Sally Face – My Journey as a Solo Game Developer

Once the dream of becoming a game developer formed in my head, I didn’t let go until I attained it. This is the road that led to Sally Face It was challenging and long, but it transformed my life. Here is my personal journey to where I am now.

Inspirations and the Origin

My favorite things growing up were metal, video games and the cartoons of 90s. I was influenced by these things as an artist. Drawing was something I did from a very young age. My interest in storytelling and characters led me to draw. At 16 I began learning guitar. Another important aspect of my life was living in a haunted home. Plagued with horrible night terrors and strange encounters throughout my youth, I’ve always found myself drawn to darker subjects and the paranormal.

I didn’t really know what to do with all these interests of mine and it wasn’t until after high school that game development came up as an option. It was almost an immediate spark – making games was perfect for me. It involved everything I love: storytelling, art, music, creativity, interactive worlds…

In 2007, I was in my college years and had an unusual dream which inspired me to create a sketch. The inspiration for this drawing is Sally Face. I quickly had several rough sketches and ideas of a cartoon that would surround this character. It was my first attempt to animate it with friends. The idea remained in my mind for many years.

Wither Studios was my indie company that I founded after college. We created projects after hours and worked in our spare time. After releasing the first game, and struggling to make money for a couple of years, the team was hit with a tough time. The argument caused two members of the team to quit. With uncertain fate in my mind, I started my own business. I already had sufficient experience and was in desperate need of a creative outlet.

The concept of “forever” was introduced in 2015. Sally FaceThe idea came back to me, and I decided it could work as an adventure game rather than a cartoon. Keeping the gameplay simple was also important because I’m not a programmer. Because of that, I had to learn new tools. That was my first solo venture as Portable Moose.

Sally Face, Episode one: Strange NeighborsIt was nearly over, but it would take me the rest of my life to recover. I lost my job as a secretary and was unable to find work. After that, a split with my ex-wife led to me moving back and forth between homes and finally divorce. It was traumatic to learn that a loved one had made numerous suicide attempts in the middle of all this. I fell into a deep depression and couldn’t leave my apartment or even get out of bed. For a few months, production was halted on the game. But, I did eventually get back to the game and it helped me out of this dark place. I found something that gave me purpose. I found something positive.

Realizing your Dream

As I made them, I first released the game episodically for PC. Episode 1In 2016, it was launched and enjoyed by many. It was earning enough income that I could work full time. Sally Face The cult gained a strong following, and it continues to grow. After the release of the fifth and final episode, I got back to work on the console port. For the port, I hired outside help. This was besides the translations. It’s the first time that other people had worked on this game. My role was to create the story and design. I also created the characters, art, music, and artwork. It was a rewarding experience, as my fan base increased and their admiration grew for me.

Fight the Darkness

Explore the unorthodox mysteries of today. Sally Face S!|S!

Sally Face

The Portable Moose

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A DARK MYSTERY IS UNFOLDING…
Follow a boy wearing a prosthetic facial as he speaks with the dead to learn their stories. Sal, his friends and a few other people discover that something is really sinister in their town.