Announcement: A Change of Plan

[@LixianTV]

You never disappoint. You made the right call. Excited for that devlog tomorrow :p

[@DanTheShadowYT]

Nice to see you here! :D

[@hypergamedev1381]

Best of luck. XD Scoping too large can bite you in the butt so hard. XD hehehe. Glad you downscalled.

[@m4rt_]

Hello Lixian.

[@ClickyJayJay]

love seeing big youtubers supporting the underdogs.

[@Danidev]

Glad you found something that worked out man, looking forward to the devlog :O

[@tatebinkey7935]

Greetings

[@gameballstudios2787]

Dannnniii

[@letoek]

Oh wow, my 2 fav dev blog youtubers in comment section.

[@BaconAndMinecraft]

muck

[@rebel6809]

I know you will reply me :Hello

[@PianoMan333]

Honestly I'm glad to hear this. It did indeed seem that you had a hard time with the city builder game, and in this video you sound so much happier. It's hard to stop with a project after working on it for such a long time (you may know about the sunk-cost fallacy), but this opens the way to many more possibilities. Can't wait for tomorrow's devlog and best of luck TM! :)

[@bigwhiteshogun]

To be fair, and I hope it doesn't sound rude, I'm here more for you than for the game you make. I just love your style of videos, and as an indie dev wannabe myself I often find them super inspiring and motivating. I mean it, so whatever you do I'll be here, and if change of the project means more dev logs and videos all together I couldn't be more happy to hear it. Good luck brother o7

[@soulfulfakealligator]

Yeah, me too.

[@nix3l_]

changing plans is always scary, putting down what youve been working on for a while in favor of something new and exciting, glad you gave it some thought before pulling the plug. Looking forward to the devlogs :)

[@k12moyo]

Completely understandable! As long as you are happy it’s all that matters

[@Jejkobbb]

This made me so excited! I think every game developer struggles with this, and its so nice to hear it from someone else. I'm SOO excited to see more devlogs. Notifications = on

[@mylescc]

This sounds like a great decision, even if it wasn't the easiest one to make at the start. Can't wait to see the new game!

[@SuperDutchrutter]

I’ve loved the city builder progress but it sounds like you’ve thought it through and you’ve got a good path forward! Looking forward to your next project updates 🙌

[@kylebanks]

Seems like a really pragmatic decision, can't wait to see the new project!

[@KjipGamer]

I am a simple man. I get a notification from thinmatrix, I click

[@StiekemeHenk]

I just want to see you create, no matter how far you get before making something new.

[@bennyquick9469]

Do what you need! We all love the content!

[@Blackthornprod]

Good for you Karl! I’m looking forward to following you on this new journey.

[@MicahTheManiac]

Hey, I totally understand what it is like to abandon a project you have been so passionate about. I have done it a few times. Keep it up!

[@its_meeeet]

The GOAT of Dev logs 🍻

[@paolocompagni9952]

Best of luck! It is great you've taken your time to rationalize your decision and start off simple. As an indie or solo game developer, things are REALLY tough! Not just on making the game, but managing your time, expenses, work hours and more! Please take care of your health and enjoy what you're doing, since that is all that matter right now.

[@FlorizDev]

My 7 months project also failed so i decided to make a new one! It was way more simple and players like it, just like your new game

[@skalibran]

Please note that none of us (probably) subscribed to see a city builder game. We subscribed for your relaxed dev blogs, the joy of little details, the way of finding solutions for difficult tasks. If any of this will change with the new project, then I'm sure it's for the better. Enjoy your new project. Starting with a blank canvas can be the greatest joy for programmers.

[@majicDave]

I’m sure you’ve made the right decision, it must feel so good to have something more manageable to work on again. A lot of the work on the new game will likely come in handy too if you decide to come back to the city builder when you feel ready. Great to see you happy and coding again!

[@Darkknight512]

Something that I learned over the years, progress is maximized when you have a project or task that is slightly more difficult then you are capable of, if the problem is too difficult then you stall very hard. Being capable of admitting (temporary) defeat is such an important skill.

[@RobBogdan]

Really excited about the garden game, Karl. Looking forward to the dev blog(s).

[@stefanonegrini4675]

sometimes have the strength to step back is harder then continuing an "hopeless" project..great respect!

[@evanrobison567]

Good call. Not always the easiest decision to make, but sometimes getting a fresh start on something new can be absolutely game-changing (pun intended).

[@nappin_zz]

Good look my guy, I'm sure it will turn out great!

[@dangreen681]

Please, please don't worry about disappointing anyone. This sounds like such a healthy, positive decision and it's so great that you've been able to take that step back and make the right call for you

[@barj]

This is super exciting!

[@DrHippo]

"Rather embarrassingly I've only ever relased one game"... Dude that is already a huge achievement, most devs just have dozens of dead projects gathering dust on their hard disks :P

[@BlackStarForge]

Your city builder devlogs inspired me to attempt my own project a year ago. So I am grateful even if you decide to never finish it. And of course congratulations to getting better.

[@BWDev]

So excited to see the new game! Definitely sounds like you made the right decision. Looking forward to more ThinMatrix videos this year 😁

[@slimxshady6111]

Doesn't sound like an easy decision, but I think it was the right one. Your happiness matters the most, because if your time is spent making something you don't enjoy anymore, what's the point of being an indie dev! I have followed you for years before Equillinox was released and you are insanely motivational and inspiring, don't ever forget that. I'm excited for tomorrow's video! Have a great night!

[@alextomsa8577]

I'm super excited to hear about the new project! As a fan of yours for around 4 years now, it makes me happy that you chose to do something that makes you happy. I'm also really excited to see more devlogs from you. You're honestly one of my favourite content creators right now and a huge inspiration. Do your best! :)

[@Joern290]

New plans!?! I’m so excited for this!

[@matthewsanford8981]

Absolutely no disappointment here. We’re here for you. Your games, your dev-logs, whatever it is. Your work is too great and your approach is too positive for us to be upset. We want you to follow your heart.

[@rmt3589]

I'm glad you made the city builder stuff that you have. It helps me. And I hope that I can learn from your farming devlogs too.

[@kipcrossing]

I just love watching your videos, no matter the project. The dev, the planning, the walks, the cooking; all of it. You actually inspired me to start making videos. Can't wait for this next chapter in your life.

[@magikworx3748]

Real maturity is knowing yourself including your weaknesses. Congrats on making the responsible decision. We enjoy the channel because we like to watch growth and enthusiasm with whatever you happen to enjoy crafting. Good luck with your recovery and continued happiness.

[@Cydeamon]

I hope you will return to this project some day, it looked really great

[@SpaghettiBrainX]

my favourite thing about dev youtube is that i can see so many devs in here hyping you up and i love it!!! we're all here to support you and i look forward to anything you put out :)

[@jamesbaconreid]

I love THIS!

[@mantyscape]

Thank you for this update TM. I have lots of respect for you being able to stop and think about your city builder after being years into the project and realize that maybe it isn't the best thing for you right now. As much as I've enjoyed the city builder series, I always felt as if the fire wasn't there when compared to the Equilinox series. I'm glad to see that your conclusion wasn't "maybe I just don't like game development anymore" and was actually "maybe I bit off more than I could chew." Regardless of what your plans are, I'm here to stay and I'll watch all of the progress along the way. Stay healthy and happy friend.

[@midgety111]

Love your videos. Keep up the awesome work and I can't wait to see the new game!

[@sleepnaught9273]

You made a wise decision! I'm pretty sure I'd watch the devlogs even if they just consisted of narrated cooking, scenery and dog footage, they are so calming. Good luck with everything :)

[@Nether-backup]

Equilinox was a breath of fresh air with an idea that felt unique, truly its own little niche that stood apart from other similar looking games, and that is why I spent so many hours playing it and eagerly anticipating new content. While the city builder game looked like it had its own unique flair, it reminded me a bit too much of similar big and small budget games I had played in the past, and so my interest for the game's development wasn't nearly as high as it was during the Equilinox days. I'm very glad you've found a new project that you actually enjoy working on, and even though the game's theme and core design isn't as interesting to me as Equilinox was, I definitely resonate more with the self-sustaining garden simulator idea and will be looking forward to future updates, good luck!

[@DBProds96]

Farming game sounds 100% better than the city builder already

[@SIMULATAN]

Glad you're enjoying yourself so much now! Already looking forward to the new vids!

[@eric-jt4ij]

After having followed your Equilinox and City builder game devolgs since the beginning, I was already expecting something happening about it since you didnt seem to be so happy with it as you were with Equilinox and seeing you so excited with your new project is so great! Hope your game development will go excellent from now on without any major complications! :)

[@noafro1991]

I don't know a single ounce of game development, yet I'm glad I found you more than a year ago. I love your videos and I've followed your development videos ever since. You're an inspiration dude. Keep going forward, whatever you are doing you clearly have the support of everyone here. I wish you good health, and a prosperous year ahead! :)

[@lizardbladez]

I found this video on the Steam Community tab, I had no idea what the face was behind this game! I really hope you stay this well and it keeps going up and up. Rather unrelated, but I adore your plants and design of your room, it kinda is inspiring me to finally start growing houseplants in my room :) again, hope all stays well.

[@MichiGombocz]

Hey, changing plans is always good thing if well considered! I loved following your your journey with the city builder but there is really not a reason that made your apology necessary. You made a sharp turn in your path and as its seems the right one! Back on track, can't wait for the next devlog, just keep the personality of your videos up as it is and don't stress yourself out! All the best from a long time viewer!

[@zixuan1630]

I understand a lot. Since I'm a beginner game developer, I used to have these huge visions that are just way too complicated for my level and I started on them but never finished and quit because it got pretty boring, so I finally decided to do something more down-to-earth style and get back on these later, and it's been going pretty good ever since. Best of luck on your new game!

[@finni1081]

Not disappointed at all! Sounds like the healthiest decision you coul've made, even though I can relate to the "I spent so much time on this project, I don't wanna quit NOW"-feeling. Looking forward to more videos!

[@naturalevo180]

I come here for the content, not the specific games. Very excited for new stuff!

[@Tenroh92]

Happy new year to you aswell! I was actually thinking about you like a week ago and rewatched all of your devlogs for Socuwan and Equilinox because of it. So it's needless to say that I'm quite excited for the new project. I also really enjoyed your videos on the city building game and it looked very promising. But I can understand that it's just too much work at once for a single person given that you were developing your own engine alongside the actual game and that you haven't had any experience with the development of city builders before. In my opinion you absolutely made the right decission. I think that the majority of your subscribers don't really care for the type of game you're developing. Most of us are here because we enjoy your content as it's actually quite entertaining and informative. That doesn't mean that I'd never buy a game of yours because I don't care for it - in fact I bought Equilinox shortly after release and really liked it - I'm just saying that I enjoy watching your devlogs no matter if you currently developing an mmo, an ecosystem simulation, a city builder or something more casual like your new project. Good luck with it! :)

[@TetriTek]

While I was excited to see more city builder, I think your wellbeing is much more important. I hope you're able to finish this new project in good spirits, and maybe when you're ready, take a new look at the city builder project. I loved playing Equilinox, and can't wait to play another one of your creations. Best of luck!

[@iHeartGameDev]

It must have been tough to put your city builder game on hold, but I’m happy to hear that this farming simulator has been exciting for you to work on though! And I’m honestly willing to bet that more videos from you is what this community wants anyway! Best of luck on this new journey!

[@OnlyTheVerse]

Literally do any game you want, just continue to make devlog videos! So happy you are back! These City Builder videos where great and educational anyway.

[@nikjoblogh]

Thanks a lot for all your Videos. It always makes me happy to see them. I'm struggeling with my mental health in the last year(s) and its just always so fun seeing you with your little cooking and gardening things and all that . . . . .. . . .. idk

[@EudoxiaMysteries]

Definitely the correct call. Looking forward to the new game!

[@jamesscott6146]

Don't worry I'm definitely not disappointed! I'm just happy you have your passion back. That's why I'm here. Not for any specific project. I hope we get to see more of this new project!

[@jd_bruce]

There's only a few devlogs I watch these days, and your City Builder series was one of them because it covered a lot of interesting programming concepts and your video style is quite nice. Even if you don't ever finish the City Builder game I hope you don't feel like it was pointless, at the very least it increased your programming skills and knowledge, along with educating and entertaining a lot of people at the same time.

[@goldone01]

It's always hard to give up on a project but it's also important to stay honest to yourself about what you can achieve. I enjoyed the city build series but I am also looking forward to the new devlogs! And thanks for remaining an inspiration for us indie gamedevs out there.

[@ThemildmanneredgamerBlogspot]

Glad to see you back and excited to be working on a project. It is very important to enjoy what you do, and you seem to have found your way back to that.

[@snooter28]

I can respect it! More complex games are worked on by teams for a reason that's for sure!

[@Malitor]

I definitely understand. I think what you've done with the City Builder is absolutely amazing. I think you should definitely be proud of what you did. I'm looking forward to more content from you.

[@LuukDomhof]

Good job on reflecting how you felt at the end of the year. I can understand if some people would be sad to see the city builder project go. I personally really liked it too! But I'm glad you're choosing to work on a project that you feel good about and think you can complete in a reasonable timeframe. Looking forward to the new game!

[@ArnarF]

Awesome, keep doing what you do

[@BDJones055]

Listening to your heart is the best thing you could do. I can't wait to see the new Dev log. You are my favorite Devlogger, but don't let that pressure you. I just enjoy the chill vibe. If you early access the core, we could definitely "help" bug hunt and also the cash flow would be good!

[@mario_actually]

That’s a good idea from how you talk about it alone. The reason your devlogs are so enjoyable is your great style, vibe and production value. Happy you’re feeling better. As someone who is now 2.5 years into a project and still loving it so much (wishlist Rogue Command on Steam! 😅) I know how valuable it can be to pick the right thing to work on.

[@балаж98]

I'm excited for the new game and glad to hear that you found something you enjoy more. And I think that your / our community would be happy to help with the city builder. Long projects can be overwhelming but whenever I got some help and got a feature implemented by someone else or a bug fixed that I struggeled with, it was always a big motivation. And also it helped me to concentrate on the core features while the rest was corrected / beautified / fixed / cleaned by friends and colleges. The only hardship with this for me was that I heated leaving bugs or ugly code behind my back.

[@Definitely_a_Fox]

As a person who makes small games in his spare time as a hobby, I personally believe this is the best decision you could've made. limiting scope is one of the biggest challenges when it comes to gamedev, especially as an indie, not to mention it takes a lot of strength to drop a project after years of progress. Lots of people can't make that decision and end up burning themselves way out! It's a bit of a shame that the city builder's being put on hold, but I can't wait to see what you have in store for us!

[@term164]

Your city builder game inspired me to build a similar project for my college computer graphics class and it was only then I realized how complex these kind of games get. I completely understand your decision to switch to a simpler and more manageable game. Can't wait to see more of your devlogs!

[@andrecorreia8568]

Sincerely, I'm here because you nailed it at making videos and because you are very organized. You transmit this calm and relaxed environment and watching your videos just releases all the stress, it is like therapy. I started watching during the city building game but ended up going back in time and watching random Equilinox videos as well. Have you ever thought of getting a team or just a partner to work with? You don't have to limit yourself to small games if you find people that share the same vibe so you keep enjoying it. For example, I would totally be up for it. :)

[@MumblyJuergens]

I'm just so happy that you sound so happy. Your old OpenGL videos were a life changer for me, and I look forward to seeing all your new devlogs.

[@AaronGwynaireGameDev]

Good luck with the new game! You really do have to keep the love and passion for a project a live :) I have been working on my game Neyyah for four years this July, and started full time development a year ago last Feb. there are times where it can be a bit overwhelming as it’s just me making a huge game, but for me it’s the world building aspect and seeing it come to life which fuels me.

[@lewistaylor3491]

You're a legend. I love your personality and the calming energy of your videos. I'm a British expat and listening to you makes me feel like I'm back home. It's great to hear that you are enjoying yourself. Keep going!

[@TriCombStudio]

This is a bit of a bittersweet as I got very excited about your city builder, but the new game sounds cool and I understand your motive. Honestly very excited to see where this goes because passion is what makes fun games. Amazing job man, and keep it up.

[@codehawkfalcon]

Fully supportive of you and this decision. I’ve been watching your videos since the very beginning of Equilinox and you are so nice to watch. I’d watch anything you make. I’m glad you’re feeling so much better and that you’re having fun again. ❤️

[@XxXKobalXxX]

You can create a video once a month, or once a year. We will ALL always support you! Every time I see a video of yours pop up on my page I always get excited and have never once said "It's about time." take your time, make what you want, and we will all be more than happy to watch you along your journey!

[@warrenhenning8064]

Super tough call to make but I think it's totally the right one and I'm blown away by the courage it takes to shift course publicly like this. You need to listen to what's going on in your head and your heart. Looking forward to the upcoming devlog!

[@jsd64]

I've been subscribed to you since circa 2014, I've loved every single one of your videos man. They're perfect and a great template for how to make a good devlog video. All I can say is keep doing what you love and eventually things will work out how you want them to! Looking forward to the release this year.

[@JonathanBuckland]

Not disappointed at all. Great to see you get excited about your new project and I can't wait to watch the new series.

[@IAM-zp1di]

I started programming 6 years ago. I started with javascript and html. Then i started with the basics of c++. Then I went for open gl. I wasnt experienced enough. I fent like it was imposibble. I didnt understand anything. I decided to take an step back. I learnt a library called SFML. I made some projects and games- even an ONLINE one. Now im back with open gl and I made a simple game! Taking an step back isnt bad. You can return when you feel motivated.

[@ross2905]

Thanks for a great update! Still loooove your office setup! All the plants are gorgeous

[@Solko]

You almost scared me there! Glad that you are fine and glad you find a way to make more videos. I have enjoyed the city builder, but even if you did not finish it, I like the process and that's enough to me. Looking forward :)

[@braedenmoore3023]

Every developer goes through the 'too ambitious' of a project. I have done the same thing so many times, but atleast you have experience and a release already under your belt! I absolutely love your art style of low poly and simplistic looking ui. Love to see your dev-logs, makes my day to see a new one, no matter how long the games take they are a pleasent surprise!

[@jojodi]

More important than any particular project you work on, your journey is the most powerful story you can tell. I appreciate hearing the thought process and what you believe is difficult, fun, challenging, etc. Great to hear you're going forward in a direction you feel good about -- Cheers!

[@IB0RjA131I]

I will watch your development videos no matter what project are for. For me the important part is seeing your progress in different parts related to gamedev and to keep the quality of the videos. So if right now changing the focus to other project is what makes you happy, the viewer will be happy too because maybe it translates to a higher video upload rate. Anyways I hope everything is doing well and looking forward to the next videos :)

[@soniccane1117]

Time really does fly. Been watching these videos since the Equilinox days. I’m a fulltime game developer now too, who is working toward his first release, and seeing your struggles are just as inspiring as your successes. Sounds like you made a good call here - good luck!

[@GamesBySaul]

Honestly , this sounds like a great idea. You will learn a lot by making a few smaller projects, and you can make any small prototypes you've had in your mind which is great! I also think, it's not embarrassing that you've "only released 1 game"...you've released a game, and on steam! That's amazing! As always looking forward to seeing more!

[@stakk4]

Bro, we totally support you in this. I enjoy the channel following your journey; not necessarily one particular project. The fact that situations change is something real for all of us. One of the things that I enjoy about your channel is you demonstrating a good balance between work, health, hobbies, and so forth. I certainly hope we still get to see your relaxation techniques and gardening skills as well as development. Good luck and all the best! I'll certainly keep watching with interest.

[@asherhaun]

Although I have been enjoying the city builder devlogs, I think the next game will be a fun change of pace. You are one of my main inspirations for game development, and I've been enjoying your content since equilinox.

[@ptitloup1239]

I am super excited for your new project! I love the iterative and simple aspect of it! And since its smaller, you will be able to implement so many great ideas with the game core being small!

[@Jamie_Gamedev]

Best of luck with the new game. Already looks amazing. More than anything it’s greta to hear your enthusiasm for it. Can’t wait to play it.

[@robotics_and_stuff]

The tutorials you made boosted your channel for sure. I have subscribed for that in the first place.

[@peculiarPaladin]

Super excited for the new project and all the new content! Making such a big change must have been a difficult decision but I’m happy you’ve made it. Hope January was representative of how productive 2022 might be for you! Cheers.

[@Atomic67G]

It takes a big person to self access and come to some difficult conclusions. It takes an even bigger person to act on those conclusions and change course. I applaud you and respect you. Looking forward to see more of what you have planned next!

[@liliyaversus4051]

Good job! Personally - happy you are still going strong after so many problems, and i i'm here for your inspiring devlogs anyway c: Wish you luck this hew year!

[@Qubaef]

You are a great inspiration for me and it is good to see that I am not the only one struggling sometimes. Hope to see your videos more frequently no matter the project

[@jc-aguilar]

If you are happy we are happy! I am sure I will enjoy the new gamedev videos. Looking forward to see them.