Funding vs. Gatekeeping

This past week I have been discussing my need to funding privately with a fellow creator who I am a Patron of and has been giving me advice/sharing promotion ideas throughout the week, its Airell, writer and creator of "Love and Corruption" in case you didnt know. Highly recommended game for fellow pregnancy lovers and just so we are clear, nothing in here came from Airell. This is just me explaining my deep rooted passions about my own belief system. 

Nonetheless, I am of firm belief and here is where I lose a touch of money: I DONT BELIEVE YOU SHOULD HAVE ANY IN GAME CONTENT HIDDEN AWAY VIA A PAYWALL. Trust me, friends. I play enough gacha games, looking at you GENSHIN IMPACT to know the harm of this concept. Everyone has the latest waifu and I dont because 30 dollar draws arent in my financial wheelhouse. Genshin Impact, Refantasia, Fortnite and a numerous amount of other games where a waifu/skin is locked away behind a pay wall or TONS of monotonous grind makes me angry and leaves me disinterested in the game and its left an effect on monetization of Projekt Moon. I dont want to block off gameplay to players. I suppose this is effect of over 5 plus years of viewing the content of the Jimquisition. I dont want to leave anyone feeling left out, but I gotta eat. Unpaid labor is unpaid labor. I am working about 15-20 hours a week on this. So that's 80 hours of labor and I have recieved 9 dollars for that. 8 on Itch.io and my 1 dollar patron (Thank you Miracle).

I am having internal debates about how I can make higher tiers more enticing, including making signs for Patrons involving Projekt Moon characters of Patron choice, including allowing them to choose the facial expression and even an alternate outfit. Extra items that arent in game but are quality rewards for those who care about my work enough to support me beyond the $5 dollar level. Also seperating Patrons on Discord per role, so you can stunt your role there while playing Mudae, shitposting with me or whatever you want to do.

I am also open to ideas that DO NOT GATEKEEP ANYTHING WITHIN MY GAME. I repeat NO GATEKEEPING. It's wrong. EVERYONE should enjoy the same game. I believe that and I am sick to fucking death of devs that dont and rationalize well "X is doing it". MY BROTHER IN CHRIST, YOU ARE NOT THEM! You have a choice, you made one and its a bad one. 

Take care, happy Friday and C-A-N-E-S! Let's hope the Canes beat Houston tonight! Congrats to the Lady Canes for their first ever Elite 8! <3