December 30th 2024 - Let's wrap this mess of a year
Back in September I wrote a blog post about my “state of things”: where I was in life, what I was doing and what I was planning to do. Now that we are almost done
with 2024, I think I am overdue for an update.
The past few months have been quite difficult for me, because of the US elections. Even though I am not living in the US I cannot help but to feel extremely
anxious to see the rise of fascism everywhere in the world, my country included. As a trans woman my sole existence is politicized, and I wish I could just
live my life in peace. I feel anxious, sad, and angry, I felt so bad I kind of shut down mentally for a day or two. Then, I turned my anger and frustration
into an interactive experience called
We will get through this, that got a bit of traction. I have to say, making a mean spirited rant about my ugliest
thoughts was very therapeutic. It helped me move forward, and get into a better headspace. Anger is not a negative emotion, in fact there are no negative
emotions. What we do with them is what matters.
About my online presence, the biggest event lately is the massive move toward
Bluesky. It has been clear for a while that Twitter had nothing good left to offer,
but the last news about the mandatory data harvesting for generative AI was the last straw, and people migrated to Bluesky in masse. I have been on the website
for a while now, but the difference is incredible. In a few months I gained hundreds of new followers, and got in touch with many people. In fact, it has become
my main platform now. Let’s be clear: Bluesky is not an ideal platform. In fact the recent news about the moderation team is very disheartening, but it is leagues
better than Twitter as of today. Personally, the vibes are way better and I have a way better time here. Let’s see if it will last.
Most importantly, I can now post gifs on
Bluesky, meaning I am able to move my main activity on the website: the weekly contents of the Museum of Screens.
For the end of the year I have been painstakingly reviewing every web game I played this year, to pick which new games to feature at the end of the year.
I have been also writing my blog post about my favorite games of the year, so look forward to that. But regarding the activity of the museum, I will make a
different blog post early 2025 to summarize what to expect during the year.
And regarding the
virtual museum, I have been planning new updates for a while now, even though I considerably slowed down my work on it. But rest assured,
I still plan to expand the Museum, add new content and improve current content. Especially, I want to add accessibility features in 2025. Also I have been
planning some pretty new exciting features. I cannot wait to talk in more detail, but this will have to wait.
Now, as usual, let’s review my various projects, ongoing, finished or to be planned.
Game Project
My main game project is going great. I am still writing the story and listing various features and ideas I’d like to add. It has evolved greatly since I started
it, to become a big thing, way bigger than any of my past projects. I am a bit intimidated, but I also realize I deeply care about the story I am writing.
I really want to make this project, and even if it takes me years, I’d still do it. I still post dev updates regularly on social media but I refrain from
posting anything too spoiler-y for now, but in early 2025 I will probably be able to post more interesting things. I mean, if you follow me you already know
what I am working on, even the name, but since I haven’t done any formal announcement I consider it still “to be revealed”.
Also, I am considering seeking fundings for the game now. This is new for me, so I don’t know how I should go about it. I don’t know how to write a pitch,
or create a kickstarter. I have no idea how to manage those, so let’s see how it goes. At least, I am friend with people that know more about that so I will
be able to ask them.
Idle Game Project
The second, smaller project I am working on, the idle game, is also going great, and in fact I think I will publish a demo very soon. I posted about the
name, the plot and a few details on social media so I don’t see the point of staying vague anymore: It’s called Odd Merchant, and it’s a game where you play
the strange merchant in a roguelike. Set in a post apocalyptic universe, the story will blend fantasy and steampunk elements, and a lot of Lovecraftian horror.
I will probably publish a beta version very soon, and if people like I will make regular updates in the future. Look forward to that very soon.
Personal website
As always, I am always doing small things for my website, creating small toys and such. I recently made numerous updates to add a lot of new features so
don’t miss out on this! Also, I have a button wall so if you have a personal website with a button, please send it to me!
New article
Last time I said I would write a long form article about the story of a web game, like I used to do. It was released a few days ago:
The History of Urban Rivals.
Honestly it didn’t turn out as interesting as I hoped for. I had some leads to have exclusive information, but those leads turned cold so I just went with the
publicly available information on the game and the company. I still think it is good, but I am a bit disappointed. Still, I think it is an important effort of
preservation, considering the early history of the game is poorly archived, almost lost.
Miscellaneous ideas
There are many things I want to do, dozens of projects imagined, or started. I am constantly chasing new ideas, tinkering with new interactive stuff. I tried to
apply some self discipline and prevent myself from starting any more projects, but I failed and took notes on a few things I wanted to do.
Regarding the two ARGs I wanted to do, they are still in the back of my mind but since my other projects are taking shape I put them on hold. But I still want to
do them.
One thing I want to do lately is go back to my dungeon crawler engine I made a long time ago. I was talking with another game dev on Mastodon and they told me they
wanted an easy tool to make dungeon crawlers. It reminded me of the demo I made years ago, and how cool it would be if we could make a dungeon crawler as easily as
a Bitsy game. So now that’s kind of what I want to do.
There is also an idea of a website I’d like to do, that would be my first openly horror themed story. I have no real plans, just an elevator pitch. I’ll see if I
make something out of it.
Closing thoughts
I don’t know what 2025 will have in store for me. I mean, I know what I want to do, I have a lot of plans, but then I remember how I started 2024 and where I am
now. January 2024, I was a burned out depressive closeted guy, today, I am a 30 year old slightly more out woman. I am still depressed but I am working on it.
Sometimes my days are very low, sometimes they are way up. And you know what? I am taking small victories wherever I can.
This year was weird, for sure. I am not too keen on making a recap of my year, like “what were my achievements” or “what are you the most proud of” or whatever.
Because mostly, I am happy to still be here, making stuff I deeply care about, and that I made new friends along the way. This is all I’m hoping for in 2025.
See you in 2025.
Liz
(Toulou)