Deleted 3 years ago
Hi Justin! First of all I wanna say that I'm so so happy this game got to you. Honestly, as someone who wants to go in to game dev, that's a very special feeling and you're the first person on this website to say something so kind!
Secondly, I do want to say that while Rot is primarily a horror experience, it is just as much an art piece about love gone bad. When I made this I was going through a period of sincere hopelessness after an unexpected breakup with my first love.
The development of this game was a way for me to comprehend how I was feeling, and look at those feelings outside of my self so that I might understand them better.
When the game was finished, I felt so much better, much better than I thought I would. I realised how crazy I was! And also the things I did wrong.
Hey friend, it's been a while! I just wanted to say that I really appreciated what you said about Rot when it was released. It was really kind and it honestly really made the project feel special at a time when I think I needed it to.
If you're bored during this crisis stuck at home then I thought I'd just say that I released a sequel if you're interested.
Yours,
Michael
OMG, HI!! That's so funny, because I woke up this morning and for some reason, I felt I had the urge to check up on you and how you were doing during this pandemic. I'll download your game right away and play it as soon as I get the chance! I'm really excited! Is there any platform like Twitter or Instagram that I could reach out to you by?
Yes, you too! Also, I made my username on here "Anonymous Player" because I wasn't comfortable sharing that about myself to the public unless it was you, the game developer that helped me see clearly through that hard time of mine... I also thought you might not take my comment seriously because of my young age - I'm 17. Throughout the 10 months after playing Rot, I was able to share my story with others and watch myself slowly regain my feet. I've been so so much happier lately and all I needed was the push that your game gave me. I've read your articles about Rot and absolutely loved them! I thought it was so funny that many thought that Justin had killed Emma (I think that's what her name was) at the end. I also found your mention of me understanding the story was so heartwarming and it gave me even more inspiration to change. Well, what I'm trying to say is, I'm no longer afraid or ashamed of my past, and no longer want to be known to you as "Anonymous Player," so please call me Justin. You've done so much for me through your college project, and I want to thank you again.
It's Iate, so I'm afraid I cannot reread this for spelling or grammar errors since I typed a lot, but I wish you well and I'm still super excited to play your game!
Also, I was born with two names: Justin David, and on social media, my username is "Cultivated David," just so you don't get confused, haha
Please do not feel any need to thank me, Justin! The pleasure is all mine, you know I really just made Rot as a university assignment in my bedroom over the course of a month or so... so it means the world to me that it could really mean so much to someone like you. I'm very glad that I could help give you some perspective on a bad situation in your life... I know that other games have done that for me in the past!
The fact that you felt a certain connection with it meant that the game had achieved all it set out to do and I wouldn't dare understate the significance of that. To me, the processes of making and consuming art are all about exchange of experience and perspective... the best artists to me permanently inform the way I view difficult concepts such as love and loss, suffering etc... we are all in a perpetual state of coming to terms with these overwhelming and often ineffable concepts, and in art we help each other see a little clearer. To know that I may have offered this to you even in the slightest was very touching.
It is great to see you on a better path! I hope you continue this way.
Yours,
Michael