An Update • Life, Rain, and Game Development

I don't think I need to tell anyone that the output has been pretty sparse for a couple months! There's a reason for that, and — gonna be honest — I didn't want to discuss it publicly. But, seeing how many of you have been continuing to support me and cheer me on, I wanted to speak up. Larger text posts are my least engaged, but I'd be grateful if you read it. Unless you already trust me in which case, thank you! You're excused. Enjoy your weekend~!

— WHADDA HELL —

Oh you're still here

Okay

so

for quite a while now, I've been juggling a several external, often serious obligations. Constantly pulled in every direction, it was difficult plan or schedule anything. I'd bury myself in dev work whenever I had the chance, no matter how superfluous, to make use of whatever time I had.

In early June, I was suddenly relieved of a lot of that responsibility (in a good way! I didn't get fired from anything lmao). For the first time in my career, I could focus entirely on my work. I could plan again. I could take breaks again. And with that first break, burnout immediately struck.

— OH —

Immediately, my output dropped to almost zero. I had been ignoring a lot of my needs, and they weren't gonna wait any longer. In the last couple months, I've been focusing on relearning how to manage my time, practicing my art, and spending more time with those important to me. As badly as I wanted to return to Rainshade, I don't regret that time away. I needed that break, both for myself, and to see my work from a new perspective.

— RAINSHADE —

Rainshade has always been a labor of love, and I have poured my heart into it. It is a game about trust, seeking purpose, and the experiences we share — and also, how cool it would be if a giant monster tried to punch you and you block it so good that it gives you a really juicy hit stop before sending it hurtling across the screen and into a wall.

But Rainshade is also a project full of choices made unthinkingly, out of fear of losing support, or to give me a small hit of dopamine to cope with the stress I was under. Choices that, no matter how much they needed to be removed or changed, some people had still gotten attached to. But you often need to cut out some good to make something great. And now I have the strength to do that.

— THANK'S SO MUCH —

Like!! WHAT!!! You've all been INCREDIBLY patient with me over the years, far more than I ever expected. I still can't believe it. Thank you all so much!!! But especially right now!! I feel like I've undergone a major surgery, and the recovery hit way harder than expected. I'm more excited than ever to be on my feet again. Time to make funny nice video game

— Juno