How could I possibly follow up the exciting news that my lymphoma cancer has gone into remission? How about a release date! I'm thrilled to announce that the first chapter of A Story Beside is coming to Steam Early Access on September 26!
I am planning to release a new chapter every other week, which I believe to be the perfect length of time between installments — long enough for me to incorporate feedback and bug-fixes as they come up, but short enough that devoted players don't lose interest and can follow Lyric's journey as it unfolds. I know some people don't love the idea of Early Access, so it's totally up to you whether you want to jump in now or wait until later in the year when the full game comes out. If you decide to purchase the game now (even if you plan on waiting until the full release to play it) you'll save some money, as the final version will cost a little more than this early build.
It's been an incredibly emotional journey for me getting to this point and I am so happy to finally share this project with all of you. Much love and more news to come 💚💜🧡
Hey everyone,
I'll be taking a break from World's Dawn let's plays for a while, so I thought I'd post a quick video update. Thank you for all the lovely comments and feedback over the last few months!
https://youtu.be/H7aYXsdVEcs
Rest assured I am working as hard as I'm able on A Story Beside and should have more to share soon. I know it's not the first time I've said that, so I appreciate your patience for now! I can only the hope the game will be worth the wait once it's finally released.
Hey all!
As a way to decompress and stay connected with the community after my recent diagnosis and ongoing treatment, I decided to sit down with a good friend and record a World's Dawn developer let's play! We're planning to share behind-the-scenes stories, community comments, and laughs aplenty as we revisit the game I care so deeply about.
Check out the first episode and let me know what you think:
https://youtu.be/uAh0hY2krFg
I've never done any of this sort of casual content before, so any and all feedback is appreciated! I'd love to get the community involved and make this series a fun, cozy return to Sugar Blossom for anyone who could use a little levity in their lives.
Hello everyone,
I have some rather unfortunate news to share today. I've always tried to be open and honest as a developer, and in that spirit I'm going to delve a little deeper into my personal life than I have in the past.
Over the last several months I've been struggling with a variety of health issues that have kept me from being as focused and creative as my usual self... things like constant fatigue, swelling, soreness, and chest pain. These symptoms are the reason A Story Beside was taking longer to complete than I'd originally hoped, and I was dealing with a lot of frustration trying to figure out what was causing them. I would sit down at the computer to work and just be overwhelmed by all kinds of stabbing pains and discomfort. I couldn't focus.
After several trips to the doctor, in December I was officially diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a very treatable — but still scary — form of cancer. In a way it's been a relief to finally know what's been going on, and why my physical health dropped off so quickly, but it also means there's a long road to recovery ahead.
So. What does this mean for Wayward Prophet and A Story Beside?
First of all, know that I'm still fully committed to completing this project. But as things are now, I simply can't make any release date promises... I have to make the physical and emotional health of myself and my family top priority. I understand how disappointing this news must be for everyone who's been waiting to play A Story Beside. Please know that I'm planning to spend every moment I'm mentally and physically able working towards release. It's become a challenge I'm eager to tackle and I'm hoping it will give me a lot of strength and motivation to get through the difficult times ahead.
Thank you for your understanding and support in the meantime! This humble community means the world to me and I'm certainly not going anywhere.
(bonus pic of my two fuzziest fans)
I appreciate everyone taking the time to read this update and apologize that I don't have better news. Rest assured there are still plenty of exciting things ahead for Wayward Prophet, and I can't wait to share them with you.
Hello everyone!
I wanted to post a quick update about the status of A Story Beside and when you can expect to play. After a lengthy internal struggle I've decided to push the release date back into early 2019. I know this will come as a disappointment, so I'm truly sorry and ask for your patience approaching this final stretch.
Rest assured this was not an easy decision to make! My goal has always been to complete and release the game in 2018, and at this point I'm operating on a shoe-string budget... but ultimately I believe the delay will lead to a richer story and a more polished end product. I've been working on A Story Beside for several years now — this project is incredibly close to my heart and one I'm extremely proud of. I wouldn't want to compromise it by rushing things at the end.
Thank you for all your continued encouragement. I am eternally grateful to this humble community and hope you can hold on just a little while longer.
