[Overlord]

Alright, I think this has gone on for long enough now. If you want to back Stealth, back Stealth. If you don't want to pay, that's fine, he's not forcing you to.

[Atendega]

I am genuinely, truly confused about the fact that somehow people think they're being "milked" for cash. You've been given an OPTION to support a highly respected, highly talented member of our community. Take it or leave it, but don't accuse him of money-grubbing.

[Mr Lange]

This isn't a matter of reward as much as it is a matter of practicality. Stealth isn't even holding Megamix for ransom for fucks sake. He's saying he can work on it more if he's financially supported to do so, which is a fact of life. He wants to make it happen, and is doing everything he can to create it, so he's not even fucking artificially padding development time as a ploy for money. This is purely a matter of giving people the means to make it happen faster than normal, which is ultimately a good thing. This is an optional donation, emphasis on donation, and not some greedy cash grab. Don't like it? Don't donate. Like it? Do. It's that simple.
Look at it this way. People are individually responsible for the use of their money and the consequences of what they spend it on. Are you trying to protect them? Trying to tell them what they should or shouldn't be doing with it? And, if Stealth were hypothetically holding Megamix over us for cash, what are you going to do? Convince him not to do that and make the game for free? Get the community to boycott? Call him dirty and try to make him feel like a dick? What would you hope to accomplish by making a fuss about this that wouldn't just make matters worse? It's his project, his plan, and the community's decision on how to respond.
If a bit of financial support helps the scene, and people are willing, then so be it. This is not the first time at all that money has been thrown around for community interests.

This post has been edited by Mr Lange: Today, 06:02 PM

[iojnekns]

Congratulations, Stealth. You've achieved the holy grail of Sonic hacking! More impressive than any technical wizardy or innovation ...you've found a way to monetize it (albeit by proxy.)

Most of these responders, on some level, have a pang of bitterness/jealousy that they didn't do it themselves. I don't think you're the first person to wish they could be paid for doing their hobby, instead of trying to squeeze it in around a job and a life. Lots of them have long term projects too, and I'm sure can actually relate to that feeling pretty well...
[to be concluded]

*Unfortunately, due to work commitments, I was not able to complete this comment. If you want to read the rest of my comment, please donate to my Patreon. Everything you donate will help me support myself so I can get on with writing the second half!

[Strife]

For what it's worth, I backed Stealth and I look forward to his future projects, not just because of what he could potentially make but what others could make by utilizing his development tools.

[Hez]

Bottom line for me is. I'd like the community to continue to thrive off of each other and not ask for money. Ever. This isn't about money... It's about us growing together. Let's not profit off of one another, let's grow. Jobs are for money, the community is for fun.

[BlazeHedgehog]

Hez, on 13 minutes ago, said:

Bottom line for me is. I'd like the community to continue to thrive off of each other and not ask for money. Ever. This isn't about money... It's about us growing together. Let's not profit off of one another, let's grow. Jobs are for money, the community is for fun.

That's fine and all, but a lack of money can drain the fun out of things disturbingly quickly. Time is money, after all, and the more money you have, the more time there is for other things... like, say, friends, community, hobby projects, etc.