Hi all,

A few recent events, not specifically one in particular, have made me think about IP ownership and how it affects creatives in general. So I decided to write a little rant that might be insightful to other people who are thinking about entering the creative field.

Own your work. Own it all.

This is the only way to not only guarantee that you will have complete artistic freedom, but also maintain some degree of business ethics (if you’re an ethical person). From time to time, I make some promises and statements about how I go about developing and selling games. I want people to enjoy my games and the worlds I create, and I never want them to feel cheated or deceived.

It is entirely because I am my own boss that I can make these kind of grandiose statements. There are no strings over me, no massive corporations that I take marching orders from, no investors or any other organized group that I owe fealty to when it comes to my games.

I understand that it is a tremendous advantage that I have over 99% of the games industry, and it comes with very high costs (the main one being that I do not have a stable salary). I know as a solodev I have chosen one of the hardest ways to compete in this industry. Hard in so many ways I can’t really list them all here.

But I’m not here to sell millions of copies so I can afford a penthouse in some exotic foreign locale. I make games because there is something in my soul that I want to share, and a vision that I would like to see completed.

So yes, going solo is hard. But you will own your ideas. You will not just be another faceless employee for some corporation. It is still possible to make art. And if you can accept the consequences for that, and if your heart yearns for something beautiful… then perhaps it is a mountain you should climb.

-ManlyMouseDan

Actually, it's been complete for a while, I just haven't dedicated the time to the impressive amount of data entry needed :D. Dhaze was kind enough to write a very entertaining walkthrough of my game. Not an exhaustive or comprehensive playthrough, but a good look at what a first run of the game would look like.

And now it's complete!

You can find part 1 here: https://www.memoryofeternity.com/dhazes-detailed-non-comprehensive-playthrough-memoirs-part-1/

Please let me know if there are any missing chapters or other mistakes. The playthrough ends at Part 50 and the review.

Thanks again to Dhaze, and I hope you enjoy.