Afterword
The cult leader of Godot keeps insisting that in order to be included in the decision-making process, individuals must earn his trust. What kind of trust are we talking about here?! I never asked to be “promoted” as if in a company. All I wanted was to improve Godot in a way that benefits the majority of people and actively participate in the development process, regardless of my position.
Having been a former user, contributor, developer, maintainer, and a survivor of the Godot cult, I can confidently say that Godot is one of the most toxic cults in the open-source game development industry, exploiting people’s desire for belonging. Individuals end up dedicating their lives to a project without a vision, only to be kicked out when they attempt to challenge the toxic leadership after gaining experience. Meanwhile, Godot continues to receive donations from sponsors who are deceived just as the leadership deceives their followers. By contributing money to Godot, you are indirectly supporting the exploitation of contributors. Whether Godot’s leadership is aware of their decisions or not is irrelevant.
I strongly assert that Godot does not adhere to the principle of open discussion, despite appearances. Discussing governance, decisions, and questioning the actions of members is heavily discouraged and met with punishment. I decided to raise awareness of this issue so that people do not fall into the mental trap that is Godot.
Having been deeply involved with Godot, it was incredibly challenging for me to break free from the cult mentality. Thankfully, I had other people in my life who helped me recognize the true nature of Godot and why continuing to participate in this community is unhealthy. If my experience can help others who find themselves addicted and wish to leave the Blue Robot Cult, then that’s a totally positive outcome.
My goal is not to gain popularity but to raise awareness of the problem. I am willing to potentially sacrifice my own reputation for the greater good, and the fact that I am writing this book serves as a testament to my commitment. I will do everything in my power to bring attention to this issue. I have taken on the mission of restoring justice, and this book is a tangible manifestation of that decision.
Cult members will never tell you the truth, primarily due to their own ignorance. They will claim that those who speak negatively about Godot are bad, biased, corrupt, or even mentally ill. However, it’s totally up to you if you really want to participate in this cult community, but bear in mind that I’ve been there. If possible, I suggest staying away from it. If you still wish to use their products, I recommend avoiding their core engine development communities, and I strongly advise against giving them any financial support. Money and new contributors fuels the growth of this cult, and it becomes particularly mentally destructive for contributors who genuinely want to see Godot’s mission, vision, scope, and philosophy defined, as it’s done in healthy community-led open-source projects.
The Godot community expresses a desire to prevent division, but achieving this requires defining and documenting the mission, vision, and development philosophy of Godot. However, the Godot leadership refuses to do so and even punishes contributors for discussing Godot’s governance. As a result, division and difficult-to-resolve conflicts are inevitable in Godot community.
Even if someone decides to create a fork of Godot, it is likely to face attacks from overzealous Godot fans who perceive it as a threat to Godot’s existence, regardless of the positive intentions behind the fork. Ironically, this hostile and ambivalent attitude is what drives others away from the Godot community, turning it into an echo chamber. Professional developers prefer to choose other game engines rather than dealing with Godot because they seek a tool, not a cult. They would rather not associate themselves with Godot, especially considering how pervasive and distorted its ideology has become.
As a former maintainer of Godot Engine, looking back, I’m not proud of my close engagement with it. Merely being associated with anything related to Godot might negatively impact my professional growth—not because of what I have to say about Godot, but because Godot has become synonymous with parasitism. Those infected by Godot’s braindead ideology may stop seeing the industry realistically and view those not supporting their ideology as outsiders who must be ostracized at all costs. Luckily, with the support of people out there, I’ve managed to overcome my Godotitis, at least to the point where I can freely talk about Godot in this light without the anxiety of speaking up.
Having witnessed Godot’s hypocritical actions firsthand, I’ve noticed that the toxic vibe in the Godot community spills over and impacts other game development communities. Contrary to a common misconception, I’m definitely not here to salvage those who already became victims of Godot’s brainwashing. However, it’s my ethical duty to inform others about the potential dangers that Godot may pose to the longevity of other communities.
I’ve been digging deep into Godot’s public relations, and not to toot my own horn, but I’ve probably gone further down the rabbit hole than anyone else. I’ve been keeping tabs on how people react to Godot and how different communities handle criticism, both in the world of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) and in commercial software. Now, here’s the scoop: there are some FOSS communities that don’t exactly give Godot a standing ovation. Turns out, Godot doesn’t play by the FOSS rulebook from the get-go, considering Godot is de facto a company cruising along with a non-profit, tax-exempt label. Unfortunately, the whole anti-corporate vibe in some FOSS circles tends to tilt the support towards Godot. Of course, not every FOSS community is waving an anti-corporate flag. But here’s the kicker—Godot isn’t just a game engine; it’s also this symbolic, oh-so-elusive “bright future” mental construct and concept. And that, my friend, is pretty darn alarming.
What makes Godot’s situation even more confusing is how darn welcoming they are to newcomers—it’s like their superpower. You don’t really get a sense of Godot’s darker side until you’re right in the thick of it, which makes it tough for folks to grasp the real deal with Godot. Even when folks start feeling the negative vibes, they might not connect the dots within Godot. The Godot loyalists are slick—they manage to convince doubters that they’re the sole witnesses of Godot’s problems and that their perceptions are just so-called misunderstandings. Basically, the Godot crew is pro at using gaslighting tricks to shut down dissent, especially when it’s a bunch against one. By the time you realize you’re in a trap, it might be too late, and you’ve spent years waiting for Godot.
Those who swing the notorious ban hammer often seem to have a soft spot for Godot, believe it or not. Yep, run into a moderator in some random game development community, and you might just find out they’re hardcore pro-Godot fanatic. Say anything remotely negative about Godot, and boom—they go into full-on rage mode. They shut down any Godot criticism pronto, making sure the Godot status quo remains intact, even outside the Godot bubble. They come up with all sorts of flimsy excuses, like calling criticism speculations, conspiracy theories, or just plain crazy talk. And they don’t even care that their baseless accusations often go against their own community guidelines.
In the realm of entertainment, the good stuff should be rooted in timeless archetypes. However, suppose you pay attention to the woke culture, identity, and intersectionality politics. In that case, you will hopefully understand their negative impact on our ability to produce something that brings true meaning to our lives. Godot Engine is a major player in this mess, especially with its habit of banning folks left and right.
It’s pretty clear that Godot’s undue influence is causing some havoc in the game development community, and it’s not keeping to its own boundaries. Nope, it’s spreading to unexpected places. The leadership at Godot is drawing in people who aren’t exactly veterans in game development, and it just so happens that this lines up with the younger crowd of developers. You know, those who might be more prone to falling into the cult-like mindset. It’s wild, isn’t it?
So, here’s the lowdown on why Godot is basically The-Game-Engine-That-Must-Not-Be-Named. But, let’s face it, it’s out there, and turning a blind eye is no walk in the park. Do we really want to live in some Orwellian nightmare? I’d say no thanks. Better spill your thoughts while you still can and it still adds up.
Given Godot’s status quo, it is fair to say that Godot should not exist at this destructive cult state. Therefore, if they are incapable of changing their attitude towards criticism, the only healthy option remaining is to completely abandon Godot. Despite my involvement in engine development and game creation, I have personally chosen to cut all ties with Godot and imagine that it never existed. I recommend finding other game engines and tools that do not exhibit hypocrisy and deception in their development decisions, as these are the core problems plaguing Godot.
I have learned that nothing comes for free; everything has a cost. If you don’t pay with money, you pay with your time, work, and even your dignity. People reach out to me and share their testimonies of how they were treated in Godot. If you’re such a person, feel free to contact me. For quite some time, I’ve been exposing Godot’s wrongdoings via #TruthAboutGodot, #GodotCult, and even #CancelGodotEngine hashtags, just like Godot leadership decided to cancel myself from the Godot community. But my efforts are not focused on destroying Godot but rather cult deprogramming of Godot. Otherwise…