stoperart
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Development Blog #11
🕑 Added 2018-11-04 17:00:20 +0000 UTC Hi, everyone.With the update for Hard News ready, I started working on Episode 2 for the Apocalypse Chronicles. Both me and Amanda enjoyed working on the first episode and we have some cool ideas we want to explore. It is also a good way to unwind and recharge the batteries for Hard News. So it's becoming a permanent side project - we'll release one episode in the month between the Hard News updates.
The episodes will use more or less the template from Episode 1 - short and to the point. But we'll add a little more exposition and lore at the beginning of each, to help drive the story forward. I'll give it a week or two to work on each, since I don't want it to have too much of an impact on the amount of content for Hard News. So each episode should be ready around the middle of the month.
The release schedule will be different from Hard News. I made a new support tier (Uranium) @ $25, they will get each Episode first, and there will be half a month delay between each next tier. For example, Episode 2 will be released around November 15 for $25 patrons, on November 30 for $15, December 15 for $10, December 31 for $5, and on January 15 for $1 patrons. There will be no public release.
Let me know what you think. And thank you all for the support.
p.s. No monsters in Episode 2, it's time for Jessica to go home and relax a little.
Comments
stoperArt
Yes. I have a schedule on the Overview page.
Matt Gorman
So does that mean release of next development of HN is some time in December?
stoperArt
I was considering adding choices to AC, but it'll make the project too complex. So for now, it's going to be just short, visual stories. And of course you can make Jess a slut in HN, and be with most of the girls in the game.
Matt Gorman
Meh, not into VNs. Unless it's like the Hard News one where it's sort of the VN version of the old Choose Your Own Adventure books. I hope there's a way in HN to make her a total slut or be with other girls.
stoperArt
Hi, Matt. It's not a game, just a small bonus story. You can find the first episode here: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/apocalypse-1-21307574">https://www.patreon.com/posts/apocalypse-1-21307574</a>
Matt Gorman
I hadn't heard of this game before, I only saw Hard News.
Matt Gorman
I've been sponsoring Eva a couple months and recently went from 5 to 10. I found all I sponsor the same way - found on a torrent site, played a bit, if I liked it I sponsored. Yeah, there are a lot of crappy adult games out and not many at all with a female protagonist. Also, too many are a blue ball fest, some people think you should have to play at least 4 or 5 hours before anything exciting happens.
stoperArt
Don't worry, I just checked how a few authors run their campaigns. And I have no intention of drawing inspiration from any other developer, even the good ones like Eva and Philly.
VK
Please, Stoper, don't get inspiration from authors that make shitty games, like DeepSleep. If you're going to take a look at other devs, at least choose ones that do good games, like EvaKiss and PhillyGames.
stoperArt
It's all good, mate. I appreciate the support. And that's why I try to keep my schedule, so people could decide how much to pledge and when, and know what they'll be getting in return.
Alfred
Hi I loved to pay 5 Euro for the game. By having the next upcoming release for 5 Euro patrons at the end of december I will love to rejoin the patronage in January. I can't see a point in paying for november and december at all... Really good game /graphic/story btw
Touching Evil
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against you wanting to introduce $25 supporters. If your fan base grows quickly to 500 or more, I don't see a problem in introducing 40$ supporters. A good example is Lust & Passion. Great game, with a complex storyline. He is really working his ass off. But there is not so much extra content. His supporters simply love the game, me included. And look at his release delays for the different supporters. Big, high quality content updates every month, to keep your supporters interested. I believe, that’s the way to go. But your responsibilities will grow with it. If you continue to focus on the game itself and don't focus too much on the extra content, I don't see a problem. But keep in mind that you are more or less a lone fighter, so you will need someday a longer break to recharge your batteries. By the way, I also support DeepSleep Games and 8 other projects.
stoperArt
I agree with what you wrote, that's why I release the game the way I do. But I've been checking other projects, with games like mine, and most of them have high support tiers and long delays between the releases. One of the popular authors, DeepSleep, has a 3 weeks delay between $15 and $5 supporters (for the game itself). He doesn't even release his game to $1 patrons, let alone for free. And recently an author started a game similar to mine, and they were making more than I do pretty quickly, with a $40 tier that offers exclusive content in the actual game. And here I am, feeling bad for having a long delay on a small bonus project. The AC will have very little impact on the game. I was taking a couple of days off after each update, to recharge the batteries. Now instead of playing a video game, or reading a book, I'll work on this side project. It's just one scene per episode, so it shouldn't take very long to make.
Touching Evil
Honestly, it's not gonna work. This is not the way to acquire new supporters. How many $25 supporters will you be able to recruit? Most supporters are willing to pay $1 to $10. Also, in the two months between releases, your game will be downloadable from various sites on the Internet. So why should someone pay $5 for what he can get for free in time? More than 2-3weeks delay between the release are not fair to your low tier supporters. But it's only my opinion. Not everyone can pay 25$. Especially, if you support multiple projects, like me. Create exlusive content (scences) for your big supporters, but be carefull not slow down the normal game development. A poll would be really a good idea.
raven
Agree with You
x524
You should make a poll on what rewards patrons prefer; I suspect they don't crave artworks so much and prefer to have the game.
stoperArt
Making the AC would cut from the time I put on the bonus artwork and animations. And I'm already missing my deadlines on those. So it takes value from the higher tiers, which I was thinking to compensate with the bigger release delay. But I'll think about it.
raven
I hope that for hard news nothing changes
x524
I think 2 weeks delay between each tier is way too much. All patrons between $5-25 should get within the same month. Just keep the current pattern, and add five days for the $25 patrons. Add polls on characters/levels/story as reward for higher patrons.
