Why your support matters so much [a serious discussion] (Patreon)

TL;DR:

Your non-financial support is just as important as your financial support.

And I need your help with something 'big' coming up.

I wanted to share something serious with you guys.

It’s always been my dream to see my stories in bigger mediums, such as in the format of a game, anime, or even movie (a movie or TV show would be amazing).

But the truth is, no one is ever going to approach me and offer to do such a thing. Like, it’s just not going to happen, and it doesn’t happen for 99.9% of authors, even ones who are 10 times as successful. I’m never going to be the 0.1%, no matter how great my story is.

More than that, companies with the resources to make a game or movie would rather just hire a writer (rather than licensing an existing story) to create a story specifically for the company, using an agreement that would result in the IP/story belonging to the company itself (not the author).

And even if someone did approach me, they’d offer a deal that was less than desirable (in truth, it would be a horrible deal for the writer).

For example, Disney had this issue with the Harry Potter series. They tried to buy the entire IP off JK Rowling, and the only reason why she came out on top of the deal was because she is so huge and desirable. But she is one in a Billion. And for all other authors, there is no ‘good deal.’

This means that, if I’m ever going to see my stories in different formats, then I have to do it myself.

No one is ever going to do it for me (or otherwise pay me to use my IP).

SECRET PROJECT, and your ‘Non-Financial’ Support

As some of you already know, I’ve used your support on Patreon to create a free-to-play Visual Novel game/app for android that sort of combines the storylines of Innocent Devil’s Harem and Combat Healer into one cool tale.

Not because I’m trying to make a bunch of money (in reality, it was so expensive, it may never pay for itself, especially since it’s so free-to-play friendly), but because I want to take that ‘next step’ to seeing my story in a more interactive/engaging format.

I plan on officially publishing it no later than September 21, 2023, and it is rated Teen (PG-13).

The game is very free-to-play friendly.

You can unlock basically all the characters by just playing the story (Serenity, Gabriella, Gwen, Miriam, Melantha, Val, Eliza, Wren, etc.), and there is nothing you can’t unlock with just some time. There are items you can purchase, including a Lifetime Pass that is a permanent benefit, but none of the game features are blocked by a paywall.

This is something that would not have been possible without you guys, and it’s also something that won’t be successful without your help on Release Day.

Because the truth is, no one else wants to help.

In fact, a lot of other people want to do the opposite of help.

As just one example, I found a place where I might be able to share about the game and that also allows self-promotion. I contacted the admins/mods and wanted to verify that I could self-promote.

To my face, they said ‘Sure!’ but they then proceeded to delete anything I posted.

The reason why?

Because the person who gave me permission also hates any kind of medium that doesn’t originate from Japan. So if I made an anime, they’d hate it. If I made a visual novel, they’d secretly hate it (this is very obvious from their own comments, as well as comments made about them, even though they told me it was fine to share about the game).

So that’s obviously not helpful, but it’s not just this one person.

As another example, I’ve contacted several Youtubers who say they ‘want’ to do a sponsorship. Again, the game is rated Teen on Google Play, and would abide by Youtube’s rules for sponsorships.

The response? Either (1) asking for a ridiculous amount of money that doesn’t match their view count and not budging on the amount, or (2) just flat out rejection because, and I quote from one guy, “I don’t like to read,” (as in, they won’t do a sponsorship for a visual novel game, because they personally don’t like to read, even if it might be relevant to their audience).

In the end, after spending the last year having this game made, and after spending the last year trying to set up ways to promote the game once it does come out, I’ve faced rejection after rejection for reasons that have nothing to do with the game itself.

This is why YOUR support is so important.

Because you guys are literally my only supporters – the only ones who see the value in my stories and who want to see them succeed.

Right now, we are already on book 8 of Innocent Devil’s Harem, because of you guys supporting the story.

And we are almost on book 4 of Combat Healer! Because of you guys supporting the story.

And I don’t just mean financially supporting it.

Your help with the smallest of things, like just leaving a rating on book 1 on Amazon (something that is free and easy to do) or by telling one other person about the story, goes a HUGE way to helping the overall series be successful, so that I can continue it.

And now with this Story/Visual Novel game, I need your help more than ever.

Especially since, no one else wants to help.

So how can you help?

The only thing I need from you guys is to just try the game out (if you have an android device) and give it a positive rating on release day after you’ve spent a little time on the game.

It’s a story game, so you’d basically just be rating a ‘clean hybrid version’ of Innocent Devil’s Harem and Combat Healer (clean, as in no sex scenes, even if it is a harem-style game where you can marry all the companions – it has a Teen rating, which is based on a detailed questionnaire about the content of the game).

I have a Pre-Registration available, and if you do pre-register, then I’m including exclusive perks.

Honestly, at this point, I expect 95% of people who pre-register to be you guys.

As in, these are basically perks for you.

What are the perks?

10,000 Blood Gems (the primary in-game currency), and an exclusive Kitsune/Fox Girl character that was made specifically for this game.

She’s the character on the cover of the ‘game cover’ I made above.

Here is a ‘promo’ I made of this information:

Now, you don’t need to 'buy' anything in the game to help support it.

I repeat, you don't have to spend money on the game to help support it.

All I need is for you to just try it out on release day (or within 1-2 days after release, whenever you have time) and to just leave a positive rating. Again, I'm planning the release for September 21, 2023, so anytime between Sept 21 and Sept 23 would be ideal.

I need your help with this, because your support matters, and it’s the only support I have.

It's honestly been very dejecting to have to face so much ridiculous opposition over silly things, like the fact that I'm not Japanese and don't live in Japan, or just because someone personally doesn't read, etc.

Anyway, thank you.

Seriously, it means a lot.