Over the past few weeks I've been thinking long and hard about how to improve Phaser on Patreon. The aim is to bring in enough funding that I can work on Phaser full-time in 2019 and beyond. I'm pretty close to achieving that, but to meet my goal I need to increase the number of backers, and more importantly, keep them sticking around.

There are lots of reasons people will stop pledging. Some only wanted to do it for a short spell, while others financial situations changed. There's nothing I can do about those, and I thank them for the time they were involved. Yet, I also know a good number of people leave because they expected more from the Patreon than they got. This is something I can, and will, change.

My work on Phaser itself, of course, has been unwavering. And for a vast number of you, that is the reason you back me in the first place. Yet, I feel like I can, and should, be doing more for you. And if I want to entice new backers I'm going to have to make it more compelling for them, too.

So, I wanted to outline my plans to you all first, before broadcasting them wider. These are subject to change, based both on your feedback and any other ideas I may get in the coming months, but represent a solid attempt to offer more benefits that I feel I can comfortably deliver.

All Amounts Matter

Traditionally, Patreon itself is based on tiers: the more you pledge, the more rewards you get. Their whole back-end is geared around this too. I feel, though, that it's time to level the playing field. My intention is to make all rewards available to everyone, _regardless of how much they pledge_. There are a couple of exceptions, which I'll outline below, yet to me this feels like the most fair approach to take.

If you're one of the higher tier backers, then I cannot stress enough how much I thank you for that. Please don't feel that this change undermines your contribution in any way. At the end of the day, the money is being used to keep development of Phaser going, and that will never falter. This move is about making everyone feel equally rewarded, regardless of financial ability. Equally, if it's at all possible to slightly increase your pledge, there are now lots of more minor-increase tiers you can explore.

With that out of the way, here is a list of what I've currently got planned for all backers:

Backers Newsletter

A new regular newsletter that will have a 'curated-link' editorial style. During a typical week I see a whole raft of interesting things from the Phaser and game-dev communities, which I collect together for myself, but feel would be better shared. This newsletter will contain quick-fire and concise links to relevant content. It will highlight important Phaser git commits, interesting new examples, news, tutorials and releases from the wider Phaser community.

Just to be clear: I will still continue to publish Phaser World, as that is for long-form content.

Backers Examples Archive

For as long as you remain a backer, you'll receive access to a private file archive. In this archive I will release a regular stream of new Phaser examples, games, snippets and resources. After 3 months content published here can be made public (at my discretion), but backers get it all first. You also get to suggest examples, so if there's something you'd like to see demonstrated you can put the idea forward to be created.

I'm currently creating the first round of content for this archive. When ready, I'll post details on how you can access it.

Private Discord Channel

You'll gain access to a backers-only Discord channel, where you can chat with fellow developers and the Phaser team on a daily basis. The public (non Patreon) Discord server will, of course, remain active.

This is now active for all tiers, to enable it please read this.

One-on-One Technical Support

Chat directly with the developer of Phaser! Get your questions answered, your gnarly bugs looked at, or just mine the Phaser brain for ideas on how to approach things. Support is available in 15 minute slots and given via Slack, Discord, or phone. One single 15 min session is available for free, once per month, for those backing at $10 or above. I have to put a limit on this perk, otherwise I'll be flooded with requests and have no time left for coding. Extra time can be purchased as required (with a discount for backers)

I'm now using a new system to manage this, which makes it easy to book time directly on my calendar, avoiding clashes, and syncs with yours.

Use the following links to book support time with me:

• 15 Minute slot ($10+ backers only)
• 30 Minute slot ($60+ backers only)
• 60 Minute slot ($100+ backers only)

If you back at less than $10 then please contact me for further details.

Free copy of Interphase 1

Although this book focuses on Phaser 2 / CE, it still contains a wealth of useful information and source code. All backers can download a free copy at any time.

I'm currently working through porting the games in this book for Phaser 3. These will be released to backers as they are completed.

Early Access to new Tutorials

As we reach new goals it will unlock new tutorials. All goals are based on the number of backers. The more backers in total, the more I can produce (either directly, or commission from other devs). Everyone can suggest, and then vote on, the tutorial topics. If there's a topic you'd like to see covered in more detail, this will allow you to request it.

As with most perks, the tutorials will be for backers only for up to 3 months after publication, before being made public at my discretion. It will really depend on the content. Some of it may remain backer-only forever, while others may be beneficial to the wider community. I'm currently busy planning out the new Phaser website, and I'm going to make sure that backers have access to special content on there like this. It's a balancing act, though. I don't want it all gated behind a pay-wall, yet at the same time if you're good enough to back Phaser, you should be rewarded as such.

Early Access to new Books and Plugins

In 2019 we'll be ramping-up production of Phaser 3 specific books and plugins. As we work on them, you'll get early access to sample chapters and beta builds. Once finished, you'll either receive the product for free, or at a heavy discount, depending on your backer level and the value of the product.

Since 2016 sales of books and Phaser plugins have made a substantial contribution towards the overall 'funding pot', helping me to work on Phaser full-time this year. They're all for Phaser 2 though, so as you can appreciate sales dried-up heavily this year, which is why I need to revamp them all for Phaser 3 in 2019, and keep them fresh.

Early Access to new Videos

As I've been working on the new Phaser site I've been making heavy use of paid-for video tutorials on subjects like Vue.js and Laravel. I can see how useful a series of well planned and current videos could be, offered-up in a tutorial course format. It's part of my plan for 2019 to start creating these as a cross-product of the new tutorials I'll be writing. It seems silly to not make the most of the video medium, and for something as visual as game development, it can work really well.

As with tutorials, videos will be made available to backers first. I'm undecided on what will happen with them beyond this. Potentially access to them will be sold on the web site, much like Vue Schools does, or they may be made public for free (perhaps if sponsored by a company). Whichever route they take, backers will see them first in either case.

Forum Badge

If you're a member of the HTML5 Game Developers Forum then you can receive a special backers-only badge, displayed next to your username. Show your dedication to the Phaser project off to the world! :) Just email or message me with your forum username and I'll set it up right-away.

When the new Phaser site launches next year, the Phaser boards will be moving away from HTML5 Game Devs and onto the actual Phaser site itself. I'm almost certainly going to be using Discourse, as it feels like it'll provide a far better, and more modern, experience for our community. Special badges and backer-only areas will exist on the new forum.

Free Phaser Laptop Stickers

Adorn your laptop (or geek den) with a set of 10 high-quality vinyl Phaser stickers. Featuring the Phaser logos and characters these look great on your hardware. I know lots of you have ordered yours already, and they've started arriving all over the world, which is great to see :)

For new backers I'm going to continue the offer. So, once your lifetime pledge total hits a certain level, you'll get a discount code to buy them at 50% off, and then at the next level, 100% off, paying only the cost of postage. There are some new (very high) tiers which get them sent automatically.

Creating the stickers was great fun. It was hard work (I'll be happy if I never see another envelope as long as I live!), but really good fun and I loved the end result, too. Perhaps there are avenues here for other bits of Phaser merchandise. Let me know if you've any ideas.

Roadmap Round Table

While I have a number of ideas of what I'd like to see Phaser do in the future, that future is not written in stone. To help steer the ship on the right course I'm going to hold a monthly round-table, where all backers can weigh-in with their suggestions on what should be worked on.

This can be as simple as suggesting a feature, or perhaps you've noticed a hot new toy in the web space that Phaser ought to play nicely with. Or an app has been updated that Phaser should support.

A roundtable will give all backers a chance to voice their opinions. If we hold it on a regular basis it will give the roadmap more structure, giving you a heads-up on what's coming down the pipeline, too.

Promotion and Advertising

Have you created a game or product you'd like to get some visibility on? Or maybe your company is hiring? We can help!

Due to the size of the Phaser community there are a number of promotional opportunities available. From a review on the Phaser web site, to adverts, newsletter features, GitHub spots and tweets. There are lots of ways we can help get the word out, on a one-off, or regular basis.

The Phaser web sites reach over 1 million page views per month and the newsletter is read by over 10,100 developers. It's a targeted and specific audience, perfect if you've created something that will appeal to them!

This is open to all levels of backers. Just drop me a line and we can discuss it.

Special Offers

I work with a number of partners who often have products that may be of interest to fellow game developers. Only when relevant, I'll arrange a special offer with them and bring it to your attention. From discounted books, to stock asset giveaways, I'll keep an eye out for appropriate deals for you.

Secure the Future of Phaser

Besides all the exclusive examples and free stickers, there is one reason, more important than any other, for backing Phaser. Quite simply, your support allows me to work on Phaser full-time. And when I dedicate myself full-time to it, great things happen, and they happen rapidly.

From adding core new features, to fixing bugs, to enhancing the documentation - there's a never-ending list of things to be done, combined with big dreams about where we could all take Phaser in the future.

If the funding from Patreon increases beyond what is needed to cover my salary and expenses, then I will look at using the additional money to bring extra help on-board. Over the past number of years I've given a lot of work to people I've met as a result of them using Phaser. I always try to hire from within the community first. If funding allows, I'd like to carry this on as much as possible.

So, that just about covers everything I've got planned. It's not fixed, if I come up something better, or something doesn't work out, then I'll tweak it until it does. Equally, I'm 100% open to your suggestions. Let me know in the comments, or if you prefer, privately.