Hey everyone, I’m sure you all know what happened recently. I just wanted to share my side of the story and give context.

Even though this seems irrelevant now, I feel mentioning this gives context on why the game is in it’s current state now.

Awhile back in 2021, I asked Weshed to make a script for the next game for Jolly. As I was unsatisfied with how recent events transpired before that (redacted game, etc.), although what I didn’t realize at the time was that in order for me to pull this off, I need to balance alot of things in my personal life, academics etcetera.

The script came to be known as JOLLY: As Above So Below. While pre-development was going on, I decided to make a game page just to see how it would look like, theme and motif wise. This is a heavy motivator for me as knowing the overall feel of the game is a big chunk that will affect development. At the time, I was in close contact with Ultranite, who also wrote Jolly 2’s supporting book while it was being made. I showed him Weshek’s script and we three agreed to take this a step further, now them being included in the helm.

And then the game page got leaked. Confirming to the community that another game is indeed being worked on. While I didn’t know the impact of this at the time, talk about the game began spreading, pressuring our small group of three about its eventual public announcement.

At the time, Ultra was handling Fangames at Freddy’s which was I believe similar to Fangame Direct. He insisted that I make a quick teaser for Jolly 4 to be included in the stream. While I was hesitant at first given that I no longer have time in my hands and that this will be a huge undertaking, he offered to take charge as co-director ensuring things are in motion.

The teaser is now known as the Jolly 4 Teaser Trailer published on my YouTube page. Initially, the game is being made in Unreal to give justice to Weshek’s concept. The build was merely a walking simulator with the first environments pretty much done, until Ultra’s own set of events took place. Which only left me and Weshek as co-director.

With the people at the helm now only at two, we invited animators and modellers. I began cooking up a quick Clickteam prototype to make the game more feasible yet on a shrunken size, like how I’ve always done. It included a full set of AI and a demo on how the freeroam segments would work, yet we were uncertain as it’s not giving Weshek’s script any justice, as this would already be the 2nd time his script would be shrunk. Even though the game’s executable file already sits at a gigabyte, there’s still more to add yet no more room for Clickteam’s limits.

Coko suggested to me that the game be brought back to Unreal. I was unsure, as I know this would require more manpower, yet another option popped up. Unity can ensure that collaboration can be made, given its capabilities. And I was learning Unity at the time so I agreed.

Fast forward after, Hunter Allen got on board for the Unity build and I would occasionally hop on the team from time to time as I got busy with my studies. And for that I thank him for handling development. Things were going smoothly not until November of last year, where I had no knowledge of what was happening in the team.

I opened up Discord hoping to check up on development, suddenly Hunter left the team. Blue and Hunter then told me everything. I was not made aware that these ‘contracts’ were made, nor about the ‘VIP’ aspect of the Discord Fan server.  Weshek initiated in creating those ‘contracts’ just to ensure confidentiality stays within the team. Only if he consulted me earlier about those, I could have stopped him from doing so. And for that I take responsibility for my absences.

I understand where Blue was coming from. Fast forward to today, I just couldn’t put on the same smile I’ve been putting when I make these games. Things have gotten too out of hand and I’ve promised myself that if I were to make a game again, it would require my full undivided time and attention, which I just don’t have right now.

With that I thank everyone who’s been on the journey since the start. I’d like to thank Malrat and RookieReviews for their awesome modelling work. Mr. Nobo for his concept art that inspired these characters, which I wasn’t made aware of not only til the Ultranite situation. Blue for handling the rest of the work when Hunter took off, the original voice actors that agreed to be a part of this project, and for the rest of the team that hopped on the ride, you guys know who you are. 

I’m excited for Hunter to reveal what he was able to work on in the Unity build. And as well as for me to reveal what I had worked on in Clickteam. With that, I’m releasing the original Clickteam prototype made last year, which has the full Office gameplay that I had envisioned. Making this was challenging, yet satifying given how the team made their contributions, models, animations etc.

Please do not harass anyone mentioned. Lessons have been learned and any more badgering won’t help.

Thank you to everyone anticipating the game. But in light of recent events, I have no choice but to call it off for now.