Once Upon A Coma Documentary (Thomas Brush, 2018)

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Thomas Brush transitioned from solo development to a collaborative model with developer Eric Coburn to scale the ambition of his latest project, Once Upon a Coma.
02
The game is a narrative-driven adventure featuring a protagonist named Pete who utilizes a barber’s blade and piano-based musical mechanics to navigate surreal environments.
03
The 18-month development cycle for this title marks a significant increase in scope compared to Brush’s previous 2016 release, Pinstripe.
04
While functioning as a sequel to a decade-old personal project, the game is engineered as a standalone experience to ensure accessibility for new players.
05
The project was born from professional burnout and a crisis of purpose following five years of solo development on Pinstripe, prompting a shift from commercial-metric-driven design to passion-led storytelling.
06
The project relies on direct community engagement and financial support to maintain its creative independence and avoid the pressures of the AAA sector.

Ask AI about this video

Transcript

[Music] my name is Thomas brush and I'm the creator of pin stripe which raised over $100,000 in 2016 thanks to you I'm excited to announce my next game once upon a coma [Music] [Music] [Music] once upon a coma is a strange adventure about a little boy named Pete who wakes from a coma only to find a hauntingly beautiful world with no parents with the help of your father's rusty barbers

blade he must slash away through giant insects solve puzzles and learn to play the games beautiful soundtrack on your piano from the Twilight fields of Reddington to the misty Peaks of ash cliff it's up to you to uncover the secret of your missing sister note by note I've been working on once upon a coma for the past year and a half and I'm super excited about the project so far but believe it or not recently I wanted to quit making games a dream I've had since childhood [Music] [Music] in 2016 you made that dream a reality after five years of solo development you helped me release pinstripe on Steam it received great reviews and I couldn't be prouder of the final product we made together but like so many any developers

after release I kind of lost my way to be honest with you I spent so much time focusing on the numbers I lost sight of the dream I started to tell myself it was time to grow up and find a higher paying job at a triple-a company but that's when my dad reminded me of my very first project a story about a little boy in a coma and what I discovered was a personal project I made almost a decade ago made just because just a story to tell straight from the heart at that moment I knew I couldn't give up just yet and the idea for once upon a coma was born [Music] for the millions of players who loved the original game once upon a coma is a sequel but for anyone else who loved strange and personal adventures once upon a coma is a standalone game in my most ambitious project yet to reach its true potential I really can't do it

alone I need you to push me as hard as you can because I want to continue to pursue that childhood dream of making incredible games that you love in addition to your partnership I'll also be supported by a brilliant developer and a long time coma fan Eric Coburn I'm so thankful for your support and I look forward to seeing what we create together with your help we can awaken the story of Pete and discover what's just beyond the door bell you

Summary

Once Upon a Coma serves as a creative evolution for independent developer Thomas Brush, following the success of his 2016 title, Pinstripe. The game centers on a narrative-driven adventure featuring a protagonist named Pete, who navigates a surreal, parentless world while wielding a barber’s blade to overcome insectoid enemies and environmental puzzles. The gameplay experience is deeply tied to a musical motif, requiring players to perform melodies on a piano to progress through diverse landscapes ranging from the fields of Reddington to the peaks of Ash Cliff.

The project originated from a period of professional burnout following the release of Pinstripe. After five years of solo development, the pressure of tracking commercial metrics led to a crisis of purpose, nearly resulting in the abandonment of game development in favor of a traditional career in the AAA sector. The concept for this new title was salvaged from a decade-old personal project, shifting the focus back to storytelling driven by artistic passion rather than purely financial benchmarks.

Development of this title spans eighteen months and represents a significant increase in ambition compared to previous works. While the game functions as a sequel for fans of the original concept, it is designed as a standalone experience for new players. To ensure the project reaches its full potential, the development process has transitioned from a solo endeavor to a collaborative effort, incorporating the technical expertise of developer Eric Coburn. The project relies on community engagement and direct support to sustain the creative vision and maintain the viability of independent game production.