(I wasn't sure where exactly to post this. I looked on the forums a bit trying to find the right category for it but in the end, I thought it would be better to just post this topic here since my opinion is based on my experiences with The Endless Forest.)

I want to take a moment to step out of my pelt and drop the role as 'Kumiko', a playful deer, and take a second to give a pat on the back to Auriea and Michaël- as well as the whole Endless Forest community. Why? Because based on the bit I've played the game, I feel that they're achieving their goal of creating "elegant and emotionally rich interactive entertainment" but I feel that they couldn't do it alone. At least not with Endless Forest.

Don't get me wrong, guys, I'm not saying that your other games aren't good or anything like that, but I feel that part of the reason why Endless Forest has such an emotional appeal to it is because of how the community has reacted to it.

When I first started playing Endless Forest over a month ago, I didn't really care too much about other deer. Sure, I didn't want to come off being a jerk, but at the same time, I really wasn't too concerned with trying to make people remember me. Then this community site went public and I was able to read the biographies that people were writing and people's thoughts, I started to care. People were beginning to define themselves as individuals other than has deer #whatever with 'this symbol'. They had names...They had families and relationships...They had personalities that I didn't notice before.

I know that Tale of Tales uses narratives to help create the emotion for their games, but with a game like Endless Forest, those narratives come from the community and I don't think I would be as into the Endless Forest as I am if it wasn't for this whole community being so into their roles as their deer. With every post and blog I read, rarely does it come from a 'person'; everyone just seems to automatically take on the role of their deer while they talk on here which creates a really unique feeling because it shows just how much people have grown to care about their deer.

I also really enjoy the amount of interaction Auriea and Michaël have with the community. I've seen them comment on here as well as the forums and having converstations with the community members which is something you don't see many developers doing, and it isn't all about business. It's not like they are constantly asking people how they feel about their games, but they are listening to the community as well as developing a personal level between the community and themselves as developers which makes everything feel more personal. I honestly can say I appreciate the game more based on their interactions with the community as well as the community's dedication to their games.

So again, Congrats to, Auriea and Michaël. You guys created a really special game here and congrats to the Endless Forest community for helping to enrich the experience. You both would be good separately but you're amazing together.