Hardenville’s Journey So Far
Hi, everyone. It’s me, the developer, checking in and responding to some comments, reviews, feedback, criticism, and support I’ve received throughout our journey so far.
[h2]Let’s take a trip back in time![/h2]
[h3]November 2021[/h3]
I first discovered AVNs and was instantly hooked. I fell in love with some of the greatest games—many of the same ones you enjoy. At the same time, I played quite a few AVNs that weren’t great and thought to myself, "Wait, I could actually make something much better!"
[h3]December 2021[/h3]
I downloaded Daz Studio, played around with it a bit, and saw the potential in this software.
[h3]January 2022[/h3]
I started learning Ren'Py, watched tutorials, and gradually became more familiar with Python.
[h3]February 2022 – March 2023[/h3]
During this period, I learned a lot about Daz, Ren'Py, and Blender. I also invested thousands of dollars into assets. Finally, I was ready to begin production on what is now known as Hardenville.
[h3]Late October 2023[/h3]
Hardenville: The Prologue was released on Itch.io and Patreon, generating only a few purchases (three to five). The Steam version was supposed to launch simultaneously, but unfortunately, it remained stuck in the approval queue for three to four weeks—far longer than the usual 2-5 business days.
[h3]Early November 2023[/h3]
Hardenville finally launched on Steam, and to my surprise, it was a big hit during the first weekend. It grossed almost $6,000 before Steam’s cut and taxes. I was excited about the future and believed I could already start working on this full-time.
Then, a wave of negative reviews came in: "It's too short," "Almost no content," etc. However, I had always been transparent about the average playtime on the store page.
[h3]Why Did I Release Hardenville on Steam When Only the Prologue Was Finished?[/h3]
As a brand-new developer in the AVN industry—where new games release daily—it’s incredibly difficult to get recognized and build a player base. Releasing in Early Access on Steam helps gain visibility much faster. However, the trade-off is lower income on Patreon and other subscription-based platforms that many AVN developers rely on.
Hardenville is and will remain a single-purchase game. You get all episodes for one price—no extra fees, no paid DLC for more lewd scenes.
Unfortunately, after the big opening weekend, sales dropped drastically. In fact, from the Monday after release until today (March 2025), the game has earned less in total than it did during that first weekend alone. This financial reality has been a major factor behind the delays and unfulfilled promises.
[h3]Why Has Development Been Slower Than Expected?[/h3]
At first, I thought I could work on this project full-time. But I quickly realized that wasn’t feasible yet. My hope is that after a few more episodes and more positive feedback, I’ll be able to make this my full-time job. If that happens, development will speed up significantly because I’ll be able to dedicate more time to it.
I’m a solo developer, and yes, I have missed deadlines—a lot. I sincerely apologize for that. That’s on me, and I truly wish things had gone differently. However, my goal remains the same: to deliver fantastic episodes that leave you feeling satisfied and make your hard-earned money spent on this game worth it.
It’s better to take the time to create something great—something I’m proud of—rather than rushing the process and leaving you uninterested in playing future episodes. Hopefully, once Hardenville is completed and I begin a new project, you’ll be able to look back and say:
"I really liked Hardenville, and I have high hopes for his upcoming game. The only issue was the delays—if the dev has mostly sorted that out, we’re in for a great experience!"
[h3]Addressing Concerns About the English Version[/h3]
I’ve seen comments across the web mentioning that the English version had poor grammar. As of a recent update, the game has been fully proofread by a professional English proofreader.
[h3]Addressing Concerns About the Future of Hardenville[/h3]
I know many people believe this project will end up abandoned like many other AVNs. Some even think I’m scamming them. Personally, this is really tough to hear. All I want to do is create a fantastic game that we can all enjoy, given the time I have available.
I will finish and deliver up to Episode 9, as promised. However, as with many Early Access games, development takes time, and delays happen.
[h3]When Is Episode 2 Coming?[/h3]
I’ve been careful about sharing release dates, especially after the backlash over previous delays. However, I recently announced that Episode 2 is coming in May. Unfortunately, even when I provide a release window, I still receive negative feedback.
[h3]Final Thoughts[/h3]
Please remember—I’m just one guy, working on my first release, doing something I love. I truly hope I can do this full-time in the future. More content will lead to better reviews, which will lead to more income, which will eventually allow me to make this my career.
To be clear, I haven’t taken a single penny from Hardenville as salary yet. Every dollar earned has been reinvested into the project.
I want you to know that I hear you, I care about your feedback, and I truly appreciate your patience, support, and for purchasing Hardenville.
Let’s make this a fantastic game together!
[h3]Hardenville[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2010460/Hardenville/
[h2]Let’s take a trip back in time![/h2]
[h3]November 2021[/h3]
I first discovered AVNs and was instantly hooked. I fell in love with some of the greatest games—many of the same ones you enjoy. At the same time, I played quite a few AVNs that weren’t great and thought to myself, "Wait, I could actually make something much better!"
[h3]December 2021[/h3]
I downloaded Daz Studio, played around with it a bit, and saw the potential in this software.
[h3]January 2022[/h3]
I started learning Ren'Py, watched tutorials, and gradually became more familiar with Python.
[h3]February 2022 – March 2023[/h3]
During this period, I learned a lot about Daz, Ren'Py, and Blender. I also invested thousands of dollars into assets. Finally, I was ready to begin production on what is now known as Hardenville.
[h3]Late October 2023[/h3]
Hardenville: The Prologue was released on Itch.io and Patreon, generating only a few purchases (three to five). The Steam version was supposed to launch simultaneously, but unfortunately, it remained stuck in the approval queue for three to four weeks—far longer than the usual 2-5 business days.
[h3]Early November 2023[/h3]
Hardenville finally launched on Steam, and to my surprise, it was a big hit during the first weekend. It grossed almost $6,000 before Steam’s cut and taxes. I was excited about the future and believed I could already start working on this full-time.
Then, a wave of negative reviews came in: "It's too short," "Almost no content," etc. However, I had always been transparent about the average playtime on the store page.
[h3]Why Did I Release Hardenville on Steam When Only the Prologue Was Finished?[/h3]
As a brand-new developer in the AVN industry—where new games release daily—it’s incredibly difficult to get recognized and build a player base. Releasing in Early Access on Steam helps gain visibility much faster. However, the trade-off is lower income on Patreon and other subscription-based platforms that many AVN developers rely on.
Hardenville is and will remain a single-purchase game. You get all episodes for one price—no extra fees, no paid DLC for more lewd scenes.
Unfortunately, after the big opening weekend, sales dropped drastically. In fact, from the Monday after release until today (March 2025), the game has earned less in total than it did during that first weekend alone. This financial reality has been a major factor behind the delays and unfulfilled promises.
[h3]Why Has Development Been Slower Than Expected?[/h3]
At first, I thought I could work on this project full-time. But I quickly realized that wasn’t feasible yet. My hope is that after a few more episodes and more positive feedback, I’ll be able to make this my full-time job. If that happens, development will speed up significantly because I’ll be able to dedicate more time to it.
I’m a solo developer, and yes, I have missed deadlines—a lot. I sincerely apologize for that. That’s on me, and I truly wish things had gone differently. However, my goal remains the same: to deliver fantastic episodes that leave you feeling satisfied and make your hard-earned money spent on this game worth it.
It’s better to take the time to create something great—something I’m proud of—rather than rushing the process and leaving you uninterested in playing future episodes. Hopefully, once Hardenville is completed and I begin a new project, you’ll be able to look back and say:
"I really liked Hardenville, and I have high hopes for his upcoming game. The only issue was the delays—if the dev has mostly sorted that out, we’re in for a great experience!"
[h3]Addressing Concerns About the English Version[/h3]
I’ve seen comments across the web mentioning that the English version had poor grammar. As of a recent update, the game has been fully proofread by a professional English proofreader.
[h3]Addressing Concerns About the Future of Hardenville[/h3]
I know many people believe this project will end up abandoned like many other AVNs. Some even think I’m scamming them. Personally, this is really tough to hear. All I want to do is create a fantastic game that we can all enjoy, given the time I have available.
I will finish and deliver up to Episode 9, as promised. However, as with many Early Access games, development takes time, and delays happen.
[h3]When Is Episode 2 Coming?[/h3]
I’ve been careful about sharing release dates, especially after the backlash over previous delays. However, I recently announced that Episode 2 is coming in May. Unfortunately, even when I provide a release window, I still receive negative feedback.
[h3]Final Thoughts[/h3]
Please remember—I’m just one guy, working on my first release, doing something I love. I truly hope I can do this full-time in the future. More content will lead to better reviews, which will lead to more income, which will eventually allow me to make this my career.
To be clear, I haven’t taken a single penny from Hardenville as salary yet. Every dollar earned has been reinvested into the project.
I want you to know that I hear you, I care about your feedback, and I truly appreciate your patience, support, and for purchasing Hardenville.
Let’s make this a fantastic game together!
[h3]Hardenville[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2010460/Hardenville/