Hello and Happy New Year!

I did not realize I could make posts that were not devlogs/comments... But now that I found out about this feature, I'll probably utilize it more. Not too sure where this post will live, but anyway

Introducing XMACX Monthly -- public posts on Patreon and Tumblr (and now here I suppose) where I'll give brief updates about my projects and my plans/goals for the coming month. Each "issue" will have a cover and feature a cover model whom you all can vote for! Patrons will have the opportunity to vote for the cover model's outfit or the cover's theme. If you're interested, the poll for February's cover model is open now on Twitter until the end of January 7.

Anywho, you may read January's XMACX Monthly on Patreon, Tumblr, or below:

First month of the New Year and I've got a lot of fun ideas and plans for 2024! Let's dive right in!

XMACX MONTHLY UPDATES AND "COVERS"

First off, I'm introducing XMACX MONTHLY! It'll be a public post that -- ideally -- goes out on the first of every month. It'll include the schedule and plan for the coming month along with a cover image! I really miss drawing monthly character illustrations and I thought it'd be fun to also include non-patrons in polls so here's what I was thinking:

Everyone gets a chance to vote on the cover model for next month's issue, but patrons can vote on the outfit and/or theme for the cover!

For now, the characters I'd like to focus on drawing are my OCs, so the options for cover models will be limited to my OC roster. I have so many! I'd like to shine a light on them some time... And I was thinking, since magazines typically have "cover stories", OC Lore posts can be about the cover model! What are OC Lore posts? This leads me into my next topic...

TIER CHANGES

Here's what I'll be offering for each tier:

Pineapple Slices (3 USD)

• Vote in monthly theme/character outfit polls
• Digital downloads - wallpaper of the monthly cover model image and/or current visual novel build
• Name in credits (must be patron during release month)
• WIP/Sketch Dump at the end of each month before socials

Big Juicy Pineapple (5 USD)

• All previous rewards PLUS:
• OC Lore posts - the "cover story". It might include a character interview or some tidbit about the cover model
• Art Process - a video, maybe some thoughts and commentary
• NSFW/Spicier/Alternative version of cover model image - you got to vote for their outfit, BUT now you potentially also get to see them with their clothes off LMAO

PROJECT LINE UP

Last year was a pretty busy year for me due to a lot of family stuff, work, and travel. I didn't have as many opportunities as I would have liked to draw my OCs and work on my personal projects. This year, I'll be cutting back on commissions and taking on other projects so I can focus more on my dreams of creating and sharing original stories. Here's the order in which I'd like to work on projects and a lil blurb about each:

Froot Basket: Dark Chocolate Voiced Update

Currently, I'm still working on adding the voiced lines and new artwork to Froot Basket: Dark Chocolate. Tentative release date will be some time in March for the public, some time in February for patrons.

Froot Basket White

The third and last installment of the Furuta Basketball "Froot Basket" series. It will be from Jordan's perspective and will be a direct sequel to Froot Basket Valentine. I'd like this project to be released episodically -- one new route every month or two, 7 routes total. I'm considering making it fully voiced...

Fleeting

My BL scifi horror visual novel! It follows Cadet Masa Takeshiro. It's been a while since I've worked on this project and I'd like to update the demo with everything new I've learned in the last few years. A "face lift" if you will in almost all aspects including writing and UI.

"Kaimana Comic"

It is currently unnamed but in-universe time-wise, it picks up some time after Fleeting. I don't expect to publish the comic at all this year. I'd just like to start thumbnailing it.

Other Projects

I have some other smaller projects like that Dogsitter one I was working on. I'm saving those for when I get frustrated. Those will be my "cool off" projects.

ART GOALS FOR 2024

These are my big big goals this year! If nothing else, at least these please c''':

• Release updated FBDC
• Begin releasing FBW
• Release new Fleeting Demo
• Begin thumbnailing Kaimana Comic

JANUARY 2024 SCHEDULE

Okay! That was a lot. Now here's what I have planned for January! I typically like updating every Friday.

• January 5 - Character (public) and Outfit (patron) polls drop
• January 12 - OC Lore post drops (BJP)
• January 19 - Art Process post drops (BJP)
• January 26 - New FBDC Voiced Preview! + Current visual novel build update
• January 31 - Sketch Dump

Since Kai is like the default model and he's already shirtless, the Cover Story this month will be "What if Kai were a PKMN trainer?" LMAO. Prompted ONLY because I can't unassociate the backwards cap from Ash and his PKMN battles.

Wow. That was a lot. If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading! I'm excited to implement and try all these new stuff out! I hope you'll have fun with it too!

Much Aloha,
Ari