It's disappointing that it's come to this. For what it's worth, Munkao sent this to Kickstarter backers.
A Response And Refutation To Zedeck Siew’s Statement on 10, July 2023
Posted by Centaur Games Jul 10, 2023
View on Kickstarter Hi folks,
I am saddened to post this update, Zedeck and I will no longer be collaborating on ATTI. He has also posted a statement.
This is very hard for me to respond. As an introvert, I have preferred to maintain a low public presence and work behind the scenes. I am not used to confrontation and internet outrage. I am insanely surprised by what Zedeck wrote and his insinuations.
I will address all the allegations.
As Background
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A Thousand Thousand Islands (ATTI) is a research and world building project I started in 2015, as a desire to reimagine Southeast Asian fantasy and in response to playing Dungeons & Dragons 5e. I started a Patreon account for it and the first post was in February 2017. I always intended to use it as a springboard for different Southeast Asian games, not RPG specifically. It was always my intent to make different games based on the ATTI name.
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In September 2017, I finished a series of drawings and asked Zedeck if he wanted to collaborate on turning it into a zine. MrKrGr zine was the first project under ATTI. I paid Zedeck a few hundred ringgit for his work. And I printed the zine.
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MrKrGr was followed by other zines that Zedeck and I collaborated on. Except for 2 zines, each project was initiated by me: both concept and artwork. For every instance, I have paid him as much as I could, often at a loss to myself.
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As the ATTI project in zine/ROTG form became popular, I decided to focus all my efforts and resources to make ATTI a viable business. I also received a funding grant to develop a video game based on ATTI.
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In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, I told Zedeck that I wanted to focus on turning ATTI into a proper business. I used all the money I had (not a lot but all my savings) to pay the both of us for developing more zines and eventually, Reach of the Roach God, even before the Kickstarter.
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At various times, I asked Zedeck to contribute in terms of non-creative work. At no point did he volunteer money or effort on this front. There were many 12 hour days for me figuring out banks, logistics and production on my own.
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This was and still is an incredibly stressful time. Not only were we in the midst of a pandemic, I had to learn to run a business and risked losing my life’s savings.
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All the money previously earned from the zines and the ROTG Kickstarter, I churned back into paying both of us a salary.
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I did an insane amount of art for ATTI, way way more than what my salary paid for.
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My partner volunteered time from her job to help set up the ATTI website. She was not compensated.
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In short, I started ATTI as a research project, started most of the zines and books, did an insane amount of work, paid Zedeck fairly, did all the work a publishing company does including layout, sourcing a printer, packaging and delivery.
In Response To Zedeck’s Statement
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Zedeck says he wants to be an equal partner, and has said it is something I refused. This is patently not true.
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In September 2022, Zedeck asked for equal rights to ATTI, including the right to approve any future games I wanted to make under ATTI. He claimed that me putting my life’s savings, starting ATTI, doing underpaid art, getting my partner to help out and putting in 12 hour days is equal to his contributions of championing ATTI on his social media platforms. (I only found out later that publishers get 50% of profit)
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I was shocked and initially agreed. I have at every point of our negotiations, tried to give in to his demands.
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Last week, I decided to contact Zedeck to renegotiate the draft agreement for something fairer.
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It is true that ATTI was named by him. My original name is “A Thousand Islands”, he suggested adding another “Thousand” to it.
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It is also true that he contributed to ATTI’s TTRPG direction and popularity.
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But to me, it is unfair if these are the reasons for me to lose something I started.
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What Zedeck wants is to take away my rights to use ATTI as a name, as well as fair compensation for all the hard work I put in. For all his defence of artists, Zedeck has chosen to think less of my labour.
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In his statement, Zedeck implied that he has not been paid for his work since April 2023. This is unfair. We both agreed that he will not be paid once ROTG enters the production and logistics stage because he is not involved. Zedeck has always been paid promptly RM3000 a month for the last year, as have I.
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He implies that he will be robbed of all royalties in the future, this is untrue. I have never said this, this is something he has decided himself. Furthermore if he has decided to ban all future reprints, what royalties are there? Zedeck Siew is guaranteed a split of whatever profit from ROTRG and fair royalties, At no point of negotiating was his fair share denied to him.
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What I am negotiating is what is also fair for me. A right to use ATTI as I originally intended when I created the project, fair compensation for the work I have put in as a publisher and artist.
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Zedeck says his past 10 months have been horrible for him. It has been the same for me.
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He has been a good friend of mine for 10 years. Throughout that 10 years of working with him, I have made sure to pay him as much as I can afford and especially made sure he does not feel cheated.
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I make incredible efforts to make sure people are paid and treated fairly.
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A short summary of Zedeck’s demands:
Equal rights to ATTI as a name, denying me what I started. The right to deny me the publication of work I started. No compensation for my underpaid art No compensation for all the work I have done as a publisher
Munkao
11 July 2023
Using it now. It's great!