Hello everyone
I always thought that the harder I worked, the more results I'd see. But over the past couple of years, all I've experienced is stagnation, decline, and, on top of it all-burnout.
It's strange, but the more intensely I worked, the more my income dropped. This gradually drove me into complete bewilderment. In recent months, I've been working myself to exhaustion, almost without days off, but my expectations were once again unmet. That said, my expectations are my own problem.
I work alone. Yes, I get a lot of help from a script master and a translator, but they only participate for a couple of days, while I handle everything else by myself for the rest of the month. I took on too many responsibilities and planned way too many tasks that one person simply can't manage alone. They piled up like a snowball.
There's no one's fault in this. It's just that for over a year, I've been living in anticipation that has never once come true. These expectations layered on month after month until they turned into a multi-layered cake called "burnout and depression."
I want to say a special thank you: I'm immensely grateful that, despite my sudden disappearance, you continue to support me and wait for news. With this post, I'm not trying to blame anyone-I'm just honestly sharing what happened and what's happening with me right now.
A quick timeline:
After releasing the last update, I was full of energy, confidence, expectations, and hopes for a Christmas miracle. But the hopes of breaking out of financial stagnation and seeing income growth didn't materialize once again. Surprisingly, I didn't despair and, as usual, started tackling small tasks. Everything was going okay until I once again tried to redo the Steam banner. Being unable to complete such a seemingly simple task became the final straw. I just stopped doing anything and barely touched the project for four weeks (except for the last post, which I wrote with tremendous effort).
I sank so deeply into a depressive state that I completely forgot: yesterday, December 19, my project turned 6 years old. I only remembered it now, while writing this message.
So-hurray! We've been together for six years already 💚
In these six years, I've only taken a real vacation once-before releasing the second part of SC. Even then, it was hard to call it a proper break: I felt guilty if I didn't work for more than a week.
Now, it seems, I've rested a bit and am slowly getting back to work. There's still no inspiration, but I'm unhurriedly trying to finish the new Steam banner.
Regarding the release date of the next update:
Right now, I have almost no energy or motivation left. The thought keeps circling in my head that before continuing work on the update for SC II, I should first complete the translation of the current version of the game. I can't give specific timelines, but I think the update will arrive in January or February-it all depends on how quickly I recover and inspiration returns.
On a positive note: during the Christmas and New Year holidays, you probably won't have much free time for my game anyway heh. So I hope you won't be too upset about the delay.
Thank you all for your support - even the silent kind. It means a lot.
Merry Christmas! I wish your holidays to be warm, cozy, and full of joy!