VN Ren'Py Rivers of Astrum: Daughter of Darkness [v0.2.1.5] [Paper Tiger]

[Dessolos]

The question came up as to whether Adult dev's make any money on Steam. Well, the answer referred to a small game if it is only making $100,000. I popular one can easily make more that a million $ a year. I know of one for sure that makes well over that every year and the last update was in October 2024. I played though it in 15 minutes. That is kind of depressing that development has slowed to that point. Fortunately Paper Tiger does not seem to be anything like that. As for burnout, it can happen to anyone. I thought I was immune being retired and all, but as I found out recently, real life problems can happen at any time and overwhelm you. You have no choice but to take a break.

yeah burnout can come in all kinds of forms when you don't expect it to. I regularly get burnout from playing videogames AVN's helped with that , as AVN's always felt like a new experience to me and different story. However now im facing AVN burnout where I want to play them less outside of ones I follow and focus more on normal games and other things. I'm still playing new ones but way less often now

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Ok, i undestand and inspiration from other games are always good and if a scene better, perfect I see you are not on Patreon.

Yeah, I was on Patreon for a while, but I transferred over to

You must be registered to see the links

I don't trust Patreon. They're constantly caving to the demands of hypocritical bankers. And those bankers keep moving the goal post further and further. They're on course to eventually abandon all NSFW content. At least that's how it appears to me. The content that currently exists in the game would likely get me banned off Patreon. And the content that's planned for the future guarantees that.

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

By the way a question about steam will there be regional prices ?

I'm not opposed to it, but as it stands right now I leave it at the default of what Steam sets per-region. I'm not sure that I have the economic information to set fair regional prices. Unless there's a standard chart for it or something, I wouldn't really be able to do it reliably, I don't think.

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

I was going to say I am sick of hearing about Steam and want an update, but now it makes more sence.

Its normal for F95 devs to delay the free version to solicit their Patreon/Subscribestar anyway, so this was kind of expected that something like this would happen anyway. However it would be piss off if it effected your Subscribestar. But free people have no right to complain. Do Adult devs actually make that much on Steam? I would think the majority of their money comes from soliciting Patreon and Subscribestar after the "free advertising/free releases" on F95.

Yeah, I don't want anyone to feel snubbed, I don't wanna just be all "Steam" "Steam" "Steam", either. But getting on that platform is a fairly involved process. There's a lot to think about, and a lot of considerations that i didn't have before, so I like to work through my thought process out loud.

That said, as I mentioned, the overwhelming majority of the game's players and fanbase came from F95. I recognize that much, and I don't want to just abandon it. I actively refuse to, in fact. But as i said, both platforms have to be considered (together) now.

I'll do what I can to always remain fair to both platforms. I'm still figuring it all out though. Aside from the 3-update delay, nothing else that I can see at the moment should affect the F95 releases after that.

If new information gets to me that changes anything, I'll definitely let you guys know!

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

I've always thought that Steam didn't like games being cheaper on other sites if the cheaper price site was selling Steam keys. I've seen games sold cheaper on a dev's site because there they don't offer Steam keys but a separate Downloader.

I thought exactly that too for the longest time, but it turns out it's a bit more nuanced than that. I don't think i can post the documentation word for word, due to signing an NDA, but the general gist is two fold: 1) Not the current version, 2) Don't overcharge steam players. Meaning that as long as Steam players aren't paying *more* for the *current* version, then it's fine. This also includes giving previous versions away for free, obviously.

 

[GokutheG]

I thought exactly that too for the longest time, but it turns out it's a bit more nuanced than that. I don't think i can post the documentation word for word, due to signing an NDA, but the general gist is two fold: 1) Not the current version, 2) Don't overcharge steam players. Meaning that as long as Steam players aren't paying *more* for the *current* version, then it's fine. This also includes giving previous versions away for free, obviously.

But that seems a bit vague. Do they get upset when a game has a sell on GOG since the price is lower or is that ok since the base price is the same on both sites.

I think a exception might be games that are released for free on the dev site can be sold on Steam if it's from before ever going up on Steam.

Could you release the originally titled game as you have been and the extended tag line version of the game at the same time? Would they be treated as different games technically?(roa vs roa:dd)

 

[Kagarus]

But that seems a bit vague. Do they get upset when a game has a sell on GOG since the price is lower or is that ok since the base price is the same on both sites.

I think a exception might be games that are released for free on the dev site can be sold on Steam if it's from before ever going up on Steam.

Could you release the originally titled game as you have been and the extended tag line version of the game at the same time? Would they be treated as different games technically?(roa vs roa:dd)

As long as the sale on gog doesn't have a bigger discount than it had (or will have) on steam, it's probably fine.
Various things might get you into trouble with steam. If you get into trouble with steam, you're fucked.
The general issue is the power imbalance between steam and developers, not helped by the fact that the alternatives are either too small (itch, gog), or utter fucking useless pieces of shit with significantly worse practices (epic).

 

[dewayne4478]

As long as the sale on gog doesn't have a bigger discount than it had (or will have) on steam, it's probably fine.
Various things might get you into trouble with steam. If you get into trouble with steam, you're fucked.
The general issue is the power imbalance between steam and developers, not helped by the fact that the alternatives are either too small (itch, gog), or utter fucking useless pieces of shit with significantly worse practices (epic).

dont think it matters. if you on multi platform they to respect that. As i think alot of the games on steam others too.

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

As long as the sale on gog doesn't have a bigger discount than it had (or will have) on steam, it's probably fine.
Various things might get you into trouble with steam. If you get into trouble with steam, you're fucked.
The general issue is the power imbalance between steam and developers, not helped by the fact that the alternatives are either too small (itch, gog), or utter fucking useless pieces of shit with significantly worse practices (epic).

I love that we're on the same page about Epic Games

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

dont think it matters. if you on multi platform they to respect that. As i think alot of the games on steam others too.

They don't have to respect it, unfortunately. Not blindly, anyway. You do sign a legally binding agreement with them. They don't mind if you sell it on other platforms, but the current version (same version that you have up on steam) cannot be sold for less than the steam version. That's my understanding based on the wording of it. I don't have enough info on discounts to say one way or another, but i suspect as long as the base price is not higher than the base price anywhere else, it's probably ok.

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Rivers of Astrum: Daughter of Darkness has officially launched on Steam!

You must be registered to see the links

 

[dewayne4478]

Rivers of Astrum: Daughter of Darkness has officially launched on Steam!

You must be registered to see the links

already bought installing now

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Had to throw a bugfix out right away. Two supporter content references i missed when i was scrubbing it. Update has been posted!

 

[dewayne4478]

Had to throw a bugfix out right away. Two supporter content references i missed when i was scrubbing it. Update has been posted!

should i start a new game keep going from my saves?

 

[Skeeve1]

Yeah, I was on Patreon for a while, but I transferred over to

You must be registered to see the links

I don't trust Patreon. They're constantly caving to the demands of hypocritical bankers. And those bankers keep moving the goal post further and further. They're on course to eventually abandon all NSFW content. At least that's how it appears to me. The content that currently exists in the game would likely get me banned off Patreon. And the content that's planned for the future guarantees that.

Yes, i understand and yes, if a customer have problem with you he send a message on patreon and you get banned, it happens i see it by few dev. It is a shame if this people your work by her own personal mental state ruin it. And patreon banned without a real reason, only by this note from a dissatisfied gamer. Ok, i will see if i can buy your game from other ( steam dont work for me, unavailable is the note ) Btw. patreon is not realy fair to the dev. but that is only my view .

 

[Manuya]

steam brought me here, hopefully there are plans for pregnancy content down the line and "if" included let it be not just end-game one render type, if not at least visible creampie content and not insinuation

regardless good luck dev

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Alright, I'm getting conflicting information now, stating that Steam won't allow me to post anything to F95 at all, or risk having the game banned from the platform ... so now it's time to ask them directly, and get the answer straight from the horse's mouth. I'll let everyone know what they say!

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

should i start a new game keep going from my saves?

Your save shouldn't be affected in any way, should be good to go with it

 

[Skeeve1]

Alright, I'm getting conflicting information now, stating that Steam won't allow me to post anything to F95 at all, or risk having the game banned from the platform ... so now it's time to ask them directly, and get the answer straight from the horse's mouth. I'll let everyone know what they say!

I hope not....imao it is your game and you are the owner and it is a impertinence if other say you must do that and that but it it the rules on steam...so no chance ?.

 

[Udayana]

Your save shouldn't be affected in any way, should be good to go with it

Saves do work on the Steam version, but I had an issue with my last save (a message like: "I couldn't find a place to rollback"), so I loaded a preceding one and I could continue.