8/10: Undertale Dev Reflects On Unexpected Popularity

Undertale [official site] launched a year ago today, and creator Toby Fox thinks the same of it now as he did then: "It's about an 8/10, niche RPG game."

Fox hadn't expected - or wanted - it to become so popular, he's explained in a blog post marking the anniversary. Well! Cobbo straight-up said "You should play Undertale", our Wot I Think was glowing, Adam tried to persuade the hesitant, and... certain Internauts split into fanatically pro- and anti-Undertale factions. It's been a weird year for Fox, and his reflections on it all are an interesting read.

Here's a bit:

"At the height of its popularity, 'not liking the game' felt like a cardinal sin to many fans online. In reaction to these circumstances, others began actively hate the game, creating an endless whirlwind of discourse…

"Like a thunderclap to a small dog, all of this attention stressed me out. And every time it seemed to die down, something revived it, such as the GameFAQs contest, the award shows, bizarre theory videos, and so on. At times, I wished I had a way to quell the attention. I felt a strange powerlessness. (And guilt, for feeling stressed when the success of the game SHOULD be something I'm nothing but ecstatic about.)

"At the same time, countless wonderful things were happening. People told me the game helped them through a difficult part of their life. Others told me that the game had made them laugh, or cry, or say 'I want to be kinder.' Many young kids told me they wanted to create games or music because of it. And, on a personal level, because of its popularity, I have been able to help myself and many people in my life. (And, hopefully, in the future, I can help many other people because of it, too.)"

Bless.

Do give the whole thing a read.