(LONG) - End of the Month Pivots

END OF THE MONTH PIVOTS

As always, if you only want to see the headlines, refer to the bold text.

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

While there's plenty of good news to share, will start with the bad.

The Bad News

While there's a possibility to course correct, I'm announcing a preemptive delay Zhu Yuan audio, likely into the next month. The decision is a quality concern of mine. This is also the only audio that I feel needs a delay, so any other projects I can tie up this month, I will.

This has been a hotly anticipated audio - it's the 2nd most voted for audio suggestion in the page's history, and I have a strong desire to deliver on that anticipation. I had initially pushed it back to pursue an alt for All-Access listeners with a more explicit ending, but scheduling conflicts don't permit it at this time. As such, I decided to forge ahead and deliver the alt later.

But when I put the two VAs side by side, I realized Nicole sounded exactly like Nicole, and Zhu Yuan sounded little like Zhu Yuan. I had always felt the performance wasn't accurate, and I had considered extensive retakes or recasting for it, but I brushed it off to pinch pennies... Prior to the release of some of my best audios, and the creation of my website, I just had less funds to work with (piracy's a bigger issue for Patreon pages than you could ever understand until you run one). At that time, money was just more valuable to me than quality. That was then. Now, I when I tried to edit through it the ulcer in my stomach wouldn't let me, especially considering Zhu Yuan is set to appear in another audio.

I've auditioned and viewed samples from some of the other actresses, who still don't sound much like New Eridu's Finest. I have one more VA to audition, but she's sick at the moment. On Monday, I'll be putting out talent roster sign-up form to hopefully find more voice actresses, which includes a shortlist for Zhu Yuan samples or clips. I did find one new VA on my own, but she's not played Zhu Yuan before, and this would be her first EFRO role. Until I hear it for myself I cannot say whether she fits.

As much of a disappointment as this may come to some of you, I also can't imagine anyone would enjoy a Zhu Yuan audio where your primary thought is "that isn't Zhu Yuan."

I do want to remind you however that things can change in an instant. There's talent out there willing to say yes, implausible as it may seem, and a rush fee can fix just about anything. That's why I've called it a preemptive delay. If there are any positive updates that make me believe a submission this month is possible, I will announce them immediately and put them into action with the same haste.

While this is not THE good news, it is SOME good news. The Alice audio, while on track, isn't realistic to release this month either - it's a very methodical piece, and needs time. So I've already set in motion a self-indulgent piece for your ZZZ fix. It's a desperation scenario I've wanted to do for a long time. The thumbnail is already in production, the script is complete, and the voice actresses are prepared to turn their lines out, with the intention of a release by August 31st. This was initially going to be an All-Access audio, as it was self-funded, but I will be making it an Instant Ramen audio so as not to leave those of you in that tier in the lurch. However, if I can get the Zhu Yuan audio back on track, I will slow production of this pet project and proceed as normal.

THE GOOD NEWS

Upcoming Visual Projects

I decided to take some time off after finishing Samus, since it had been an exhausting production and I was battling depression for much of its last leg. I disconnected as much as I could, only taking stock of email alerts when a new member signed on. So I wasn't aware of just how much of a hit the Samus animatic actually was.

My website has only been recording analytics for a month, which means these numbers may be skewed. And keep in mind many audios were likely listened to on Patreon prior to the site's creation, or for free on twitter, and haven't been revisited much since then. As of writing, the total view count across all audios is an impressive 31,000 (well, impressive for a paywalled website). And of that 31,000, Samus accounts for 1/3rd of all views. In just two weeks, it has been viewed 11,417 times between the animatic (at 9,611) and the audio (at 1,806), and it's climbing as we speak. The audio version alone has more views than the sites second most popular audio, Konosuba: God's Messing on this Wonderful World, at 1,661.

Monetarily, Samus Aran's Diarrhea Attack is the first audio to be purely profitable based solely on new memberships. Within three days of release, it made back its astronomical $600 budget.

If you enjoyed the project, please take some time to thank OddTenn for his hard work in delivering the art, and patron Star_Breaker for providing the funding necessary to get it off the ground.

Since then, I've been getting offers left and right to collaborate with other artists on visual projects - original audio ideas or adaptations of existing ones. As adults we should know many of these proposals are just an initial wave of excitement, and many aren't likely to materialize. I have, however, taken up some offers. I will not go into specifics yet on the off chance these do crash and burn. But realistic expectations between both parties were set, so I trust they will go smoothly. In addition to the upcoming Hatsune Miku comic, there is plenty more visual projects to come. Speaking of, here's a few choice shots:

Pal, the artist behind this comic, and I, are both artsy types, so the presentation is very striking. He's still learning what the fetish scene likes, and a few more assets are being drawn up to include easy to animate shots based on techniques I learned during Samus' production and beyond. Expect to see plenty of Miku's butt. It's also likely to feature over 100 panels. Though not all of them will be erotic, they tell the story of Miku's desperation vividly. Some shots will receive attention and detail similar to the level of animation in the Samus animatic.

As mentioned, I am pursuing a specific VA to play Hatsune Miku, but I haven't been in touch with them for much of the month of August. Still, there's time to get them onboard. If things go well I feel confident in a September release for this long anticipated project.

Other visual projects, such as Gallica's Gassy Assault, Amanozako VS Pixie: Fairy Fart Off, and the planned Bravely Default and Gurren Lagann comics are in various stages of production, not yet ready for further discussion, but they're in no danger of cancellation. And while it's not relevant to Patreon per say since it's going to be free, the Ophelia office comic feels infinitely more manageable now than it did when I first took it on. That's just a matter of finding some time to do it properly.

Where do we go from here?

I'm aware that the success of Samus Aran's Diarrhea Attack is not due solely to quality. OddTenn is an artist quite literally four times my size in follow count. His merely retweeting it put me in a higher tax bracket. If that sounds cynical or bitter, I assure you it isn't. Tenn approached me with interest in the script, so our collaborating came about naturally, and there was nothing but mutual respect and positive energy throughout. But I have to acknowledge that this one success is not indicative of the entire future. Still, your enthusiasm for it does tell me that when I pursue my passions, the reward is greater intrinsically.

The Samus animatic was a passion project of mine, initially envisioned in 2023 under different artists. Circumstances didn't permit me to make it until the last few months. And when I initially put it into polls, the interest was middling. I'm certain some of you didn't care much for it. Nothing is literally universally acclaimed. But even if that's the case, I hope that it demonstrates one thing: when something is strong in my mind's eye, I can fucking cook. I will still be making audios by suggestion - I'm just one man and I only have so many ideas - but if a project interests me in particular, I will be taking it on independently now that funding permits (though additional funding is always appreciated). I have one audio in mind that's had middling poll results, but I personally think is a stellar idea. And if you have commission ideas you think I'd like, shoot your shot. Just don't take it personally if I say no. But I'll be switching toward a more creator-driven model for the page, taking on projects that I feel set me apart from other audio makers in scope and premise, and I hope to keep surprising you all.