Well... just because Renpy is open-source doesn't mean everything in it will be. I know that they want to use a font that requires a license (I believe it was about $1000 for a mass distributed game), for example. There could be other content licenses we have to cover as well (though I personally don't know what those are or what cost those would be). There's also some of the attached swag to the larger donation packages (T-shirts, art books, an imprinted flash drive, and custom artwork are some examples). And with a sound and music composer, additional artist (and yes, even myself as a secondary writer)... yeah... we'd kinda like to get compensated for our time as well. Yeah, kinda mercenary, I know. It's not JUST for the love of the game, I'm afraid. Those costs can add up fast.

Well, considering "decent" is a very subjective phrase, I'm not sure what I could provide that would reassure you. I can tell you what I've done in the past (the MT: Endgames short story "Behind the Masque" is one that you might be familiar with), I'm also currently the writer for the webcomic Exiern and have a preview of my first full length novel available at my blog www.tkocreations.com All I can promise is that I will give the best effort I can. If you wish to continue snickering, that's your prerogative.

I first would like to introduce myself. My internet presence is largely chemiclord, but my real life name is Thomas Knapp. You will see my name in the credits of the kickstarter page as a writer and path developer for the upcoming MegaTokyo Visual Novel project; along with many other names of very talented people. This actually isn't my first foray into the MegaTokyo world. Before Fred's health took a veer off course, I was working with him on his Endgames game world. I'll have a good chunk of my hand in this project as well, primarily handling alternate paths and the secondary characters. But to make a meandering point on target, Fred isn't doing this alone, and with the help of the team he's put together, we have all confidence that we can produce and deliver this game promptly and with the highest quality we can muster. No stretch goal needed there. :-p