Corporate Development Memo 8/18/24 and Apple/Patreon changes

This post will be long, but I hope people read it carefully, especially bullet point number 2, which deals with Patreon/Apple changes coming to the site and how memberships work.

1. Game Update:

First, I always want to update the weekly count for the game and where things stand. I did a very deep dive last Sunday/Monday in organizing the entire update and feel a LOT better about where things stand overall. I feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will now start updating total render counts by the type of path I feel it matches best. So this week is the first update with this format, and here it is:

Main Path Renders (all players see): 213 renders

Secret Sub Path: 367

Dom Path: 990

Sub Path: 775

Total Renders for Part 2 so far: 2,345 total renders

I am working on the sub path more this week and generally I am kind of getting everything balanced to both paths before starting what I consider the final arc of the narrative for Part 2.

I will talk more about my plans for the update next week but I want to cover my next point a bit more right now because of the impact it could have on some people.

2. Apple and Patreon

TLDR:

1) Long story short, Apple is forcing some changes on the Patreon APP (just the app on Apple devices) by charging Patreon a 30% fee like they do for all other apps. This change will start on November 1, 2024.  What this means practically is that any new memberships purchased on the Patreon app on Apple devices will cost 30% more. It seems like current memberships that used the app before November 1 will NOT be impacted, but the bottom line is that after Nov 1, you should try and join the site using the normal web, Android devices, and basically just don't use the Patreon app itself on an Apple device to pay for memberships. (this is not just my page, I think you should consider this cost issue for ALL Patreon creators too) I am confirming this too, but I believe using the Safari brower on your iPhone/iPad and NOT the app to use Patreon will not cost 30 percent more.  I am not happy about this change because I don't think Apple deserves to impact Patreon and creators this way at such a high cut (30 percent) and I urge people to try and avoid the app to save money on memberships.

2) The membership model will change after November 1st as well. All NEW memberships will be billed on an every thirty day cycle versus on the 1st of each month.  Current memberships will work the same. Please be aware of this change and that this is required by Apple to allow the Patreon app to work on Apple devices.

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Patreon's link to more detail on this is located on this link ---> here.

But a version of a TLDR from their link is below:

Apple’s requirements

Apple is requiring that Patreon use their in-app purchasing system and remove all other billing systems from the Patreon iOS app by November 2024.

This has two major consequences for creators:

• Apple will be applying their 30% App Store fee to all new memberships purchased in the Patreon iOS app, in addition to anything bought in your Patreon shop.

• Any creator currently on first-of-the-month or per-creation billing plans will have to switch over to subscription billing to continue earning in the iOS app, because that’s the only billing type Apple’s in-app purchase system supports.

Before we go any further, we want to be crystal clear about one thing: Apple’s fee will not impact your existing members. It will only affect new memberships purchased in the iOS app from November onward.

The bottom line for me is that I feel bad for both Patreon and other creators that are using for example a per creation model on their page (for unique artwork, etc.) and I think this will hurt some creators.

I will continue to discuss this/update on this to remind people as the date gets closer, but I wanted to let people know on my first new update on the page with that I know. Please just remember that signing up with the app on Apple devices will generally cause higher membership costs on Patreon pages.

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3. Sub Poll Question:

Back to a game issue: I am currently working on the sub path, and I am considering an idea about how to do choices. Basically, I try to warn people about the stronger kinks that I worry that not everyone likes (pissing/pegging/death type stuff). Some choices are easy in that it's clearly just a menu I can do without much worry.

However, imagine the following scenario: There are three doors with clues but it's not obvious what door leads to what...now if I don't warn players somehow, I am worried a player may take a door that runs into a really nasty kink they hate, etc.

But I have thought of this option in this specific case: First, offer players a choice to play "blind" for these three doors with the understanding that a choice could lead to anything, including the strongest content. This will be the default option if players want to just play.

Two, offer players another option to have a different menu choice of those same three doors that DO give a warning if that doors leads to what I consider stronger content. So if a player picks this, I will create a new menu with the same choices but a bit more warning for say one door that might be much stronger.

Anyway, not sure this is super clear, but I would appreciate thoughts on this issue.    

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4. Delilah Tier Choice:  If you notice the images above, Delilah is standing with a wheel that of course will have Kane on it at some point. This tier has an option to help design an extra punishment choice or two with this scenario. If you are on this tier and are not in the Discord discussion group, you should let me know. (on Discord please) However, if you are ABOVE the Delilah tier, you can also contact me on Discord please if you are interested in seeing the ideas on it. I am working on ideas THIS week so just let me know.

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5. Supporting fellow non-linear creators:

Last, I am just attaching a link to an Itch bundle with four other game devs. They are different styles of game of course, but the connective tissue of all five games is that they are more non-linear games. (more choices/not one straight line, etc.)

 https://itch.io/b/2621/sexy-nonlinear-games-collection-18

Feel free to check them out and see if any of the other games interest you as the bundle is a good value for a lot of games!

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6. Whew!

Sorry for the long post, but I wasn't sure how to lay out all the information I wanted to discuss without it being a bit long. Please note # 2 especially if you are using the Patreon app on an Apple device as a general habit. Note 3 and 4 if those issues interest you, and thank you for anyone that made it this far without...

...nice job :)

Ok thank you all, going to get some needed sleep and work hard this week, bye!