Announcing Complete Global Saturation, my new Resident Evil-focused Substack!
For those who love reading about anything and everything Resident Evil...
Exactly a month ago on my 36th birthday, I tweeted about having something Resident Evil fandom-related to share in the near future, and I’m happy to reveal today that I am starting my own Resident Evil-focused Substack called Complete Global Saturation!
For years, I’ve thought about running a blog or news site offering written Resident Evil content. I just wasn’t sure how to execute on the idea; I started my own personal blog back in 2016 with the intent to focus on games and travel, but it never got off the ground and I only use it sparingly. I attempted to start a podcast in 2018, but the effort in getting episodes up at regular intervals proved too much of a burden for me, so I gave up. I was able to publish Itchy, Tasty: An Unofficial History of Resident Evil through Unbound in 2021 after years of writing the book, and since then I have been working on my second book, also titled Complete Global Saturation. Between the blog, the podcast and the book idea, the third one ended up making it to the finish line, which proved to me that curated written content is my specialty.
Therefore, I am announcing Complete Global Saturation, my Resident Evil Substack, with the first issue releasing on July 12, 2023 and continuing weekly on varying days of the week for an indefinite period of time, so long as there is interest from the community. The first issue will be free, while every subsequent issue will be paywalled. Please see below for pricing.
Why Substack, and why now?
I recently subscribed to my first, and so far only Substack, Multicore, authored by my friend and fellow Tokyo resident Sam Byford. After reading Multicore for months, I was impressed with Sam’s ability to consistently cover technology and gaming week on week in a sharp, insightful and in-depth manner..
It dawned on me that my passion and knowledge for Resident Evil matched Sam’s zeal for tech and broader gaming. Having been a Resident Evil fan for over two decades and having published my book (that people seem to love), I came to the realization that I have so much I want to talk about regarding Resident Evil, whether it’s development history, creative topics or current events. Living in Japan, where Capcom is based and Resident Evil was born, has allowed me unique experiences that people around the world want to know more about.
I typically use Twitter to talk about Resident Evil, but the format is too restrictive for what I’m aiming for.
I have decided to begin writing about anything Resident Evil through my Substack, and will be offering the content exclusively to subscribers who pay for a subscription.
Why have I decided to charge for my content?
The answer is two-fold: first, by charging for my content, I become accountable to my readers. It encourages me to keep a regular schedule and to strive to keep my audience engaged.
The second consideration is that my Substack will offer written content that is arguably both broader and deeper than any book I could ever write. Unlike a physical book, on Substack I am no longer bound by physical page limits or structural considerations, such as staying within a certain subject matter in a given section or only being able to write about the past.
I will ensure that all Substack posts on Complete Global Saturation will have the same level of depth and insight that readers enjoyed in Itchy, Tasty, but on a weekly basis.
How much will a subscription cost?
Monthly subscriptions will cost $5, while annual subscriptions will cost $30. These are the minimum rates Substack allows for subscriptions and I cannot offer anything lower.
I settled on the lowest possible pricing for two reasons: first, my goal is for a year’s worth of content to rival the depth and breath of Itchy, Tasty. The topics will be more varied and jump from topic to topic week to week, but I want subscribers to get the same satisfaction reading my Substack that they did with Itchy, Tasty.
Second, many Resident Evil fans live in countries where $8-10 USD is a substantial amount of money. I want people all over the world to be able to enjoy my Substack as well. Given that I already have two day jobs in the game industry, I have decided to make my pricing as accessible as possible.
I appreciate and am grateful for the generosity from anyone who chooses to subscribe and will do my best to reward that generosity with entertaining and informative content. My posts will, with occasional exceptions, be published weekly. There is potential for more posts during an active Resident Evil news period.
What about my second book, Complete Global Saturation?
Don’t worry; this is still in the works, and there is a very high probability that its content will overlap with what I publish on Substack. Consider the Complete Global Saturation Substack a preview of what you can expect to see in the book edition of subscriptions.
What will the Substack content be about?
Anything and everything Resident Evil, presented from my perspective as a fan of Resident Evil and as someone who has been in the game industry for more than a decade. While my Itchy, Tasty focused on developer anecdotes and developer history, my Substack will be considerably braoder and approach more subjects, including game development, sales and marketing, popular culture, fandom, and more! For example, Resident Evil: Death Island, the 5th CG film, releases in Japan on July 7. There are numerous collaborations and merchandise planned that are exclusive to Japan, and I plan to cover them in depth on Substack. I am also happy to accept ideas from readers as to what they want to read about!
Will you talk about anything else?
Probably! Many issues will likely explore gaming and the game industry as a whole aside from just Resident Evil. Wherever relevant, topics like travel may be discussed as well. Basically, this will largely be a reflection of my personal tastes, while striving to be as original and informative as possible.
Please look forward to the first issue on July 12, 2023! Follow me on Twitter or subscribe to my Substack below to read the issue as soon as it lands!