The First Tree 
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My new game is We Harvest Shadows, a first-person farming horror allegorySep 12, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsIt's been a crazy few weeks! My new game I revealed to the world at gamescom is called We Harvest Shadows, a first-person farming horror allegory. Here's the trailer: I released a demo along with the big announcement, and the reaction has been absolutely wonderful. People love it! I really had no idea if people would like it or not, especially from all the lukewarm reactions I got when showing the game to publishers and playtesters. Countless content creators and streamers have said this is now their most anticipated indie game of the year, and might be the most interesting horror game of the last few years. I can't tell you the relief I'm feeling. If you would like to play a beautiful (but scary) story-driven anti-cozy game like this, then please wishlist We Harvest Shadows on Steam. The support would be amazing. Thank you for everything! Sincerely, DavidMy new game will be revealed in the Opening Night Live pre-showAug 14, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsHello friends, it's been a while! I'm still around believe it or not, and I'm really excited to announce my new game to the world soon. It's very different from The First Tree, but it still shares my love for personal and emotional storytelling in games. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/27092572/f429d0b063d6d5f16f26e8408dcce051a408e591.jpg Geoff Keighley and Kyle Bosman have invited me to share my game for the first time during the Opening Night Live stream for gamescom (!!!!!!). There's also a surprise announcement during the reveal, so be sure to watch the whole pre-show on August 20th. If you're going to gamescom, please come find my booth in the Indies of America (in the Indie Hall, 10.2) section and come say hi! Elise, who voiced Rachel and helped a lot with The First Tree, will be there too! This is my first time in Germany, and I'm looking forward to meeting you all. I can't wait to share this new game with you. I've been working on it in secret for years now, and I think some of you will really like it. I'm pretty nervous, but I'm excited to share this new story with you. Sincerely, DavidEarth Appreciation Sale, 90% off The First Tree! + Live StreamApr 20, 2022 - Community AnnouncementsHi everyone, I was invited to the Earth Appreciation Festival sale on Steam, and my game is the cheapest it will ever be, which is 90% off! I'm also broadcasting a pre-recorded stream when I played my whole game from beginning to end and showed off all the easter eggs, so that will be running on loop for the next few days. Watch the stream on the store page, and thanks for your support! http://store.steampowered.com/app/555150/The_First_Tree/The First Tree Limited Edition, now available!Dec 3, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsI know, I know, you're probably thinking "a Nintendo Switch announcement here!?" ...BUT, this is a really special thing that I've worked hard on, and I think most fans of my game would find this limited edition interesting. This will be the last thing I release regarding The First Tree. A big thanks to all the amazing people who've played my game and enjoyed the journey. Without further ado, here's what you get in the full special limited edition: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/27092572/3bbc012c7b1640abf2fde74c2d62b3d7ca6cb0e2.jpg I've partnered with Strictly Limited Games, and we're both excited to share this collection with everyone. Pre-orders are open NOW, and there's only a couple thousand units available, then it's gone forever! Thank you for all the support, I can't believe this game is worthy of a physical release like this, and it's something I'll treasure the rest of my life. I'm excited to keep making games, and I can't wait to show you what's next. Sincerely, DavidA personal update + my next gameSep 8, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsOK, time to do this. I’ve been meaning to do a big DAVID WEHLE™ update for a while now and explain why I haven’t released a new game yet, but you know how life gets in the way. Especially when life is a quarantine hellscape, you have three beautiful, amazing, exhausting kids to raise, a spouse’s job you support, a viral YouTube channel that turns your brain to mush, a thousand emails waiting in your inbox since your game is free on the Epic Games Store (with an impressive number of redemptions too! … meaning lots of emails and customer support issues), etc., etc. What also contributes to my lack of updates is because… I just don’t really like posting online. Fascinating correlation, I know! Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a venting/ranting blog post (well, maybe a bit), because my life is seriously AMAZING and INSANELY BLESSED and LUCKY. I can’t believe how many dreams keep coming true, so much so that I feel I don’t deserve it and I really pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes… but I did want to at least be honest, because I owe that to myself. Wow, where do I even begin? Well, how about we start with the reason I’m even a full-time indie game dev now: The First Tree. This small hobby project I worked on at night morphed into this gargantuan beast (or fox) that took over my life the past 5 years. Which is great! I’m living the dream! And yet, I really didn’t expect it to do as well as it did. At its core, my game is a slow-paced, sad walking simulator (ahem, I prefer the term “exploration game,” but you know what I mean) that somehow seemed to launch at the right time to the right audience. It resonated deeply with some of you, and for that I’m eternally grateful. I still get emails almost daily how my game changed their lives in some formative way. I’m beyond honored. However, with that spotlight came criticism and demands from the ever-present, insatiable internet. I would randomly be surfing the gamedev subreddit trying to decompress, and I would see a comment by some rando saying how much I didn’t deserve my success, and how it was all one huge lucky fluke. And I believed them! And to add to it, some devs considered me an indie marketing “guru”, which I was uncomfortable with. I worked hard to market my game every week, and after my GDC talk, people assumed marketing was my passion; the reason I got up every morning. Just to clarify… NO, I don’t like marketing, and I hate being the center of attention. I don’t like asking people for money and wishlists. But I did what was necessary because I was passionate about telling stories, and I wanted to give my story a fighting chance to be seen on the crowded pages of Steam. So now, you’re probably wondering “well then David, why did you make fancy YouTube videos showing off your success? Not very modest if you ask me.” This honestly could be a long blog post all on its own, because my experience of putting myself in the spotlight and becoming a “content creator” is… complicated. It was an unusua...My game dev school just launched! Steam followers get 40% offApr 14, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsIt finally happened after 2.5 years of work: my online school GAME DEV UNLOCKED hit version 1.0! There is so much content that I can't even type it all up, so I made this sweet sizzle reel of everything: Don't know how to code? No problem. Don't know how to market your game on social media? It's covered. Want to publish your games everywhere including Steam and consoles? You got it. I put my all into this learning resource, so if you've ever been tempted to make a game yourself and release it on Steam, you'll love this online course. I even walk you through how to make a beautiful exploration game called The Last Waterfall, and show you how to publish on Steam and start making money from game dev. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/27092572/8729d009781015244b3765b3e46af4023eb63a42.gif I'm very proud of all this content, and I would love if you joined our GDU family. It also has one of the best, nicest game dev communities ever, so take a look by clicking this link! You'll automatically redeem a coupon for 40% off! I'm excited to see what you create. :) - DavidVinyl release of The First Tree soundtrackFeb 1, 2021 - Community AnnouncementsI'm excited to announce that a limited edition vinyl OST of The First Tree is now available, courtesy of Mana Wave Media! It includes the gorgeous orchestral tracks by Josh Kramer, and also features new gorgeous artwork. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/27092572/4a08f5a6cec81c321e65fd95c81a5e1ed039fd14.jpg {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/27092572/e8c64dc36f36c41dfbe80751284fb569d0e24565.jpg Here's where you can buy a copy, hopefully there are still some in stock. All the income supports the record label and the composer, so if you loved the music in my game and you're a vinyl collector, I think you'll really like this record. Take care everyone, thanks for taking a look. :) - DavidLearn to make games like The First TreeJun 25, 2020 - Community AnnouncementsI made The First Tree without knowing code, while working full-time, and while taking care of a new baby, and somehow the game succeeded financially. I never thought this hobby would take off, and it's thanks to gamers like you. And one of the best parts of this game dev journey has been showing gamers how to get started making their own games and how to market them effectively. That's why I started an online school called Game Dev Unlocked. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/27092572/47b6bfc3510d8826ea1bd54e97f067785f6c5606.png I've put years of my life into making this the best learning resource available, and I think you'll find it pretty helpful. If you've ever wanted to make a game and share it with the world, now is the time to do that. Check out the GDU page to learn more: https://courses.gamedevunlocked.com/p/game-dev-unlocked If you ever have questions, send me an email or watch some of my YouTube videos I'm making about game development. Now let's go and finish some games! - DavidLet's Play The First Tree w/ the developer, David WehleMar 28, 2020 - Community Announcements{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/27092572/e9679b623fc605affa4f407e9717888477859648.jpg My first ever live stream! I'm gonna play through my second game The First Tree and answer questions about game development, reveal hidden easter eggs, and more. I'd love to see you, so come check it out and say hi, and if you've missed the stream, be sure to check out the replay for an in-depth look behind the scenes of The First Tree. https://youtu.be/qPdOQDy5yIALearn how to make games like The First TreeFeb 16, 2020 - Community AnnouncementsOne of the perks of making a B-list, semi-popular indie game is that I get to help a lot of aspiring game designers. I gave a talk recently at the Game Developers Conference, and even though I was nervous wreck beforehand, it was a dream come true to talk about my experiences on how I became a full-time indie dev. After that talk, my inbox exploded again, and after answering the same few questions over and over, I realized I should make a high-quality resource for people to learn. So I'm proud to introduce my new big project: Game Dev Unlocked. I'm almost ready for early access launch, so if you have any interest in game development and making a game for Steam, then I encourage you to sign up for the email newsletter and subscribe on YouTube. I'm gonna do tons of stuff like giveaways, free asset packs, and of course lots of game development tips. I hope this resource helps lots of aspiring game designers, because in this day and age, it's never been easier to make a game, and the world is waiting to hear your story! It's a lot of work, and it can be a gamble, but trust me—it's worth it! Thanks for all your support. It's because of you that I get to make games for a living. Please email me at david at thefirsttree dot com if you have any questions, I love to help where I can! - DWMac 64-bit fixFeb 15, 2020 - Community AnnouncementsI've been getting some reports with the Mac version (not launching, glitchy graphics, IK animation bugs with the fox), so I updated Unity and uploaded a new build which should fix those issues. Remember, if you have any issues with crashing, please don't hesitate to report them to me on the Steam forums and get a refund! Thanks for all your help in reporting these issues.Merch Now Available!Jul 22, 2019 - Community Announcementshttps://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/27092572/55dead07135cedcdea62ea6dea8972fa2e67fe8c.jpg I'm happy to announce that a variety of The First Tree shirts and posters are now available to buy! I teamed up with Printful and a couple of artists for these beautiful designs, and I'm excited to share them with you! My new dream is to see a random stranger wearing one of these on the street one day, so don't let me down! ;) Here's a link to the store. Thanks for the support everyone, it means a lot!World Environment Day + Charity!Jun 3, 2019 - Community Announcementshttps://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/27092572/ac1037b141807b069c65608e26bc3819f18cf4ae.png The First Tree has been invited to a special sale event on Steam to celebrate World Environment Day! So for the next four days, my game is 60% off and 15% of the net profits will be donated to nature and environment conservation. I already have a charity organization picked out, but for legal reasons I can't share the name yet. Rest assured it's a good one! If you want any future updates, charity or otherwise, follow me on Twitter! Thanks everyone for all the support, it means the world to me (and hey, buying the game now will help the world in the process!).The First Tree physical release for PS4, now availableApr 12, 2019 - Community Announcementshttps://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/27092572/7f036141da0f4284dd5ce526a29735502ec720df.png For any console collectible friends out there, thought you'd want to know this: Limited Run Games just released a very limited edition physical release of The First Tree for PlayStation 4! It's available now (and another release will be today at 6 p.m. EST). They will probably sell out fast since it's such a small print. Hey, where's the Nintendo Switch physical release? Limited Run Games wanted to try PS4 first and see if there's enough demand. So cross your fingers this sale does really well, and then we might be seeing a Switch version later. Thank you for your support during all this time! I recently quit my day job to make games full-time which is kinda scary but kinda amazing, and it's thanks to my early supporters like yourself. Keep being awesome.Wot I Think: The First TreeJan 15, 2019 - Rock, Paper, Shotgun Developer: David Wehle Publisher: David Wehle Release: Out now On: Windows, Mac, Linux From: Steam, GOG, Itch Price: 8, $10, 10 There is a fine line a lot of introspective indie games are walking, between a careful exploration of memories and events, and solipsism. For me, The First Tree leaps over that line with a clumsily implemented, wildly incongruous double-jump. Sanctimonious from the opening moments, this is a mediocre third-person exploration game made nauseating by the most self-obsessed narration I’ve ever encountered. It makes Dear Esther look like Tolstoy. (more…) Daily Deal - The First Tree, 50% OffJan 9, 2019 - AnnouncementToday's Deal: Save 50% on The First Tree!* Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are! *Offer ends Friday at 10AM Pacific Time Official soundtrack now available on iTunes, SpotifyJan 2, 2019 - Community AnnouncementsHappy New Years everyone! Josh Kramer, the talented composer who lent his music to The First Tree, just released a special album with all of his orchestral music. The best part is it comes with an amazing bonus track called "Starlight". The soundtrack doesn't include the two ending songs, but you can download them below separately via Bandcamp! A big thanks to Josh for letting his incredible music be licensed for The First Tree. It seems like yesterday that I would blast his song "Transformation" in my car as I went to work each morning, dreaming up the story of a lost fox and a lost son. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. iTunes link Spotify link Lowercase Noises - The First Glimmer of Wind Message to Bears - You Are a Memory Big, new update! The definitive version of The First Tree now available!Nov 30, 2018 - Community Announcementshttps://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/27092572/15466c2c623b0b55b2e60e6e2c0edc3e0f1152d1.gif Today is the day! The update I’ve been working on for almost a year is done, and along with it comes the definitive release of The First Tree on Steam, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PS4! All versions of the game are the same, which means Steam users get a long list of updates. Here are the most important ones: The biggest complaint has been the jumping physics, and that’s been totally redone. The double jump works more like other games. It’s more forgiving and less frustrating. Subtitle system have moved from choosing in-game to choosing via the Steam client. Right-click on the game in Steam, click Properties, and choose the Languages tab. Developer Commentary mode (that’s me!) is available, you can enable it in the options. Funny and interesting stories abound on how I made the game. Five new achievements, including a “Completionist” challenge which may result in a cool secret being revealed. Tons of new secret items added to the environment for you to come across. Controller vibration added. You can re-center the camera while using a gamepad by pressing in the right stick button. New UI indicators/graphics Countless bug fixes and optimizations There’s probably other stuff I’m forgetting but that’s the gist of it. Big thanks to DO Games for helping me with the porting duties and optimizations. If you’re interested in trying out the game on consoles, check out the official website and click the links there! Thanks guy for all the support the past year, it’s meant the world to me. - DWThe First Tree comes to consoles Nov 30thNov 7, 2018 - Community Announcementshttps://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/27092572/7b33b9d18651beedd982e385b537ab92ea703960.gif I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's almost here. On November 30th, you'll be able to once again take your journey to The First Tree on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. What does that mean for my faithful Steam players who have been here since the beginning? Well, if you have the game already, all of the new content and optimizations will be available for free on the same day as the console launch! Also, something important you guys should know... in a week or two, I'll be increasing the price from $7.99 to $9.99. That means the game will NOT be discounted during the Autumn sale, but for Winter sale I will probably do the biggest discount yet (I'm thinking 50% off). So you can get the game now and save a couple dollars before the huge re-launch, or wait til Christmas. :) This has definitely been the hardest thing I've ever done professionally: self-publishing a game on three consoles while working full-time and taking care of two little kids. I've always been a big PC gamer since I was 5, but when The First Tree's better-than-anticipated launch opened these doors to consoles, I knew it was something I had to attempt. Now it's done (thank you DO Games). I can't wait for you to experience all the new content and polish. See you guys on the 30th. - DWMr. Wehle Goes to WashingtonJun 23, 2018 - Community AnnouncementsNow this is just crazy. The First Tree has been accepted to the Smithsonian Museum of Art for their Game Arcade exhibit on July 22! https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/27092572/c6bf9c355a0ecdc9afcf9433825a1ee1e1b07823.jpg Not only do I get to exhibit with other amazing game developers, this is actually like a homecoming for me since I lived in Northern Virginia most of my life. I've been going to DC and the Smithsonian for a long time, so it's kind of a dream come true to show something there. Like I said, crazy! Anyway, I'm working on a ton of stuff for a giant update coming this fall. This is to coincide with the console launch which should be in the fall too (nothing confirmed yet). I'm spending a lot of time and money on this revamp, so I've decided to raise the price to $10 when the big update launches. I'm telling you this because now is the time to get the game for the cheapest price during the Steam Summer Sale, at least for a while. Thought you guys should know the plan. :) Thanks for the support! This Steam Sale revenue will pay for the console ports, so I appreciate anyone sharing the game. Until next time, take care everyone.
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