If you pay gems for these routes, are they unlocked forever or just for that playthrough?
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I’m not sure yet.
Down the line, I will ask Tales if there can be an option to unlock all the choices by making a $6 purchase at the beginning of the game, as this is the method I prefer, too. This might be something they’ll go for, but I can’t guarantee anything.
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One thing I have noticed in a lot of these types of games is if you buy a choice, it’s yours and you don’t have to buy it again. However another way they make money is to have something like keys, where you can’t play another chapter unless you wait a certain amount of time, watch an advertisement, or buy more keys.
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So, like, here’s some things for y’all regarding the Tales platform. I downloaded it and played through one of the stories (Don’t Be Afraid), and the way the platform works is that you get keys for free (two to start, and then they regenerate over time), so you can play the entire story for free if you want. I haven’t seen any ways to get free gems but you do start with 11. At some point, they put you on a half-hour timer before you can advance in a certain chapter. You can buy a subscription service (monthly or yearly) that lets you skip the wait, removes the key requirement, and also lets you see exclusive artwork. But that was just for the story I played, I don’t know if that is standard for all of them.
As far as Sam’s suggestion goes, I don’t know if Tales is gonna be up for that, but it does sound like a good idea to hit the crossover audience.
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I should clarify that I got a contract for $10k, but that payment is made in 10 installments throughout the editing process. I haven’t finished the first milestone yet. If I were to follow the brilliant advice of the people in this thread and refuse to use gems, then neither myself or Tales would make a cent, and I wouldn’t get the contract.
To everyone so vehemently opposed to this, I care more about getting paid for the countless hours of work, and getting the opportunity for thousands of people to read MMM, than I do about your payment preference. I prefer CoG’s sales model, too, but this is by no stretch of the imagination a deal breaker, especially since Tales was the only publisher willing to publish MMM as is.
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@samuel_h_young Preach 
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Samuel_H_Young, I have been M.I.A. for awhile and briefly caught up on what’s going on. I believe you should do what you think is best. I have really enjoyed your work and I believe I have played all of them (FYI). I truly enjoyed MMM before the fiasco with Hosted Games as far as the content. I wish you the best of luck no matter your decision.
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As do I, but it’s worth us bearing in mind that most negative reviews of CSGs stem from the sales model. There are hordes of players out there who want CoG’s sales model to look like Tales’.
Moral of the story: there’s no perfect way to sell your work. Every model will have its critics. Do what you need to do to get it out there.
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Exactly this. You have every right to earn money for your hard work.
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Samuel Young seems to have a lot of talent, and I just LOVE the darker, more edgy stories. I’m really happy he found a platform that worked for him??? 
I am suuuper excited for this, because like I’m really reminded by the concept of this other really good cyoa writer called Endmaster who writes sort of edgy, grimdark material, you know??
End × Samuel story collaboration WHEN???
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Me and Endmaster hate each other, lol. I called him a Mountain-dew chugging incel and he called me Suicide Sammy.
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Another system that might work better with the Tales’ sales model could be like the coin system in The Arcana (another choice based game). In it at the start of each chapter, you get an option to pay X amount of coins for access to the premium choices in that chapter forever. It would be more similar to their current model so probably an easier deviation then paying for all premium choices at the beginning.
Although I wouldn’t personally endorse micro-transactions, I do think this method is more… palatable for CoG fans who are used to one-time purchases. Either way there’s an audience who will buy but that audience just might not be as much CoG fans.
But regardless, I do think MMM will still be a success even with this polarizing issue. I’m excited for the day it’ll hit the market : D
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Yeah, that’s a good idea that a few people have suggested. I’m going to see if Tales will go for this.
Thanks!
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Where has the idea that people dont want Sam to be paid for his hard work come from? I can’t speak for others but the reason I am not a fan of the freemium is I would rather pay outright for a game. With the gem system you have no idea how many gems you will need and I assume that depends on the path you choose and what choices are put behind gems.
But I still wish Sam luck as he has pointed out that Tales are the only publisher who will release MMM as it is and the gems system they use so for him to get paid he has to use them so the discussion is mute.
I wish you luck and please know my preference for non freemium is just my opinion. I understand this is the best you can do if to want to release MMM as intended and I wish you luck with this endeavor and hope you find a way to do the gems you are happy with. Good luck.
Edit: also can I pm you Sam? I have an idea for possible gem use.
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OwO
When was this??
Lol I thought I could see some like influence or inspiration or whatever in your writing but maybe I was wrong??? Best of luck anyway with your stories though! 
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A couple months ago. I haven’t read any of his works.
Thanks.
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Have you decided which game type you’re gonna use for MMM? Prose or Graphic Novel?
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Yessss, this question. because I must admit, once Tales was part of the equation it was hard for me not to imagine the story in the art style of the cover art ^ ^
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NEITHER! I’m going with Text Messaging. 
Lol, but in all seriousness, I’ll definitely be going with prose. I’m considering adding art assets for the ROs from Tales during the editing process, as these are things they will actually gladly pay for. But that would go against royalties, too, so I’m not sure it’d be worth adding another couple grand on top of my advance.
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A text messenger murder sim would certainly be interesting lol
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