Wow (+ campaign shuffling)
Added 2016-01-02 13:25:52 +0000 UTCThat Ayakashi no Shiro video must be pretty terrible... about a dozen people have de-pledged since I posted it last night. Yikes.
Since people are bailing on this thing already, the dawn of the new year seems like a good time to give the Patreon campaign a much-needed overhaul. Both my life and the nature of the projects I've been working on have changed considerably since I began taking Patreon support. I really appreciate those who have stuck with it, but I'm also mindful of the fact that I'm not really making good on my word—Anatomy of Games has lost steam, and there are way too many tiers for me to make good on as regularly as I'd like. Plus, the hardcover book tier is now moot since CreateSpace doesn't offer hardcovers... it's bad biz all around.
I'm thinking of streamlining things to get rid of goal tiers altogether (I'm going to make history/metroidvania videos no matter what) and streamline backer tiers to the following:
$2/mo.: Early video views, (timed) exclusive videos on occasion
$6/mo.: $2 tier+PDFs (2-3 per year)
$15/mo: $6 tier+black & white books (2-3 per year)
$25/mo.: $6 tier+color books (2-3 per year)
I fully expect such a change to reduce pledges by 30-50%, which will impact my ability to acquire packaged games for archiving and publishing in books, but I figure I can focus on acquiring the inexpensive ones directly and try to find the rarer/pricier ones through other means.
Does this sound OK? Terrible? Do you hate it? I'll likely make the changeover before February unless a better idea comes along. It raises the base pledge slightly (blame inflation), but drops the pledge level for PDFs considerably. Thoughts? I'd appreciate your feedback!
Comments
I've no problem with that at all Jeremy. My Good Nintentions book arrived this morning and looks excellent. Thank you so much, I'm looking forward to reading it.
Mark Paterson
2016-01-06 04:07:40 +0000 UTCLooks good to me.
shadowscribble
2016-01-04 14:27:31 +0000 UTCI'm okay with this - please just let us know when the changes are coming so I can adjust my pledge accordingly!
James Jackson
2016-01-03 00:54:38 +0000 UTCHonestly, the physical stuff isn't that tough—I'm already making these books. It just takes a little while to get them prepped to mail out.
Jeremy Parish
2016-01-02 18:11:34 +0000 UTCI'm upping my pledge too. Your Game Boy World and now, Good Nintentions videos are top in my list of things I look forward to watching each month!
Steve Martin
2016-01-02 17:51:00 +0000 UTCAs someone who has done a Kickstarter before, I know from experience how those physical rewards can eat you alive. Honestly, I'm surprised they're at such a low tier anyway, even after the adjustment. Honestly, and I don't think I'm speaking only for myself here, if the physical rewards are making it more pricey/difficult to pursue this endeavor, then they're not worth it. At least not at that price point. I'd rather the content be easier for you to produce than get a physical version of things that I can read perfectly well on my phone or tablet.
The Husbands Jennings
2016-01-02 17:49:54 +0000 UTCOh, probably, but I'm conditioned to see things like this as a sign of my own shortcomings. Don't mind my neuroses.
Jeremy Parish
2016-01-02 17:42:15 +0000 UTCOne of the lost pledges may have been mine as i had to update my card info and didn't know. I like getting the books, but am okay waiting a few days to see the videos on YouTube. I usually watch them here and there anyway. I love your work and want to support it, whichever way gives you morw opportunities to buy and study games ill do!
frankie coleman
2016-01-02 17:37:30 +0000 UTCSimplification sounds good. I'm another Patron that doesn't watch the videos until they're public on YouTube because it's a pain to login through Patreon on my mobile device. Also, are you sure the unsubscribes were really reactionary and not just an automated end of scheduled recurring payments that coincides with the new year?
Shaun Inman
2016-01-02 17:03:53 +0000 UTCAgreed on posting content to standard places instead of trying to make it exclusive to patrons. I only consume it from the standard places, I never bother going through Patreon. I support you because I like the work you produce, that's the only incentive I need.
Scott Schneider
2016-01-02 16:26:39 +0000 UTCAs an international Patron I do not care for physical tiers as shipping costs often are too high and often your books are easily available on Amazon.de. I also really don't care for "timed exclusives" but would rather like to read/see your output via the easiest way as soon as possible (YouTube). But if your patreon gets more patrons with earlier videos etc - no problem. It's retro content after all... I'm sorry your patreon (and retronauts) does not generate more so you can also get at least some extra income for yourself! But it's the internet after all - can't expect people to pay for anything... A little bit of Advertising would be another way to generate some income (e.g. like good job brain or geekbox does) but sadly it might alienate some of your audience. Maybe do a poll with your patrons? Anyway - looking forward to new content from you! Keep up the good work!
Philipp
2016-01-02 16:17:50 +0000 UTCThe new tiers are fine! Upped my pledge a bit. :)
Toni Mohr
2016-01-02 16:17:07 +0000 UTCPersonally I'm not going to lower my pledge so I guess you'll just have to deal with it. :)
Chris Huston
2016-01-02 15:41:00 +0000 UTCI, too, increased my pledge yesterday. I don't need stickers or posters, I just want you to keep producing your high quality reviews (and Ayakashi was no exception, believe me). Do what you've gotta do, but I hope one day Anatomy of Games can be put to video as well. Keep up the good work!
Stephen Finley (JohnnyBlazeGWS)
2016-01-02 14:57:50 +0000 UTCI could also see streamlining helping out your pledges. Especially if you hyped it a bit on the Retronauts feed - even if you did a few Game Boy themed episodes and told people about what you're doing here and that there was a Patreon available (something that I know you don't like doing).
Max Smith
2016-01-02 13:56:51 +0000 UTCLooks fine to me. Was also considering lowering (not having seen the "Ayakashi no Shiro" video so far :D) my pledge to the PDF tier this year, as nowadays my reading takes mostly place on an ebook reader anyway and I am running out of space (again) for physical books. So the new tier system might be beneficial for me or other creators which I could support with the "extra" money. Still liking your content and what are you doing so far.
Lutz Ohl
2016-01-02 13:46:01 +0000 UTCHmm... And I upped my pledge in the last 24 hours. Something may be wrong with me... Anyway in all seriousness, I pledge specifically because I enjoy Game Boy World a lot. I'm not a huge stickler on what gets done with my pledge, but I would imagine some people are. Donating to a campaign where it's unclear which particular project will be worked on with your funds may make some people less likely to want to contribute? Anyway from my perspective - keep doing what you're doing. It's been fantastic so far!
Josh Beard
2016-01-02 13:40:30 +0000 UTC
