I understand that it's not nice to be hassled, and I think the people asking for updates have not particularly enjoyed needing to ask.

However, Indiegogo requires campaigns to update once a month. I currently have a campaign myself that's funded and closed and in the works, just like yours, and I get notified by them if I don't post an update within their month timeframe.

This is the email I get:

"Per our Terms of Use, campaigners must post an Update once per month. This policy is in place because your backers are interested in hearing from you to learn more about how their funds are being used, as well as your progress to date."
Followed by a timeframe to post an update before their team decides to investigate:
"Please post an Update on Indiegogo within 2 days to let your backers know the status of your project"

If you don't adhere to their timeframe, their terms of use state that:

"Campaign Owners will respond promptly and truthfully to all questions posed to them by Indiegogo or any Contributor. Campaign Owners will provide substantive and quality updates at least once a month to their Contributors. Failure to do so may result in punitive actions taken on the Campaign. If any Campaign Owner is unable to fulfill any of its commitments to Contributors (including delivering any Perks), the Campaign Owner will work with the Contributors to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution, which may include refunding their Contributions"

It's not a question of trust for me personally, because I get it. Projects like this take time and nothing is instant. For me it's a question of why Tale of Tales appears to be exempt from Indiegogo's policy... It's very easy to do an update once a month! It's not a huge demand to meet after all even if there's nothing substantial to say other than a screenshot or just a few words saying that you're excited by the progress you're making etc. You could even post an update saying "We'll have a substantial update in 4 months time", and the monthly updates leading up to it then being just a countdown and a tease of info like a screenshot. There's loads of ways around it but I know it's annoying, though if it keeps people off your back so you could get on with things peacefully, then it's worth doing right (:

Communication, however small, is better than nothing because it shows everyone you're active. Silence is worse and is always questionable and that's exactly what's happened I feel. Bottom line is, the backers aren't in the wrong for bugging you; you can't tell people not to request an update when you're 100% required to once a month at the very least by Indiegogo.

Beyond this, I have no ill feelings and am looking forward to an update at the end of the year.

Excuse me if this is hard to swallow, but this is absolutely ridiculous to hear when I have watched you via Twitter on your vacation in Rome. So, I'm sorry that we seem to be disturbing your vacation time, but some people on this community donated a lot of money. You shouldn't have used Indiegogo if you can't adhere to it's policies. Period.

I may very well be alone in this but I'm going to be honest and say I do feel a substantial lack of trust. 3:

I mean, I don't at all doubt this will be finished EVENTUALLY. But what I've seen seems to be a major lack of urgency or care in fostering any sort of trust with the Community which is my only gripe. I'm pretty sure we're all patient- some of us have played for like 9 years without even thinking an update to the game is possible.
The game has always been free, which is amazing! We're all grateful for that I'm sure. But at the same time, that means we've never had to worry about where our money is going until now, and now that we do, zero transparency can come off as pretty scary.

To me, the discrepancy between what the impression given according to what you've said on the Indigogo campaign was, and what we've gotten in the end is massive. Especially when a legal obligation for monthly updates hasn't been fulfilled, and it's very clear that you have access to the internet. :{ I reallyreallyreally hate to say this, AND AGAIN speak for myself only, but at this point I'm not 100% confident in what the money has gone towards.

I'm really sorry but this reply is just very rude.

The people that have pledged you money and are asking after 6 months what the state of the update is, is not hassling!
We have every right to ask what is going on, especially after such a long period of silence and in combination with the policy of indiegogo stating you should update once a month.

Most of the players just want to know you are still working on the game, because you neither post here nor on your twitter account about the game. So, how should we know what's going on?

Also how is asking what's going on counterproductive? That sounds like a threat.
That if no update comes, we should better keep quiet or else you will stop working on the game.

I am aware this is coming of as very hostile and I'm sorry about that, but I just think your reply is really mean and unprofessional.

I've been quiet on this site for long, but ... Gosh, asking for €40k and then having the nerve to respond like this when people wonder what's happening to their money while you're tweeting all about Rome, ey?

Great that you want to update the game and give it more posibilities. But I always had a bad feeling about this campaign and now I see why.

"Don't hassle us" These people have every right to 'hassle' you, since they're the one handing you that amount of money and all they get in return is silence.

Become professional and write a small update, takes just as much time as writing a tweet.

You all are just repeating each other right now. If you want to say something, bring something new up. Otherwise, sit tight and wait for a response. I'm sure they get it by now. M&A are only two people. What you guys are doing right now is hassling, plus a tinge of whining.

Wolfclaw, people are expressing themselves and as long as they're not slinging shit I don't think there's anything wrong with a more elaborate way of saying 'I agree'.
I don't think there's an obligation to shut up and sit down just because someone else has said something similar- individuals are being communicative regardless of the other side's willingness for the same or not.
They are only two people! But they're two adult people who happen to be game devs, and I'm sure can handle some questions and criticisms.

I am sorry to post any sort of critisism , but people have the right to ask where their money is going! I mean, really, I see no reason to tell people off for asking what you've been doing since May!

Warm regards,

To those complaining about M&A "being on vacation," it is actually a research trip for their projects, not for funsies.



**The Academia Belgica requires an application stating intended research purposes to reserve a residency. The site I've linked is in Italian by default and there is not an option for English, but Google Translate does a pretty good job changing it over to English.

Directly from their application page:


In other words, it's not a fancy hotel for vacation. It's a research institution and you have to be conducting some kind of legit studies to stay. And seeing as much of the Forest (the Ename Ruins, the halo/pictogram influenced by a saint's story, the idols and the soul conversion event, the holiday events that occur, and otherOne of Savery's paintings, entitled "De Drinkplaats" (The Watering Hole), served as the direct inspiration for this addition to the Forest. But the actual shape of the fountain was taken from a real life watering hole that we found in the garden of the museum surrounded by trees and shrubs. We immediately imagined deer gathering round peacefully and strange magic happening. canonThe Pond is a jewel in The Forest.
Partially inspired by the meaning of the name of the ancient city of Leuven (a swamp in the forest), where this new area will premiere as the backdrop for Abiogenesis, the Pond in the Endless Forest is a place of calm and rest.
...
Or what to think of the source of the water: the eternal sadness of an ancient idol?
...
An old bridge allows access to the other side of the stream, although for deer, jumping over it is far more convenient. Where are the people who built and used this bridge? Did it serve the monks when they went to mass in the cathedral? When did the humans disappear? Or did they not?
Forest lore) is influenced by the sort of things they'd also be researching for CitC, I'd be willing to go so far as to call it related to some degree and therefore beneficial to the Forest remake.

THAT SAID, I am disappointed by the nature of this response, but look forward to the update next month.

Wolfclaw, being 'well aware' of a substantial part of the community's concerns and continuing to ignore it is part of why people are getting louder and louder. If what you say is true and they're being quiet because of that, it's pretty 'counterproductive' to have been silent here.
Which seems to be the sole issue- it's not about the money, it's about the silence after the funds were given out. Which is really, really simple to avoid!

So I'm gonna hope you're wrong about that one because the idea of them stomping away and furthering the issue because of 'hurt feelings' bodes much worse than just plain not thinking to update us.

FOR ALL MY DOUBT, I HAVe more faith in them than thinking they'd do that.

To Wolfclaw - the passive aggressive comments aren't necessary man, nobody has said anything unreasonable and to be frank, they may not be aware of all the goings on elsewhere - I know Im not ajghj- and have every right to speak their mind regardless. I can't speak for anyone who mightve /actually/ been harassing he and Aureia, but this thread's been perfectly civil and i think every post and opinion is worthwhile, for some perspective.

As for how Michael addressed this, I find it horribly unprofessional and even a little juvenile, but I understand to a degree. That said I hope with a lil time and communication everything'll be resolved eue

I get Emails from their Kickstarter campaign for Cathedral in the Clouds. You can read the updates on its Kickstarter page as well, regardless of whether you're on the listserve. I've edited a link in for clarity, thanks for pointing that out!


Agreed. Part of why I brought it up.

Thank you for replying and apologising for the tone (:

It makes no odds to me personally whether or not you've been able to work on the forest during your residency, because what you're doing is absolutely of creative value and will impact your work on the forest and future projects positively without a doubt. It's okay to be honest about your lack of activity on the forest remake when you're busy taking advantage of that opportunity, the community are understanding when given the chance!

I'm glad to hear that work is continuing in December. Beyond that, I do highly suggest making an effort of keeping the updates going once a month on Indiegogo so the backers can get notified with updates rather than having to go looking for activity elsewhere. Even if it's to promote the separate funding page when there are similar times where you can't progress. Something is always better than nothing!

Thank you M!

Even small, we are a powerful and supportive community. Thank you for the message and the next update and you know, you can discuss with us <3 Your admin status is not a barrier.

Thanks for the response Micheal, we appriciate everything you do for us. (: