Save the Forest!

Michael Samyn's picture


Mudam is ending its support for The Endless Forest, after having hosted the game server for 7 years.

The Musée d'Art moderne Grand-Duc Jean in Luxembourg commissioned us to make a work of art for their online gallery in 2003. In response, we created the original prototype for The Endless Forest. In 2005 we were ready to launch the first iteration of the game and Mudam agreed to pay for the server required for allowing all players to interact with each other. Thanks to their support, The Endless Forest has been available for free until today.

Now, however, the museum has changed its policies and is no longer willing to sustain the cost.

Even though we haven't been updating The Endless Forest as much as we may have wanted to, and even though we can't promise any changes in the foreseeable future, we do want to continue to maintain the game in its current state and offer it to the public as a place of peace and harmony, free of charge. To do that, we will need to find a way to pay for the server.

The monthly cost of hosting the server is 165 Euros. This is not a lot of money. And we already have a voluntary subscription system in place. All we need is a few more people who are willing to commit to sending us a few Euros every month. And then we can continue as before.

Click "Read more" to see how you can help!

This is not just a question of finances. It is also a matter of principle. We believe that an artist and their audience can have a symbiotic relationship that does not require any interference from the outside. So in a way, we are taking this opportunity to prove a point. Please help us do so.

Select a subscription amount below to make an automatic monthly donation via Paypal.
(You can end the subscription any time that you wish.)

10 Euro/month: Subscribe
5 Euro/month: Subscribe
3 Euro/month: Subscribe
1 Euro/month: Subscribe
Flyleaf's picture

Yes ...it was awesome !!! I

Yes ...it was awesome !!! I have my Beautiful Blue Luchador Mask again after loosing it over a year ago !! Thank you so much to you M&A Exclaim
Avatar @ Sluggs Siggy @ Amazegenalo
Bouncing Fly by Mary13

That was so amazing! I'm so

That was so amazing! I'm so glad I got to go. Thank you, M & A. (:
Pegasicorn's picture

Thank you for an awesome

Thank you for an awesome performance!
GlobalBeauty's picture

Thank you for the Abio,

Thank you for the Abio, Michael and Aureia! That was absolutely wonderful. And thank you for the mask as well! I loved the music and the effects were more beautiful than I have ever seen before. <3

Siggies by Carry & Amazengalo
Sighthoundlady's picture

An amazing show! Finally got

An amazing show! Finally got to see so many of the things I never had like the different god pelts. So hilarious when the little girl and old woman showed up as well. And the music! So fun, enjoyed it all. Thanks so much again for the magical experience. So funny a God casted a skull mask on her, then she was turned into a squirrel, then had the yellow luchador mask, THEN the green!
Xemi's picture

Yes, that was extremely fun!

Yes, that was extremely fun! Thank you both so much. <3
Skitties's picture

Thank you for such a

Thank you for such a wonderful time!

Signature by Roo ♥
Aivilo's picture

I had to leave before it was

I had to leave before it was finished, but the half hour I got to see was wonderful, even though I had to watch from the abio cam because my computer was being too finicky to move and I was trying to get ready to go at the same time <3
Thank you, M&A!
onyxsoulclaw's picture

What about hospitals?? Im

What about hospitals??

Im thinking childrens ward.
I'm thinking that when your in hospital you have to pay for the TV and stuff (well in the UK you do.) Now many childlren are in hospitals and are ment to relax. They can have DS's and what nots but theses often raise the blood pressure. (Violent games and beating mario bosses)

So I'm thinking what if a special picto was made for a Hospital and that they had a couple of accounts. Now children could go online for say 10 mins and play the game for a small charge giving say a 60/40 split of the monies.to the hospital and to T of T.

If it was a special picto others would be able to reconsie it and be extra friendly remembering that they might be making someone whos not well feel that little bit better.

The game is not only art but very relaxing. and just what children in hospitals need. Also parants could watch and learn about it even use it to talk to the child eg " did you see the little squirrel then" oh look everyones dancing can you dance to?

Any feed back on this idea welcome as always..
GlobalBeauty's picture

@ Onyx See the issue with

@ Onyx

See the issue with that is how others play the game that don't know about the community/wouldn't know about the picto. And I really do wonder what hospitals would be willing to work with such an idea, seeing as it would mean them giving away some of their money to Tale-of-Tales for something that is not exclusively theirs to use for the kids. Also, any form of game (Whether violent or not) is liable to raise a person's BP just from getting excited over the game.

It sounds really nice and charitable, but I don't think that idea is very viable.
Siggies by Carry & Amazengalo
onyxsoulclaw's picture

I thought as m&a have

I thought as m&a have everyones email they could send out a 2 line standard email to all players. I was thinking that since alot of hospitals have a pc or two for the kids to do work and stuff on it could offer them a welcome break. which both hosital and tot could benifit from funds wise. I was thinking that if the game was used by a hosiptal it would be like a commerical lisence and pay a little to tot for using it. Like a Royalty.

Like when you buy a dvd your not ment to take it to a club and play it to everyone. its for home/private use only. Im not sure what tots policy is though.

Sometimes when a childs down, just got back from kemo or a painful procidure, just watching gentle colours can help them relax. releasing good endorthin thingys.

But if you dont think it would work thats cool. I shall keep thinking.

Random question but will Abio

Random question but will Abio be private from now on?
Michael Samyn's picture

We don't want to start

We don't want to start charging for The Endless Forest in any way. Then it would become a very different project. And it wasn't designed for that. Donation and/or our own resources need to keep it alive and free for all.

We have implemented the private ABIOGENESIS system as a solution to the problem that when many people attend a festival, everybdy's computer behaves very slow and erratic. The game's engine was only designed to show a maximum of 50 players on screen at any given moment. We still do spontaneous mini-festivals once in a while. But I'm afraid that the official, announced ABIOGENESIS events will all be private as of now. But hopefully we will find a way to let each of you attend at least one.
onyxsoulclaw's picture

Hi, so Sorry if I caused an

Hi, so Sorry if I caused an offence with my last comment. I understand that you want the forest to be free for all. I was just looking for anything that might help.

May I please ask due to the financial constrants the forest is facing, will you be able to o ahead with any chnages, addons or upgrades you may have had planned?
It would be a major shame to see sush breathtaking work to be stuck from advancing. Your imaginations seem boundless and the prodject you have created are always breathtaking too.

Kind regards Me

Haha, I'm so excited. My

Haha, I'm so excited. My parents finally agreed to let me access their paypal; and as long as I give them the money up-front, I can use it fwewg87w3uiwg.

As soon as I get back expect a monthly donation at the highest price my parents will let me do~
Soo glad that I won't feel guilty anymore either; I use tef so often and therefore I felt bad that I couldn't contribute.

But now I can. Yay! ♥

Really happy to see the

Really happy to see the Community stepping up like this! Once summer is here I'm going to be opening up some commissions/raffles to help since I can't pay directly myself. Really makes my day to hear we'll be able to keep the server! c':
0507Sweetypie's picture

My TEF game has been very,

My TEF game has been very, vey slow lately. I dont know why, cause before that, it was very fast for a while.
GlobalBeauty's picture

Sweetypie: That may have

Sweetypie: That may have something to do with your internet connection, how many programs you are running alongside the game, and with how many deer are logged in at a time.
Siggies by Carry & Amazengalo
SaritaWolf's picture

I am RARELY, if ever, playing

I am RARELY, if ever, playing this beautiful game due to my schedule... but I love it so much and it's affected me in so many ways I'll donate anyway. I only have USD though... can I convert it?
Kaoori's picture

if you have paypal, it will

if you have paypal, it will convert it for you. And to get an estimated guess before you donate, google has a free converter too, just look it up. Smiling

Paypal automatically converts

Paypal automatically converts the money, so you don't have to worry about it. (:
Undone's picture

Aww! I wish I could help!

Aww! I wish I could help! Like countless other people I am to young but I would donate if I could!
Meet me in the Blue Bowl at midnight. Only there can we be happy...
Wotsits's picture

I just wanted to thank all

I just wanted to thank all those who were able to and kind enough to donate and keep our forest going ♥ :')

I'm also too young to subscribe and my parents won't let me.


Finally set up a Paypal and

Finally set up a Paypal and did it!
I tried so hard to let my mom do the 10 euro a month but she wouldn't agree to 13 USD a month. ;w;
I did the next best though, 5 euro a month! So proud and happy, haha.

Finally feel like I'm doing something for TEF. ♥
beeeepa's picture

Is there any way I could

Is there any way I could subscribe to send euros even though I live in the US?
quadraptor's picture

Yes you can Piie, Paypal

Yes you can Piie, Paypal converts currency automatically. I live in the US and have subscribed Eye

I, for one, would love to

I, for one, would love to know where the current overall payment stands now. ♥
parrotsnpineapple's picture

I would love to know how much

I would love to know how much it stands with just the subscribers, as opposed to the subscribers and one time donations. So we know if our efforts will be able to last each month.
Kaoori's picture

Yes, so we know if we have

Yes, so we know if we have anything we need to work harder to.

Unfortunately my mom won't

Unfortunately my mom won't let me; but when I get my b-day/X-mas money I will help out as much as I can!

I have a question for those

I have a question for those of you who have done commissions to help support TEF.
What do you consider 'proof of donation'; is there a screen shot in specific that you ask for?
Kaoori's picture

Tera; A lot of people will

Tera;
A lot of people will ask for a screenshot of the email or paypal screen, and a lot of people black out their last name and such. Something like that. Some people will forward the confirmation email right to the person who's doing the commission.

Thanks Kaoori, I can finally

Thanks Kaoori, I can finally start taking commissions now! :'D
talia234's picture

I wish could donate but im

I wish could donate but im too young
[url=http://magistream.com/creature/3302276][img]http://mag
cookieluv246's picture

I'm going to donate for now

I'm going to donate for now every month rather then subscription, because my paypal is saying I can't because I have a student account.

But I've had auto things before is the only thing. I'm not sure you guys go on this, but for instance with GaiaOnline I have Autocash set up, and it acts just like a subscription, so I don't get why I can't with this? Maybe you should set up another method as well, (I think they use UltimatePay?) It still can work through paypal, but I dunno, it almost seems to be able to override it. Maybe you guys could try that? Cause I would love love LOVE to give more of a "foundation" setup and security for the site then just every month donation, since you basically have to trust my word rather then my bank.
onyxsoulclaw's picture

Just donated the months total

Just donated the months total clicks It came to £1.50 so well done everyone.
onyxsoulclaw's picture

Just donated the months total

Just donated the months total clicks It came to £1.50 so well done everyone.
Gustiro's picture

I am rather disappointed it

I am rather disappointed it is happening now while I have no money to spare. I had surgery not long ago which leaves me unable to work. I am currently getting help from my folks financially. If I wasn't getting help myself I'd have given a little anyway but I rather not heap up more guilt on myself...
When I start getting steady income again I will gladly donate what I can monthly. Until then hopefully TEF can get enough support to keep the servers up. TEF is too amazing of a game and community to loose. If any place deserves a donation it's this place.

Ghaaa! I reeeeally wanted

Ghaaa! I reeeeally wanted donate, but... no money T_T
Nastusha's picture

It's such a shame that the

It's such a shame that the Musée d'Art moderne Grand-Duc Jean has decided to cease their support for The Endless Forest. I'm afraid that I am unable to subscribe because I fall short on age for a Paypal account and at the moment my family cannot donate. I may be a new member (just joined a few minutes ago), but I want this wonderful forest to stay alive and will work hard to make room for some monthly donations if I can. To those who have donated, thank you. Your support means a lot to everyone on this community and because of how caring and willing you are we will be able to experience this site and forest even if we can't help out when it comes to money.
Michael Samyn's picture

Thank you all! We now have a

Thank you all!
We now have a total of 149 Euro coming in monthly through subscriptions. With the addition of the one time donations, we will be able to maintain the server without any interference from outside. Congratulations everyone!
Kaoori's picture

That is so wonderful to hear.

That is so wonderful to hear. Made me smile. ^^ Awesome!

We did it everyone! Keep up the good work! ♥
LittleNo's picture

Thankyou to everyone who has

Thankyou to everyone who has helped with donations!
Sighthoundlady's picture

Wonderful news! Happy to

Wonderful news! Happy to hear it.

That's exellent! I'm so happy

That's exellent! I'm so happy and grateful to everyone who donated. <3

That's fantastic! I'm still

That's fantastic!

I'm still gonna get my paypal up running so I can donate, though... As promised. Smiling
Xemi's picture

I gotta admit, when I first

I gotta admit, when I first heard our little comm would have to cover the server, I didn't think we were going to be able to do it. To hear otherwise is wonderful news. It's great to know that this place will be able to stay alive, it just wouldn't be the same without the forest around. <3
Keepiru's picture

\0/

\0/

That's good to hear. I know

That's good to hear. I know mine's still working, since the bank told me about it while I was there the other day. For some reason, when I first subscribed, it stopped after the first withdrawal for whatever reason. Either way, so long as this can keep going, I'm glad.
Anjali's picture

Such good news! &hearts; I'll

Such good news! ♥
I'll try to keep donating when I can.