So as this story develops until the December Steam release, paying $5: will additional progress updates until that time be free?
Yes. You will receive all progress updates for what will be considered "Book One" for A Shot in the Dark which will likely be ~6 chapters in total.
The $10 version comes with a walkthrough and guide. Is this something you support as being an "official guide?"
Yes. We built the entire in-game walkthrough and one of our team members, Hondo, created the in-depth Player's Guide (doc & PDF versions). Both of these will continue to be updated as we release new updates.
Are there any cheats with the game included, or is that just for patrons?
There are no current cheats in the game other than the code "OMEGA" which enables toggling of the script for those who enjoy a kink that typically goes with "landlady" & "roommate" games. This code is available to everyone. You can find more out about the game on our studio website too:
https://vim-studios.web.app/#faq
Thank you for the kind words, your support, and thank you again for the questions!