Happy Pride!
It really feels like Summer! Happy pride everyone. I hope you are able to get out and meet with your queer community this month. Celebration is resistance, so do your part and party your butt off!
The mermaid game is coming together. I am adding in, piece by piece, the game components that populate the game's world. It is really hard to show you all progress pictures without spoiling the game, but here's a few screenshots...
The very first letter Lani receives:
There are some impressive statues here, but of who?
I'm going to do my best to have this game done by the end of the week. I really hate being behind on deadlines, but I'm also a perfectionist who likes to tweak! The struggle is real y'all.
I also have some other great news, folks: I finally have a lawyer! I can't tell you what a relief it is. They still have to issue the counter notice, and then it will be a few days before youtube reinstates my videos and removes the copyright strikes, but it already feels like a huge weight off of my shoulders. The firm I found has game developers and content creators as regular clients. It was both disturbing and comforting to know that this kind of harassment is so common that they knew exactly what I was talking about when I first contacted them, and they told me they issue counter-notices like this all the time! The lawyer working on my case also said he would notify youtube that this was not just a mistaken copyright takedown, but a fraudulent one done for the purposes of harassment, which should mean Youtube would take away the harasser's ability to issue further copyright strikes against my channel (which was something I was really worried about!)
The cost of contracting them was just under 1k, which is about the same as a couple of dental surgeries. So I only have to wait a few months until I can build my savings back up, and its back to tooth business as usual. It may seem like a very expensive thing to have to do (it is, after all, half of my monthly income), but some other lawyers who didn't have the experience that this firm did with content creators were quoting me over 3k to start!
Anyway, all that to say: thank you so much to everyone who has been a supporter. I would make games for everyone regardless of what happened, but its always really meaningful that there are enough people who believe in my work that I can do this full time. Stay tuned for this mermaid game, and then we'll finally get to vote on some new stuff!
Okay, here's your sign-off joke:
Q: If a mermaid goes into cardiac arrest, what does she need?
A: A Heart Sturgeon
Comments (10)
The art and story of the game looks absolutely amazing (I love the implied snippets of lore of the world in the letter!!!). The name of the language being Corellian is so so cute! I’m also deliriously happy that you were able to find a lawyer, especially one with experience! I’ve seen a lot of other content creators struggle with this, especially smaller ones, and I was really worried how this would impact you. Hopefully this nips it in the bud and you either don’t have to deal with more of this, or you only have to deal with it very minimally 💙💙
That sucks that you had to get a lawyer and have to pay so much for it 😭 but I’m also glad you found a good firm like this. Having them in your corner will be helpful for the future too as your account grows even larger. I’m super excited to see the finished product of this game! It’s been looking so cute so far!! ❤️
Yay! The game looks great, Girl! Your Art is so nice and fun! Please consider opening up a donation option for the legal fees. I know it can seem gross or too much or something, but anyone who donates will be eager too. We want to help you and we want to show that community and solidarity is powerful. That we take care of each other and we won't be bothered by harassment. But if you don't, that's cool too and we'll always support you.
This all looks so stinkin' CUTE! My GOODNESS! Amazing work. Major congrats on fighting the fraudulent DMCA takedown. Do you have a ko-fi or other "tip jar" for folks that might want to chip in for legal fees? (it's me, i'm folks)
I agree with Marty! I would love to throw some $$$ your way to soften the blow (and so you don't have to wait as long for dental work)
Yay! the game looks sooo pretty
Can't wait to play the game, the statues look so ghostly and mysterious. And so glad your struggles are nearly over with the copyright claims!
yayyy the statues look lovely and i totally get the perfectionism tweaks (looks at myself in the mirror) I know the game is gonna be good when it’s out! And hip hurray for the lawyer progress! Hope the harrasser get what they deserve…
Yay!! Everything looks amazing Terry!
Yay