Subterranean weekly notes

Here is this weekly post I’ve committed to maintaining, to pour into it the thoughts that would otherwise fall down the social‑media scroll until they sink into oblivion.

THE TRAP

This week I’ve read several creators (mostly writers) saying they dedicate themselves full‑time to their arts thanks to social networks. In reality, as someone who has already walked that path, I read between the lines.

I’ve been working in things related to art for many years. But for me, such things are not art.

It is creating things so that others can truly make art. Or teaching others to do it. Both things. And yes, that can give you income. But it is not creating, nor is it art. It is producing a product.

When I created this site, my game, and everything I do here, my purpose is different. Of course I would love to receive enough income from DLCs, Patreon and donations. That is the patronage that has always existed. 

What I don’t want is to stop creating what I want. From here I make my personal manifesto, to mark the red lines:

• I will not adjust my taste in order to obtain income.
• I will not make concessions that alter what has been inspired in me.
• I will not try to trade my freedom for a job.

It’s not bad if you do it. I judge no one. But I know that if you do, in the end you stop enjoying creation. Your muse leaves, because you have betrayed her. And you are left with weariness and a sense of having gone astray.

"Living together".

THE FRANTIC RHYTHM

I know I have to do some promotion. I would like my world to reach more people’s lives. I honestly believe that besides being entertaining, it has something important to say. 

In this world we are losing our freedom more and more. 

It is taken from us through advertising and frustrations. 

We don’t realize they are trying to tame us. 

Relationships between people crumble. 

And in the middle of that, my world is a cry of affirmation, of freedom, of love, and of valuing what matters. 

I would love to reach more people. 

However, everything on the internet moves so fast... I want to present a world with atmosphere, personal, that brings us back to the liminal experience. And everything outside is like an orgy of purchases.

So if you like my world, consider leaving a review on Steam and say why. Or tell your contacts. Tell others about it. 

I’m going to try, probably with slideshow‑type posts explaining bits of lore. It’s the only kind of social‑media post that doesn’t distort me. I know that if it steals my time or mental state, I won’t keep it up. My idea is to reach only the quiet sector of social networks.

I know my reach will be poor. There is too much noise out there to ask someone to stop.

The curious thing is that I’m realizing the gamer community and the fantasy‑reader community do NOT usually hang out on social sites. I know people say they do, but it’s not true. They are on game sites or they are reading. As it should be. 

NEXT UPDATE: BALANCE AND ATMOSPHERE

The update I’m preparing now is to balance the game’s difficulty, which needed adjustments. 

My goal is to make strong players with high stats still have challenges and risks. At the same time, those starting the game should not be affected. I think I’ve achieved it. 

I’ve also added visual effects. When you are exploring a city or a dungeon, sometimes there are situations like fog or rain. Until now they were not shown except when camping, where a text warned you.

In the new update I’m preparing, you will see rain, fog and other situations while walking. When the situation ends, the visual effect disappears. This effect will also be visible when camping.

At the same time it adds a bit more variety and atmosphere to the environments.

AND AFTER THAT? MONSTERS

I’m already thinking about the next update! They will be boss monsters, generated by procedural programming. They will have appearance, powers, attacks and strength proportional to yours. 

This is part of the features I’m adding to create continuous challenge, in the purest roguelike spirit (not in form, but in intention).

Some players play for the relaxing parts of the game. Others for the story. And others for the battle. The latter will find it very challenging.

I also plan to add other variety features in the other aspects of the game. I’ll talk about my plans soon, here on my blog.

A CRAZY IDEA

I’m developing the idea of merging my photorealistic creations with fantasy. Not for the game, but to show them here.

I still don’t know exactly how. Maybe with painted post‑work.

The idea is still something vague in my mind that I cannot clearly grasp yet. 

TO CHINA AND TO THE WORLD

This week there were many visitors from China on Steam. A percentage has stayed, adding to my beloved base from USA and Singapore. 

Welcome if you are reading this and you are from China! I know many people don’t usually comment, but I would love to read what you like most about my world, about this blog, about the game on Steam... 

It’s wonderful that different people around the world appreciate what I do. It makes me very happy. It tells me that what I do is universal and reaches people’s hearts.

And that’s all for now. Soon there will be news about the game!