Stolen Rose
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HAPPY NEW YEAR
🕑 Added 2023-12-31 16:44:06 +0000 UTCNew Year just dropped
Some time in November, Zero End celebrated its first year of development. Well, celebrated might be a bit much since I completely forgot about it (I'd make a horrible parent), but it did mark its anniversary. I figured since the game's been out for a year and we're on the precipice of a new one, I'd look back on everything that's happened and laugh-cry over it, then ponder what the future holds.
First and foremost, a big and thicc thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the kind words and support. I know it might sound disingenuous to say I couldn't have done this without your support, but it's true. I was very familiar with the realities of game development when I started, but I didn't realize just how difficult it would be doing it alongside a full-time job (it kinda tripped me up because the first 6 months or so were easy). I don't think I could have kept the motivation and excitement about the project going for so long without your kind words of support, without seeing you excited to play the next installment, without knowing there are people who like what I'm doing here. I love this game, but you make all the effort feel like it's worth it. So thank you for that.
I feel like I've learned so much in the last year. When I started the project, I didn't really know much about anything apart from writing and game design, so I started to learn about photography and cinematography which has been a bunch of fun and it's awesome (and cringe) to compare some of my first images with what I'm capable of now. I hope this continues and I cringe again next year at what I'm doing now. When I got to developing the game, I wasn't sure what I wanted it to be. My creative process at the start of a project is to have a character, some ideas, and to place them in the world and see how they interact with it. You'll notice this if you go through the first half of the first release--it feels rather rough and unfocused. Still, what I knew is that I wanted an occult mystery that slowly got revealed over time and that I wanted to draw inspiration from World of Darkness and Hellblazer. Bloodlines, specifically, was a large part of that inspiration, and now, a year later, Zero End is fairly well regarded by a relatively small number of people. Much like Bloodlines. Not sure what I was expecting there.
This year, I've also created my own company. So I guess I'm a business owner now. Unfortnately, I've already engaged in sexual relations with the only employee.
Turning my gaze forward, I'm... not sure what will happen. A lot of things depend on the Steam release and how well that goes, but judging by the number of wishlists, it won't be enough for me to work on the project full-time, so it's very likely that I'll keep going as I did in the previous year. On the subject of the project itself, I expect the new release will be ready some time in the first quarter of next year. After that, I'll probably need some time to figure out how to deal with Steam DLC releases. And probably take a vacation, I feel like I'm on my last 10% of battery.
Finally, I really wanted to have a showcase of some of the most heartwarming feedback I've received in the last year, but looking through it all, I just couldn't pick one I liked the most. I will say, however, that I read them over and over when I feel bad and it always makes me feel better, like whatever's happening isn't as bad because I still have this project and the people who enjoy it. So anyway, since I can't pick a good one, we'll instead be looking at the stupidest, most unhinged shit I could find.
>accepts offer for oral sex from a person he's just met
>decides to follow her path
>finds out she's a succubus
>angry that his sex demon girlfriend used to be promiscuous
My brother in Christ, you're the one who picked her route.
I think I might have taken too much modafinil. Reading back through this text, it reads like a chimeric abomination combining a heartfelt thank you and a shitpost. But, thinking about it, that's a very accurate descriptor of my personality, so here's to the next year! May it be better than the last.
Happy New Year!
--SR
Comments
Wrathfulies
Yeah, I know there's a launch boost, but wishlist count is the only data I have to work with right now and it's fairly below average from what I've seen. Granted, being episodic, it's more of a "marathon not a sprint" kinda situation, but it's all I've got to work with. Guess we'll see what happens in January
Wrathfulies
Well, I did become an alcoholic, but I don't think it was that comment that did it (doing better now though). Honestly, that comment inspired pity more than anything else. Not for the person, their hell is of their own making, but for the people unfortunate enough to know them. Hatred like that is such a vicious cycle--hate, get hated because of it, hate more because you're hated and at the end of your life, that's all you have. A life lived not to be happy, but to stop others from being happy.
Callisto
I admire anyone who is able to deal with such egregious comments without becoming depressed, livid or an alcoholic. It's kinda sad that one has to develop a thick skin for such things. Anyway, I'm glad you don't let things like that throw you off track. Thank you for all the blood, sweat and tears you put into the game. I wish you great success on Steam and everywhere else. Maybe the Steam release won't be enough to allow you to go full-time. But that doesn't mean that it need to stay that way indefinitely. A lot can happen. And a great shot, I love her posture and the contrast between the blue-violet light and the blurred red in the background — very beautiful.
Dana Haywood
I usually ignore those particular messages because it isn't meaningful. I could say a few more choice words, but I will be nice. :) As far as Steam, Wishlists help, but remember when you release the game, it goes on a Discovery Queue.
