Hello everyone,

Over the past few weeks, I've been hard at work ensuring Sacred Arrow Workshop has all the tools necessary to communicate with the world. It's widely recognized and accepted nowadays to manage relationships with others through social media. I must admit, social media has never been something I particularly favored or considered the right medium for meaningful interactions. In the past, forums combined with niche programs like TeamSpeak and Ventrilo were more common. If we dig further back in time, we'll find even more archaic forms of communication.

Today, a system is needed that can reach as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time, and that system, widely accepted by contemporary society, is social media. This week, after my last post here on Patreon, I've been organizing and structuring a model suitable for Sacred Arrow Workshop.

Rediscovering X (formerly Twitter)

One tool that surprised me positively is X. I created a Twitter account many years ago during the initial boom of these new technologies, but it lacked meaning for me, so I abandoned it. Unlike Facebook, which was a must-have for communicating with friends and family (like the new MSN), X offers a different perspective for a game development studio. It allows me to connect with people who share a particular interest—whether it's a passion for a specific genre of video games, artistic literature, or something that unites many under one banner.

On X, I primarily post quick updates such as "Hey, there's a new update on our Patreon!" or "Check out this new model for our game!" X is a useful platform for reaching an initial audience who can quickly know what I'm up to without too much commitment. It's also a place where I can occasionally share some fun, light-hearted posts.

Navigating Facebook and Instagram

Moving forward, we also have pages on Facebook and Instagram. While I've extensively experimented with these platforms for other projects and communities, I must say I'm not particularly enthusiastic about starting a serious expansion campaign on them. Facebook and Instagram require a substantial time investment, which might detract from game development. However, I'll optimize resources to maintain these platforms, likely through cross-posting to share the same content simultaneously.

Managing multiple social media channels can be overwhelming. Each platform requires different types of content, and keeping track of feedback from various sources can be dispersive. Initially, Facebook and Instagram might receive less attention compared to X, but this may change as we progress.

Embracing Itch.io

Itch.io is very important for Sacred Arrow Workshop. It's a platform dedicated entirely to games, and it’s more accessible than Steam for publishing free games. Itch.io will be a key tool where I plan to: a) Publish demos or trial content b) Publish complete games c) Provide updates on the respective games d) Track all titles and works under Sacred Arrow Workshop

Itch.io also accommodates other interesting content like soundtracks, artbooks, and books, making it a versatile platform that I'll definitely use.

The Sacred Arrow Workshop Website

Our official domain, saw.zone, serves as the main hub for discovering all Sacred Arrow content. It hosts all projects, concepts, and archives, along with links to social media and news. Additionally, our Linktree (linktr.ee/sacredarrowworkshop) offers quick access to all these links, making it a useful hub for navigating our various platforms.

Discord: A Community Hub

Discord is another crucial platform. I've always enjoyed modifying and playing with server rules and permissions. Discord has become a standard communication tool in the gaming world, and I plan to use it for the Sacred Arrow Workshop community. It's a place where fans can connect, share resources like screenshots, and receive flash updates. Building a successful community on Discord is one of my proudest achievements, and I look forward to expanding this aspect for Sacred Arrow Workshop.

Twitch: Future Prospects

Currently, we have a Twitch profile, but I don't plan on streaming for now due to the significant time and energy required. However, Twitch remains a valuable platform for gaming content, and our channel might become more active in the future.

Steam: On the Horizon

Like Itch.io, Steam is another useful platform where Sacred Arrow Workshop will soon be present. We've completed all the paperwork and are waiting for the right moment to launch our titles officially.

Patreon: Our Communication Hub

Patreon is an exciting and challenging project for Sacred Arrow Workshop. We decided to use Patreon as our primary update platform instead of a traditional blog. We aim to offer free access to general news and build a library of services, goods, and perks for our supporters. While it's not necessary to subscribe to enjoy our updates, we want to reward those who believe in the project with exclusive content and little extras.

Additional Platforms

Threads and TikTok: I've experimented with both. TikTok's content wasn't to my liking, so I deleted it. As for Threads, it seemed absent in the gaming sphere. I'll revisit these platforms, but they are currently low priorities.

Expect a weekly post on Patreon, with additional updates as necessary. For instance, I'll soon provide an update on Jumara, its recent progress, and the path forward. Managing all these social media platforms is more demanding than quietly coding, but it’s an integral part of game development.

I've also tried Reddit, but I was flagged as a bot almost instantly, leading to a possible shadowban. More updates on that in the future.

Thank you all for your support. Together, we'll grow Sacred Arrow Workshop into something truly special.

Norman