Because next week's update will be a quiet one, as is tradition, today's post is a real grab bag of assorted issues and thoughts I want to get out before the end of the year.
First of those is that we have some more fanart commissioned by Argo! This is Theo and Senka from TWC, in an imagined future scenario that will make sense if you read the most recent book. Very cute little moment for the holidays. ^-^
This past week I put out another art preview for $10 backers. As I said there, the plan is to continue commissioning art at the usual rate, but big art updates for TLS will come out somewhat less frequently, because there won't be much to them other than art and bug fixes (since revisions like Eustrin won't be that common). Maybe every three months or so, though I reserve the right to shift this around as benefits my schedule.
TLS is up to 988 reviews, and still clinging to the Overwhelmingly Positive distinction! It's nice to see that the new reviews weren't entirely a flash in the pan, and it looks like we'll get to 1000 sooner rather than later. ^-^
Patreon and Pricing
Man, Patreon is really pushing me to add new features, increase pricing, and do other random stuff. When you consider inflation, my total support has actually been declining for a good while, which is another example of how sticking to a niche isn't sustainable long term.
That said, I'm not going to increase pricing and I'm going to keep turning off everything I don't like (when they let me). When all is said and done, I'm not a starving artist anymore and I'm doing fine financially. I know inflation and all the same pressures are hitting everyone else, and if I can afford to give a little, why should I push that onto others?
I might eventually change tier pricing, if inflation goes far enough, especially if there's a way to grandfather past patrons at their current rates. But for now, I stay the course and focus on creating things.
Maybe this is getting too political, but I don't like this trend. I've read that now over half of spending in the USA (my biggest market) is driven by the top 10% wealthiest. This is actually nothing new: China's global spending is likewise dominated by an upper tranche that leaves everyone else behind, and from my understanding India is even worse. Lots of markets are just ignoring the majority of people to continue chasing the money.
Now, it would be silly of me to pretend that my little games and books really matter much compared to serious economic factors. But to the degree I can, in my own fields, I wish it could be otherwise. For example, when it comes to books, I'm leery of how the market is increasingly focused on expensive special editions and the cheap editions are all dying in favor of Amazon-controlled ebooks. There's a saying that goes "reading books and buying books are two separate hobbies" - I agree, I'm just not laughing about it. =/ I am a lifelong reader, not a lifelong book-buyer.
This has probably been mostly irrelevant, but it's an extract of some of my thoughts lately. Thanks to everyone's support and my steps over the years, I'm in a position where I can make some decent creative decisions, and if my work brings anyone a little happiness, that's at least a grace note in a difficult world. ^-^
Breaks
Some people have been urging me to take a break after TLS, but unfortunately that isn't really an option. As I've discussed in greater detail previously, a free game has no surge of income on launch, and a period in between projects is the worst time to take a break. That's why I actually took a vacation earlier just this year, so it's fine if I don't take another for a good while.
Thanks to so many of you for not leaving the Patreon, though. People here supported me up to this point in my career and I'm still grateful for you all. ^-^ The money goes not only to fully illustrating TLS, but toward my future projects, which I'm working hard on.
As usual, the end of the year will be quiet, but I'll be working away. I hope to have some fun announcements for you as soon as the holiday season is over!