I appreciate your feedback. I’m okay with the exposure I already got, so I don’t need to exploit anyone.
Regarding free art: I don’t believe in asking artists to work for free. The game currently has around 100 pictures, and asking someone to invest that much time and skill into a free project, with no payment and no revenue share, doesn’t sit right with me. I think you will agree, since you care about ethics.
If an artist reached out because they were genuinely passionate about the project and wanted to contribute on their own terms, I’d be open to that conversation. But I’m not going to put out a call for free labor.
For now, my focus is on finishing the game itself. If the art becomes a barrier for some players, I understand. But I’m making this because I want to. No one is obligated to play a free indie game.
P.S.: I also need to be real about what this novel is. It’s an extremely niche NSFL project with heavy themes. This isn’t “portfolio builder” material. No one’s getting hired at a studio because they drew incel guro art for a free game. Telling young artists this is a career opportunity feels disingenuous.
Thanks again for taking the time to write.