As a developer, manager, and accountant, I already know what to do. I'd start the development and make the first release free, both to help test it and allow time for then to get a feel for it and experience it for themselves so they'll have a reason to share it with others as a game worth playing. Then, I'd make it paid once it's popular enough that they'd be willing to pay for it. Ofc, I'd make a way to make it fair to those who have to pay when there's people who didn't have to in the beginning. I think i already have an idea. This ofc will only matter if i do end up making it paid. But since both the option for just donations is the majority and i feel that's the best way to go anyway, it'll likely not be paid anyway. Even though it'll be optional and I could ask for donations to begin with, I'll still wait as i would if it were paid. I still want them to have a reason to donate too.
And ftr, i don't do sequels on games just to solve problems or gain more following or income. That's how I'm doing it. That's what companies like Nintendo do and i don't want to look like them in the eyes of the users and it just feels a little unmoral anyway.
I appreciate the advice, but I'm always one step ahead. ;)
