You know how when you first wake up in the morning and you have the moment, just that single moment, when you wonder if those pictures in your mind were just a dream or if you are simply waking up to a reality that you are still trying accept?
Such was the waking moments on Wednesday when the formal announcement that Junebud, creators and developers of Alia's favorite game, had declared bankruptcy. That sheer sense of disbelief overtook me, and I had to keep wondering if I was still sleeping and have just a really unpleasant nightmare. But as the coffee was brewed (sorry Sara, I wish we could have that coffee together, one that does not bother your constitution), and I was able to backtrack through Twitter, the realization was that yes, my beloved game and its company were looking like they were both going to be no more a part of my life.
All day Wednesday and into Thursday, as friends and fellow players did their own wake up to the news, it was like reliving that bad moment over and over. My blog post on this subject was already writing itself in my head and yet, I still have not been able to fully process all I want to say here.
But the the analogy of the post-dream moment would not leave me and so, for now, because I will probably post about this again, I want to talk not about the bad dreams of myself and all my friends and fellow players. What I want to write about are the dreams of the crew about Junebud.
While we are all distraught, what I have not been able to get out of my mind is what of the dreams of the developers that we have all grown to love so much? I cannot even contemplate on their behalf how their dream, so full of great ideas and promise, is now lost for the time being. It is not a death, as such a talented group of people will thrive in new places and in new ways, but as if they have to watch something that they nurtured wither away.
While many game developers come and go, that very special something that was Junebud is a greater loss to the gaming community than others. The reason why we are all so distraught on their behalf because what made Junebud special is that they made us all feel included. Their vision and dream, our reality for a few short years, was that us the players were essential to what they were doing. The most wonderful and saddest moments have been not so much that the future of the game of was in question, but when the entire community started pouring out with queries on what they could do to help the company stay alive only to be told there was no way to help. Just to see that tells you all you need to know about what this company has been about and what it means to us players.
I still am unable to fully write all that I am feeling (look for a later post when I am less emotional), but it is with heartfelt emotion that I write this post for all the wonderful people I have come to know through this game: Sara, Ivan, Ola, Wicky, and for those of you I never knew, thanks for making something so unique that you know that its loss has left us with so much sadness, but also so much joyful memories.
Alianore
