Patreon Leaks - August 29, 2024
I just wanted to post a quick reminder that I do know there are several social media accounts leaking my Patreon content [ I've been getting a lot of messages again ]. Unfortunately, there's really nothing I can do about it. I don't have social media accounts of my own to report with and even if I did, they would simply make new accounts.
If you don't have enough money to subscribe to my Patreon and you really want to see the art previews, you can go see the leaks. It's okay.
If you don't have enough money buy my games and pirate them instead, it's okay.
The economy is shit right now and times are hard. I totally get it and I will survive. I'd really prefer that people take care of their health and basic needs rather than give me money, if it's a choice between the two.
The only thing I ask for- beg for, really- is to please respect the 18+ rating on my work. Internet censorship is reaching a fever pitch and one of the most common arguments for it is that children are getting into content meant for adults. If people can point to careless minors who consume my content as proof, my ability to fund and distribute my work to consenting adults could be revoked. I will be unable to work on these games.
Please respect the 18+ rating and let me create art in peace. That is all I want.
Apple's new 30% fee for Patreon - August 12, 2024
As you may know, I have a Patreon account! I can't link you from here though because of Patreon's TOS. My name is Gatobob.
The reason I'm writing this news update is because Apple's app store is forcing all appsPatreon to pay a 30% fee on in-app purchases starting in November. If you try to become a new patron to anyone on Patreon after Nov 1st on an iOS device like an ipad or an iphone, you will be charged 30% more. You can avoid this fee by using any other device, like a computer. This applies to all Patreon accounts, so please spread awareness!
[ strikes me as pretty strong anti-competitive/monopolistic behaviour but what do I know... ]
Edit /August 13 - small corrections. Also I wanted to add a bit more info about what I know. For now, This new 30% fee will only apply to users signing up for a new subscription on Patreon on the Apple App store after Nov 1st. People with existing subscriptions should not be affected even if they are using the Apple App.
Patreon is giving me, as a creator, a choice to either have this new 30% fee charged on top of my existing prices [ the default ], or to absorb the fee by lowering my profit. I am choosing not to absorb this fee, because I believe this charge is unjust and that buyers should be discouraged from subscribing via the App store. I don't believe that Apple is entitled to 30% of my profit for doing absolutely nothing. I hope thier business suffers from this gross overstep.
I encourage anyone who only has access to Apple handheld devices and the App store to view my Patreon updates on pirating websites or various leak accounts instead of paying the fees after Nov 1st.
Merch Restock - August 7, 2024
My Etsy store is restocked!
Merch Restock Incoming - August 6, 2024
I've just received my shipment of replacement merch to restock my Etsy store! This includes the Ren Heart pins and the Fox Logo pins!
I'm just gonna need a little time to go through the boxes and recount my inventory ^^; I'm hoping I can get it done tomorrow but this is the busiest week of my life for some reason with a bunch of appointments so I am scramblin'
Positivity Post - August 4, 2024
I figured it's time for some good vibe video recs again :)
[ I'd like to verbally recontextualize the part in this video about the Great Green Wall project in Africa- I want to point out that this can be interpreted as an example of terraforming. We as a human species are in fact currently terraforming an earthlike planet [ Earth ] to be more hospitable for life. We are doing that right now :) ]
The last rec is a bit different, but it's a channel I've been using for years now to improve my mental and physical health: Yoga with Adriene. This link is to a playlist of her most recent 30 day set [ she posts a new 30 day set once every year for Jan 1st ] and I highly recommend these videos if you'd like to get a bit more active in a way that doesn't require many tools, much space, or even a whole lot of time. She's a very experienced instructor and I love that her videos so heavily focus on mental health and breathing technique. FLOW - A 30 Day Yoga Journey
Etsy adult content ban - July 30, 2024
My store on Etsy [ gatobob.etsy.com ] Is now shadowbanned and will not show up in any search results [ whether you search for 'gatobob' or any of the characters ]. This is because of the combination of Etsy's new adult policy and because I voluntarily marked every single one of my items as 'mature'.
Despite my disagreement with this kind of ham fisted censorship [ as opposed to simply improving the search system and communicating better with sellers ], I still do not want any of my products to be viewed by minors. This is why I've marked all of my items as 'mature' despite them not directly falling under Etsy's classification for 'adult content'.
Unfortunately, this is already confusing my customers and possibly losing me sales [ I can't know for sure yet. I will collect data over a week from the ban ].
If you would like to help me, please share links to my store and this website with consenting adults who are already interested in my work.
Strade Daki was removed by Etsy - July 27, 2024
I'm very sorry but my Strade Dakimakura has been forcibly removed from my Etsy store due to a change in their content policy that is scheduled for the 29th [ I guess they wanted to strike me early :P ]
I am going to look into my options and think about what I can do. I may have to figure out a new way to sell my products, which will take time and research and a lot of work [ unfortunately ]. We are living in an increasingly censored age these days...
EDIT: I've changed the two dakimakura listings that showed any dick [ Fox and Strade ] to have censored, blurred parts on the images. Hopefully Etsy finds this in compliance with their new standards, which are somewhat unclear. So far so good, and my Strade daki is once again up for sale. However, I am very wary of Etsy and its arbitrary enforcement of policy since it deactivated my listing with no warning two days before the policy change. I will continue to keep this website up to date on the situation if anything changes.
My funding website account has been suspended - July 10, 2024
If you've tried to visit my funding website, you may not be able to access it. My account has been suspended.
I was unaware that my old art posted on this website must meet the TOS requirements of the funding website if there are clear links between the two. So, I've removed all mention or links of the funding website from this one and vice versa. I've applied for a review of the changes and will hopefully get my account unsuspended.
If I am unable to get my account unsuspended, I will have to find a new funding website- but we'll deal with that problem if it comes up. Please do not worry! I will make sure to find an agreeable solution eventually!
EDIT: I've been unsuspended :D / July 11
My funding website had very quick customer service and they found that with the links removed, I'm no longer violating TOS! I will have to live with the rule of no links to funding website from this one, but that's alright. I've never liked advertising much anyway LMAO
WARNING! - July 9, 2024
I've been notified that there is a file floating around claiming to be a leaked copy of my current work in progress title [ YKMET:Strade ]. This file is not a leaked version of the game. The filesize is much smaller than any of the copies I ever provided to my Alpha Testers, which are the only copies that I have ever exported [ and my Alpha Testers are trustworthy. I think that's worth noting. ] The file has been investigated and found to contain virus[s]. Please be cautious and do not download this fake leak.
Some of my previous Alpha Testers themselves not only alerted me to this, but risked their own computers to unzip and scan the file.
Merch Restock - July 6, 2024
Hello! I'm just adding a short update to let you guys know that some of the items in my etsy shop [ gatobob.etsy.com ] are pretty low in stock and may be sold out soon- but please don't worry! I've already ordered restock items for everything that's low. It will take some time for everything to be produced and shipped to me, but absolutely everything in the shop will be restocked eventually :D
No new merch products yet- I plan to wait until YKMET:Strade is complete to begin developing new merch. Take it easy and stay safe out there!