When a Mother Learns 3D Printing and Cyberpunk 2077 to Commemorate Her Late Son

Weilin Li -- Superpixel When the reporter made contact with Maimai, the creator of the visual novel Dullpain, she seemed to have already recovered from the shock of being harassed and doxxed online. The unfortunate event happened for a very odd reason: her game has a 5,888 CNY (~825 USD) crowdfunding supporter tier. Early this month, Maimai launched a crowdfunding campaign for her new game  Dullpain which tells the story of a repair shop shopkeeper traveling through time and space with other people's memories. It's her third game and most devoted work yet.

This is my story..... In the quiet solitude of my childhood, gaming was not just an escape; it was my only companion, my silent friend in a world where I felt invisible. The rooms of my home echoed with the silence of my solitude, a constant reminder of the friendships I longed for but never had. Each day merged into the next, a monotonous cycle of loneliness that seemed endless. But there was a glimmer of hope, a single ray of light in the dimness of my daily existence. Every evening, as the sun set and shadows danced along the walls of my room, I would listen intently for the sound that meant the world to me: the weary footsteps of my dad. No matter how grueling his day, how heavy the burdens he bore, he would find his way to me, to share in the one activity that bridged the chasm of our worlds—playing Roll Cage Stage 2 on our old PlayStation. Those moments were sacred. The outside world, with all its noise and chaos, faded away, leaving just the two of us in our shared universe. We were equals in that space, driver and co-driver, navigating the twists and turns of virtual racetracks. The joy I felt during those times was palpable, a vibrant force that filled the room, dispelling the shadows of my loneliness. Yet, even in those precious hours, reality lingered at the edges. I could see the fatigue etched deeply into my father's face, a silent testament to his dedication and love. Often, he would succumb to his exhaustion, his head nodding gently as sleep claimed him. But it never mattered to me that our sessions were cut short. His presence was the gift, his effort to share in my world, a sacrifice that spoke louder than words. The cruelty of life is that it often takes away the things we treasure most, before we're ready to let them go. My father's departure from this world was abrupt, leaving a void no amount of time could fill. I never had the chance to say goodbye, to tell him how those evening gaming sessions were the beacon of light in my childhood, how they shaped the person I've become. Now, decades removed from those cherished evenings, I hold onto the memory of our shared laughter and teamwork, the gentle sound of his breathing as he dozed off, controller in hand. These memories are a bittersweet reminder of what I've lost, but also of the incredible bond we shared. Through gaming, my father left me with the most profound legacy: the realization that love, in any form, can transcend time, space, and even death. This is why gaming will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's a reminder of the love and sacrifice my dad showed me, a connection that, though he is gone, remains unbreakable. So, I share this story not for sympathy, but to honor the incredible bond we had, a bond forged in the digital worlds we explored together, a testament to the enduring power of love.

For better or for worse, we’re never going to forget about Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red’s overambitious RPG promised far more than it could deliver when it launched in late 2020, and it has become more than a mere game. It’s a symbol of games industry hubris, of marketing campaigns that break free from the boring chains of reality, and of the chaos caused by years of feature-creep. The term “Cyberpunk” now is a benchmark for badness in the popular consciousness, a mental nadir other botched launches can approach but never quite reach.