The thing is we really been surrounded by too much negativiteness all
around, I know there's as well quite some postiviness too and we need
some of it here NOW .. well I mean now ..
I have a "broken ox" in the other room and I ran out of my powers ..
I really don't know any more what I can do as support ..
If anyone can say anything positive here please do it .. I don't know what
to do any more ..
Things are really seriously bad .. and I mean bad ..
We need to feel there's not just people disliking what we do and that
there will be a future for us.
I've always loved what Jeff (and now both of you) have done for the games (and lightsynth!) world. I haven't met either of you so I only have these forums, and your games to go by.
Having said that, though, Jeff was absolutely wonderful and supportive when I PMed him about coming out in this forum years ago. From that I got the impression of a very caring guy who does his best for other people - possibly at his own expense sometimes.
I got to play Space Giraffe on moobaa's 360 recently and was blown away. I'm currently trying to work finances so I an get a 360 of my own. There are only two games I 'must have' and SG is one of them. That I'm willing to fork out that much on a games machine for so few games might give you an idea of how much impact SG had on me. And truthfully, I'm not a huge 'shooty' fan, so there is something incredible in there.
So *hugs* to both of you. I just wish I had more words (or actions) to really show how I feel.
Giles, I know what you're both facing right now (reading blogs/etc...). Well, it sucks, but there are these times where you just have to push real hard, fight for every single inch, and you emerge better off than you've ever been before.
You're both well-respected here, and elsewhere (minus the occasional internet troll).
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it, but I've always personally been grateful for your input whenever I've asked for it, either directly, or having it come out of the blue. It's pretty rare when you get to talk to an artist directly, and they're not an elitist prick. Thanks for being such a good guy.
Dunno if it's any concolation, but last week, I've been contacted by a shmup developer who wants to get on the XBLA or similar market and he's been seeing Space Giraffe (and Everyday Shooter) as groundbreakers for what he wants to do. His only main concern is that he doesn't know how well those games sell, which is the only thing that keeps him from doing so too.
So, in short, Space Giraffe is an inspiration for other small game developers
You guys are an absolute inspiration to many people, me included. Your passion for what you do is clear, I have gigantic amounts of respect for the way you do it, not joining the cube-dwelling masses.
What little I can suggest is to try to ignore those that don't see the world as you do (although clearly sometimes it's useful to listen those that aren't actually foaming at the mouth) - take a walk, enjoy the fact you live in a place you can actually see the stars, or that you have fields as opposed to car parks near by.
I guess you've already thought of that, but I find it helps to take a step back and spend time in a completely different place, even for a few minutes.
HTH
*hugs*
D
OMG (or oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein) is a molecule found in your central nervous system.
Just remind yourselves of your achievements: the work you guys do are very inspiring for a lot of people, and this forum is the friendliest place I've ever encountered on the net.
People spreading bad vibes are always louder and more annoying than your friends. For every stupid blog comment there are many many more people that are supportive and feel sympathy for your situation.
I feel bad about two things. Firstly I PM'd Yak about something that I wish I hadn't now. At the time I had no idea that these other bad vibey things were going on. Secondly I don't have a 360 otherwise I'd definitely had bought SG. Maybe that's the excuse I need to go out and buy one now
Things may be getting you down right now, from here though I'd say you have some positive stuff you can hang on to right now.
One of your biggest strengths is probably also whats bringing you down at the moment, your bloody passionate about what you do! As such, in todays overly wired world, you're getting exposed to all the negativity as well as the positive stuff, and I'm guessing for people as passionate as you are that's going to be an insult. I suspect a weaker person would have given up by now, but you haven't so far.
I think your well into another fabulaous transition in the history of Llamasoft right now:
* Every XBox 360 out there has your Neon light synth in it. That's not going to change and there are going to be millions more out there over the next few years.
* XBox 360 as a platform is storming ahead right now and is going to have a healthy future for a long time.
* You've got your first title out on XBLA. You've worked it out, got through the process, have your framework.
* You have vital information about how things work and sell and the logistics of doing business on there. Probably doesn't seem positive right now but if you think about it this is incredibly valuable.
* You're already well into the development of the next title, and I'd say you can safely assume it will ship at a minimum the same number of units - so you can do some preliminary business modelling from that. (you could probably tripple the price and not make an impact there, but that's up to you).
Now forgetting about the specific XBLA stuff.
* Your still inependant, still doing your own thing, still being true to yourself.
* I'd hope you have more direct contact with like minded friends and associates than you've had for a long time?
* You're producing what must be some of your best work at the moment.
Space Giraffe IS a fucking brilliant game
GR++ IS a fucking brilliant game
There's real innovation in SG, the whole best score mechanism works a corker
* You've integrated another person into the creative process at Llamasoft. That's got to be pleasing.
* You've got some good people advising and working with you in auxilliary roles for LLamasoft
* You're living where you want to be, how you want to be, you're surrounded by Beasties.
Re-reading the LLamasoft History that you have been publishing for a while, and also re-reading the reprints of The Nature of the Beast, you've been learning valuable lessons your whole career, and you're still doing it now in the same way and being true to yourself.
You've always been, and as Dom points out you still are, a true inspiratoin to a lot of people. By doing what you think is correct and in your own special way pushing your own boundaries and striving to continuously define what you believe the state of your art should be.
Finally you've got a loyal group of friends and supporters here who surely outnumber and definately outweigh the vocal minority of naysayers out there in Interweb land.
Being practical obviously these are troubling times at the moment, both emotionally and practically. While not many of us can realistically do anything tangible about that, there are plenty here who can help support you in any way you need, especially for moral support etc. And as you yourselves have pointed out on numerous occaisions, there are plenty of smart people on here who are always prepared to help out however they can.
I know I call you both friends, and I'd like to think you'd call me a friend. As such if there's anything I can do then you only have to ask, if it's within my gift then I'll do everything I can to support you as you travel your paths.
Chin up guys, there is plenty to be positive about, even if sometimes the negatives seem much more daunting
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well i'm ashamed to say i never heard of llamasoft or even a light synth before sg, but im glad you put it on xbla cause im totally hooked i love shmups, i even bought gr++ the other day to show my support
anyway hope it works out for both of ya,
looking forward to the next venture
About the only thing I can advise is to get off the internet, and give as much weight to the people who love what you do as those who don't. Less bitching from the internet crowd (it's what they do) combined with the greater number of people who love Llamasoft and all it does should do nice things for the attitude.
I seriously hope you can get through this with perspective intact. It's far too easy to let the daily grind make life seem like a pointless effort for no reward, but that's really the worst kind of illusion. It's a big-ass beautiful world filled with all sorts of amazing stuff, and Yak and Giles's work makes it even better.
-edit- Read the first thread and dove in with a post, I see things are somewhat better now. Glad to hear it, and if anything else comes up to either make life seem far suckier than it actually is (or interrupt the sequel to the single greatest shooter ever made) I'll happily take a hammer to it.
if things are really bad for you at the moment then i think some pro counselling might help, & give you a chance to vent in a safe, private way with someone who treats your issues as valid and is trained to handle whatever you can throw at them (pretty much)
a bacp registered fellow in the yellow pages should do the trick, a person centred or humanistic one is nice & fluffy normally. psychodynamic & gestalt etc is most likely too brain battering at the moment. otherwise your gp can probably refer you to one on the nhs.
i have taken a shine to the pair of you over the last year or two, enjoyed reading your history & following the development of SG, think it's great that you're making the stuff you do...
