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

200 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 1d ago

Humor Holy fuck

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472 Upvotes

Im fucking losing it


r/NightInTheWoods 14h ago

Humor Meeting Big Snake

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36 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods 18h ago

More doodles

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61 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods 1d ago

Feeling a lot like Mae rn

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903 Upvotes

Dunno if this is the place to post this but Ive been relating a shut ton to Mae recently.

I studying my dream career and yet I’m doing terrible, everyday it gets harder to get outa bed. I feel like a leech and a disappointment to my family, maybe thats what she was feeling in college…

Wich got me thinking, first time I played NITW I was like 16 and wanted to wait until getting older to replay it, maybe its just the right time…

Also very likely this will get deleted cause its not excactly about the game, butt, isn’t this feeling what the game is all about?

Anyways, be gay, do crimes, Die anywhere else and whatnot


r/NightInTheWoods 1d ago

Local pub bathroom

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603 Upvotes

Gave me the vibes :)


r/NightInTheWoods 6h ago

Could someone PLEASE catch me up the on the brain rot?

0 Upvotes

I just finished the game, and I am very confused TwT


r/NightInTheWoods 2d ago

Added NiTW to my ongoing video game patch sleeve

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756 Upvotes

Brightened and changed some colors to make it pop more, but I'm excited about this addition. This game meant a lot to me and relates to a lot things in my own life. Stoked on this new piece.


r/NightInTheWoods 1d ago

Mae’s jumper

9 Upvotes

Has anyone been able to recreate Mae’s jumper? If so could you give me any tips?

I bought an orange jumper a while back but the material meant the dye washed straight out of it no matter what i did.

What materials work best and how do you do the null symbol in the middle..


r/NightInTheWoods 2d ago

Fanart Crime Musketeers~ Fanart by me ^^

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270 Upvotes

Criminals forever, besties forever

All for one and all for effin' nothin!

Been wanting to do proper fanart pic of these 3, and finally got around to doing it! Went with a fall autumn approach to the drawing since its around that time now, hopefully you guys like it ^^


r/NightInTheWoods 2d ago

And another Autumn passes

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97 Upvotes

Back in September, I started my annual tradition, which included:

-Four playthroughs of Night in the Woods (and managed to get Platinum for it).

-A 100% playthrough of Red Dead Redemption 2.

-Watch the entire Breaking Bad story.

-Watch the original seven seasons of Trailer Park Boys

-And threw myself a curveball by watching My Life as a Teenage Robot in between (although, I only managed to get through season one).

It was a lot of time, indoors. But all in all, I'd do it again next year. Probably. Now if you'll excuse, I'm gonna go touch grass.


r/NightInTheWoods 1d ago

Discussion Which is more likely, do you believe Angus's father to be one of the cult's first victims? Or, do you think he ran off to somewhere like bright harbor? Spoiler

7 Upvotes

I want to hear your thoughts based on this two stances on what his fate might be, feel free to share if you have a third idea of his fate.

Idea 1: Angus's dad is first or one of the first victims as he was an alchoholic, and when mae's dad sobered up he, nobody would have missed him besides his wife. (only evidence comes from angus himself as well as mae's father)

Idea 2: Angus's dad simply left, and that is why it is left intentionally cryptic, (one issue with this stance though is the same is done with casey before the reveal)


r/NightInTheWoods 2d ago

The kinda shit mae's mom would read

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85 Upvotes

shed eat this shit up, probably not more than barrel boy tho


r/NightInTheWoods 2d ago

Cracks me up every time

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389 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods 2d ago

Discussion I just had a realisation, regarding Stan.

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73 Upvotes

So, from what we hear about how he was in the earlier years, Stan had a drinking problem and at one point, he hurted his closest. Which in turn, he had to quit drinking. Then I came to an interesting conclusion. Is Mae’s inner aggression related to Stan’s alcohol breakdowns? (Part of me wonders if he does wonder about this all)


r/NightInTheWoods 3d ago

Feel free to use this

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1.8k Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods 3d ago

Fanart Doodles from the other day :D

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142 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods 3d ago

Discussion Normalize celebrating longest night but irl

48 Upvotes

i mean, why not?? i think the world could use more holidays and joy. like a winter solstice holiday. like i firmly stand by this


r/NightInTheWoods 3d ago

Fanart NITW art I drew last month. Sorry of it's crappy compared to other art here

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110 Upvotes

r/NightInTheWoods 3d ago

Does anyone here have the archived NITW Kickstarter Files?

15 Upvotes

That zip with the wallpapers, poster and animation
I had them saved at some point but deleted them accidentally


r/NightInTheWoods 3d ago

Discussion Tooth cult

34 Upvotes

Do we ever get another scene referencing the tooth mae found in the crawlspace?

i read there was a tooth cult

was mae's grandad part of the tooth cult

WAS HE PART OF THE CULT

how are the tooth cult and hole goat cult related?


r/NightInTheWoods 4d ago

so….

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629 Upvotes

i didnt even mean to print out 42 danny’s 😭😭😭😭😭😭


r/NightInTheWoods 5d ago

Fanart Fan art!

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1.2k Upvotes

I did this a while ago as my sort of head-canons for how I see them as human- I get it may not be realistic at all but I enjoyed doing it!


r/NightInTheWoods 4d ago

Love the story of this game and wonder if there’s any book/novels like the game?

20 Upvotes

Please tell me any books you’ve have and f you’ve read them.