YandereDev
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So...what now?
🕑 Added 2023-10-01 07:26:27 +0000 UTCWell, by now, you guys have probably already heard about everything.
https://yanderedev.wordpress.com/2023/09/25/im-sorry/
https://yanderedev.wordpress.com/2023/10/01/moving-forward/
I did something careless that has resulted in a massive controversy, and as a result, a lot of Yandere Simulator's volunteers have departed from the project. In some cases, they've even asked me to remove their contributions from the game, as well.
How will this impact the future of the project? Well...
In order to make an educated and informed decision about how I should move forward from here, I will need to evaluate a lot of information:
- How many volunteers have departed from the project? Which ones specifically requested for their contributions (animations, art, models, music, textures, voice lines) to be removed?
- How many assets will need to be replaced? How difficult and/or time-consuming will it be to replace those assets?
- How many people are still willing to assist me? Are they capable of replacing the assets that need to be replaced?
The answers to these questions will determine the best way to proceed forward with the project. Will it be possible to replace everything that has been lost within the span of a few weeks, or is it something that is going to take months? Should I drastically reduce the scope of the project in order to reduce the number of assets necessary to finish it?
The only way to arrive at the answers to these questions is to look through all of the correspondence that I've received over the past week, and evaluate the situation. So, that's what I'm going to be doing in the immediate future. Until I've had ample time to develop a full understanding of the situation, it's just not possible to make a meaningful decision about what should happen next.
At this point in time, there are only four things I can say for certain:
- I've received an avalanche of supportive messages over the past few days, begging me not to give up on the game. A lot of people are deeply attached to Yandere Simulator, and don't want it to end like this. Their worst nightmare would be to see me cancel or quit the project - and I feel the same way.
- A lot of the people who reached out to me over the past few days were animators, artists, composers, modelers, and voice actors who want to help me recover from this massive setback by providing any assets I need in order to restore the game to the state it was in before I had to pull a bunch of assets. It's too early to say anything for certain, but making a full recovery is starting to appear feasible.
- I consider the notion of giving the project to another developer to be the absolute last resort. I'm too attached to the game to let it go. It's not like I'm completely unwilling to consider the possibility, but I want to consider all other possible options before I accept it as a valid choice.
- It was probably a massive mistake to allow the game's scope to grow as large as it did. I put myself into a position where I'm completely reliant on a massive team of volunteers, and can't finish the game without a massive budget requiring a successful crowdfunding campaign. Perhaps the smartest thing to do right now would be to simply reduce the scope of the game to something that can reasonably be expected of one man.
Perhaps, back in 2015, I never should have made the choice to add voice-acting to the game. It was a decision that has only served increased the number of assets, money, and people that would be required to finish the game. Perhaps reducing the game's scope to "a game without any voice acting" would be the best move for the project. No more need for a crowdfunding campaign if I don't need to worry about hiring dozens of voice actors, after all.
I wish I could paint a clear picture for you of the future of the project, but I won't be able to form a complete mental image of the situation until I've finished going through all of the correspondence I've received. (Seriously, hundreds of e-mails. I'm not exaggerating.) I still don't know who has left the project, who remains, who wants me to pull their assets, how many new volunteers are stepping up to help, how much positive sentiment remains, etc. I just need to keep going through e-mails until I've developed a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
If you're reading this post, it means that you saw me as being worthy of your support. I apologize if I've disappointed you, and I promise you that - at this moment, at least - abandoning the project is the last thought on my mind. I genuinely do want to continue development...I just need time to analyze the situation and form a plan.
I apologize for any disappointment, and I thank you for supporting the development of Yandere Simulator.
Comments
YandereDev
yanderedev@mail.com
Echolai
Yandere dev responded to me but I don’t know how to reach him at all…
YandereDev
Thank you very much for reaching out to offer me your help, especially while I'm going through a difficult time. I appreciate that a lot. You're welcome to e-mail me examples of your past work (art, models, voice acting, whatever you specialize in) and I can let you know if there's a way that you can help.
Echolai
I have so much time on my hands that I would love to explore making assets for the game as I have great creativity and I’ve always yearned to make 3D models
Echolai
I would love to help with voice lines, I’m not truly sure if I’m good enough. I know I can’t do any cool stuff with development but I might be able to help with something and I have great sympathy for the situation that’s occurred. I don’t know which lines were taken out and by whom though I’d like to know all this to see where I can help
SevenLies
YanSim has already generated countless positive experiences and creative content. As much as I would like to see the game finished, the game has already achieved quite a lot. As much as I would like to see the game come out, I think you can still be proud of what it has achieved up to this point. As cliche as it is to say, "Maybe the real Yandere Simulator was the friends we made along the way". Maybe consider whether open sourcing the game and moving to a community-lead development model could work. There would be a lot of challanges in going this path, but another option to consider. Please take your time before you decide what to do. Think about what is best for yourself first, the game second.
Shěn
This sounds so tough, I can’t imagine the amount of stress and anxiety this must be causing you. Even though the game means so much, your health and future is most important !! Cheering for whatever you decide!
Kiyoshi Nakamura
I do think it is worth considering handing over the project if a major number of the key people involved in the project would return under those conditions. But I understand your attachment to the game makes that impossible as well as any potential buyers would not want to get take over a project with such a major controversy.
Devin Scalise
I completely agree with this. It would give the game a much higher chance of being successful.
Joaquito
While I understand that you are fond of this project and don't want to stop developing it, I think the best option is to sell the IP to a larger team that can finish the game. Many volunteers, voice actors, youtubers and other people have left, even if you can finish the game it wouldn't be the same, it wouldn't be even a thousandth of what it could be. The game wouldn't be the same without Michaela or Austin, it wouldn't make sense to launch the game without YouTubers like Bijuu or Jay playing it, it wouldn't feel the same without assets from Sked and the rest of the volunteers. It just wouldn't be as satisfying to have waited 8 years for a game, with high standards, to see it end up like 1980s mode. On the other hand, giving the project to another team could serve as an opportunity for these volunteers to be associated with the project again, I suppose that several of them would participate again if the game is being directed by other people. Would it cost to clean the game image? Yes, but I think it would be the best option. I value your dedication, and as I said before, I understand the love you have for the game, but it doesn't seem like the best option for you to continue developing it for it to be disappointing and the people who contributed so far can't be proud of their participation. I especially feel bad about Michaela, who was a volunteer for many years and was very involved in the project, to finally have to eliminate almost 10 years from her resume and work experience. Or Jay, who despite everything always uploaded videos of the game and was fond of it. Now, I can't put myself in your shoes, but from my point of view, I would prefer to see how my creation is finished by other people but with a better reputation, more resources and more appreciation from everyone, than to finish it myself but with a bad reputation, few resources and being remembered as that game made by a "shady" person that was 10 years in development.
Luc Taylor
You're fine.. do what you need to do. I don't care about drama stuff. :)
YandereDev
While that's a comical idea, I don't think it would be wise to do something so dishonest. Thank you for your kind words, though.
Secret Dino
I had the thought that you should sell the project to an unknown developer who turns out to just be you using a voice changer. On a more serious note, Im very glad to hear you are not planning on quitting YanSim. People make mistakes, and youre taking the steps necessary to help yourself. Actually, Ive been thinking for a while you need to take some time to yourself, do something you havent done in years, and do it with a friend you havent seen in forever
YandereDev
Thank you very much for your support. You're welcome to e-mail me and link me to examples of your work.
YandereDev
I've experimented with AI-generated voices. I have to admit that I don't think they sound very good. I don't think that AI-generated voices would be a good substitute for real human voice acting.
Stoney Garza
This whole thing reminds me of that Hubba Bubba ad where a guy is telling this little kid a story about a big fish he saw, and gradually the story kept spreading until it became a tall tale about the Loch Ness Monster, with the slogan "Blow it out of proportion."
R4Z0R
Take your time, yandev your mental health matters to us, and admitting the fault and trying to fix it isn't a bad ththing.On the contrary is a good thing so, take your time and relax and I am still supporting you
DovelyBoy
As I’ve stated before in the server (I know you won’t recognize me though) I’d be delighted to try and help in any way I can. I love this project, Dev, and it’s been one of those games that got me through the worst depression of my life. I hate what you did. I hate how you did it, and I wish I could’ve gone back in time and I don’t know knocked some sense into you. But I know you’re genuinely remorseful..I’ve seen it in our conversations and your actions. I’ll stand by to support you, always, YandereDev. Take your time. Please, please go get some rest and take time away from the Internet. We love you, Dev, stay safe. 🩷
ImThatBoyWithThatCap
I dont know what happend again but I dont believe these in quote "critiques" against you anymore since you got unjustified slaughtered alot. People with a brain will still support you.👍
Joferro
Hope you continue working on the game as i've been following it's development for years and don't see anyone else able to complete it, everyone is human, we make mistakes, i don't see you as bad person for that.
only_nicooo
Yandere Dev, wouldn't it be possible to develop dubs with an Ai, at least temporarily? And to ensure that Yandere Simulator doesn't die, don't you think it would be a good idea to add features that everyone has been wanting for a long time? Like Ayano's cousin (new character of 202X) with different functions than those of other students. Or the possibility for Ayano to join the bullies or the student council?
Daniela Aishi
I don't think leaving the game without voices is a good idea, my idea is that maybe you could do something similar to what Nintendo did in Zelda BOTW and TOTK, in those games the voice acting is limited only to the cutscenes and the most of voice acting that you can find during gameplay are simple voice effects (Like the "Hmm..." of the Student Council members)
Katie Watkins
Bad people don't write posts like this.
