im new here so i dont know much of the history but checking whats public and available. it is kind of hard to believe what you say when every posts and pages of each games of arvus games, starmaker has significantly more engagement than any other games of his. Starmaker has 2k ratings while every other games of his dont even amount to 1k even if you combine them all. his other 2 games dont even amount to 200 ratings.
from what i dug up. Roundscape 2 was announce on 2023. based on graphtreon. Arvus game's rank on patreon is tanking. Arvus games literally was on their lowest point on july 8 2024 ranked as 184 on patreon. Starmaker story was released on July 24 2024 and arvus games from then on he gained traction. Arvus game's rank rose from rank 184 to 105 now. Roundscape 2 was announced in september 12 2023 and from graphtreon you can literally see he gained no money after he announced it. in fact, his earnings kept tanking
So yes, this is crowdfunded. this game is literally what's making him money. This game is what's making people click his patreon page. Not RS2, not RS1 or any other game of his. You can literally go to https://graphtreon.com/creator/Roundscape and check it
Ok since you are new here, I'll explain it in a simple way. Not that anything of what you said means this is a crowdfunded game, exposure is not the same as crowdfunded.
1. The "tanking" you see on Arvus is because of how RS was handled, things happened and RS2 being initially a 3d game out of the scope of the size of the team didn't help the case.
2. Starmaker + The change of RS2 to an isometric "2.5D" with art and animated scenes are "TOGETHER" what rose Arvus again.
3. Of course, the FULLY FREE game with constant updates that DOES NOT become available for patreons first is going to have more engagement than a game that after some time was decided to be reworked, has no that many posts about it outside of patreon, and is has not been released. RS Adorevia still is the highest point of Arvus Games, but as said, things happened and it wasn't handled the best, and this is a game that was never free and only available in Patreon and Steam later on.
Then again, just wanted to clarify what the "tanking" you see is. But again, exposure with a FREE game is not the same as a crowdfunded game, this is not an "early access $10 game"
from downvote's you are getting it is clear how people feel about what you are saying...stop telling your fans "its free so stfu and wait" because its such a dickhead thing to say to anyone...these are fans and they give enough shit about the game that they donate money...money that they spent time to earn, time out of their lives that they can not replace...you can't just say "its free so no money is being made" cuz its BS...just apologize instead its not that hard...many of us do not care about the other projects, we are fans of this one! and we are giving you MONEY...thank the audience for their patience and apologize to them when you fuck up and miss your deadline
Hello there,
first of all, I'm explaining something, if people want to downvote or ignore, it is fine, its their opinion and 10 votes do not represent a community.
Second, since it seems you didn't follow along and just like with the other user, refrain from getting actual news and just spread misinformation. Show me when and where have we told users "shut tf up and wait", and by the way, an apology was made.
Also, while many fans of starmaker are also patreons, I don't like the way in which you are expressing about the "we are giving you money". A subscription is not forced for enjoying starmaker, the players that believe and like the project support it because of these reasons.
I said “we are giving you money” because you’re acting like we support you for some reason other than this game. You make it sound like Starmaker wasn’t successful or hasn’t made you any money. Aren’t we supporting you because we actually appreciate the game and want you to keep making money so you can continue updating it? Of course we appreciate it. Why else would we subscribe to Patreon?
I’m not mad at the devs for delaying the update. I get it. No one wants to miss deadlines, and I’d personally rather get something when it’s ready, with real content, polished and not full of bugs. What I don’t like is the attitude toward fans. The “stfu and wait” I mentioned is just how your tone comes across. That’s what it feels like you mean. I never said you literally said those words.
Ok there's a couple things wrong with this analogy you're doing.
"I said “we are giving you money” because you’re acting like we support you for some reason other than this game.". Yes, there are a lot of supporters of Starmaker, but the same stands for Roundscape, generalizing as "we support you for this one and not the other" is just plain wrong. The development of Starmaker is not dependent on money from patreon, even at its starts when there was not a "huge" following the plan has always been to complete by 2.0 and the steam release and this has been made clear from the get-go.
How is me explaining that the game is fully free, or any of my other statements coming across as telling people to "stfu and wait", I'm stating why a way of thinking is wrong or that the update is set as 2026 at the moment as there is not even an estimate date, we don't want to make even an estimate date than then people will complain about, and the content that we want to make public knowledge has already being advised on the "Planned Features" post. I have taken the time to explain why there is no "progress bar" advising how the update is going and always making sure to advise the update is taking long but that it is happening. Showing how people that just pass by a message and create a narrative is wrong and showing proof of what they claim being wrong.
How does any of the things I have mentioned in this post and before show as a "stfu and wait" attitude, when I'm taking the time of the day to actually explain and talk with people.
That's it for me on this comment.
Uh oh melty. It's free, so if you subscribe it's not on the promise of getting it early, or even getting it at all, because it's free. It's just to show appreciation. So subscribing does not in fact render the "it's free" argument wrong. You're just REEEEEEEING on the internet about a free product, hope your life gets better lil bro.
Again with the excuses, and again with the constant emphasis on the game being FREE.
"Fully free."
"FREE game."
"FREE."
Okay, it's free. If that point is supposed to end every criticism, then disable the Patreon button and remove every mention of donations from your fully free game. If money truly doesn't matter, that shouldn't be an issue.
What bothers me isn't that the game is free...it's that every concern gets brushed aside with the same excuse instead of being addressed directly.
And honestly, I don't even know who you are. I can only hope you're a moderator and not an actual developer, because the way you're responding reflects poorly on the people making the game. Your dismissive, cocky attitude does far more damage than any criticism I've seen here.
For the record, I'm not holding your behavior against the game itself, and I'm not withdrawing support because of one moderator on Itch.io. I'm just tired of seeing legitimate feedback met with excuses and condescending replies instead of actual discussion.
"Okay, it's free. If that point is supposed to end every criticism, then disable the Patreon button and remove every mention of donations from your fully free game. If money truly doesn't matter, that shouldn't be an issue."
None of those change the fact it's free, people can download it and play it for free. People can choose to support the dev as well. You're not making any sense, should just bail now tbh.
Saying 'it's free' doesn't mean it shouldn't be criticized or his concerns aren't valid. That's flawed logic. You're not making sense.
It's free to not harass a person for having opinions as well.
Maybe consider that before you type another message that adds literally nothing to the conversation. At least provide something of value to the discussion if you're going to bother typing. (¬_¬)
He's disputing the fact that it's free though, so the premise of his complaints is flawed from the start. And the fact that it is free, means IMO dooming about the game is a particular kind of cringe "I'm not getting this free product fast enough." It's insanely entitled, juvenile, and just bad form. 8 numbered updates, and loads of lettered updates not enough to generate goodwill for the dev?
No. You clearly aren't understanding the core of his argument. The only flawed logic I see here is yours. And it's not simply flawed, it's completely missing the point entirely, by a longshot.
"It's insanely entitled, juvenile, and just bad form." Yeah so is shouting 'Freeeeee' and adding nothing of significance. No logic, no arguments, nothing.
The update that was supposed to happen didn't and it's been months. <= What do you think is flawed about this?
The game isn't free until it is released, until then the work being done is being paid for by Patreon and other subs which allows the creator to spend his time on it. <= What about that statement? Is it not also just simply the reality of the siuation?
And if you really want to nitpick then it's never 'free' in the truest sense of the word to begin with. You always pay with something, even if it's only with your time and attention.
Now, let's for arguments sake say the game did cost 10, 50, 100, whatever arbitrary amount and currency you want. Do you now suddenly think his complaints are valid? Just because there is a price card attached to it? It having no price card does not make his arguments less valid. That's the entire point you are missing completely...