Eternal Eden Series

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Category: Stories

  • Longlegs trending soon, thanks to a movie.

    Longlegs trending soon, thanks to a movie.

    The following blog post carries the personal thoughts of Elder Prince, founder of Blossomsoft Games.

    Funny enough, the keyword ‘Longlegs’ might start trending soon. It’s a nice coincidence with my pen name, M. Daddy Longlegs, for my horror collection.

    Looks like this movie might be the next cult classic. It’s directed by Osgood Perkins, the son of the actor who played Norman Bates in the 1960 Psycho. I can’t wait to see it, but being an indie movie, it might be hard to find it playing at a theater near me. The movie features Nicolas Cage, who’s got a knack for playing all sorts of roles.

    When the year began, I switched my pen name to M. Daddy Longlegs and reserved Elder Prince for lighter themes, aiming to boost my dark-themed releases.

    “Dechentreiter Thing” has been getting fantastic reviews. I haven’t promoted my other works yet since I want to revise them one last time, but they’re available for those interested.

    I’m looking to add more to my collection this year. My latest published work is ‘Ra’s Can of Worms.’ Despite the coarse language, it leans more toward enigma than horror, which should appeal to mystery fans.

    Similar to ‘Dechentreiter Thing,’ ‘Ra’s Can of Worms’ was penned during my teenage years in the ’90s and has been updated to fit modern times. So far, ‘YogDeli’ is the only story I’ve cooked up in my forties, inspired by my food delivery gig.

  • Before Gomorrah: Chapter three

    Before Gomorrah: Chapter three

    Here’s a sneak peek of Eternal Eden: Before Gomorrah. Keep in mind, it’s still a work in progress, so the wording might change a bit in the final version.

    This story includes specific dialects and regional speech from older times, especially in informal or colloquial speech. It’s linked to different English dialects, like those found in the American Old West. This should give dialogue and narration in stories set in that era a unique flavor, adding to the distinctive style of Old West literature.

    But if you all aren’t feeling the style, I can switch back to something more casual.

    Earlier that morning, in the county of Ecclesiah.

    Ojedah glided through the air with ethereal grace, defying the earthly laws of motion, the farmers toiling in the vast imperial crop fields remained oblivious to her presence. Bathed in the warm, golden light of the sun, the fields exuded a serene aura, permeated by the sweet fragrance of blossoming flora and ripe fruits. These fruits, imbued with a divine radiance, emitted a gentle glow that seemed to hum with celestial melody, captivating all who beheld them. With each pluck, a gentle warmth suffused from fingertips to hearts, infusing the harvest with a magical allure.

    Meanwhile, young’uns frolicked at the field’s edge, their laughter mingling with nature’s melody. Their merry game halted as the translucent serpent, adorned in vivid, vibrant hues, glided freely through the heavens, leaving a trail of stardust that tickled their cheeks.

    “It’s a Rishi! Look, a Rishi!” they cried out in delight.

    However, Ojedah’s path led her westward, where the scarecrows stood in disarray amidst the crop fields. There, young Josefine practiced her marksmanship under the stern gaze of her elder sister, Elvira.

    “Come on, Slesh, concentrate,” Elvira scolded, her voice firm. “You’ve missed every blasted target.”

    “I’ll never be as good as you,” Josefine sighed, her confidence faltering. “Look at those crows, they’re just sittin’ there, mockin’ me, knowin’ I’ll miss.”

    “Just keep at it,” Elvira urged.

    “Can’t I just be a regular princess, like all the others my age? I should be playin’ with dolls, learnin’ ballet, not messin’ with grimy revolvers.”

    “Don’t bring that up again, Josie. You don’t want me in a foul mood today. Our lineage is ancient history. We have a new path now. Give it another go.”

    Josefine tried to concentrate. This time, she was sure the scarecrow’s head was dead center in her sights. She squeezed the trigger of her revolver, but all that came out were a few timid clicks.

    “Are you doin’ this on purpose to test my patience?” Elvira asked, her sigh tinged with frustration. “Did you forget somethin’ important?”

    Josefine pondered for a moment. Then, realization dawned on her, though she hesitated. “The bullets?”

    Elvira looked at her younger sister with exasperation. Josefine knew Elvira wanted her to step up and apply their lessons. She raised her revolver and flipped open the cylinder. This was where the bullets went, right? Nervously, she took a bullet from her belt and slid it into the chamber of the revolver, nice and easy. Wouldn’t want one of these bullets to blow up and take a few fingers with it—definitely not something she’d want, uh?

    “Quick now, top ‘er off,” Elvira urged impatiently. “You’d be six feet under facin’ real foes.”

    The girl hurried to finish, then closed the cylinder with a solid click, the weight of the fully loaded revolver settling in her hand.

    “Now,” Elvira instructed in a steadier tone. “Hold it firm but easy. Let it be like an extension of your hand. Always respect your piece. It ain’t a plaything.”

    “Got it,” the girl murmured, her fingers trembling a mite.

    All of a sudden, Ojedah appeared, taking the form of a young blonde girl with curls and a fine robe, its hood hanging down like some royal garb.

    Startled, Josefine reacted quick, squeezing off shots from her revolver ’til the cylinder clicked empty.

    “What in tarnation are you doin’?” Elvira exclaimed, trying to stop her sister’s rash shooting.

    “I’m a friend, not a fiend,” Ojedah assured, giggling softly.

    “Oops,” Josefine’s cheeks reddened with embarrassment. “My bad.”

    “Don’t fret, ordinary stuff can’t harm me,” Ojedah replied calmly.

    “Well, at least my stubborn sister hit the mark this time,” Elvira said with a wry smile. “Why’d you come ’round, Ojedah?”

    (to be continued)

    If you’d like to receive chapters as soon as they’re available, be sure to subscribe to the mailing list.

  • Before Gomorrah: Chapter two

    Before Gomorrah: Chapter two

    Here’s a sneak peek of Eternal Eden: Before Gomorrah. Keep in mind, it’s still a work in progress, so the wording might change a bit in the final version.

    This story includes specific dialects and regional speech from older times, especially in informal or colloquial speech. It’s linked to different English dialects, like those found in the American Old West. This should give dialogue and narration in stories set in that era a unique flavor, adding to the distinctive style of Old West literature.

    But if you all aren’t feeling the style, I can switch back to something more casual.

    Rufford Wadlow, his face obscured by the brim of his coal-black hat, hawked a loogie from the lookout post onto the parched, red earth beyond the fort walls. The thick, sickly, yellowish phlegm sizzled like a frying egg in the blazing sun. He smirked, spying the sheriff and her pack o’ gunslingers approaching on their steeds. They were closing in on the lass holed up in the shack.

    “Load up, boys!” Wadlow growled, his voice gravelly from years of barking orders and swallowing trail dust. “They ain’t far off. About a mile out and closing fast!”

    Within the stockaded hideout, a band of outlaws bustled with a fevered, determined gait.

    “Think we can hold ’em off, Ruff?” questioned one of his crew. “Word is their sheriff’s a woman, but rumors say she ain’t no pushover.”

    Wadlow chuckled low. “Women gunfighters these days, eh? Think they can bring down a notorious outlaw like me?”

    Sure, he’d caught wind of Sheriff Elvira too, but her skirmishes were with small-fry bandits, nothin’ like his league. Maybe she’d broken up a few hold-ups, cuffed a drunk or two in saloons. But she weren’t fit to step into Marshall Trusdale’s boots—the man he’d faced down and put six feet under himself.

    “Should we open fire once they’re in range?”

    “Nah,” Wadlow muttered with a sneer. “Let’s see if these fools can dance with my critters first.”

    He hocked another glob onto the blistering surface of the hard-packed sand. The thick wad sizzled and wriggled, turning opaque under the relentless sun.

    The hoofbeats crescendoed, and the glint of the star-shaped badge on the sheriff’s chest, glimmering through the dusty haze, gave him pause. She weren’t just any law dog; she bore the mark of the Majestic One. That meant he had to tread with care. But Wadlow had his own trick tucked away, a blessing from the Cho’Sek (the Shadows), and it was all part of his snare.

    He spat again into the dirt and checked the loading mechanism of his rifle. “We’ll give ’em hell. They won’t know what hit ’em.”

    The sheriff and her posse reined up at the gate. Flanking it were poles topped not with mere bovine skulls, but with the dried remains of men, stark reminders of the Chuckwalla Gang’s merciless ways. Yet something nettled him further. At the sheriff’s side stood two young ‘uns: a freckled, fiery-haired lass and a curly-haired blonde, hooded like she belonged in some fairy tale. It rankled him. First, they sent a woman sheriff to face him, an affront in itself. Then, to add insult to injury, they brought along children. Did they reckon Chuckwalla Fort a playpen? Still, for now, he aimed to greet them civil, to drop their guard a mite.

    “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, missy?” Wadlow drawled, tipping his black hat towards his chest in a mock-polite gesture.

    “Don’t try to charm me,” Elvira retorted. “We both know this isn’t a social call.”

    “A spirited gal,” Wadlow remarked, resettling his hat atop his head. “I admire your gumption already. Better than that last fancy-pants marshal I laid low. North Star Federation, huh? Must make me quite the prize.”

    “Don’t get cocky,” Elvira shot back. “Your demise is worth a pittance, just enough for a drink. But bringing your prisoner back safe fetches me 5,000 pesos.”

    “That ain’t gonna happen,” Wadlow chuckled. “The lass’ takin’ a long nap.”

    “How long’s she been asleep?” inquired the hooded girl, her voice tinged with worry.

    Her features stayed concealed, hidden beneath the shadowed veil of the hood, her eyes cast downward, lending an enigmatic aura to her already captivating presence. Curly locks of blonde spilled out from under the ivory hood, catching the sun’s fleeting glints with their golden hue.

    “I ain’t answerin’ to no child,” Wadlow snapped back, his tone bristling with indignation.

    “Answer her,” Elvira commanded, her voice unwavering. “How long?”

    “I don’t rightly know. Could be days, could be weeks. I ain’t been keepin’ track. We ain’t no darn nursemaids. We’re in the whiskey business, and that feller’s the reason we’re makin’ top-shelf spirits. So, ain’t nobody wakin’ her up, you hear?”

    To drive home his point, Wadlow raised his rifle and fired a shot near Elvira’s horse’s hooves. The steed startled, but the sheriff steadied it with calm expertise. The other gunslingers tensed, but Elvira, recognizing the warning shot, ordered them to hold their positions.

    “It’s your last warnin’ to turn tail and ride outta here, missy,” Wadlow growled, his voice rough and stern. “Best skedaddle back to where you came from, ya hear?”

    The hooded girl sighed heavily. “Don’t be foolish, mister. Your prisoner got Sagacythe poisoning. You know what’ll happen if she slips deeper into her slumber without a cleansing ritual, right?”

    “She’s our concern; we got our own doc.”

    The blonde girl peeked out from under her hood, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “A doctor? Only a Rishi can manage this.”

    Her eyes lit up with a pristine white brilliance that shimmered beneath her cloak, sending a chill through the men standing with Wadlow.

    “What?” Wadlow exclaimed. “You some kind of Rishi? No chance I’m lettin’ a Rishi near our honored guest to disrupt our plans. Well then, let the show commence.”

    Wadlow let out a sharp whistle through his fingers, signaling the start of the conflict, as thick black clouds filled the sky.

    Suddenly, a massive, yellow-tinted, shapeless creature oozed under the red-haired girl’s horse like a shifting puddle, ensnaring the animal’s legs with viscous slime.

    “What in tarnation is that!” cried the red-haired girl, her horse in a panic.

    The horse stumbled and fell, but the girl managed to scramble away from the sticky substance. The goo engulfed the horse, leaving nothing but a sticky residue behind.

    “Welcome to my critters’ feast,” Wadlow chuckled, spitting another glob onto the searing ground. “I can conjure ’em up all day long.”

    The spittle swiftly took form, shaping into a creature that lurched toward the red-haired girl. It towered over her, its form seeming to melt, oozing yellowish goo in all directions. One massive, bulging eye stared at her while a smaller, squinting one darted around. Instead of teeth, it had sharp proboscises protruding from its gaping maw.

    The red-haired girl quivered, aiming her revolver at the monstrous entity but frozen in fear.

    The sheriff shouted, “Remember our drills, Josie! Remember!”

    If you’d like to receive chapters as soon as they’re available, be sure to subscribe to the mailing list.

  • Before Gomorrah: Week 2 of June Update

    Before Gomorrah: Week 2 of June Update

    I’ve made some amazing progress on “Before Gomorrah”. This fantasy novella is turning out way better than I expected. Who knew a minor side story from Eternal Eden would spark such imagination?

    Josefine, Elvira and Reinade

    I found I had a lot more to say about Josefine and Elvira in a wild west setting. Reinade (she will probably be renamed Renade) and her dog, Turbo, have also taken on bigger roles compared to the original 2008 game.

    Even though many of you are familiar with the Ecclesiah events from Josefine’s perspective in the 2008 game, I’m striving to make this plot feel fresh and unpredictable to keeps you on your toes.

    Here, Elvira isn’t cast as a villain but as a heroine. But we’ll see her slow descent as the city of Ecclesiah becomes the Imprisoned City of Gomorrah.

    Release date?

    I can definitely release this book in a near future, but there’s a challenge. While I can draft the story from my car during food deliveries with DoorDash and UberEats, I need my PC for serious editing. Unfortunately, I’m not home as much as I’d like to be.

    Behind-the-scene

    Working on a cell phone is extremely limiting. Even simple tasks like copy-pasting are tedious on a touchscreen. Most apps, including the Google browser, lack a proper tab system, making it a pain to juggle multiple threads. Honestly, I can’t imagine a cell phone ever replacing a real PC. I wish smartphone developers had focused on truly ‘smart’ features, especially to accommodate professionals.

    You can learn more about “Before Gomorrah” by using this category link: ee-series/before-gomorrah.

    And of course, the best way to show your interest in this side project is to sign up for the following newsletter.

  • Before Gomorrah: chapter one

    Before Gomorrah: chapter one

    Here’s a sneak peek of Eternal Eden: Before Gomorrah. Keep in mind, it’s still a work in progress, so the wording might change a bit in the final version.

    -1-

    In the world of Eylyos, there once thrived a revered order of sages known as the Rishis. These mythical beings were bestowed with a sacred task by the Majestic One: to assist the farmers in nurturing the Great Crop, which spanned across the vast expanse of the land.

    Eating from the yields was strictly prohibited. The mighty fruits that emerged from the fields required purification during the annual Seventh Dove Feast before consumption. Disobedience carried the risk of severe drunkenness or even perishing in the Outer Darkness.

    Fortunately, the inhabitants were compliant. They were grateful to the North Star Federation for halting a prolonged war that had nearly devastated everything on the earth’s surface. Although peace was not absolute, the renegades no longer held sway after the Majestic One had appointed numerous Sheriffs to enforce the law.

    However, Vaghaat, a high-ranking Rishi well-versed in the mysteries of the Great Crop, conspired to overthrow the Majestic One.

    Our tale begins here, long before the fateful journey of Noah and his friends—the eventual vanquishers of the evil despot.

    If you’d like to receive chapters as soon as they’re available, be sure to subscribe to the mailing list.

  • Before Gomorrah, an upcoming Eternal Eden book

    Before Gomorrah, an upcoming Eternal Eden book

    Elder Prince, the creator of the 2008 video game Eternal Eden, is now channeling his talents into writing a novella. For those unfamiliar with literary terms, a novella is shorter than a novel, typically about half the length. It’s often more enjoyable to read due to its concise storytelling, minimizing unnecessary descriptions and getting straight to the point.

    Titled “Before Gomorrah,” the story unfolds in a fantasy wild west setting, featuring Josefine and Elvira as the main heroines. This adventure takes place long before the journeys of Noah, Downey, and Jean.

    The digital version of the book will be priced at $4.99 USD, with a potential print and audio version available at a different price. All funds raised will be allocated to game development.

    The release is anticipated for this summer.

    Don’t miss out on browsing the online store.

    Provisional Cover Artwork.
  • ebook dev: Notepad2e and ebook convertion.

    ebook dev: Notepad2e and ebook convertion.

    The following blog post carries the personal thoughts of Elder Prince, founder of Blossomsoft Games.

    These days, everything I write, including my ebook projects, is in Notepad2e. This special github fork is maintained by an online friend from Russia, who has done an amazing job adding features that make this version indispensable for me. Check out ProgerXP’s GitHub logs; the screenshots on his Github page clearly show how much smoother the workflow is with Notepad2e.

    Honorable mention.

    I also collaborated with ProgerXP to create my favorite tool, Stagsi, which is crucial for my projects. For instance, I use Stagsi to manage the versioning of my book covers as shown in this screenshot:

    Notepad2e, perfect for novel projects.

    For my novel projects, flat text files are the ideal writing tool. My master source is always a .txt file. Keeping things fast and simple is key. I use a bit of markdown, but I keep it extremely minimal and straightforward.

    One reason I love flat files is that they’re the easiest format to control programmatically when needed.

    Current obstacle.

    All popular eBook converters prefer a .doc file as the starting point, unfortunately.

    I don’t enjoy working with .doc or .odt formats; they feel awkward and bulky. I love when my files open instantly in a nanosecond, without waiting for a pointless UI to load every time I click on a document. Given that I need to open my files constantly to edit them, the .txt format is the best solution.

    Small workaround.

    I decided to develop a small C# WinForms tool that converts txt files to doc files, then allowing me to use existing converters like Calibre (or other online solutions from actual distributors) to transform them into epub, mobi, and pdf formats.

    I’m hoping this simple solution will do the trick in the long run, as I definitely don’t have extra time to develop a full engine for deploying ebooks to all formats. Calibre certainly lives up to its reputation, so all I need to do is generate a .doc file from a .txt file using customized coding instructions.

    In closing.

    Working on book projects is definitely easier and faster than working on game projects. There are still technical issues to overcome, but I believe once a solution is developed, it can be reused for all future writing projects.

  • Gearing Up for the bookstore

    Gearing Up for the bookstore

    The following blog post carries the personal thoughts of Elder Prince, founder of Blossomsoft Games.

    This week, I need to get three ebooks ready for their official release under the spooky pen name M. Daddy Longlegs:

    • Dechentreiter Thing
    • YogDeli
    • Ra’s Can of Worms

    Previously, Dechentreiter Thing and YogDeli were published under the Elder Prince pen name, but I never felt comfortable using such an elegant name for dark-themed stories. M. Daddy Longlegs feels like a better fit. Ra’s Can of Worms, on the other hand, has never been published before, so it will be a new story for you to enjoy.

    As of now, my tasks include re-reading them to catch any last-minute typos and converting them to various formats (epub, mobi, pdf, doc, txt). I’m working on automating this process to gain more experience for future releases. This part seems easy, but I find it quite time-consuming, especially since marketplaces have specific and sometimes strange conventions for accepting files.

    The Blossomsoft store is now split into two sections:

    • Blossomsoft Games
    • Blossomsoft Books

    This week, I need to polish the store section on the website. I might expand to other markets later, but for now, I want to ensure I can manage everything on my site.

    Lastly, I need to prepare an ad campaign for the bookstore.

    Overall, I want the store section to be ready by June.

  • eBook: Josefine’s Quest. 800 words so far.

    eBook: Josefine’s Quest. 800 words so far.

    The following blog post carries the personal thoughts of Elder Prince, founder of Blossomsoft Games.

    Kicking off the story wasn’t easy. The overall plot is clear in my mind, so I don’t think I’ll hit writer’s block. However, deciding on the starting point was tricky and took a few drafts. I decided to follow my gut, just like I did with Eternal Eden back in 2008, and so far, I’m really happy with the results.

    The official title of this book isn’t decided yet. It’s currently code named Josefine’s Quest.

    With a goal of 30,000 words (an epic novella), I’m about 3% of the way there. If I write 1,000 words a day, I could finish in about 30 days.

    With this writing project, I want to prove, at least to myself, that I can meet a deadline when financial constraints aren’t the main roadblock.

    The price of this story will be around $3.00—about $1 per 10,000 words. The goal? Raise funds with a beloved storyline so I can return to a full-time game development schedule.

    The story features plenty of character dialogues, which I’m sure is what fans of the game will look forward to in this eBook. I’m staying true to the style you loved.

    When we consider it, Josefine joined the heroes about 80% of the way through the game, and we didn’t learn much about her. This story will give her a richer backstory, detailing her evolution as a gunslinger. It will also introduce new twists involving:

    • The lore of the forbidden fruits.
    • Elvira’s rise as a villain.
    • The Rishi war.
    • And the fall of Ecclesia, leading to its transformation into the Imprisoned City of Gomorrah.
    The Daily Moogle explains Gomorrah in 1 minute

    Would you like to encourage me and show your interest in this story? If so, please subscribe to the newsletter.

    Stay tuned, as I plan to provide regular updates on this project. I don’t intend to stay completely silent during 2024, even though I still need to figure out how to return to game development.

  • Ebook: Unveiling a New Tale from Eternal Eden’s 2008 Edition

    Ebook: Unveiling a New Tale from Eternal Eden’s 2008 Edition

    The following blog post carries the personal thoughts of Elder Prince, founder of Blossomsoft Games.

    Here’s the latest: I’m knee-deep in writing a story inspired by the 2008 video game, Eternal Eden. I’m aiming for it to be one of the first fantasy eBooks up for grabs on the Blossomsoft Bookstore.

    This time, the story is veering away from Noah, Jean, and Downey’s escapades. Instead, I’m delving into Josefine’s backstory, painting a picture of her world before it all went haywire. Get ready for some new characters and plot twists to keep you on your toes.

    The premise of the story is rock solid!

    Most of the brainstorming went down during my food delivery shifts, while I idled in parking lots waiting for the next delivery. While this month’s financial strain persisted, still keeping me away from game dev, it drove me to delve deeper into my writing.

    As for length, I’m still on the fence. Could end up being a novella, clocking in at around 100 pages, or a shorter story, around 25 pages. Or maybe I’ll land somewhere in the middle.

    I’ll ensure it’s a breezy read, packed with dialogue to keep things lively and steer clear of long-winded descriptions.

    The book might feature illustrations done in a fairy tale style.

    Don’t forget, alongside this project, I’m also deep into crafting a larger writing series titled: Eternal Eden XI.

    For exclusive updates tailored to Eternal Eden and similar fantasy adventures, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter below.

    Just a heads up: for now, the odds of me returning to game dev are slim. I’m in the midst of a serious quandary. Nonetheless, any support you provide for my writing journey, whether it’s showing interest or making a purchase in due time, could turn the tide.

  • Dechentreiter Thing, 2024 vs 2014

    Dechentreiter Thing, 2024 vs 2014

    The following blog post carries the personal thoughts of Elder Prince, founder of Blossomsoft Games.

    Let’s take a sneak peek behind the scenes of Dechentreiter Thing. This story is divided into three letters, each written by a different persona. Here’s a glimpse into the intro paragraphs of the second letter, and don’t worry, no spoilers ahead.

    Old 2014 Edition excerpt:

    Dear Aunt,

    What a week from hell… My back is killing me. I think I need an MRI. Jesus Christ, I’ve spent eight days on the trot under the killing sun planting sods and sprinklers in different yards across the town. I was near dehydration despite drinking two bottles of water an hour, ‘cause they were lost in sweat after a couple minutes. How am I supposed to gain weight under such working conditions? I haven’t changed much since the last time you saw me, I remain your sweet twiggy scarecrow. It must be in my genes, there’s nothing I can do about it. I was, I am and I will always be skin and bones.

    I beg you again: do not lecture me about how money can’t buy happiness in your next email like you did in all the other ones, ‘cause I don’t buy this all-sunshine-and-rainbows shit anymore. Some days ago I tried to get a pay raise from my boss. Shh! Other than fifty more cents per hour, zilch. Cheapskate bastard… It felt like the professional equivalent of a good, hard kick in the teeth. What did I do in another life to deserve this crap? I guess I’m fated to suffer bad luck my whole life. Do you really need proof?

    After spending decades searching for my biological family, filling endless stacks of papers, I was finally pointed in the right direction by nothing other than mere chance. Can you believe this? My real family lives in the neighboring township of Littleton. I also have a younger brother, but don’t celebrate so fast, ‘cause I must assassinate him. The sooner the better.

    I don’t have the slightest idea where I should start. I suppose every story has a beginning, but sometimes there are details which are better left unknown. There is very little to say, except that my newly found brother has a time machine and he’s going to use it to erase me from reality. His reality.

    Cursed be the Beast!

    Cursed be its infamous Creator!

    New 2024 edition excerpt:

    Dear Aunt,

    This week’s been a real son of a gun… My back’s screamin’ like a banshee. Think I need an MRI or somethin’. Been busting my hump for eight days straight, planting sod and setting up sprinklers all over town. Sun’s been frying my brains out. Couldn’t keep hydrated for squat, chuggin’ down water like a camel, but it just evaporates into thin air. How the hell am I supposed to bulk up in this heat? Same old scrawny me, like a scarecrow that just won’t quit. Guess it’s in my blood, ain’t no changin’ that, y’know.

    Skin and bones today, tomorrow, and forever.

    Spare me the lecture in your next email, will ya? ‘Cause I ain’t buying into that sunshine-and-rainbows shit anymore. Yeah, I’m sick and tired of hearing the same old spiel about money not buying happiness. Tried to squeeze a raise out of my boss the other day. And you know what? Got a big fuck nothin’. Fifty cents more an hour, like that’s gonna make a damn difference. Cheapskate bastard… It’s like gettin’ sucker-punched in the gut. What the hell did I do in another life to deserve this garbage? Feels like I’m cursed to swim in bad luck for the rest of my days. Need proof? Just look at my sorry excuse for a life.

    But wait, it gets even gnarlier.

    So, I’ve been on this wild goose chase for, like, forever, tryin’ to track down my blood fam. Paperwork stacked to the ceiling, man. But guess what? Fate drops this bomb on me outta nowhere. You know how I finally stumbled upon them? Pure dumb luck. Turns out they’re right here in Littleton. Got a younger brother too, but hold off on the celebration. ‘Cause I gotta take him out. Yeah, you heard me. It’s like a twisted family reunion or somethin’. Sooner I handle that biz, the better.

    Got no clue where to even begin. Every story’s got a start, sure, but sometimes it’s better off not knowin’ all the dirty details. Ain’t much to spill anyway, ‘cept for the fact that my long-lost brother’s got himself a time machine. And he’s fixing to use it to wipe me off the map. His map, that is.

    Curse that damn Beast!

    Curse its sorry excuse for a Creator!

    Back in the 2014 version, I always felt like the character in this letter came across as too diplomatic or formal, when in reality, he was supposed to be a streetwise junkie, speaking in slang. Think of Jesse Pinkman from the TV series Breaking Bad. My English skills back then weren’t quite up to the task of adding that dimension to the character. But thanks to the help of OpenAI, I’ve been able to make that transformation and give the character a more authentic touch of realism.

    There’s actually quite a bit of overlap with Eternal Eden. You might even find some Eternal Eden Easter eggs hidden within the pages of Dechentreiter Thing. Both works hold a special place for me—they’re my first creations, both built around biblical themes and the concept of parallel worlds.

    Availability

    The new edition of Dechentreiter Thing is set to hit shelves in May. It’s all written and done, but I still need to give it one or two more reads to ensure everything’s just right. Plus, there’s the task of converting it into multiple formats.

  • Dechentreiter Thing, 10th anniversary edition

    Dechentreiter Thing, 10th anniversary edition

    The following blog post carries the personal thoughts of Elder Prince, founder of Blossomsoft Games.

    My novella, ‘Dechentreiter Thing,’ is marking its 10th anniversary with a fresh, revised edition. Once the Blossomsoft Bookstore goes live, it will be ready for release.

    Dedicated to Paolo Baroni.

    This new version is dedicated to Paolo Baroni, who meticulously revised the initial draft, sentence by sentence, over three months. Way back in 2014. I recall being impressed by many of his changes. Sadly, I’ve lost touch with him and am unsure of his whereabouts. He disappeared from Facebook completely, and I’m uncertain if he still follows my blog. So, here’s hoping I’m dedicating this new version to someone who’s still with us!

    You can read the release announcement of the old edition [here].

    First Edition, STILL FLAWED.

    The first edition was finalized by a professional editor. However, I later realized that the work was rushed, resulting in a less polished final product than I had hoped for. I can’t fault the editor, though, as his rates were exceptionally low. Consequently, I never fully promoted ‘Dechentreiter Thing’ because of my lack of confidence.

    OpenAI to the rescue.

    This is where OpenAI comes in handy; it allows me to be more productive, relying less on human input. Interacting with AI is faster than the protracted back-and-forth with a standard editing service, which are often unavailable on weekends. And when you’re as broke as I am today, it’s a real lifesaver.

    So, this new version has been meticulously edited with the assistance of OpenAI, just like how Paolo and I worked on it back then. I’ve painstakingly ensured that each paragraph flows exactly as I intended, correcting typos and fine-tuning sentence structure. Using AI doesn’t equate to lazy work; I’ve invested a lot of hours during my food delivery shifts perfecting the story’s flow.

    New impactful changes.

    The second part of the story features a completely revamped style, inspired by the gritty vibe of Sin City.

    Overall, I’ve added new segments to the story while also removing some. I’ve taken into account all previous reviews and attempted to address any negative feedback.

    After a decade-long hiatus from this story, I can honestly say that I now consider it a sleeper hit. I’m not trying to pat myself on the back, but I genuinely enjoyed rereading it, almost as if I were experiencing it anew. With the final result truly satisfying me, I plan to be more aggressive with the promotional campaign.

    Not calling it quits on game dev.

    I’m not giving up on game development, but I need to focus on making money in a more practical way for a bit. I aim to become a more prolific writer from now on, steadily expanding my published library month by month.

    Still, I’m not losing hope for a game dev comeback down the road.

    Blossomsoft Bookstore.

    Blossomsoft is no longer solely a solo game development studio but has also become an indie book self-publishing house. Under its umbrella, you’ll find works from Elder Prince and M. Daddy Longlegs—both of which are pen names of mine, representing diverse genres.

  • New official pen name

    New official pen name

    The following blog post carries the personal thoughts of Elder Prince, founder of Blossomsoft Games.

    Hey everyone.

    In my last blog post, I laid bare my feelings of immense demoralization, and rightfully so, given the huge financial struggles with my game projects. But I won’t let it crush me. There are always solutions waiting up ahead.

    I’ve been racking my brain non-stop lately, and I finally settled on a pseudonym for my fantasy, sci-fi and chilling writing projects.

    I was aiming for a name that’s quirky and unconventional, sparking curiosity and maybe a touch of mystery.

    I’ve got a new short story all written up. Once the cover art is finished, it’ll be ready for release. I’m definitely planning to publish a revamped edition of ‘Timeloop: Project Dechentreiter’ with smoother sentence structures and tweaks here and there.

    I understand that my gaming community might not be big on reading. It’s a bit disappointing that most of you weren’t interested in my previous writing projects, but I reckon I’ll have to attract a new audience if that’s what it takes. I’m considering creating a new website to showcase my expanding collection of stories.

    It goes without saying that M. Daddy Longlegs will be welcomed as a new addition to the Blossomsoft Games team, earning a place in the staff roll as the main writer, while Elder Prince will remain the director and producer.

    Remember

    I’m diving into these writing projects because I’ve got loads of downtime during my food delivery shifts. Right now, food delivery with UberEats and DoorDash is my main source of income, but it’s not cutting it anymore, so I’m determined to make the most of every minute and be as productive as possible. Writing and selling stories is my top bet given the current situation.

  • Devlog: how I plan to use AI for game dev

    Devlog: how I plan to use AI for game dev

    Audio version of this blog post, powered by Amazon Polly for ‘accessibility’ purpose.

    The following blog post carries the personal thoughts of Elder Prince, founder of Blossomsoft Games.

    First and foremost, let me be frank, the term “AI” is pretty broad, in my opinion. Every company renames their software with the AI suffix nowadays. There’s a lot of exaggeration surrounding Artificial Intelligence, surely driven by commercial and political motivations. And honestly, it’s probably better that way. None of us want to end up in some terrible dystopian movie, right? But out of all the AI products out there, I have to say that ChatGPT is my personal favorite! I’m very impressed with it.

    About Image AI Generators

    In my experience, MidJourney, Dall-e, and Diffusion left me feeling a bit disappointed and unimpressed. I can’t really see any practical professional applications for them. They seem more like a collection of royalty-free images with the ability to make random changes, which is cool, but not very useful. Even with complex prompts, they struggle to generate exactly what you want. It’s like browsing through an image gallery, hoping to find the perfect match for your needs, and it can take hours. Personally, I’ve had better luck using Stagsi to find references very quickly that inspire me to create new artworks.

    I suppose there’s nothing wrong with using MidJourney to quickly generate images for filling gaps in blog content or other similar purposes. But as an artist myself, I prefer to focus on honing my skills and creating my own artworks or collaborating with real artists, rather than using randomized images, even if they are gorgeous. There’s something special about developing artistic abilities and working with other talented individuals, and frankly, none of us want to become obsolete in the near future. That being said, whenever I use an image generator for my blog, I always make it clear where the images come from. Transparency is important to avoid any confusion or misinterpretation about their origin.

    About ChatGPT

    I have to say, though, ChatGPT is absolutely incredible.

    In simple terms, ChatGPT is an AI language model. It has been trained on a vast amount of text from the internet and can understand and generate human-like text based on the prompts and questions it receives. Its purpose is to assist and provide information on a wide range of topics to the best of its abilities.

    I want to be frank. I don’t want ChatGPT to write an entire story from start to finish without a large part of my involvement. The result would probably be pretty ugly anyway.

    The same holds true for my blog posts.

    I have zero interest in soulless content. It must come from me.

    So far, my main use for ChatGPT has been to fix typos and revise my texts. While my English has improved over the years, ChatGPT helps give my blog articles a more professional touch. It saves me time and reduces my worries. Typically, I write my blog entries from A to Z and then ask ChatGPT to revise them for a natural flow in English.

    Interestingly, I wrote my ebook, titled ‘YogDeli,’ with the help of ChatGPT. See the blurb at the end of this article. Throughout this extensive project, I noticed the limitations of ChatGPT, as it sometimes acted more like a dumb “generator” than true AI. When I finished my book, I realized there were obvious repetitive sentence patterns that needed to be addressed. It was a painstaking process of identifying and fixing each one by asking ChatGPT for suggestions to introduce more variation. The main limitation here is that ChatGPT struggles with longer documents and can’t recognize if a sentence has been repeated multiple times. For example, when I once copied my entire ebook into the chat window and asked ChatGPT to summarize it, the analysis provided seemed disjointed and disconnected.

    What about coding?

    This awesome tech called came at the perfect time. Lately, I’ve been diving into refactoring most of the code I wrote in 2020 and 2021 and this thing has been a lifesaver, helping me optimize the code block by block. It’s making everything more efficient, readable, and easy to maintain.

    One particular coding challenge had me stuck for years; I was struggling to implement a specific rendering algorithm for a complex visual effect. Despite searching on Google and YouTube, I couldn’t find a satisfactory solution in the past. However, with the aid of this AI-powered bot, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a concise and effective solution to the problem.

    Man, I’m telling you, it has become my secret weapon in tackling coding challenges now. It’s like having a coding guru on speed dial. You gotta try it out sometime if you’re a game developer, it’s seriously impressive!

    Oh, and it’s quite delightful to see that ChatGPT comprehends the gospel better than many dubious pastors and street preachers.

    Overall, ChatGPT is an excellent assistant, and it would really break my spirit if the service had to be discontinued. I just wish it had been released much earlier.

    YogDeli, Powered by ChatGPT

    Summary

    Logan’s life takes a sudden and unexpected turn when he meets a mysterious stranger at a bar who introduces him to a strange food delivery app akin to DoorDash and UberEats. With this app, Logan gains entry to a sprawling and abandoned city, a sinister urban labyrinth where the only signs of life are the strange and anonymous customers who order food. Logan’s journey into the unknown is a heart-pounding thrill ride filled with suspense and mystery at every turn.

    Genre

    Sci-fi, Adventure, Soft Cosmic Horror, Lovecraftian

    Availability

    Amazon | Smashwords | Itch.io

  • YogDeli, available now

    YogDeli, available now

    Yog-Deli

    I’m thrilled to announce that today marks the official release date of my latest project, YogDeli. This science-fiction and horror themed short-story has a Lovecraftian vibe that will give you chills. Movie enthusiasts will also recognize that I drew inspiration from the captivating noir film, Dark City, to create this story.

    STORY SYNOPSIS

    Logan’s life takes a sudden and unexpected turn when he meets a mysterious stranger at a bar who introduces him to a strange food delivery app. With this app, Logan gains entry to a sprawling and abandoned city, a sinister urban labyrinth where the only signs of life are the strange and anonymous customers who order food. Logan’s journey into the unknown is a heart-pounding thrill ride filled with suspense and mystery at every turn.

    I wrote YogDeli during my downtime between DoorDash deliveries, and I used ChatGPT to help me fix typos and generate some technical sequences when needed. While ChatGPT is not a magic wand, it was an indispensable tool that required my active involvement to ensure the flow of the story was great.

    I’m excited to offer YogDeli for free on Itch.io, but if you feel inclined to support my work, you can make a donation of your choice. I hope you enjoy this latest creation, and I look forward to sharing more projects with you in the future.

  • How I use DoorDash to fuel my creativity, writing on the Go

    How I use DoorDash to fuel my creativity, writing on the Go

    The following blog post carries the personal thoughts of Elder Prince, founder of Blossomsoft Games.

    Combining game development with a busy DoorDash schedule can be very challenging, especially when you don’t have access to a PC. But I’ve found another alternative to better use this unpleasant situation to my artistic advantage. By utilizing my wait time in my car and at restaurants, I’ve been able to write short stories in small chunks on my smartphone.

    So far, I’ve written 4,000 out of 10,000 words of a fun DoorDash-themed sci-fi story. Using ChatGPT as a tool to assist in the writing process has been helpful in reworking and revising my work more efficiently, but ultimately, I have the final say on what stays and what goes. It’s a paragraph by paragraph process, where I’m still at the helm.

    In 2015, I published a 30,000 words short story, “Timeloop | A Dark Time Travel Tale: Project Dechentreiter” which can be found on Amazon. More reviews can also be read at Goodreads. I received help from Paolo Baroni, who I haven’t heard from since, but I hope he’s still in good shape and following my blog.

    In the near future, I plan to add a section for short stories and novels on my website. I have so many ideas for so many genres: adventure, sci-fi, horror, the gospel, and so on.

    What do you think about a short story that relates to the franchise Eternal Eden? It could be a illustrated story for all ages. Would you be interested in reading it?

    In conclusion: I currently feel trapped and burdened by my debts (a cycle that’s very hard to break), but I’m trying to make the best of my experience with DoorDash. Despite my concerns that it may cause wear and tear on my car, this freelance job offers so many advantages compared to other normal jobs. But NOTHING can match the satisfaction and enjoyment I get from working on my game development projects such as Eternal Eden, I am so looking forward to return to it as soon as possible!

  • Project Dechentreiter, Now Available

    Project Dechentreiter, Now Available

    Project Dechentreiter marks my debut as an English fiction author. The eBook is now available on Amazon.

    I must admit writing this novella was—wow—a blast! I had so much pleasure jotting down every single line. It was therapeutic in a way, and somehow, I just needed to get something off my chest, a burden. For me, narrative is a little more significative than just borrowing from the consolidated science-fiction and horror genres; the ride is all about life-striving experiences, mixed with fictional events. Certain parts of the story say what is going on in my actual life, without the reader’s awareness. Before you get the wrong idea: evil Jonas from the first arc has nothing in common with me.

    Although the audience is scarce in quantity, I am extremely happy with the quality of the reviews and feedback. It really matters to me that the story has hit the right chords in the readers’ mind.

    English is not my main language, so the challenge was big. I’ve spent a lot of time revising each sentence to make sure the flow felt as much natural as possible, then Paolo Baroni came to the rescue with another very intense round of revisions; finally, a professional editor, Todd Barselow, was hired to double check and fix the many “bugs” that were still there. It was great working with him and I highly recommend his services to every self-published authors out there.

    READ EXCERPT | GOODREADS REVIEWS | BUY ON AMAZON