The future of PureSim

[puresimmer]

Hey guys, I have a pretty important announcement.

As of today, I am retiring from commercial development of PureSim. I will continue to work on the game at my leisure and release updates, but PureSim 2007 is the last commercial release of the game.

Through a combination of my wife pointing out to me that I spend almost every non-real-job hour on the game, and the fact that I have a pretty stressful (increasingly so due to a recent promotion) real job I have decided to back off. My wife made a pretty heartfelt plea to re-engage with the family and I think she is right.

This doesn't mean PureSim is dead, it just means I will no longer charge for future updates, and I'll do things on my own time. I will most likely just make the game freely available at some point soon.

I want to thank Matrix Games, and specifically David Heath for their great support over the last few years. Matrix is a great company and I would strongly suggest that any developer looking to get published consider Matrix. I have to say, Matrix really has nothing to do with this decision -- Dave has NEVER imposed a deadline on me, or been even remotely difficult to work with. In fact the opposite is true.

Dave, thanks for everything!

- Shaun

Best Regards,
Shaun

[timtellean1]

Wow!!!!!!!!! Shaun you make a great game but I truly understand and respect the decison of family first they are the only thing that matter.

[KG Erwin]

My first knee-jerk response is "say it isn't so!", but I understand. You've given us a great game as it presently exists. Anything more is just icing on the cake.

Thanks for your time and your efforts, Shaun. I really think that this game is a classic, as is, so be proud of what you've done.

[verizon32]

Thanks Shaun

Best of Luck to you and your family

This was my first version getting Puresim 2007. I love it.

Sad there will be no Puresim 2008, but I am glad you will continue to support Puresim 2007 and continue to offer free updates for it.

[puresimmer]

Even better! I will just release free updates to PS 2007 for as long as people are interested!

[verizon32]

ORIGINAL: puresimmer

Even better! I will just release free updates to PS 2007 for as long as people are interested!

Awesome. A lot of people are interest and are a big fan of yours.

[sposfan]

Shaun, 
 
As someone who's been playing Puresim since day 1, I'd like to say thank you for a great game! I totally understand your situation and wish you and your family all the best. This latest version is the best one by far ( I actually just started a new career the other day!)! You've done a great job and come a long way since the first version.
 
Take care of yourself and your family and we'll look forward to more puresim! 

[Edward]

Thanks for everything. I respect your decision.

[tbear2b]

Good luck in the real world. Thanks for a great game.

[jsriddle831]

Shaun,

I've enjoyed your game over the years, and know from personal experience you are making a wise decision when listening to your spouse and family. You can never get back lost time with them.

Best wishes to you and your loved ones. Thanks again for a great game.

[Beach23BoyP]

Shaun,

Sorry to see this happen. PS was a really fantastic achievement by "one man".

I've been gone lately because I've been XBox 360ing on my 65" big screen. College Hoop 2K7's coach/management sim is tremendous with both great game play graphics and a fairly deep coaching simulation. And the basketball games it produces are often barn burners. However, it is basketball and not baseball.

PS came very close to what I always wanted in a baseball game. Now the pressure is off and you can just add a thing or two now and then. Thanks!

[JoeRockhead]

Best wish's Shaun. Thanks for making this game. I have come to really enjoy it.

[Marc Duffy]

Shaun
 
This is a big shock and real sad news for the Baseball gaming community but I'm really glad you'll continue to work on the game at your own pace ... you are one of the good guys!!
 
best of luck and next time you are in London give me a bit more notice and we will meet up :)
 
Marc

[VanScoy]

Oddly enough, I am happy. Happy for you, Shaun, that you are smart enough to value things correctly and happy for PureSim since it goes out on top, as a good, solid game that never alienated its fans, try too hard to add complicated features and is totally playable forever in it's current state.

Best of luck!

[rasnell]

It is a shame that someone who brings such baseball simming joy to the world cannot be as rich as Bill Gates. I wished your passion for the game could have translated into full-time income.
 
I've been with you since the start and will continue watching for your future updates.
 
We've seen the decline of so many other baseball titles.
 
You and Markus Heinsohn have always been kind to each other -- and appropriately competitive with the advances in both of your games. One year he pulls ahead of you; last year was your best product ever, with in-game ball flight, affinity mode, and the ease and visual grace of simming a historical game. I expect Markus to set the new standard in the market in 2007.
 
I hope that Markus is able to keep Out of the Park going for many years because he's our last hope with you out of the market.
 
I think many of us have purchased every baseball sim (and arcade version) ever made. This is a loss to that world.
 
Is there any way to talk your wife into becoming a baseball fan and joining a baseball sim league? She would understand the passion and the addiction then.

[URett]

First of all Shaun, thank you for all your work over the years. Other games might have taken up my time temporarily, but I always came back to PureSim.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but how close did you ever come to doing this full-time?

[puresimmer]

ORIGINAL: URett

First of all Shaun, thank you for all your work over the years. Other games might have taken up my time temporarily, but I always came back to PureSim.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but how close did you ever come to doing this full-time?

So close I could taste it.

[Dale And Elis Dad]

Shaun:

As someone who's had various interactions with you over the years, I can't say I'm completely shocked by your decision.  You have always been a class act and a great person.  You're the kind of guy who always had his priorities in place and never allowed yourself to be drug into the petty squabbles that can sometimes effect a business.  The way you've conducted yourself in regards to Markus & other sims has been stellar.

So when I read that your wife came to you and asked you to re-prioritize your life because you may have lost some focus on the family and you made the decision to walk away I said to myself "THAT is why Shaun's a class act."  You made a very tough decision that many folks wouldn't have been able to make themselves.  You even said you were very close to being able to do this full time...and so many men would have told their wives to hang on just a little longer.

You are in inspiration, Shaun.  Part of me hopes your decision will weigh in on other guys in the same situation to make them check themselves. 

Just know a lot of loyal foot soldiers in General Heinsohn's army are standing and saluting you today, Sir.

Jason

[Amaroq]

[X(]

Shaun, wow, what to say? [:(]

I can understand and empathize with your decision; I've certainly had to make similar choices of my own, and family came out "most important" in my choices as well.

However, this is a very sad day, in my mind: I firmly believe that this genre can and will grow out of a "niche" market, but seeing you take a step back from commercial, and knowing that that means you haven't found it commercially viable despite the incredible work you've done and your reputation for customer service - thats a hard blow not just for fans of the game, but for the entire genre.

You, my friend, have been an inspiration and a role model for me: when, as you know I intend to, I go into this business myself, your classy behavior, great work ethic, and customer-service focus will be my personal measuring stick, in much the same way that I use my memories of my late grandfather as a measuring stick for my personal integrity.

Wishing you all the best, my friend, and love to both you and yours.

-Amaroq

[Bustoff]

Shaun, about three decades ago I had to make the same kind of decision. I made the right one. You did too.