Sometimes, the most unexpected moments remind us why we love what we do. A few months ago, our team at Ubisoft Reflections received a letter that instantly brightened up our day. It wasn't from a seasoned gamer or an industry professional, but from a young boy named Alexey, just 5 years old. His letter wasn't just adorable, it also contained a surprisingly detailed bug report for our game, Grow Home.
Alexey's letter was simple yet full of enthusiasm. He introduced himself, explained the bug he found, and even included step-by-step instructions on how to replicate it. Here's what he wrote:
"Hello,
My name is Alexey, I am 5 years old. I found bugs with the green bugs in your game Grow Home.
How to do it:
1. Take one green worm from the cave and put it into the teleporter
2. Teleport to the ship with the worm
3. Jump from the ship leaving the worm behind
4. Teleport back
5. Only the head of the worm is left!
I really like your game! Thank you for making it. I like all the creatures.
- Alexey"
After reading Alexey's letter, our team knew we had to respond. Jack and Andy, who both worked on Grow Home, took the time to write back to Alexey. Here's what they said:
"Dear Alexey,
Thank you so much for your letter and for your excellent bug report. That poor little bug!
We are so glad that you like the game. Andy and I were part of a tiny team at Reflections who created BUD, MOM, and all the animals and plants that exist in their world. I particularly enjoyed making all the rocks and islands and bouncy mushrooms! We both really loved making the game and it always means a lot to us to hear from fans like you.
We're sorry it's taken so long to reply - we are both working very hard making new games!
We hope you keep playing and enjoying games as much as we enjoy making them, and perhaps one day you could help us make games at Reflections.
- Jack and Andy"
We also included a photo of Jack and Andy with BUD, the main character from Grow Home, and a Grow Home sticker as a small token of our appreciation.
Receiving Alexey's letter was a reminder of why we're so passionate about making games; it connects with players of all ages, and Alexey's letter is proof that our games can spark joy and curiosity even in the youngest gamers. We're grateful for players like Alexey who remind us of the amusement and wonder that games can bring!
Hear more stories from Jack and Andy about Grow Home, in our Grow Home Let's Play episode here.