Skoegul
patreon
A letter to my fans.
🕑 Added 2024-12-29 08:09:42 +0000 UTCThe bad news and the good news.
Hello, friends. I wanted to post this a month ago, but I kept putting it off because I didn't know what the outcome would be. Now everything is solved and I'm ready to share the information with you.
Let's start with the bad news.
I wasn't sure if I should even write about it, because I don't like to talk about my problems, but I feel I owe you an explanation.
As you know, usually if I disappear for a long time, I come back with a new game update. But not this time. At the moment, the new update is half finished at best. And that's bad news.
The thing is that right after the release of the previous version 0.7 I did not slow down and immediately started the next part. I wanted to quickly finish the next update and maybe even have time to make some bonus content for the New Year and Christmas. Ha ha.
You know how to make the gods laugh? Tell them about your plans...
At the same time that I started work, my shoulder and arm started hurting badly. So much so that I couldn't sleep. What's worse, the pain only got worse and my arm started to go numb. As you can imagine, it is impossible to work under such conditions.
Of course, I immediately went to the doctors, but there was no quick solution to the problem. I had to undergo a lot of examinations, change several doctors and spend a small fortune before I found out what was wrong with me.
I won't go into details, but it's nothing fatal. I managed to avoid the worst case scenario. Just a bunch of typical problems for those who spend a lot of time on the computer, multiplied by fatigue from overwork.
Turns out working 12-14 hours a day for the last year was not a good idea.
Where are these numbers coming from?
Besides working on the game, I also have my main job, which I need to pay the bills and not starve to death. I work remotely from home, so at least I'm lucky here.
All of my free time was dedicated to the game. I had to work hard to make sure that the updates came out in some adequate time. And that didn't always work out, as you know.
It is extremely hard to maintain this lifestyle, both physically and mentally. So I'm very grateful to everyone who supports me. Believe me, these are not empty words. Every time I had thoughts like: I'm so tired, why the hell do I keep doing this? I immediately thought that there are people who really liked my work and I should finish it by all means.
Actually, the fact that I never quit making the game despite all the challenges speaks volumes about how much I actually enjoy doing it.
Which brings us back to the good news.
I spent a month in a rehab center and came home. Now I do a few hours of special exercises, walk a lot, and take pills and vitamins on a schedule. The pain is almost gone, but I'm still not fully recovered. I've been told it will take up to six months.
And during that entire time, I've been advised to refrain from using the computer more than 6-8 hours a day. Which I'm going to do, since my health is precious to me.
It turns out that I have to choose either a regular job that feeds me or making the game. I can't do both because of the time limit. And it will break me in the end again.
Any normal person in this situation would choose the first option. But not me. I'm going to take a risk and try to get a star from the sky. Making games, my long time dying dream, if you know what I mean. :) So I'm going all-in.
But what about paying the bills, you ask. Well... I'll need your help here, but I have to show some results first. Dying Dream is a big project, and I can't do it alone. This is partly why I didn't want to write this post. I'm not gonna beg for money. It's not my style. I'm just telling it the way it is.
I believe that any project, if it's really good, will get the necessary funding sooner or later. I want to believe that I am doing something worthy.
In the meantime. I sold my car, so I have some savings to keep me afloat at least until I'm fully recovered. A roof over my head and some food, I don't need much.
Right now my goal is to build a workflow without stuttering. In fact, I'm wondering myself what I'll be able to do now that I don't have to be distracted by anything else and can concentrate fully on the game. I'm writing this and I'm shaking because I can't wait to get started already. I feel like I'm only now really starting to work on the game. So many ideas...
Just in time for the new year! Time of great changes. It's gonna be something.
I'll be back with more news on January 3rd.
I wish you a Happy New Year and a Merry Christmas!
Sincerely, Skoegul.
Comments
Rolo
Thanks for your honest words. Some weeks ago, I stopped all my Patron payments (lack of money!), but just in this minute, I renewed my payments to you again. Wish you all the best :)
