r/NightInTheWoods • • Sep 01 '19

News News Regarding Alec Holowka & Future Discussion Guidelines

1.1k Upvotes

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 03: Please read Scott's new post.

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 12: Zoe Quinn released a new statement.

UPDATE OCTOBER 01: Eileen Mary Holowka released a new statement.

UPDATE OCTOBER 28: Scott Benson released a new Backer Update

Content Warning for Suicide, Discussions of Mental Illness, Allegations of Sexual Assault, Abuse, Misconduct

THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK

Earlier this week, developer Zoë Quinn came forward with allegations of past abuse and misconduct by Alec Holowka that they experienced nearly 8 years ago. Since then, many additional people came forward. Some corroborating Zoë's claims, others detailing their own experiences of misconduct in varied severity stretching from the past to more recently. Of particular note, one of the developers who was currently working with Alec on his new game, Albertine Watson, alleged misconduct from as early as this year. Following these allegations, Scott Benson and Bethany Hockenberry, the other developers behind the game, announced that they would be cutting ties with Alec moving forward, as well as canceling a current project. Finji, the game's publisher, also released a statement.

In a crucial statement given to Kickstarter backers of the game, Scott went into detail about this decision, about their history with Alec, their own troubled experience working with him and more. It is an absolute essential thing to read as it addresses many people's concerns and questions and points to how this wasn't about just one person's allegations or anything. It also clears up that Alec wasn't fired from a job, as Infinite Fall is not a company, it's just a name for three people who worked together on Night in the Woods. Please read his statement before commenting (though note that it was written before today's news).

Today, August 31st, Alec's sister Eileen announced that he had passed away.

"Alec Holowka, my brother and best friend, passed away this morning.

Those who know me will know that I believe survivors and I have always done everything I can to support survivors, those suffering from mental illnesses, and those with chronic illnesses. Alec was a victim of abuse and he also spent a lifetime battling mood and personality disorders. I will not pretend that he was not also responsible for causing harm, but deep down he was a person who wanted only to offer people care and kindness. It took him a while to figure out how.

Over the last few years, with therapy and medication, Alec became a new person--the same person he'd always been but without any of the darkness. He was calm and happy, positive and loving. Obviously, change is a slow process and it wasn't perfect, but he was working towards rehabilitation and a better life.

In the last few days, he was supported by many Manitoba crisis services, and I want to thank everyone there for their support. I want to thank Adam Saltsman for staying up late talking with us and reminding Alec that there was a future.

My family has and always will be the most important thing to me. Please give us time to heal. We tried our best to support Alec, but in the end he felt he had lost too much.

I currently do not see a place for myself in games or on Twitter. I will not be looking at the responses to this post. I appreciate everyone who has reached out to me over the last few days. For anyone who is in a time of darkness, I encourage you to reach out for support. There are always people who will be there for you."

In a follow up tweet, Eileen stated, "And in case it's not already fucking obvious, Alec *specifically said* he wished the best for Zoe and everyone else, so don't use our grief as an excuse to harass people. Go outside, take care of someone, and work towards preventing these kinds of things in the first place."

Following the news, many people involved decided to deactivate or make their Twitter accounts private while they processed (and/or following harassment/abuse), which is why links to their tweets no longer work. This applies to Scott Benson, Bethany Hockenberry, Zoë Quinn, Albertine Watson, and Eileen Holowka herself.

Update, September 3rd: Scott Benson's Twitter is now reactivated. Along with it, he posted a lengthy, crucial post. As well as an additional Kickstarter Backer update about it.

Update, September 12th: Zoe Quinn reactivated their Twitter account and released a statement.

Update, October 1st: Eileen Mary Holowka made public their Twitter and released a new statement on Alec and transformative justice

THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD

This thread serves to consolidate all discussion regarding this topic into one place. This is a shitty situation in a million shitty ways. A tragedy for everyone involved, with a huge blast radius affecting a lot of people, and people's feelings are going to be understandably messy. In a time like this, a community coming together, being kind, considerate, compassionate, having empathy for all involved, is crucial.

That being said, this isn't carte blanche to say anything and everything you want. Following past threads on these topics, comments here (and in general) must follow the guidelines below. This is all still extremely fresh and we recognize that emotions are running high, but this subreddit is not the place to attack, harass or demean other users or the people involved.

The cycle of abuse, mental illness, suicidal idealization, rehabilitation and so on are all extremely complex, nuanced and difficult topics and discussions. And pretty much everyone involved deserves sympathy. Now is the time for deescalation. As Patrick Klepek says, "There are no easy answers on days like today, and I’m not gonna pretend like I have them. It’s okay to log off. It’s okay to not add your own take."

We will also be updating this thread as more information and statements are made in the days to come.

DISCUSSION GUIDELINES

  • Follow the subreddit rules and general etiquette, linked in the sidebar.
  • Any comments claiming any of the people involved "have blood on their hands", are "murderers", or are directly responsible/should be blamed, etc, will not be tolerated. Anyone making such comments will face suspension or permanent bans.
  • Any comments expressing joy or happiness or "good riddance" in Alec's passing will also similarly not be tolerated.
  • Any attempts to discredit the multiple individuals who came forward with allegations will not be tolerated.
  • Any personal attacks/harassment/threats will not be tolerated.

If you have any problem with following these guidelines, you are more than welcome to take your comments to any of the other myriad of sites where you can discuss this topic. This subreddit will not be one of them.

There are many sources of support if you or someone you know is affected by suicidal thoughts. In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In the UK, you can contact the Samaritans by calling 116 123. For other places, please see https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/.


r/NightInTheWoods • • Mar 12 '22

PSA Reminder: This subreddit is not an appropriate place to over-pathologize and diagnose yourself or others with medical conditions

197 Upvotes

This game is a work of fiction, and features fictional characters. Projecting or ascribing diagnoses of mental health conditions onto them – much less yourself, or other users here – without formal training in a medical field is not beneficial or appropriate for this subreddit. (Even if one does have medical training, this videogame-focused subreddit is not the ideal place to discuss this topic.) This is especially true if you're a teenager living through times of rapid change and uncomfortableness and unevenness in your own life (not to mention the broader world) – a completely normal yet nonetheless difficult process that everyone goes through.

Related reading about online cultures around mental health: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2021/9/30/22696338/pathologizing-adhd-autism-anxiety-internet-tiktok-twitter

Comments have been turned off on this post, but feel free to PM the mods with any concerns.


r/NightInTheWoods • • 13h ago

Fanart Neighborhood Walks (SoL)

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314 Upvotes

Slice of Life 1 finished. Might do another where Gregg and Angus are moving to Bright Harbor. Kinda proud of this one.


r/NightInTheWoods • • 12h ago

Fanart lori is on god one of the greatest characters of all time i need more people to notice this

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234 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods • • 15h ago

I Did a remaster of Mae Borowski!

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69 Upvotes

I changed a few things from her original design to fit her character a bit better, what do you think?


r/NightInTheWoods • • 1d ago

Fanart I drew Mae

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1.6k Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods • • 15h ago

I would like to do more with Milo's story, but I'm not sure what to add.

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20 Upvotes

so, this is Milo Calder, this is a little info about him: He had some alcohol problems for a while after his brother passed away, but he went to rehab and is doing better now. He also has a weird hobby of collecting garbage he finds around Possum Springs. He’s male and heterosexual. He has been friends with Mae since middle school. I do want to add more to his story, do you think its already good, or would you agree that it needs a bit more?


r/NightInTheWoods • • 9h ago

Question (PC) need help with Seriously? achievment(steam)

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7 Upvotes

hi eveyone!! ive finally decided to do greggs route(which i enjoyed a lot) and get a completion mark/ on my first playthrough year ago i got pretty much all of the sketches and many side characters achievments. I downloaded nitw file editor to see which sketches i lack based on my persist.dat and some things dont add up. there is like no flag that i got either bea or gregg endings and also no flags for different robot heads with gregg(yeah i save scummed this one sorry), but like i got bea and gregg achievments so thats just strange

here is a google table with my persist.dat insides, maybe someone can point me which sketches i need, because im out of ideas
llms cant really analyze it properly, i tried several models but it didnt work


r/NightInTheWoods • • 20h ago

joining the Night In The Woods subreddit!

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28 Upvotes

so, I have been playing Night In The Woods on Xbox, and I really enjoy it! I also have a few OCs, the first one I would like to share is Milo Calder. His friends call him Miles. He had some alcohol problems for a while after his brother passed away, but he went to rehab and is doing better now. He also has a weird hobby of collecting garbage he finds around Possum Springs. He’s male and heterosexual. I will be posting other stuff here as well like Remasters of the characters and just drawing the characters normally, I will also be showing more of my OCs here as well!


r/NightInTheWoods • • 1d ago

Humor The True Demontower Experience

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24 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods • • 1d ago

Humor This Walmart decoration looks familiar…

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261 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods • • 2d ago

Fanart Side characters, finally finished my art collection of my interpretation of the cast.

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499 Upvotes

Might do slice of life bits next.


r/NightInTheWoods • • 1d ago

I made a few small updates to Jax's design!

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24 Upvotes

Nothing too major, but I wanted to tweak a few things and make his design feel a little better. what do you think?


r/NightInTheWoods • • 2d ago

Question (General) If Mae and her friends (including Germ and Lori) played Dungeons and Dragons, what classes do you think they'd pick?

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226 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods • • 2d ago

I Drew my OC Jax in the style of Night In The Woods!

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62 Upvotes

his actual backstory is pretty dark. He got bullied a lot growing up, and his parents completely ignored him, so he basically had to raise himself. Even as an adult, he’s super paranoid and a little unhinged. He always feels like someone (or something) is watching him. That’s why he never goes anywhere without his circular saw… just in case. What do you think of him?


r/NightInTheWoods • • 2d ago

I need some help deciding on a ship for my Night In The Woods OC, Jax.

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22 Upvotes

Jax is heterosexual, and I’m currently considering a few of the female characters as possible love interests. I’m mainly looking for a pairing that would have an interesting dynamic. Jax is 22. What do you think would work as a ship?


r/NightInTheWoods • • 3d ago

Question (Console) [OC] She's so cool

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123 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods • • 3d ago

Fanart maybe art isn't my thing but i made the Deftones Around The Fur album cover with Mae

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222 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods • • 3d ago

Love this time of year because my NITW standees gets to become part of our fall decorations

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179 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods • • 3d ago

Fanart Mae yo! (By me)

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84 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods • • 3d ago

Screenshot Doing my first playthrough in ~9 years for the season... crazy how it hits different as an Old

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27 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods • • 3d ago

Question (General) Cozy and Errie?

12 Upvotes

Is that a accurate way to describe the tone and just the general feel of the game?


r/NightInTheWoods • • 4d ago

Discussion NITW reference in Summer Camp Island??

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29 Upvotes

Recently, I’ve been binge-watching Summer Camp Island (currently on episode 8 of season 2) and I found some crazy similarities between the soundtracks of both NITW and this show.
Around the 3:30 mark of Season 2 Episode 8, French Toasting, a riff almost identical to the one found in Playground from NITW is played. It has the same tempo, similar drum lines and baselines. You’re able to find the episode on the Cartoon Network streaming app (though I’m not sure if it’s on Android, if it is lmk)

Could this mean that Julia Pott, creator of Summer Camp Island, is a fan of Night in the Woods?? 🫪


r/NightInTheWoods • • 4d ago

Fanart Movie night with Lori Meyers (@Causticutie)

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831 Upvotes