A Simple Request for Game Credits Spirals into an Epic Undertaking!
Imagine pouring your heart and soul into an indie game, only to feel like the end credits are a bit… underwhelming. That's precisely the predicament faced by a Japanese indie developer, Connected Shadow Games, while putting the finishing touches on their horror title, Twilight Moonflower. They wanted to make their game's conclusion feel more substantial, a sentiment many creators can relate to.
But here's where it gets controversial... In an effort to flesh out the credits, the developer turned to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) with a seemingly modest request. They asked their followers to submit their names for inclusion in a special section of the game's credits, anticipating perhaps a hundred or so responses. The developer's original post, translated from Japanese, stated: "Urgent Recruitment. Currently, I’m working on the ending for a game, but since it’s being made by just a few people, the content is overwhelmingly short. So, if you’re okay with having your name listed, please give this a like. Seriously, I’ll list everyone. Length-wise, I need about 100 more people."
The promise to list "everyone" who liked the post was, in hindsight, a bold move. What started as a casual call for a few hundred names quickly snowballed into an internet phenomenon in Japan. The tweet went viral, attracting an astonishing 60,000 likes! Instead of reneging on their word or capping the submissions, the developer decided to honor their commitment, a decision that would dramatically alter their development schedule.
And this is the part most people miss... The result? A game credits sequence that now stretches for an astonishing 30 minutes, featuring approximately 60,000 names! This monumental effort was recently shared by the developer on X, with an update stating: "Sorry to keep you waiting! The ending of the horror game, which received about 60,000 applications, is finally complete, so I’ll show you a part of it. By the way, if you watch it all without skipping, it’ll take a full 30 minutes."
Reflecting on the immense labor involved, the developer elaborated on the sheer dedication required. They explained that to give their self-made game even a small measure of recognition, they made the promise to credit every single person who liked the post. This led to the overwhelming influx of 60,000 potential names. Through what can only be described as sheer willpower and an incredible amount of dedication, the developer managed to meticulously add every single name, a task that consumed over 300 hours of their time.
It's a fascinating case study in the unpredictable nature of social media and the unexpected consequences of well-intentioned promises. While the developer's commitment is admirable, it raises an interesting question: Was this an act of unparalleled dedication to the community, or a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of over-promising on social media? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
