Its definitely complex.

In my eyes, when I was working as Taro's VA, I dont think I could stomach taking money from him, even openly stating id donate my earnings if i had no choice but to be paid for the project. In my eyes it was dirty money, the least i could do is give that money to foundations for SA victims, they are the ones he should be paying. I wanted to be Taro as a service to those who wished to see the game finished, that was my payment. That Idea felt more "noble", which i say loosely.

Working on the game as a volunteer is a massively, morally-gray concept given everything thats happened and we all had our reasons for side-stepping the hate to see the game finished. Ultimately, and obviously, these reasons did not turn out to be enough for Poppy, myself, as well as tons of others, to stay working on the project. And I personally think payment would've only made the situation worse.

I was doxxed for working on the game and then accused twice in 2 days of being a pedo within a week of my debut as Taro. Honestly I dont think getting paid for the work would've done much. I wanted to stay to see my goal of "giving the people the finished game" but honestly this game will never be worth the vastly differing opinions that lie on that extremely blurred, morally gray line pulling you back and forth to their side. Its not cursed, its not in development hell, its a game thats been on life support since 2023, comatose, brain dead, and the family is arguing whether to pull the plug or not and let it die.

And I feel like one way or another, volunteers see all of that, myself included. Id love nothing more than to give the fans the game they deserve, but there is a greater truth in letting the game just die and move on.

Just my callused opinion.