I don't know if this should go here, but this is a general discussion board and I could not find a board for appreciation at the time that I post this.
I have been lurking in this forum for probably 4-5 years now. Thought I had already made an account but apparently not. (Aleast it was not one of my most recent 10ish email accounts, or the name of the account was not one that I normally used over the past 10 years. ) And seeing all the drama going around I thought I might atleast put in a show of appreciation for you, your work, and the effort that it has taken you to get this far.
When I first stumbled into the game and it being called a 4x Dwarf Fortress, I fell in love. Seeing that it was a single person who worked to get it so far, and the respect I have for you to do this only as a hobby, and adamantly refusing to be paid for it honestly warmed my heart. I saw what one person who enjoys programming could do, the depth that you went into it, your dedication to it, the amount of joy you had in making it and the stories, honestly shaped my choice in what I wanted to be able to do after going to college. I always knew it would be something technical, but you sir, you showed me that coding even if it was not done efficiently, can make miracles that produce joy for others. I am now soon(tm) going to be graduating from college with a dual associates in computer programming and networking. It has taken me a long time, with a large amount of personal issues, but everytime I got disenchanted with schoolwork I would take a peek at your logs in development, and see how far you have gone. Your hobby has honestly helped me through periods of depression and self loathing over these years. If you feel the need to no longer openly distribute Aurora due to a small minority of the people here disrespecting you, I will be sad to see it go, but I will understand your reasons behind doing so. If it infact does go, I would hope to have your permission to stick the last public release in a flashdrive that I have personal pictures and other memories in. Not to distribute or to give out, just to keep something that has shaped my life and take it with me where I go. Without your permission Mr. Walmsley, I will not do so, and I can honestly see that as possibly being to much to ask, especially with everything that is currently going on.
I hope that you will have good luck and good health in both mental and physical regards through the current pandemic, and I hope to see your life's work continue. Thank you for sharing your vision with the world.
Best Wishes,
ChaosRemnant