New post
So I guess the series is pretty much kaput at this point QUERY Right I don't think I'll get used to the autocorrects in this STOP
Reader
I'm a person of my word, so I will pick this back up when I have the time and money to invest in it. It does nobody any good to keep checking here, and since it's been asked about so much, I've put up a (quick and dirty) basic mailing list. Anyone still interested can be notified when the time comes, it's my responsibility, so allow me to offer this simple convenience. You can find it here.
EOI was always, and will likely continue to be, a massive time and money sink for me. With such a small following, it didn't make sense to keep at it when more important personal things came up in my life, distracting me from making content worthy of posting.
As you all know, I lived in Argentina with Cy for some time. We didn't have internet access for most of that period. I had a massive hard drive failure at some point, which was my fault and ruined the production pipeline. In one of the multiple beak-ins we had, Cy's laptop was stolen, so the original source code we had for some of the back-end and game engine is lost for good. I tried to piece my panel-production pipeline back together at the start of last month, but hit a wall. Cy and I have been working hard to get him a U.S. Visa, which would allow us to continue to be together and work together as a team in person. Meanwhile, I work 12-hour shifts as a Linux admin in the Chicago Loop. It pays well, and I'm good at it, but it's not fulfilling in any way. On the contrary, it leaves me mentally and emotionally exhausted at the end of each day, feeling less like myself every time I lay my head to rest. As a result, I haven't felt creative for a very long time.
It's in the best interest of this project that I don't jump back into the fray half-cocked, as forcing it prematurely will simply result in a spotty update schedule, continuity errors, and sub-par creative works with no soul. No updates is better than shitty updates, we all owe at least that much to ourselves. Go team phantasmagorians.
So, to anyone still remotely interested: please do leave your email address on the mailing list so I can reach out to you when that time comes.
Patagonia
Wow, it's been so long I had to look up the last journal post to refresh my memory. Sorry! Things were put on hold because I've been here in Argentina these past few months. Cy and I haven't had (and still don't have) internet in our place. I've been focusing on life here with him, learning Spanish, and teaching English. Argentina is wonderful, and so is the culture. It's very relaxing here.
But let's see, where we last left off, a CCDD for the Ranunculi was going to be posted and there was an open call for OC's. When Cy has some free time I'll work with him on getting those two portals set up. In the meantime, I've updated my catalog of telegrams (thanks for sending them in all this time, guys!) and I'll answer as many of them as possible.
so I know you have not updated in while but I just want to say I am still here and I check every night STOP thank you for making this amazing comic STOP
Reader
It does seem like the biggest holdup in this project is me, though. I did try having some assistants to help with panels in the past, but it didn't go over too well, which was a shame since I've always wanted this project to be a community-driven collaboration. I still think it's possible, EOI just needs to be big enough to become self-sustaining. What do you guys think? If you have any ideas, drop 'em in the telegram box. Oh, and about that--
Post scrip:
A long time ago I wanted to make a forum so we could all chat directly. Y'all been sending in encouraging telegrams this whole time (I'm looking at you, KillerKool!), but what do you guys think about a forum or something? The only place I can answer off-comic telegrams is here. Cy was never too keen on the idea of a forum since it needs to be moderated, but if anyone wants to step up, that could help convince him. If anyone's interested, drop your email in a telegram so I can reply directly, or contact me at mixmadmen at gmail dot com.
Ranunculi
Since Arc 1 is coming to a close now, I'd like to do something special to kick it off. So, it's about time we unveil our Ranunculi nemesis!
I'd like to host another of our Communal Character Development Documents to decide on who the Ranunculi archer really is. We have 5 of the 10 silhouettes left to introduce, so the next CCDD will be rolled out shortly.
Also, in the finale I'd like to have a number of extras shown, so I'm putting up an open call for Phantasmagorian OC's. If you have a Phantasmagorian character of your own, you'll be able to submit your content (be it text or image) via a new option that will be appearing on the telegrams page soon.
We'll be updating here to alert y'all as soon as the CCDD and OC submissions are open.
drafts stopgap
It's been a while, so I figure I should sum up all of what's been going on since I hate keeping everyone in the dark. I'll be posting my drafts in an unorthodox stopgap shortly and I do want to thank everyone for the telegrams that have been arriving in the interim. I really appreciate them and they make me crack a big smile every time. :)
So, looks like the last journal post was back in September. I lost my job shortly after writing that post. I was due to move at the end of that month, so things were kind of tight since I couldn't break the new lease. I got a few one-time gigs here and there doing automotive work, babysitting, and tech support, but not enough to make end's meet. I ended up living out of my car from the 15th of December until around the 24th when I left to Chicago. (Homelessness, a wonderful way to kick off my 25th birthday.)
Technically, I've been unemployed since September, so no health coverage and whatnot. It's surprisingly not very stressful at all. I've actually been relieved to be freed from the ball and chain that was my previous desk job, and can do so by living off of my savings. In fact, I'm taking advantage of this freedom by leaving all my things in Chicago with my folks. In March I'll be hopping a flight down to Argentina to live near Cy.
There's been a lot more going on than what's been outlined above, but I'll spare the details. Needless to say it's been "exciting" for me as-is, so I haven't really felt a need to immerse myself in the tales of Phantasmagoria until now.
Sincerely, your dearest stenoglpher,
MiX
Resuming
k so it has been a while STOP when are you going to start this up again QUERY
Reader
Hi, Killerkool.
I'm still here, still receiving (and reading) all the telegrams. I've been very exhausted from my job, which has left me feeling very uncreative. I do have about a dozen or so pages drafted up, but making the panels is like pulling teeth.
Yo, I took a look at the animatic STOP Do you know how much work it takes to do something that long QUERY I'm quite happy you have gone as far as you have STOP Breaks are a Nessecity STOP Best of luck STOP
Reader
This brings me to my next topic; a couple weeks ago I was discussing the hiatus with Cy, when we were both struck by an idea to shuffle the plot around without losing any of the progress or assets. Hence the drafted pages.
As a result, there's going to be a different kind of break in the story. I planned to have an animated short act as the bookend for the first Arc, but that takes way too long and just isn't appealing to me. It's somehting that the audience has little impact on and can't interact with directly. Instead, I'm going a more responsive route.
I'll be taking a survey to assess how high the prospective attendance may be, and depending on the results, it may be nearly-live, or it may even be 100% live. It depends on if there will be a strong enough attendance, and if there is enough suspension of disbelief to permit the participants to stay in-character. "Fan characters" would be highly encouraged as participants, actually.
Since my mentioning these things tends to jinx them, I didn't want to bring it up. I did intend to launch it on the anniversary which, as we saw, came and went without consequence. Incidentally, EOI was launched on Cy's birthday, so I spend the last few days with him instead. Sorry!
Oh, and Argentina was a blast.
Here, a souvenir for your wait:
