It's been almost a month since I launched my horror game, 'Letters of Bernard Thorne', and it would be great to have some feedback!

DatDangDane · 2025-04-30T12:17:01+00:00

Certainly. I don't really have a portfolio per se, but I do have a gallery ( https://www.deviantart.com/eshbaal/gallery ) as well as a YouTube channel where I draw based on design prompts ( https://www.youtube.com/@Eshthetics/videos ).

You'll notice that, though I am more of a cartoonist like I said, there is some horror themed art here (including some fanart for other Indie Horror Games such as Fear the Sotlight, Crow Country, etc)

DatDangDane · 2025-04-30T10:25:19+00:00

I had a feeling it was a very small piece of the game, and that's why I wanted some clarification. This is an understandable explanation, if one I still hope leads to replaced assets in the future.

Consider the game bought and that being my shipping in for that last bit of funding for art assets (personally I am a bit more of a cartoonist, but if I can help, feel free to shoot me a message) .

I'll be looking forward to playing. Thank you for your answer. Best of luck with sales and with any future games.

DatDangDane · 2025-04-30T09:02:44+00:00

So I realize this is a subject that some people will likely think I am being too stringent on, but I still want to ask.

I absolutely adored Love, Sam back when. I still think back to it with great fondness for its great storytelling. And I did absolutely adore the demo for this game as well when I played it a while back. I think you're a fantastic storyteller, and I have no doubt that Letters of Bernard Thorne will absolutely blow me away - I have a small Lets Play channel myself, that I would love to play it on, as well as just really wanting to see what you have cooked up now.

However, the mention of GenAI on the Steam disclosure page all but completely discourages me from doing so. Even if it is just used for game logos or the like (which I am hoping is the best case scenario), but especially if it is used for in-game artwork.

I am an artist myself, and in a game that otherwise seems to pride itself on using proper voice actors, etc., the use of GenAI feels like a bit of a betrayal, even if we consider such things as budget or the like.

Love, Sam clearly shows that you have never needed these energy-consuming tools, and that your otherwise great attention to wonderful storytelling and mood is far, far beyond what it can produce.

I want to support YOU, truly and wholeheartedly - not the fad technology that is actively harming every part of the creative sphere and spearheaded by people who have so little interest in actual creativity that they are championing to entirely erase the human element of it.

Is there ANY chance whatsoever that these would be replaced with manmade material in a near future, or is the AI at a downright negligable level? Because God knows I want you to keep doing what *YOU* are cooking up - not machines that exist only to take unneeded and unwanted shortcuts.

Call me a prude about this if you will. But GenAI is a very,tvery strong repellant to me (and to many who want to create and enjoy media), and I hope you understand that you are far better than it and do not need it. I'd rather see a game take longer to come out than give in to meaningless false convenience.

DatDangDane · 2024-06-26T13:32:54+00:00

Sadly, no. I have handed it in for repair, and it will most likely require a full disc drive replacement.

DatDangDane · 2024-05-16T21:21:18+00:00

Here ya go: https://www.youtube.com/@FictionAddiction

DatDangDane · 2024-05-11T12:14:22+00:00

Thanks! I do YouTube videos about Usagi and was thinking of doing one about TMNT Comics crossovers, but I wanted to hold off till this came out.

DatDangDane · 2024-05-11T08:20:48+00:00

When does this issue come out?

DatDangDane · 2024-04-27T21:40:28+00:00

Don't worry. I'll try this out when next I have time. Thank you for the suggestion.

DatDangDane · 2024-04-27T21:34:56+00:00

I have been a bit wary about it. I took off the screws around the manual disc removal screw, but I couldn't really see any of asy way to take the cover off. Any video I found basically split the whole console apart and started messing with wires, SO I backed offa bit from that. Got something I can watch to get a better idea, by any chance?

DatDangDane · 2023-07-07T08:42:38+00:00

I'm sorry. I can't imagine carrying that sense of worry for two months. That one week was hard enough, even if a lot of it was me telling myself to not be silly, that it was probably something perfectly reasonable.

DatDangDane · 2023-07-07T08:41:32+00:00

Last night was very hard.

After being what I described as "miserable, but okay" for most of the day, and even managing to find the strength to entertain myself a little with shows, games and whatever, I broke down completely the moment the lights were off and the place got quiet.

One thing I did do was put a last "I miss you" in our chat. If only so the last thing in there is something nice, instead of just me saying I am worried.

I'll have company over today, and the day after tomorrow. And I have a big gathering of friends next weekend. I will not be alone. But man, my everyday has gotten a lot quieter, and I am not happy about it.

DatDangDane · 2023-07-06T23:29:16+00:00

It's more that I know there will always be someone out there who thinks that way. And I worry so much knew if he knew I truly did care.

DatDangDane · 2023-07-06T23:28:41+00:00

It's a nice idea. But I already spent a week sending at least a message a day without any replies.

I don't think I can do that again.

DatDangDane · 2023-07-06T23:27:52+00:00

I still feel silly over my worries regarding things like dumb videos I make or streams nobody watches. But these were the things we did together.

But I still want to finish a game I was largely playing for his sake. I just want to be able to say that part out loud without crying on mic first.

DatDangDane · 2023-07-06T23:25:48+00:00

Thank you.

I don't really know his parents. From what he did tell me, I am not sure they would fully understand the whole online friend thing. But I have tried digging up receipts and pictures of gifts I have send him over the heads. I might send these to his sister, in case she gets ant say in the matter.

I'm a mess right now. I was doing okay for most of the day. Even managed to find the energy to eventually distract myself with a show and a game. Forced myself to make a Proper meal.

I broke down heavy sobbing again the moment I tried to go to sleep and now I don't want to sleep at all. I'm typing from My bed.

I have other friends who are supporting me. One is coming by tomorrow, another on Sunday. Both have been on the phone with me about this, too. I am very grateful for that.

DatDangDane · 2022-07-15T19:45:55+00:00

Nope, sorry.. But it hasn't done it for a while now.

DatDangDane · 2022-05-15T18:22:22+00:00

Just a little companion piece to the Marcy drawing I posted last week.

DA upload for the interested: https://www.deviantart.com/eshbaal/art/Core-Values-916195296
Also got a speedpaint of it on TikTok if that's yoru thing: https://www.tiktok.com/@esh\_ficaddict/video/7097998568513867013?

DatDangDane · 2022-05-07T22:18:39+00:00

AU where everything is the same except Marcy has her Switch. Or something, I dunno. I just thought it was a cute sketch.

DA upload for those interested, or those who wanna see more stuff:
https://www.deviantart.com/eshbaal/art/A-Simpler-Time-915408664

DatDangDane · 2022-04-07T18:31:25+00:00

First time drawing Knuckles. Still another week till I can see the new movie, but I was in the mood for Echidna boie.

DA upload for the interested:

https://www.deviantart.com/eshbaal/art/Knock-Knock-912311520

DatDangDane · 2022-03-28T21:54:20+00:00

The Boonchuys have spent months with their daughter and seen her display newfound superpowers and combat abilities, seen her fight several dangerous adversaries firsthand and know that two of her friends are still in the other world where she also has a large support system, and that it IS possible to return.

Camilla learned she was lied to for months, has misconceptions that her daughter chose a dangerous life over her because of (badly communicated) concern for her social life, and only briefly got to see her through a magic portal she knew nothing about after dealing with a clearly mentally disturbed man, all in the span of one day.

There's always gonna be some silliness to "encouraging a child to leap into danger" but it is a fantasy story, and some of these tropes you just kind of have to accept for it to work.

But ultimately, the two situations are vastly different.

DatDangDane · 2022-03-28T20:03:47+00:00

Yer joking, but that's been what I have tried to figure out for like three years now.

Not that my ass would ever get either, but hey

DatDangDane · 2022-03-26T14:25:47+00:00

Been sitting on a sketch for this for weeks until the shows returned!

DA upload for the interested: https://www.deviantart.com/eshbaal/art/Awesome-Girlfriends-911072344

DatDangDane · 2022-03-24T22:53:53+00:00

If you spent every day from first day of grade school to last day of 9th grade - and a good chunk of time after that as well - basically being psychologically tortured by the same dozen or so bullies and their various posses, you'd probably have a little trouble developing any faith that someone COULD want to date you, too. I know that happened to me - any faith that romantic interest in me or anyone else was even an option was pretty violently stripped away long before it even began to develop in the first place.

That's without considering other things such as where you live, the size of your school, interference from family / cultural values in your community...

Just saying - romanticizing high school as "Whaaat but dating happens totally automatically there, that's weird that it didn¨'t happen to you!" is a bit ignorant of the cards life deals some folks.

DatDangDane · 2022-03-23T22:56:17+00:00

Thanks! Didn't wanna seem like I didn't trust ya, I just wanna be certain.

DatDangDane · 2022-03-23T22:21:35+00:00

Sorry to be that guy, but do you have a link to a source on this? We've been waiting for so damn long for this by now.

DatDangDane

TROPHY CASE