Please don't let this happen.
I really need the community to put their foot down. There are multiple creators saying that theyâre going to continue Early Access. Listen, as a creator myself, Iâve had no issue with EA because I saw it as a middle ground to the perma paywall and people who did stuff for free.
But now people are feigning confusions, claiming that EA is not being clear when it comes to early access. It took me a few reads myself but now people are just reaching. I understand it can be hard to give up what people see as their main source of income but it's time to be serious.
"Regardless of whether they donate." That includes both Paywalls AND Early Access. Alot of creators say they rely on EA for an income but they're willing to risk years of work? If you're reported, EA can take you down at any moment for disregarding their TOS.
Yes we know it's your main source of income, yes we know you work hard but instead of the sob stories and guilt tripping...have faith in what you create. Have faith in the people who pledge to you.
If your content is good, the money will continue to come, sure a handful of people might stop pledging but these are the people who joined because they felt like they HAD to give you money in order to access your content. You shouldnât want to make people feel like they HAVE to support you. They should feel like they WANT to support you because of who you are as a person and what you bring to the table.
You can also find other ways to bring in money;
donation goals with gifts
providing âbehind the scenesâ type content where you show someone how you made something
There is wide range of what you can that doesnât involve making the community feel like they OWE you.
Itâs on you guys to push for your favorite creators to follow these new guidelines. Â Because if they donât; weâre back at square one where we allow people who: formulate false cease and desist orders, threaten to quit when they think the cash flow is gone, say theyâre cutting ties with EA only to convert their objects to the game for the people who pay them, just TOXIC people in general will continue to thrive here and leech off the community.
Along with that, thereâs a chance that the creators you like that are still doing early access or finding loopholes against EAâs wishes wonât be around a few months from now if EA is serious about holding creators accountable and from what Iâve seen, they are.
Please donât let this continue. If you donât want go back to square one where everyone pretends the TOS doesnât exist or if you donât want EA to take down your favorite creators; itâs on all of us to make sure everyone follows through.
