This is a public statement for Both the public and Digital Homicide LLC.
In this statement I will Confirm or deny the broad spectrum of allegations being brought to me as an individual. I cannot and will not be held accountable for the actions of others.
I apologize in advance for this not being a game update, but I have to wear my business man hat for a moment and actually refute the false allegations being made by Digital Homicide LLC directed at DemonSwordGames.
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Preface: In the article linked below, it is mentioned that Digital Homicide LLC’s cofounder actually pursued police and FBI intervention against the 100 parties in their recent lawsuit. I believe that this is an absolute outrage. While I understand that being slandered can be a frustrating ordeal, I cannot at all condone their retaliation thus far. It is careless, reckless and malicious. It is, in my opinion fuelled by anger and impulse, and while I can sympathize, I cannot condone it.
Link: http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/2016/09/21/yuma-digital-homicide-video-games-sue-users/90742572/
In addition to that, in the past 72 hours I have had more than one attack on my Steam account. http://imgur.com/a/HSNkr 2 attempts in total from the same IP address which I found out is a Russian proxy commonly used.
For the record, I am not blaming anyone specific for this attack on my account, however I feel that regardless of who may be behind it, the timing is uncanny. Therefore I wish to clarify that the purpose of this statement is to make Peace while protecting my identity and my works.
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Allegation 1 – That I am a competitor who holds malice towards Digital Homicide - This allegation is false – While I find Digital homicide’s business practices distasteful I do not hold any malice towards them.
Allegation 2 – That I am a competitor who stands to gain financially by Digital Homicide’s Removal – False – I am not a competitor, nor does their presence directly affect me financially.
Exhibit a – Digital homicides library consists of 55 games…
Proof - http://imgur.com/a/x9DJB 55 Games!
Exhibit b http://imgur.com/a/ynpBt and (b2) http://imgur.com/a/iGlLx
– My current product list is 1 game, and it is only available as a
“early access/pre order” I do not currently market this product.
- My games are hand drawn, and digitally painted, they offer a distinct style When directly compared to digital homicide’s titles. -My Game will retail for 11.99$ once completed where as Digital homicides titles sell for an average of 0.99$ -The fact that I do not market or really try to sell my games should be sufficient enough proof, but our target demographics are likely very different. - My one title is a 2d Action adventure game, where as Digital Homicide LLC offers a wide variety of genres, from FPS, to arcade, to runners, to space shooters.
Allegation 3 – That I(Donovan Jackson) use proxies, pseudonyms and/or sockpuppets. False –
I refute this outright as my policy with greenlight and steam is and has always been Transparency.
My History on Steam: I created my account (dizimz) in 2012 to pitch “Marly” to the community, I ended up having to publish Marly as a browser title. Since then I worked Sales, I apprenticed as an Insurance salesman and Financial advisor from 2013-late 2015 With Combined Insurance Company of America (CICA). -My mother died on November 9th 2015. When that happened I decided to pursue game design once again. Ive used the account for gaming, but never in any sort of steam group until approximately in January. -I worked part time on Tyrfing Cycle (then Cycle of Tyrfing) from March 2015 until presently. on November 24, 2015 I decided to take a chance and post it to greenlight. I need to also note that I hadn’t become active again until around November 2015. -I was officially introduced to Digital Homicide LLC by my friend who shared Jim Sterling's blog "The Jimquisition" in November of 2015. -I have heard Jim sterlings name of course in the past, I used to watch Ben 'Yahtzee' Croshaws reviews weekly who used to write along side jim sterling for the escapist -My friend (who will remain unamed) Introduced me to the scandal because I found a developer who he said was likely a sockpuppet.
Important note - I did not even know about Digital Homicide LLC until long after it had its reputation dismantled by various Youtubers.
Allegation 4 – That I am associated with Jim Sterling – False – If I was, you’d think he’d cover my game for me. (yes, I am being Facetious)
Allegation 5 – That I have threatened Digital homicide and/or their families. FALSE FALSE FALSE
- This was not leveled at me directly, but I’m dragged into it by association. This is so unbelievably False!!!.
If other users have done these things, well Im sorry, but you cant lump me in with them. By doing this you are in a sense defaming me. Ive never harassed Digital Homicide and I certainly have never threatened them. So you really cant sue me for those specific transgressions.
Allegation 6 – Stalking and Cyber bullying – False
Again, I don’t do this, nor have I ever.
Their evidence for this - http://imgur.com/wDTUrCL
actual post here - http://www.thejimquisition.com/digital-homicide-and-the-case-of-the-sockpuppet-developers/
- This is not stalking or cyber bullying. I simply pointed out that I found what could be a related account.
- I told people to Vote Yes if they so desire.
- I posted this because the dev in question uses similar practices and design elements to digital homicide's games.
- I make no specific accusations nor do I identify this person as Digital homicide.
- This was posted in Late 2015. I had no games published at this time, so posting this did nothing to help me financially...
Once again, no malice here... No financial gain for me.
- This was After Jim Sterling released the episode called “Homicide” on Oct 15 2015.
Important Note – Jim Sterling released an episode of the Jimquisition called “Homicide” on Oct 15 2015. This episode documented the various alleged transgressions committed by Digital homicide, and provides DAMNING evidence. In fact; Jim is so confident in this evidence that the video remains public despite legal pressure from Digital Homicide LLC.
Source - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbqxPgK87dM
Key points –
1:27 – 1:45 Overview of Digital homicides relationship with Jim Sterling
1:45 - 2:55 Details Digital Homicides “subsidiary” companies
3:19 - 3:58 Details legal action from a Polish company “ECC games”
7:10 – 7:45 Jim gives his professional opinion of Digital Homicide’s behavior
7:52 - 8:42 Digital homicide has a history of trying to pressure people unjustly In this case, he tries to censor Jim Sterling under threat of litigation.
9:16 - 9:33 …
This episode predates any of the alleged actions supposedly committed by Your’s truly.
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This begs the question- Can the community be held accountable for a mistake made by the Press? By the way, Im not saying that Jim made a mistake, I’m speaking hypothetically
Example: if a journalist wrongfully states that a person is a sex offender, do you sue the readers for discussing the article or believing it?
Of course not! , you would sue the journalist -
If the allegation is false, the journalist should be brought to task and penalized, but you don’t penalize the readers for discussing the publication!
Journalists have a duty to report accurately and to check their facts and as such, we the people trust their reports to be factual. If Jim Sterling is somehow guilty of defaming Digital Homicide, then that civil matter needs to be resolved first and foremost.
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I believe that this lawsuit only exists for the following purposes:
1) Because Digital Homicide LLC wishes to harm its ‘enemies’ and ‘competitors’ financially. This is demonstrated by the nature of this case and within its owner’s demands.
- CoFounder James Romine Jr states that he does not wish to claim 2 cents from this lawsuit, but feels that Steam should ‘purge’ the listed accounts.
Some of which have thousands of dollars worth of games and software attached.
- If I, Valve or any of the other 99 parties fight, this means very expensive legal fees. and that is what Digihom wants – a practice called ‘bleeding’ which was popularized by the Church of Scientology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vexatious_litigation#Notable_vexatious_litigants
2) To Harm the public perception of any parties who Digital Homicide ‘dislikes’ I believe this is why the lawsuit has 100 parties listed.
This allows the litigant to make broad, but damning claims.
- ex – I have personally refuted all allegations made, but I am certain that of the 100 parties, at least one probably did send death threats, the problem is that My name is in this lawsuit and people may commonly assume that I am sending them death threats. In fact I would argue that the method of filing used is Slanderous
3) Digital Homicide is not seeking any resolution of injustice and intends to use the Legal system to extort.
Proof - http://imgur.com/mlX35oX and http://imgur.com/0yLGnPc
In these images, CoFounder James Romine Seems to be attempting to extort me. Be it information, or money this is something I take very seriously. Granted this is my perception of the situation, yours may vary.
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My Demands -
1) If theywish to pursue legal action against me:
They need to do so against me as an individual and if and only if they can provide me proof of damages and proof that I am some how responsible (as an individual) then I am happy to cooperate.
This information needs to be brought to me before pursuing civil matters.
And it should be done publicly so that we have witnesses.
After all, based on what Jim Sterling has said, I fear that any private discussion with them may result in the obstruction of said Justice.
So far, by the way, no attempt has been made to provide evidence of any wrongful activity on my behalf. These guys did try to slander me on my game page though. Unless you count that youtube comment… you know where he provides no proof and attempts to extort me…
If proof of damages cannot be provided publicly then I demand that all efforts against me or my estate cease from here on. If evidence can be provided, I am happy to discuss the implications and whether or not actual damages occurred directly or indirectly as a result of my actions.
2) I will not accept any responsibility what-so-ever for the actions of others,.
My desire is that Justice be served, and it is my opinion that leveling such broad accusations against such a large number of individuals is not only appalling, but irresponsible and certainly not just.
If Harassment or threats have been launched against DigitalHomicide LLC, its member’s families or their estate, know that I do not condone this and that I did not take part, as such including me in a lawsuit for harassment is tantamount to Slander/libel.
I have taken the time to refute each allegation, and I believe that each statement is clear, factual and concise.
The burden of Proof falls on the plaintiff, and without such proof, I demand to be severed from any and all liability for the proposed damages.
EDIT - Sept 29 2016 6:30 pm AST---------
This is a communiqué and amendment made in addition to the first statement made a few days ago.
Ill be brief and to the point, and im actually writing this in a sense to protect you guys (Digital Homicide) So please please please read this carefully.
1- Disney and the Font used in Starship NovaStrike.
In the case filed you state that this is the font used in starship novastrike - https://cooltext.com/Logo-Design-Starburst
There appears to be some confusion however. Starburst is the name of the Effect.
The font used is called SF_DistantGalaxy and can be found here:
https://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/distant-galaxy
Just to be certain I downloaded the font and compared them here: http://imgur.com/a/0VUub
Now the license CLEARLY states that the font is for personal use only, It forbids the use of this font for any commercial projects (anything that is for profit)
https://www.scribd.com/document/325839903/Distant-Galaxy-License
“Under NO circumstances may this FONTPACKAGEbe sold for a profit nor be included as part of another product“ And “STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, RETURN OF THE JEDI, and allSTARWARS logos are TM and© LucasFilm, Ltd”
This is directly from the license.
So when I said this is the starwars font. I meant it. This is literally the star wars font.
You cannot use the starwars font in a commercial project without the express written consent from Disney. When I made my original remark, I wasn’t trying to slander or defame you, I was trying to educate you… Yes I was Sarcastic, but that’s besides the point.
About me playing the game on a virtual machine
For one, the video and the review were removed out of professional courtesy.
But if you want to hold the review against me, I should point out that in the video review I play 2 flash games from the early 2000s on the same virtual PC. Both games ran flawlessly. Furthermore, I expressly disclaimed that the game was played on a Virtual PC. I did not try to conceal that fact. Therefore I conveyed no misinformation.
Digital Homicide LLC is welcome to refute any claims made by me so far.
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