So pro bono is essentially working for free. This and other terms like it are usually synonymous with indie game development. Often times there is never enough time, money, or resource available to keep a project above water. People often shy away from working for free. If it's not going to turn a profit, what's the point right? Well, I would agree with you if you were disconnected with the project at hand. Why spend sleepless nights, tireless hours, and energy on something you don't love? That's madness. I am currently unemployed, a college graduate, going to school, trying to find a way out of my parent's house, and in my part time, working on "Ataxia." I don't get paid to organize, plan, write, and direct all the components of this project. You know what? That doesn't bother me one bit. Sure, I may not be a parent, but I do manage my own responsibilities. I am not being spoon fed anything, I refuse to be babied. If I end up on the street tomorrow, that's my own problem. I'm not the people's champion, I'm just another college statistic . I don't know what I will do, but I know I love game design. I love my team, and I loved working on this. Everyday of my life goes into this. There is not a moment where I am not thinking about this game; What it needs to be great, how much better can it be, and what I can do to make sure this thing has the polish and presentation needed to perform well.
The above is all fine and dandy, but what is this really about? Well, it's about the interim. It's about the struggles of the in between as I try to get this thing off the ground. I've come in contact with some rather peculiar life situations. I've been cheated out of the little money I have. I've had ideas stolen only to turn around and be used elsewhere, it's been pretty chaotic. I don't like to complain about my life situations but it doesn't mean I don't have them. I've had to make hard sacrifices, deal with emotional distress, financial struggles, self doubt, whatever you can think of, but I cannot let those things stop me. I have an obligation to my team and myself to make sure this game and the many to come after that are a success. I cannot guarantee it, but I will damn sure work toward it.
tl:dr
I do my very best to present myself as a professional and someone who accountable. I hope those of you following this game will hold me to it. I gave my word that this kickstarter would come out in June and I plan to stick to it.
- Devon Nicholson
