and ONE OC character set (Still rotating between Female OC's and Femboy OC as before) per month.
I really like the OC sets that was introduced, I think they are a very nice change of pace. So this is something I would like to keep as a regular.
With this change, I will have the different tier rewards to be:
Tier IV Exclusive benefits:
- Vote for the character poll's "theme".
- Vote for the choice of "scenario" for the selected character
- Get early access to that finished set (About 3 weeks before Tier III) as it is now.
- Take part in suggestion sessions for some of the characters in the poll
- Once a game patch comes out, get a month early access as before before it becomes available to tier III
Tier III and Tier IV:
- Take part in the poll to vote for the actual character of the image set (After that poll is decided by the choice of theme and character suggestions by Tier IV subs).
- Tier III subs get access to the set at the beginning of the following month.
- The OC image set becomes available to T III and Tier IV subs at the same time when it is done (Usually in the middle of the current month.
Tier I and Tier II:
- No real changes.
This will change will take effect next month and will not affect the current delivery of the Tracer set. Which will be finished today. Here is a sneak peak.
And that about it.
I hope you will understand why these changes are necessary, as I need to keep things realistic to my ability to produce the content (Both game content and image content in equal manner).
This will still give you two juicy sets to enjoy every month. As opposed to the old mega sets that took two entire months to produce (and very little time left of game dev time) or three "image shorts" where the sets were very small (20 pages or so) with one single shot.
This is the sweet spot, the perfect middle ground where good Image content is produced every month and game dev keeps on going without breaks or interruptions.
I thank you all once again for your support. And look forward to keep delivering to you the best content I possibly can.
This should be the last time I need to make adjustments like this as I need a few months of "experimenting" to see what was possible. Having done that, this here is the format that is sustainable.
With all that said. Thanks for reading and have a good one.
Comments
Tonkatsu-chan
Hi Luigi. There is nothing wrong with asking questions like these. No worries. Unfortunately I must respectfully decline. Making a separate text document for each set would be a LOT of extra work and severely negatively impact my workflow. I do wish as many people can enjoy my work in other languages, but sadly preparing Text docs for each set would be way too much work. Hope you understand.
luigi vaccaro
it's a slightly out of place comment, but I have a request... could you add a text document with the various dialogues? I would like to translate them and understand them better, if possible, thanks for your attention.
Nauro
Thanks for the updates. ^_^ Also: I don't know if it's just my imagination or not, but it feels like there's been a noticeable quality improvement with each image set, with the new shorter sets. Like, with the last femboy/D-Tox set and this preview, there's so much more shading, detail, and lighting techniques being used in each one that just look amazing. :3
