so level silver on patreon does not get you latest android version?
1 Like
While Silver does give you access to the newest versions for Desktop (Linux/Windows/Mac), the Android version remains a goodie for those, who choose to support the game extraordinarily with the Gold tier.
The following is not part of the answer to your question anymore, but some general info for everyone:
Starting this month I simplified the process of releasing for Desktop platforms: Behind the scenes, I started using Git to manage all the source files of Gain of Life. I set up a pipeline, which packages the game and automatically uploads it to Mega.
Previously, I did this manually, which took me up to 6 hours, depending on how fast my upload speed is. The pipeline can do it in under 10 minutes now. However, I was unable to automize the Android release, which I will have to keep releasing manually (I will keep trying to automize it as well).
What does this mean? Android releases will stay the same as they used to be. Desktop releases for Windows/Linux/Mac will be much quicker, and thus, will receive bug fix updates much faster and more frequently.
3 Likes
New Version (v0.40.0)
I just published v0.40.0 to Patreon and Subscribestar.
What’s new?
- Reworked several dialogs at the F.O.O.D. club
- Added some hints to how your chances are in winning the official election
- Party representative/official position: Establish new club-internal policies
- Some more conversations with Max
Unluckily, I updated Daz Studio and now it won’t render pictures anymore. Thus, there is no updated weight stage yet. If I get it to work, I will add the new weight stages with a bug-fix version.
Download
Download v0.40.0 (PC/Windows/Linux/Mac) - Subscribestar
Download v0.40.0 (Android) - Subscribestar
Download v0.40.0 (PC/Windows/Linux/Mac) - Patreon
Download v0.40.0 (Android) - Patreon
PS: At Subscribestar I pay fewer fees. Pricing is the same, to keep it fair, if someone is unable to use one method.
6 Likes
I still have the old v0.33 when I did a one month sub back in November of last year, it feels more incredible that the free version went from 0.22 to 0.25 only
2 Likes
It really just seems like the project here is just an advertisment for patreon (which is 100% fine, its their time). Over the past 2 months, only 2 posts were given on here that didn’t come from SirMister and both posts were asking about the free version / what you get for paying. I’ve bought 2 or so updates for it and the game itself isn’t bad, but its not $8 a month good. Given enough time and some systems added, I would definitly donate again.
2 Likes
That’s what I’m doing, last time I had subscribed was because i had been hospitalized and not having a powerful connection meant no online games, so I opted for trying an offline light one such as this one. I had only my phone so I had to pay up 10 euro for that apk. I got a subscription the other day for BE Witches currently in development but I paid just 12 euro for an entire year with the promise of getting the full version for free after paying 5$ in subscription and the demo versions are already great honestly.
2 Likes
I‘m sorry to hear that Patreon‘s prices don‘t align with your expectations.
BE Witches, for example, has 1000+ Patrons, which allows them to offer lower prices. Even though their prices are much lower, they likely receive a budget that’s multiple times of what I can raise through Patreon. Reducing Patreon prices to the level of BE Witches is just not possible for Gain of Life.
If it works for you by subscribing from time to time to upgrade to the newest version, that’s absolutely fine with me. In fact, I appreciate that you could find a way to contribute to the game’s development that works for you.
If you think that the game is missing out on certain features, or you have an idea that could improve the game, feel free to share it. If these ideas fit to the game, considering the manageable community size, chances are that I will be able to add them to the game 
6 Likes
That’s fully reasonable. You clearly put effort into your games and you are well within your right to charge whatever you want. A ton of creators on this site do so. I’m just pointing out to people that instead of this being the main way in which you communicate to your audience, you instead get most of your feedback from patreon without releasing free versions. It seems this forum is a secondary and just serves to generate awareness for your game/pateron. Keep up the good work, I support your right to not give out free updates.
1 Like
Might not be the best comparison seeing how BE Witches has only released one actual game update in the past 3 years though 
I get your point though, I have been subbed to both in the past but it’s not like you’ll get frequent updates.
1 Like
I was on holiday during the first week of January, and now my schedule is unexpectedly crowded. Thus, I will need up to 14 more days to complete the January version.
5 Likes
New version (v0.41)
I just published v0.41.0 to Patreon and Subscribestar.
What’s new?
- New character: Poppy, the FOOD club president’s secretary
- Added functionality to affect FOOD club members with the new policies. Poppy has received five weight stages.
- Added a cafeteria to the FOOD club with quite a few interactions with Poppy
- New weight stage for the main character
Download
Download v0.41.0 (PC/Windows/Linux/Mac) - Subscribestar
Download v0.41.0 (Android) - Subscribestar
Download v0.41.0 (PC/Windows/Linux/Mac) - Patreon
Download v0.41.0 (Android) - Patreon
PS: At Subscribestar I pay fewer fees. Pricing is the same, to keep it fair, if someone is unable to use one method.
8 Likes
Me: Finally subcribes for 1 month to see the current version
Also me: Sees the next payment day the first day of the next month… Unsubscribes after downloading 0.41 so as to not to pay the subcribtion twice with less than a week
I hope i don’t need a hotfix for any reason…
1 Like
I’m sorry about the late release, @maldy. Usually, I try to release earlier each month. Considering the circumstances, if you decide not to continue your subscription in February and there is a bug-fix version, just let me know about it, so I can send you download links for the bug fix. It’d be only fair.
Naturally, the Patreon subscriptions are thought to be kept. Thus, payments would be monthly. The 1st-of-the-month cycle does come with some problems. I try to remind people to subscribe at the beginning of each month, so that the double-payment issue can be avoided.
2 Likes
It’s the first of the month again, which means that by subscribing today you’ll get the biggest benefit. All subscriptions started in February will end by the end of the month regardless of when you subscribed in February.
If you subscribe today to Silver or higher you’ll automatically receive access to the newest version as soon as it releases.
Links:
Subscribestar
Patreon
2 Likes
As I explained in a Patreon post this month, I am working on bringing the character window of GoL to a completely new level.
In preparation for these changes, I would like to modify Ren’Py itself to make the game compatible. Already two months ago, I tested an experimental way of building the game, but I was eventually forced to go back to the old, manual way of publishing the game.
The character engine has moved along quite well recently, and to ensure that everything will work out just fine, I would like to build the foundations for the new engine into the game earlier.
While I am done with the new content for this month, I am still working on these changes. Thus, the new version for this month will be out tomorrow, including some fundamental, technical - yet unnoticeable - changes.
3 Likes
New Version [v0.42]
In a post earlier this month I explained the main thing going on right now. This version was packaged by my software, not just Ren’Py anymore. While I tested the PC version, I could not test the Mac one. Also, the Android version is unaffected by these changes.
What’s new?
- Implemented the cafeteria
- Added the mayor’s office
- Change your name
- Apply for mayor elections (yet quite basic)
Download
Download (PC/Windows/Mac/Linux) - Subscribestar
Download (Android) - Subscribestar
Download (PC/Windows/Mac/Linux) - Patreon
Download (Android) - Patreon
4 Likes
Yesterday was the 1st of the month, so by subscribing to the Silver tier or higher today you will not only get access to v0.43.0 as soon as it releases, but you get the biggest benefit since all subscriptions will end on April 1st regardless of when you subscribed during March.
2 Likes
So having had a chance to actually play the gain to the full extent. I have some ideas for you if you’re interested in them:
-
First: The ability to go to the fast food restaurant even if you don’t work there. Simple idea.
-
Secound: If you do max affection for other characters, have Lana or another character move in with you, which could help cut the cost of food by since you’ll have two people income to help pay for it.
-
Third: You mentioned Aliens in your original pitch so who not have the eventual new job that you could unlock if you’re heavy enough when encountering the aliens. See an Alien Queen job, which comes with the following perks:
-
Plenty of Food of which can be provided by Aliens themselves or through the Aliens grabbing food that can be added to your inventory later.
-
The ability to invite friends over to feed/be fed by you.
-
Plenty of spending cash.
-
And, finally: I do not know if this was included in the original plan, but an influencer route using the phone option to get internet. This would allow you to generate passive income depending on how many followers you have.
3 Likes
Played this quite a bit. Very good stuff, but one thing I’d like to see implemented is some reactions to changes in your eating habits. I like the events where if your clothes are tighter and you’ve entered a new weight stage, characters comment on your weight - It’d be nice if characters that eat with you would comment on any changes in food choice. So, for instance, if you go from getting just fries to getting a full combo - “Oh, feeling hungry today?” Or if you go for a salad after eating a big amount of food - “What, are you on a diet or something?” And other comments along these lines, including comments about this combining with weight gain - “That big meal again? No wonder you’re blowing up.” Great stuff so far and can’t wait to see how much further it goes!
1 Like
Excellent idea, will add that.
I’m unsure whether this fits into my current plans. Right now I try to complete the politics route. Having other characters move in would likely be a bit more complicated. Maybe an idea for a larger update after the new character engine is rolled out to beta.
The aliens are still on my list - just like the dictatorship. It will become interesting when we get to combine multiple routes (especially the dictator and alien one). Your other suggestions regarding this topic are some nice extensions to it. Since the politics route is still work-in-progress, we will likely need to wait a bit to see some alien stuff added.
I would like to have the followers have an impact on the influence that you have. Actually, they already do throughout elections. Also, there are some features, such as contracts that you might receive per mail that you can accept against money. They might need some balancing work, though. I could add some smaller extensions to social media within the next updates.
There are scenes that do that, but there are just very few ones. The issue is that the game is non-linear, making it challenging to state when the player has “gained” or “lost” weight. This always comes from a subjective view of point that is relative to what an NPC has seen earlier on. It is something that can’t be checked off my list easily. It is difficult to implement, but I agree with you.
This is even more challenging to do, because the game needs to simulate the subjective view from other NPCs. How many times does the player need to eat something to make it a habit? What if they eat similar foods (e.g. a fruit salad, then a vegan sandwich (= all diet food)), and then suddenly switches to heartier options (e.g. burgers, fries)? This would require the game to add categories of food and carefully consider them when evaluating whether and what kind of habit the player has built, and even harder, notice changes in it. Features like these would be highly experimental and need an immense amount of testing and evaluating to make sure that they work properly. It might be an idea to add, if I find a way of running automized tests in Ren’Py, but I think that time is better spent on other features than these ones. Sorry 
All in all, the core systems of the game were not designed for these type of comments. I already tried adding a few comments of these in previous updates, but there is much more to add to make these comments more consistent throughout the game.
Regarding this month’s update, I will either release it by Sunday or by Friday next week. It depends on how fast I progress.
4 Likes