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Alec Holowka (Night in the Woods, TowerFall) accused of sexual assault [Update: Alec Holowka has reportedly passed away] [See staff posts/threadmarks]
- Thread starter TacomaSCDisaster
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Zoe Quinn? Fuaarrrkk. Feel so bad for her, seems to have the absolute worst luck (?) with men. But I think part of the issue is that we're in and industry which much like film and TV back in the day, and even now to an extent, has a lot of young impressionable people looking to make a 'break' and are by proxy ripe for being taken advantage of, sexually or otherwise.
Especially a problem when those exploiting these people have no one they really need to answer to, or their talents seemingly outweigh any social or moral responsibilities in the eyes of those that employ them. Proud to work in this industry as there's hundreds of great people working in it too, but it has a looooong way to go to clean up it's act. This is the sort of shit gamers should be rallying against. Microtransactions, exclusivity deals, downgrades and store fronts are the least of it's problems in my opinion.
Especially a problem when those exploiting these people have no one they really need to answer to, or their talents seemingly outweigh any social or moral responsibilities in the eyes of those that employ them. Proud to work in this industry as there's hundreds of great people working in it too, but it has a looooong way to go to clean up it's act. This is the sort of shit gamers should be rallying against. Microtransactions, exclusivity deals, downgrades and store fronts are the least of it's problems in my opinion.
Sorry, OP, but why do you mention TowerFall in the title? TowerFall is by Matt Thorson, the dev of Celeste. Alec Holowka only worked on the audio.
If you mention TowerFall, then mention Aquaria as well. It is a game by Derek Yu, the dev of Spelunky, and Alec Holowka.
Alec Holowka worked on the audio and the programming. The game is very well-known because it was the IGF 2007 winner.
Edit: I mean, even the tweet mentions Aquaria rather than TowerFall:
If you mention TowerFall, then mention Aquaria as well. It is a game by Derek Yu, the dev of Spelunky, and Alec Holowka.
Alec Holowka worked on the audio and the programming. The game is very well-known because it was the IGF 2007 winner.
Edit: I mean, even the tweet mentions Aquaria rather than TowerFall:
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I feel terrible about this, but in an odd way comforted that zoe was inspired by nathalie. To be preyed upon like this, just awful. Zoe got some great twitter replies so far.
The indie development community has generally been uplifting rather than exploitative, which makes this story all the more heartbreaking. The only silver lining is the outpouring of genuine support that Zoe has been receiving.
I hope this ushers a new wave of metoo posts. Cancel abusers.
Why the fuck does this keep happening to Zoe. Feel awful for her.
I will add that I hope she's gone to the police with allegations of this nature. It's no good just airing it on Twitter.
I will add that I hope she's gone to the police with allegations of this nature. It's no good just airing it on Twitter.
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Didn't he 'just' do music for Towerfall? Shouldn't be in the title next to Night in the Woods. The devs of Towerfall also made Celeste, they shouldn't be affilliated with the perpetrator.
Her text was hard to read. No idea how one could abuse someone you already know is a victim of abuse.. Geez.
Her text was hard to read. No idea how one could abuse someone you already know is a victim of abuse.. Geez.
I agree, but at the same time, what do you find as the pinned tweet of the perpetrator? These are his two most recent game contributions: TF:A, NitW.
Edit: He also worked with Petri Purho (Noita, Crayon Physics Deluxe).
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this is just horrendous.
huge props to zq for deciding to talk about it.
holowka sounds like a predator who identifies and targets vulnerable people. it makes my blood boil.
huge props to zq for deciding to talk about it.
holowka sounds like a predator who identifies and targets vulnerable people. it makes my blood boil.
Very brave from Zoe once again to speak out, she continues to show herself as one of the most admirable people in the industry.
That's tarnished Night in the Woods for me forever now, I really hope that scumbag's career is finished after this.
That's tarnished Night in the Woods for me forever now, I really hope that scumbag's career is finished after this.
This is horrific as well....what in the actual fuck.
I hope there's consequences for all of these rapists
I agree, but at the same time, what do you find as the pinned tweet of the perpetrator? These are his two most recent game contributions: TF:A, NitW.
Edit: He also worked with Petri Purho (Noita, Crayon Physics Deluxe).
You got a point there.
Well done to all these brave people speaking out, and to all those coming to their aid.
We need all the support we can to root out the rot of the industry. It's sad that we seemingly need to fact-check everything and everyone these days, for fear of perpetuating more hate and violence. But gaming is a luxury we are lucky to have, and we should not accept the deeper horrors of the medium as part of some complete package.
We need all the support we can to root out the rot of the industry. It's sad that we seemingly need to fact-check everything and everyone these days, for fear of perpetuating more hate and violence. But gaming is a luxury we are lucky to have, and we should not accept the deeper horrors of the medium as part of some complete package.
This is alarming.
My love for NITW shrouded me with doubt immediately and for that reflex, I feel guilty.
Zoe was the Genesis of gamergate. She went through hell. And now she's invited that again. If that's not bravery, I don't know what is. What the fuck Alec.
I hope Zoe can heal but this is just another big band aid removal. It's going to sting her again. Hopefully not too long. I also stand by everyone else at Finji (not Alec) because they're a great indie team and they're good to chat with as people.
Zoe was the Genesis of gamergate. She went through hell. And now she's invited that again. If that's not bravery, I don't know what is. What the fuck Alec.
I hope Zoe can heal but this is just another big band aid removal. It's going to sting her again. Hopefully not too long. I also stand by everyone else at Finji (not Alec) because they're a great indie team and they're good to chat with as people.
Having been rightfully abandoned by the audience they had nurtured for years, that site's administration performed the hardest pivot I've seen in my life lol.
It's beyond painful to think about all the hate and abuse Zoe has been subjected to, offline and on. I have so much respect for how strong she is to withstand all of this, and how brave she has been in coming forward to shine a spotlight on these monsters. She is a true hero.
Like Hollywood, this industry has a real problem with how many disgusting criminals are involved in positions of power. This will keep happening until they are all exposed, unfortunately gamer culture is toxic to the core and filled with legions of trolls who work to prevent these rapists from exposed rather than have it impact their favorite hobby.
Man, Zoe Quinn has been through so much shit. Good on her for speaking up. This is absolutely fucking horrible.
NITW is an amazing game and im disgusted that one of its main creators is a disgusting human being. I cant.
Zoe is really brave because I can only imagine what kind of vitriol she's receiving and will receive.
Why are humans so capable of such evil.
Why are humans so capable of such evil.
Would be real useful if there was a website where you could search for the name of a game and it'll tell you if, by buying it, you'd be giving money to someone who truly doesn't deserve it. Stuff like this, and the Ion Fury shit, the THQ shit, and however many other things, there's just more than I can possibly keep track of and it'd be so handy if there was an easy way to find all this stuff out pre-purchase. There's no game I'd ever need to play badly enough to give someone like this a sale.
The state of this industry.
The state of this industry.
Bloody hell, Zoe cannot catch a damn break, can she? What Alec did was fucked up.
And it's frustrating hearing that he's associated with a game I really liked, but then again, fortunately, it's not the parts I actually liked about the game, and it seems the other co-creators are just as shocked and angry as the rest of us, going by Henry's tweets. I really hope he's basically blacklisted from working with other devs ever again, though from what I'm seeing from second-hand accounts he's already burned quite a few bridges already.
And it's frustrating hearing that he's associated with a game I really liked, but then again, fortunately, it's not the parts I actually liked about the game, and it seems the other co-creators are just as shocked and angry as the rest of us, going by Henry's tweets. I really hope he's basically blacklisted from working with other devs ever again, though from what I'm seeing from second-hand accounts he's already burned quite a few bridges already.
If you look on Twitter, Zoe felt able to come forward directly as a result of Nathalie exposing Jeremy Soule. It sounds like a lot of people are reaching out to them with similar stories, so I would expect more names to drop in the next few days.
I would gladly support the creation of a database or website that tracked industry monsters like this. Everyone has the right to be fully aware of who their money is supporting.
This is a great idea, I hope someone eventually does this. It would also be great as a platform to pressure game companies to dissasociate with these people, to get their games off the list.
I mean, GG already has blacklists like these for developers / journalists that have denounced them (which of course are quite hilariously long lists).
Indie gaming scene has one too many of these predators lurking around it preying on its most vulnerable. First it's Matt Con who still gets work and now this prick. It's sickening.
Apperently they started to talk openly about Phrenology only a few weeks after the change.
maybe the problem isnt gamer culture but their coworkers who somehow are always so shocked and didnt suspect a thing despite spending so much time around them
Oooooff, this hits me like a brick - Night in the Woods was one of my favourite games of 2017, thanks in part to its soundtrack. Heck, I even bought the OST on Bandcamp because I enjoyed it so much.
After all the shit Zoe has been through, it takes a lot of courage to come forward with this. All the support to them - abusers like Alec should have no place in this industry.
After all the shit Zoe has been through, it takes a lot of courage to come forward with this. All the support to them - abusers like Alec should have no place in this industry.
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