The state of ViperV

First of all, I just wish to assure everyone that despite the lack of updates for the past months, development has not stopped.

I wish everyone to know that I have now taken the necessary steps to break the dreadful loop that I have been to in both as a dev and as an individual.

for some time now, earnings in Patreon has not been meeting the minimum cost of living for me and my family, so every now and then I need to go scout for local temporary jobs or commissions just to get by. This cuts dev time significantly. It has been the loop for some years now and frankly, I didn't really mind as much because it is what keeps the game and my family alive.

Unfortunately, due to recent life events, hospital bills, debt and living in general, it has been harder and harder to keep up. And because of the recent wars, all of the prices for the basics for survival has gone up and high.

If you look up how the Philippines electricity cost goes for, we are now priced higher compared to Singapore. We are also the highest in the world if averaged. Our electricity rose stupidly high that it is now higher than our rent.

Patreon barely covers adobe, internet, rent and electricity and my patreon earnings are lower than $1000 and that is BEFORE taxes.

After Patreon earnings secure rent and power etc, I still need to scrounge for the rest of the living expenses, not mentioning we just got into storm season. I wish I can relay better how difficult things are, but it is the sanity draining type.

And as much as I can keep going, doing more commissions while developing and suffering, It will be a declining loop that will produce just misery and burnout. The more I do other things, the more zone I have to keep catching to actually finish the game.

But i am NOT about to give up just yet, because I have a final card draw to deal with the situation; break this loop and continue what I love doing most; Game development.

I own a 633 sqm lot that i bought from freelance money in my late 20's, early 30's. That lot is sitting in a great location and has great standing / value. I plan to retire there when I am old.

I have now set the lot for sale.

If I spend it, wisely, it should serve me 5-6 years without having to do extra and commission work, not worry about where to get expenses and just focus on Divine Arms and ViperV game development in general. I had a loooong talk with my wife about this, and we both decided it is for the best.

Now I don't know when the brokers will actually get to sell it, but before they do, I will still very much need everyone's support and I will still need to continue doing commissions, freelance and other jobs available, while using whatever time I have left to dev. (2-4 hours a day)

I have a playable demo coming in the next months and I will reveal the rest of the plan for the ViperV brand once everyone gets the chance to play it. I think it's a great plan that will also get me out of this damned situation sooner.

Now if you guys must abort support, I will always understand. But ViperV's fate pretty much will depend on the great lot of you who will still be there in the next critical weeks / months til I get to sell the lot. And I would love to keep going.

Anyway, as always, thank you for the support and I hope for it to not cease sooner specially in this very critical time. My literal career lies in your considerations now, and I will forever be thankful for that.

-kReig out!