This post of yours definitely helps to put things into perspective for me, as someone who's currently building up his skills to make the things he wants to make (i.e. animations). It's looking more and more like just choosing one single platform isn't the best option anymore. My thoughts are that while I wouldn't mind making the monies on the stuff I make, I would really like to have an audience that can enjoy my stuff and that I could communicate with (whereas I would need some voodoo Wall Street powers to communicate with money). It's been... interesting seeing various takes on how Youtube has a seemingly unspoken vendetta against the little guys like me who want some form of success, and on how Newgrounds is a great platform for animations, but unfortunately isn't swimming in the amount of people like YouTube (something that I hope changes at some point in the future, because Newgrounds is basically a part of my childhood at this point).
So... good luck with your stuff, mate.
I'll be here pondering my future as part of one of the newer generations of content creators.
TomFulp
I don't know of any RPG Maker MV HTML5 games on NG YET but I'm excited to see one! If it works on the web it should work on NG.
This year has been pretty terrible for everyone on all platforms. Even with Steam, one of the strongest platforms for success stories, the majority of devs are seeing small numbers. All the major platforms are inundated with content and the public is more ADD than ever so it's so hard to get their eyeballs, let alone their wallets.
I still like to think there will be a return to web gaming in a big way. When you release a game that needs to be installed, not many people install it. The majority of people trying to sell games are selling between 0-100 copies. There's this huge empty space where smaller web game devs once built huge audiences of fans and made some ad revenue along the way - not usually enough to pay the rent every month but more than most small games make when you try to sell them. It's a fun space and would be more fun if more of the audience came back to it. Still a lot of potential.
I have hopes for web animation too. We're getting great CPMs on our video pre-roll but the fill-rate is dismal and ad providers often hang forever before not returning an ad. I dream of a day when the video ads load fast, load often and pay well, while a large community of paying NG subscribers can ditch the ads completely and support artists and devs in a different way.
At the same time it shouldn't always be about the money - I'm just a lot more fixated on that nowadays because I know it's what is in everyone's best interest, including NG paying its own bills long-term. I'd love to the audience grow regardless and would love to see more interaction, fan-love and encouragement... People can never get too many compliments... And of course constructive, helpful critiques. Anyway I'm just rambling now... Hope your 2016 is great and hope some big changes come around these parts too!
Gerkinman
Hey Tom!
I doubt I will be the first to get something out from RPG Maker, but I know it has a big user base and that it could be a group of developers worth targeting for the site (despite all the negative connotations that come with the program, like all things, it all depends on who is using it).
In terms of games, I have had friends in both the mobile and PC independent development scene pack up there bags this year. The same issue hits animation as well. The barrier to entry is so low now, making content is easier then it has ever been. Its a double edged sword really, now everyone has easy access to the tools (and thats fantastic), BUT now everyone has a voice, and with that its hard to single out the ones you like the sound of. Its all becoming very much white noise which is a real shame. The fact newgrounds can feature things is a massive plus in helping people find good projects, but some things are always going slip through the cracks unfortunately. I never thought I would see so many creative areas hit at the same time with the same problems.
In the end the money doesn't bother me so much, I have a job to cover that and I feel like if I could make my own stuff for a living I would too much pressure to make money to actually make the things I really want to make. But for a lot of people its a big incentive, and thats fair I suppose. Not everybody creates things for the same reasons.
I do hope the website gets more fresh blood coming in, the back end is fantastic and its a real pleasure to use in that sense. Best of luck with the site, and in general, in 2016.