The time has come.

Our first official trailer is live and the community Discord is open, and of course this was only the beginning! As the foundations are laid we want to make two policies very clear, Content Creation and Dev Comms, and they’re not as scary as they sound.
Read on!

Content Creation

This policy is for 3D Art, 3D printing, AMVs, API Tools, App Development, Archive Curating, Artwork, Audiobooks, Blogs, Bonsai, Chainsaw Sculptures, Comedy Skits, Cosplay, Crafting, Digital Art, Drink Recipes, Educational Materials, Fan Merch, Fan Products, Fanfics, Food Recipes, Gif Making, Graffiti, Guides, Index Building, Infographics, Interactive Apps, Knife Wood Carving, Let's Plays, Live Content, Live Crafting, Lore Readers, Memes, Modding, Music, Music Remixes, Podcasts, Pre-Recorded Content, Programming, Sheet Music, Slice of Life Skits, Story Analysis, Story Writing, Streams, Traditional Art, Tutorials, Videos, Voice Acting, Websites, Wiki Makers, Zen Gardening, and pretty much anything you can think of…
There are only 3 rules:

1. It’s original content you made.
2. There is a point back to Volok Games and/or Chimera CUSTOM XG.
3. No NFTs or AI generated content, ever.

Some examples:

• Heather designed some really cute pins and sold them online. It is her artwork, her storefront, and in the item description she has “from Volok Games”. This is totally fine.
• Alex made traditional art from the game’s weaponry and turned it into a print to sell at a convention in their Artist Alley booth. It is their artwork, at their booth, with the price sign saying “Chimera CUSTOM XG’s [weapon name]”. That is completely acceptable.
• Parker traced the community emotes from the Discord server and put them on stickers to sell. This is not okay since technically he didn’t make the artwork himself.
• Tina took The Team profile artwork, cut out the characters in a program, and put them on shirts to sell. This is also not okay since it is still official artwork. Not cool, Tina.

It’s really that simple. You make it, you share or sell it, you point back. The justification is that it gives fairness across the board, we don’t want to stifle creativity in the least. Why does a streamer or youtuber not have that many restrictions but artists are met with rules and limitations? Not here, not with us. More than likely we’ll be picking up fan merch on our own here and there, we might even work alongside creators in the future, who knows!
That’s it, that’s the whole policy. So go forth, go create.
If you still have questions don't be nervous! We have a channel in our Discord specifically for Content Creation related questions.
Join us by clicking here!

Dev Comms

This is not as scary or as limiting as the title makes it out to be, this policy is simply a guideline for how player to dev and vice versa interactions should go.
“The devs are to be treated fairly and respectfully in all forms of communication. Personal attacks, belittling, purposefully redundant questioning, unwarranted negative comments, threats of any nature, doxxing, and all other forms of abusive communication will not be tolerated in any form, duration, or aspect regardless of the player’s community standing, social media follower count, stream/youtube subscriber count, game hours played, products purchased, ect.”
Note that “being passionate” is never a good excuse for this kind of behavior. This same stance is taken for player to player interactions, to ensure we’re building an inclusive, positive space from the start. That is our gold standard because we value the mental health of our dev team and the general health of the community in its many facets
There is no space for toxic behavior and anyone who brings it will be removed.

Epilogue

The launch of the beta of course doesn’t mean we only fix a couple things, fully launch, and then never touch the game again. We want you, the community, to come on this journey as the game continues to grow. This isn’t the only chapter of Chimera Custom XG either so now is the perfect time to get in on the ground floor.
Don’t forget to wishlist on Steam!
Welcome aboard, CUSTOM soldier.
Sincerely, ~Team Volok

TW: SUICIDE/BEING SUICIDAL

backstory: i was friends with this guy named ryan on discord. god, we were inseparable (foreshadowing). one day he started saying dumb shit like disliking neopronouns and therians (you may not like them, but just put yourself in my shoes as someone who does support them.). i started getting annoyed with him more. he was suicidal, which i was NOT annoyed by. i was there for him, but some people said that might've been manipulation. especially seeing that he seems to be doing fine? i hope this isn't insensitive, but he is still alive so i'm not sure if he really was suicidal. anyways, the only reason i mention this is because he might've been manipulative in saying he was suicidal and saying he had made "plans" but i helped him go through with those plans just by being there. sounds kinda manipulative but idk. then he did graffiti in a random bathroom. maybe i was being dumb about this. i told him it was bad and he shouldn't have done it. (backstory 2: i occasionally pirate retro games that aren't sold first-hand anymore) and he said that pirating games is also bad. i get that, but also, pirating old games that the creators wont even get money from anymore since they don't sell it isn't really harming them. anyways months later, i was getting more and more annoyed. i dont know why. i guess all that stuff was just piling on. the worst part is, the apologized for the therians and neopronouns. eventually, i ended our friendship, blocked him, we had one final (very short) conversation using the statuses (if u use discord u know what i'm talking about) and said our goodbyes. present day: i regret it. i realized, he was probably a great friend (if he wasn't manipulative which i'm unsure of). i thinking about messaging him again, but i'm not sure. what should i do? 

TW: SUICIDE/BEING SUICIDAL

backstory: i was friends with this guy named ryan on discord. god, we were inseparable (foreshadowing). one day he started saying dumb shit like disliking neopronouns and therians (you may not like them, but just put yourself in my shoes as someone who does support them.). i started getting annoyed with him more. he was suicidal, which i was NOT annoyed by. i was there for him, but some people said that might've been manipulation. especially seeing that he seems to be doing fine? i hope this isn't insensitive, but he is still alive so i'm not sure if he really was suicidal. anyways, the only reason i mention this is because he might've been manipulative in saying he was suicidal and saying he had made "plans" but i helped him go through with those plans just by being there. sounds kinda manipulative but idk. then he did graffiti in a random bathroom. maybe i was being dumb about this. i told him it was bad and he shouldn't have done it. (backstory 2: i occasionally pirate retro games that aren't sold first-hand anymore) and he said that pirating games is also bad. i get that, but also, pirating old games that the creators wont even get money from anymore since they don't sell it isn't really harming them. anyways months later, i was getting more and more annoyed. i dont know why. i guess all that stuff was just piling on. the worst part is, the apologized for the therians and neopronouns. eventually, i ended our friendship, blocked him, we had one final (very short) conversation using the statuses (if u use discord u know what i'm talking about) and said our goodbyes. present day: i regret it. i realized, he was probably a great friend (if he wasn't manipulative which i'm unsure of). i thinking about messaging him again, but i'm not sure. what should i do? 

The Truth was an anthology in the truest sense of the word. Each episode was a new present to unwrap. It is kind of surreal that it is gone now.
I recently did a partial review of The Truth on my blog, and I thought I’d share it with you guys here.
The Truth is an anthology of nearly 200 episodes spanning a wide variety of genres. It billed itself as movies for the ears, and it certainly lived up to that description. Now, it is true that quite a few audio dramas fit that description, but you have to consider the context that The Truth occurred in. The first episode of The Truth premiered way back in 2011. The indie audio drama community was still very much in its infancy. Fiction podcasts tended to be short story readings like StarShipSofa or Lightspeed Magazine. If you were lucky, you might get something like The Drabblecast, with music and sound-effects added to the mix. The Truth was a full-cast show, performed rather than read, and with immersive sound-effects and music.
The Truth was an anthology in the purest sense of the word. Each episode was a new present to unwrap. It spanned multiple genres and styles. The early years did tend to be a bit more experimental in terms of material. I had the opportunity to chat with series creator Jonathan Mitchell. Jonathan described these early episodes as scenes rather than stories. True, they are certainly shorter than later episodes, but that’s hardly a bad thing. Each of them was like a snapshot into a different life, and they were certainly memorable snapshots. I’m not the only one who is of this opinion. Many episodes from this era of The Truth were featured on various programs such as All Things Considered, Weekend America, Planet Money, This American Life, and Studio 360. Eventually, the need to pay the bills came knocking. So, the episodes began to favor longer stories in order to provide more space for ad breaks. Now, some people say this was the era when The Truth went into decline. Personally, I strongly disagree. There were still many quality episodes being produced.
The real decline, ironically, was around the time The Truth celebrated its tenth anniversary. Well, maybe not entirely ironically. I have noticed that many anthology podcasts tend to start going stale around the ten year mark. It was at this point the misses started to outnumber the hit. Now, to be fair, there were still a few diamonds in the rough. That being said, it was clear that the writers’ well of inspiration was starting to run dry. The episodes also increasingly had the same feel to them. The decline of The Truth didn’t come with a bang, but with a whimper.
It is certainly sad that the curtain has finally fallen on The Truth. No show can last forever. Eventually, if you smolder well past your time, you will see a steady decline in quality. In the immortal words of Harvey Dent, you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. I certainly hope that The Truth is always remember for what it was, rather than the decline it saw during its final season.
And that, my friends, is what this review is all about. We are going to celebrate The Truth in all its myriad ways. From those early “snapshots of a life” episodes, to the more full-length episodes. We will also look at a few less than stellar episodes. They can make for a good teaching moment about what not to do.
Okay, all well and good, but what about science fiction? Well, I have reviewed three episodes that invovle science fiction.
“Moon Graffiti” is an alternate history tale. It is set in a world where The Eagle lander of Apollo 11 crash landed on the Moon. We follow Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin musing on life as they wait for their oxygen to run out.
“Brain Chemistry” follows a man named Richard. He was cryogenically preserved, but he’s been revived. The future isn’t quite what he expected. Oh, climate change is a bit of an issue, but the people are nice enough. Unfortunately, Richard, and others like him, could only be revived as a brain in a jar. He spends his days as an exhibit in a museum. He tells visitors, usually kids on field trips, about what the 21st Century was like. One day, he meets another cryonically preserved brain named Casey. Richard hasn’t had much to look forward to in a long time, but Casey lights up his world. They might be a couple of brains in jars, but they’ve got serious chemistry.
“Fish Girl” follows a girl named Win who has the ability to talk to fish. She befriends a porcupine pufferfish named Jane. Jane lives at an aquarium store, but longs to see the ocean. Win can’t do that, but she can take her down to the pond. Safely in a plastic bag, of course. It’s sure to be the adventure of a lifetime for them both.
This is merely part one. I’ll be making a part two, so be on the lookout for that in the near future. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s part three eventually.
Like I said, this just the start. More to come in the future.
Link to the full review is over here: http://drakoniandgriffalco.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-audio-file-truth-part-1.html?m=0

Since we have a ton of new users, I want to get some canon and long running lore out there for all to see. Please feel free to add anything I missed in the comments.
Canon:
HaveWeMet was initially intended not to have anything canon; however, over the years, there have been a handful of things that have become accepted as canon. When Cedar and I became mods last May, we spoke with Dave, the sub creator, and the Discord Mod team about what should be canon. This is what was decided:

1. The town name is Lower Duck Pond. That was the name put on a town newspaper years ago and it stuck. The town is never called anything else. Lower Duck Pond is now canon.
2. Upper Duck Pond is a nearby town that is a rival of Lower Duck Pond. Direction isn't established, but it is the closest town.
3. Hydroelectric City is the closest big city. Direction and distance aren't established.
4. Rosewater is a nearby resort town that is on an ocean. Direction and distance aren't established.

The only other established "canon" items are as follows:

1. The mayor is a user who is elected to the position each year. The current mayor is u/latethelast aka Dracula Jones.
2. Dave (the sub creator) is the President of the Town Council even if he isn't around much anymore
3. Sandy and Moira are both on the town council as well, which denotes their status as Mod accounts. FYI- The Moira account is a shared mod account we rarely check. Please do not DM her.
4. Cedar is IT for the town and maintains the town forum. This is the role Cedar chose over council member when we were made mods.

Now, on to long running lore! Most of the regulars have their own long running lore for their characters, but here are some for the town itself.

• In general, the town council & sheriff/police department are inept. It is why there is always potholes, graffiti, unannounced road work, etc.
• How capable the mayor is can be up to the user who is currently mayor, but they have no real power.
• King's Falls National Park is located in or near LDP.
• Richland High School and Central High School are the high schools in LDP. There could be more than 2, but these are the names that keep reoccurring.

I know I'm forgetting some. Any regulars let me know what I've forgotten and I'll add it.

I recently did a partial review of The Truth on my blog, and I thought I’d share it with you guys here.
The Truth is an anthology of nearly 200 episodes spanning a wide variety of genres. It billed itself as movies for the ears, and it certainly lived up to that description. Now, it is true that quite a few audio dramas fit that description, but you have to consider the context that The Truth occurred in. The first episode of The Truth premiered way back in 2011. The indie audio drama community was still very much in its infancy. Fiction podcasts tended to be short story readings like StarShipSofa or Lightspeed Magazine. If you were lucky, you might get something like The Drabblecast, with music and sound-effects added to the mix. The Truth was a full-cast show, performed rather than read, and with immersive sound-effects and music.
The Truth was an anthology in the purest sense of the word. Each episode was a new present to unwrap. It spanned multiple genres and styles. The early years did tend to be a bit more experimental in terms of material. I had the opportunity to chat with series creator Jonathan Mitchell. Jonathan described these early episodes as scenes rather than stories. True, they are certainly shorter than later episodes, but that’s hardly a bad thing. Each of them was like a snapshot into a different life, and they were certainly memorable snapshots. I’m not the only one who is of this opinion. Many episodes from this era of The Truth were featured on various programs such as All Things Considered, Weekend America, Planet Money, This American Life, and Studio 360. Eventually, the need to pay the bills came knocking. So, the episodes began to favor longer stories in order to provide more space for ad breaks. Now, some people say this was the era when The Truth went into decline. Personally, I strongly disagree. There were still many quality episodes being produced.
The real decline, ironically, was around the time The Truth celebrated its tenth anniversary. Well, maybe not entirely ironically. I have noticed that many anthology podcasts tend to start going stale around the ten year mark. It was at this point the misses started to outnumber the hit. Now, to be fair, there were still a few diamonds in the rough. That being said, it was clear that the writers’ well of inspiration was starting to run dry. The episodes also increasingly had the same feel to them. The decline of The Truth didn’t come with a bang, but with a whimper.
It is certainly sad that the curtain has finally fallen on The Truth. No show can last forever. Eventually, if you smolder well past your time, you will see a steady decline in quality. In the immortal words of Harvey Dent, you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. I certainly hope that The Truth is always remember for what it was, rather than the decline it saw during its final season.
And that, my friends, is what this review is all about. We are going to celebrate The Truth in all its myriad ways. From those early “snapshots of a life” episodes, to the more full-length episodes. We will also look at a few less than stellar episodes. They can make for a good teaching moment about what not to do.
This is merely part one. I’ll be making a part two, so be on the lookout for that in the near future. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s part three eventually.
But I wanted to start off with a good solid foundation. To that end, I reviewed the episodes “Moon Graffiti”, “Eat Cake”, “That’s Democracy”, “Do You Have a Minute for Equality”, “Brain Chemistry”, “Fish Girl”, and “Mall Santa.”
Like I said, this just the start. More to come in the future.
Link to the full review is over here: http://drakoniandgriffalco.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-audio-file-truth-part-1.html?m=0