- A Story Beside is out now! - 24 May 2022
Hey everyone — today is the day! It's been a massively emotional (and quite draining) six years getting to this point, so I couldn't be more proud to announce my new game A Story Beside is finished and available now in full. Step into the sleepy mountain village of Pyreside and experience a charming, poignant, and deeply personal journey through the life of a humble innkeeper named Lyric. I'm incredibly happy this story has resonated so strongly with early access players and am overjoyed to finally be sharing it with the wider world. So, next steps now that the game has launched in full? I'll be active in the forums and across social media in the coming days, listening to your feedback and continuing to improve the game experience... so keep that feedback coming! Once I'm confident the story and gameplay are as polished and bug-free as possible, I'll be turning my attention to supportin…
- A Story Beside launching May 24 - 23 May 2022
After nearly six years, a battle with cancer, a global pandemic, and countless other challenges, I'm thrilled to announce my new game A Story Beside will be launching in full this Tuesday, May 24! I know many of you World's Dawn fans have been waiting for the game to leave early access before diving in, so I'm overjoyed to finally be able to share Lyric's story with you all. This is hands-down the most personal and emotional project I've ever written... so it stands to reason it's also been the most draining in many ways. At the end of this long development journey I find myself incredibly proud but also incredibly exhausted. I sincerely hope everyone enjoys the finished product! I won't ramble too much longer but I do want to extend a most heartfelt thank you to those who have stuck with me through all this time. As we now cross the finish line together, I want you all to know this pro…
- All chapters of A Story Beside available now - 28 April 2022
Hey everyone, I'm happy to announce that the final chapter of my new game A Story Beside is out now — meaning Lyric's story can be experienced in full for the first time ever! I have waited so, so very long to say those words. https://store.steampowered.com/app/634410/ To celebrate this long-awaited release and to encourage more new fans to jump in, World's Dawn is 50% off this week. Feel free to share either link with friends and family and help spread the word! Your humbling response to my little farming sim was the reason I was able to commit myself fully to its spiritual sequel, and put out a deeply emotional and personal story that I'm incredible proud of after nearly 6 years of strained development. For anyone who has been following along all this time, through all my health issues and personal struggles... thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for your patience over an…
- Holiday update and future chapters - 21 December 2019
Hey everyone, I wanted to apologize for the delays of Chapters 4 and 5 and ask for your patience as I polish them up before release. As you might expect, this has been a busy time of year in my personal life (holiday happenings, a new nephew, and more than a little seasonal anxiety around the one-year anniversary of my lymphoma diagnosis) and things have taken longer than planned. I'm sure it's been frustrating for everyone awaiting the next part of the story, so I am truly sorry. https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F33120697%2F48339b5f3c0e82e84cd6c4d53948d3746f439acf.png I think once you get to play these next couple chapters you'll understand why they've been such a hurtle for me. Not only are we approaching the emotional apex of Lyric's story, but as the game goes on, more and more of your personal choices will branch off and offer different outcomes... wh…
- A Story Beside launches today! - 26 September 2019
The day has arrived! The first chapter of A Story Beside is out now! https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F33120697%2F06cf166af84de7279022250d0d68480b8155b585.png https://store.steampowered.com/app/634410/A_Story_Beside/ Any and all feedback is welcome! At the moment I am planning to release a new chapter every other week, and your comments and suggestions will be invaluable in making the final product as polished as possible. I could talk at length about the journey it took to get here, the personal battles I've fought along the way, and the inspiration this community has offered through the most difficult year of my life... but instead I'll just say I truly hope you enjoy the game 😊 and thank you for waiting. All my best, David Grund waywardprophet.com
- A Story Beside coming September 26 - 17 September 2019
How could I possibly follow up the exciting news that my lymphoma cancer has gone into remission? How about a release date! I'm thrilled to announce that the first chapter of A Story Beside is coming to Steam Early Access on September 26! https://i.imgur.com/jHgk461.png https://store.steampowered.com/app/634410/A_Story_Beside/ I am planning to release a new chapter every other week, which I believe to be the perfect length of time between installments — long enough for me to incorporate feedback and bug-fixes as they come up, but short enough that devoted players don't lose interest and can follow Lyric's journey as it unfolds. I know some people don't love the idea of Early Access, so it's totally up to you whether you want to jump in now or wait until later in the year when the full game comes out. If you decide to purchase the game now (even if you plan on waiting until the full rele…
- Health and Development Update - 12 July 2019
Hey everyone, I'll be taking a break from World's Dawn let's plays for a while, so I thought I'd post a quick video update. Thank you for all the lovely comments and feedback over the last few months! https://youtu.be/H7aYXsdVEcs https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F33120697%2Ff2eb788b808a55f5a2f439ddfcb0069a3e6583ce.png Rest assured I am working as hard as I'm able on A Story Beside and should have more to share soon. I know it's not the first time I've said that, so I appreciate your patience for now! I can only the hope the game will be worth the wait once it's finally released. Thank you all, truly. All my best, David Grund waywardprophet.com
- World's Dawn developer let's play - 14 March 2019
Hey all! As a way to decompress and stay connected with the community after my recent diagnosis and ongoing treatment, I decided to sit down with a good friend and record a World's Dawn developer let's play! We're planning to share behind-the-scenes stories, community comments, and laughs aplenty as we revisit the game I care so deeply about. Check out the first episode and let me know what you think: https://youtu.be/uAh0hY2krFg https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F11472989%2Fad2883a9177a94e68f36581237eea855a6083461.png I've never done any of this sort of casual content before, so any and all feedback is appreciated! I'd love to get the community involved and make this series a fun, cozy return to Sugar Blossom for anyone who could use a little levity in their lives. Thank you! I hope you enjoy! All my best, David Grund waywardprophet.com
- The story behind A Story Beside - 25 January 2019
Hello everyone, I have some rather unfortunate news to share today. I've always tried to be open and honest as a developer, and in that spirit I'm going to delve a little deeper into my personal life than I have in the past. Over the last several months I've been struggling with a variety of health issues that have kept me from being as focused and creative as my usual self... things like constant fatigue, swelling, soreness, and chest pain. These symptoms are the reason A Story Beside was taking longer to complete than I'd originally hoped, and I was dealing with a lot of frustration trying to figure out what was causing them. I would sit down at the computer to work and just be overwhelmed by all kinds of stabbing pains and discomfort. I couldn't focus. https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F33120697%2F4fa88213b6cee7ab317eed400e56d77582ebd06a.png After severa…
- A Story Beside up on Steam - 7 October 2018
Hello all, A Story Beside now has its own page on Steam! This is my follow-up to World's Dawn, planned for release in late 2018. https://store.steampowered.com/app/634410/ For anyone who hasn't been following the project, it's a narrative-driven adventure game set in a magical fantasy world and starring an ordinary innkeeper. There's lots more information on the Steam page, including screenshots and the newest official trailer for those who missed it. https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F11472989%2Fd0c780881f15ef8416220ea980cef8d2289175a2.png Thank you as always for your enthusiasm and support! I'm working really hard on this new game and the positive energy from the humble World's Dawn community keeps me going. I appreciate all of you so much =) All the best, David Grund waywardprophet.com
- New trailer for A Story Beside - 20 August 2018
Hey everyone, It's been a while! I've been hard at work on my next game, A Story Beside, and wanted to share this new gameplay trailer. I truly believe fans of World's Dawn will appreciate the charming small-town setting and dynamic cast of characters. Take a look! https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F11472989%2Fb2e0e2ac3a3a0fb78d066528f17c61c88ef98196.png https://youtu.be/BKyeFtsqTkk A Story Beside is more of a character-driven adventure game and less of a traditional farming sim. This is in direct response to all the reviews and feedback World's Dawn has received since release — most of which point to the writing and characters and social interactions as the game's most positive aspects. Get ready for a lot more of that in A Story Beside! At the moment, the new game is planned for release in late 2018. I don't have an official date yet, so be sure to watch…
- Looking back and moving forward - 30 August 2017
Hey everyone! I wanted to drop by and share my thoughts on the current state of World's Dawn, as well as how its reception here on Steam is helping shape what's coming next. Although I'm not planning any more content updates (for now anyway), the spirit of World's Dawn is alive and well in my next project. Take a look at this retrospective video I put together to show how the feedback and critique World's Dawn received has inspired the development of A Story Beside. I've taken a lot of lessons from World's Dawn, its lengthy development process and managing regular updates and patches post-launch. As a result, I'm more confident in my strengths as a designer and more aware my weaknesses and limitations (engines, resources, time, etc.). Being able to communicate with players and engage in the Steam community has given me a ton of valuable insight and experience moving forward. A very hear…
- Looking back and moving forward - 30 August 2017
Hey everyone! I wanted to drop by and share my thoughts on the current state of World's Dawn, as well as how its reception here on Steam is helping shape what's coming next. Although I'm not planning any more content updates (for now anyway), the spirit of World's Dawn is alive and well in my next project. Take a look at this retrospective video I put together to show how the feedback and critique World's Dawn received has inspired the development of A Story Beside. I've taken a lot of lessons from World's Dawn, its lengthy development process and managing regular updates and patches post-launch. As a result, I'm more confident in my strengths as a designer and more aware my weaknesses and limitations (engines, resources, time, etc.). Being able to communicate with players and engage in the Steam community has given me a ton of valuable insight and experience moving forward. A very hear…
- Romance fixes and a new game announcement - 2 May 2017
Hello everyone, A few months ago Quint and Senah became official marriage candidates, and since then players have discovered a small handful bugs of associated with those romance paths. Sorry for the trouble! The following issues have been fixed in the latest patch: Quint and Senah no longer cause a freezing bug when visiting your home All partners can now participate in the Twilight Hayride All partners are available in conversation with the ashen fox Certain character dialogue has been updated to reflect new choices I'm also happy to announce that I have a new project in the works! A Story Beside is a fantasy adventure game experienced through the eyes of an ordinary girl. It shares a lot in common with World's Dawn — the quiet rural community, fairytale setting and story, and charming cast of characters — and is planned for release in early 2018. I'm so excited to share this game wit…
- Romance fixes and a new game announcement - 2 May 2017
Hello everyone, A few months ago Quint and Senah became official marriage candidates, and since then players have discovered a small handful bugs of associated with those romance paths. Sorry for the trouble! The following issues have been fixed in the latest patch: Quint and Senah no longer cause a freezing bug when visiting your home All partners can now participate in the Twilight Hayride All partners are available in conversation with the ashen fox Certain character dialogue has been updated to reflect new choices I'm also happy to announce that I have a new project in the works! A Story Beside is a fantasy adventure game experienced through the eyes of an ordinary girl. It shares a lot in common with World's Dawn — the quiet rural community, fairytale setting and story, and charming cast of characters — and is planned for release in early 2018. I'm so excited to share this game wit…
- New marriage candidates! - 22 December 2016
Hello all! I'm happy to announce that due to popular demand, Quint and Senah are now marriage candidates! These were two of the most requested additions since the game first launched and I'm hoping they'll give old players a reason to revisit Sugar Blossom Village. As for new players? World's Dawn is a whopping 75% OFF as part of the Steam Winter Sale, so it's never been cheaper or easier to jump in! I really hope this steep discount will encourage new folks who might be on the fence to try the game out. And I really appreciate any help you can offer spreading the word to friends and family this holiday season ːcoconut_milkːːfruit_juiceːːcrushed_herbː This has been an amazing year for me since releasing this game last January. I'm a one-man development team without the support of a studio or publisher — so the love and enthusiasm the community has shown World's Dawn has truly kept me go…
- New marriage candidates! - 22 December 2016
Hello all! I'm happy to announce that due to popular demand, Quint and Senah are now marriage candidates! These were two of the most requested additions since the game first launched and I'm hoping they'll give old players a reason to revisit Sugar Blossom Village. As for new players? World's Dawn is a whopping 75% OFF as part of the Steam Winter Sale, so it's never been cheaper or easier to jump in! I really hope this steep discount will encourage new folks who might be on the fence to try the game out. And I really appreciate any help you can offer spreading the word to friends and family this holiday season :coconut_milk::fruit_juice::crushed_herb: This has been an amazing year for me since releasing this game last January. I'm a one-man development team without the support of a studio or publisher — so the love and enthusiasm the community has shown World's Dawn has truly kept me go…
- Trading Cards and a big weeklong discount! - 30 August 2016
Hey everyone, In case you hadn't already noticed, World's Dawn is currently 50% OFF as part of this weeklong sale! This is the cheapest the game has ever been, so if you or anyone you know has been waiting to jump in, now is great time to do so. I appreciate any help you can offer spreading the word this week as well. In other news, I'm happy to announce that Trading Cards have been added to the game! Starting today you're able to unlock badges, emoticons, and profile backgrounds by collecting and trading 12 unique cards, each one featuring a different Sugar Blossom villager. You can learn more here if you're unfamiliar with how Steam cards and rewards work. Unfortunately, the next big content update (which includes the addition of Quint and Senah as marriage candidates) is still not quite ready for release. I'm truly sorry for the delay... it's been a very busy summer and I just haven'…
- Trading Cards and a big weeklong discount! - 30 August 2016
Hey everyone, In case you hadn't already noticed, World's Dawn is currently 50% OFF as part of this weeklong sale! This is the cheapest the game has ever been, so if you or anyone you know has been waiting to jump in, now is great time to do so. I appreciate any help you can offer spreading the word this week as well. In other news, I'm happy to announce that Trading Cards have been added to the game! Starting today you're able to unlock badges, emoticons, and profile backgrounds by collecting and trading 12 unique cards, each one featuring a different Sugar Blossom villager. You can learn more here if you're unfamiliar with how Steam cards and rewards work. Unfortunately, the next big content update (which includes the addition of Quint and Senah as marriage candidates) is still not quite ready for release. I'm truly sorry for the delay... it's been a very busy summer and I just haven'…
- Summer Sale and future updates - 23 June 2016
Hello all! I wanted to let everyone know that World's Dawn will be 40% OFF until the end of the Summer Sale! I am very happy to be participating in my first big Steam sale, and hope the discount will motivate new players to jump in about 5 months after release. World's Dawn is a passion project, born from a love of the Harvest Moon series and developed entirely by yours truly in my spare time. The game was received very warmly and I'm extremely grateful to the Steam community for embracing my little farming sim. It has done well, but unfortunately not quite well enough to fully support its own continued development... so it's still a project I'm only able to work on during my spare hours. I know that's not much of an excuse for the lack of updates these past few months, but I want everyone to know I certainly haven't given up on making World's Dawn better. I simply haven't had much time…
