Editor's note: OK, this is getting ridiculous. I posted this story yesterday and now Jay has gotten ANOTHER email from the development team, which I've now added to the article. I want to get this game and email the team just to make some new friends! - Aaron

I've already written about Deep Sleep Initiative once before, but I wanted to share with you the epilogue to my experience. Once you complete this unique game, you are provided with an email address to send feedback to the developers. I decided to send them a quick note to let them know how much I appreciated and enjoyed their work. I was pleasantly surprised when I received a very speedy and gracious response.

I wanted to post this here because I enjoy sharing the positive experiences I have with video games, and because it's really nice to see a game designer personally respond to feedback. I'm now even more encouraged to get the word out about this game, and I look forward to see what this group is working on next.

Both my letter and the response I received are after the jump.

My Letter:

I found out about your game from an article about IndieCade posted at Bitmob.com. http://www.bitmob.com/index.php/mobfeed/indiecade-interviews-everybody-dies-nanobots-radio-flare-deep-sleep-initiative-moon-stories-classicnight.html

Solving 'Deep Sleep Initiative' was possibly the most entertaining 1.5 to 2 hours I've spent in quite a while. I tried to play an ARG once, but I had to drop out because I could not devote enough time to it and I quickly got left behind. The blend of investigation, puzzle solving, and hacking in to the files was thoroughly engrossing for me. I played your game through to completion in one sitting because I could not bring myself to leave it behind for even a minute.

Is there some forum where people who have completed your game can discuss methods they used without fear of spoiling it for the benefit of people who have not yet had the pleasure of playing?

Thanks again,
Jay Henningsen

The response I received:

Jay,

I shared your note with our team.  We are so happy you liked our game.  You are the exact type of player we designed the Deep Sleep Initiative for--those who can't always devote tons of time to alternate reality games, but who still enjoy the mystery of the genre.  The game was somewhat of an experiment to see if we could create a casual ARG and I'm ecstatic to see that you made it to the end and that you enjoyed it.  As of now there aren't any forums, but I'll let you know if we create one.  I will also be sure to let you know when future versions of the game are out.  Thank you so much for playing!  Please share it with your friends.

Nicole Epps
Designer, Programmer

And here's the second response I received:

Dear Jay,

Nicole forwarded the team your email and let me say, it totally made my day! It was probably one the the coolest emails I've ever received.

Tracy and I were down in Culver City for Indiecade when we got it, and seriously ran around reading it to everyone at the festival. We pretty much made the game for players just like you and we were beyond ecstatic that you liked it (and my dopey interview). I'm really honored and humbled that you not only took the time to play our game but even emailed us! You rock!

If you don't mind, I would love to talk to you more about your experience playing the game. Maybe over skype or the phone, if possible. We're considering going forward with the project but wanted feedback before we made the decision. I'd love to hear which puzzles you solved and how much of the story we were able to convey to you.

Thank you again!!!

Karin Ray
Designer, Creative