I admit this is the hardest blog post I've ever had to write, but our team knows how much this community values transparency; and we think we owe you that. It’s been a long time since the last update to Lucas' Simpsons Hit & Run Mod Launcher; our last release was all the way back in the beginning of 2021. We know since then, several Windows updates have made the mod launcher difficult to use without tweaks or additional, unincluded hacks.
The truth of the matter is, things behind the scenes haven't been easy. Donut Team, like many small teams, is made up of people whose lives constantly evolve. Sometimes, those changes make it difficult to keep up with the things we once had the time, motivation and energy for. One of those people is Lucas, the original creator and longtime maintainer of his titular Mod Launcher.
Because of some of these challenges, as of today, Lucas is no longer part of Donut Team.
While we’re being transparent about the transition, the personal reasons behind it are not ours to share. Instead, we want to highlight the accomplishments of Lucas, celebrate his work and talk about the future.
Lucas began working on the Mod Launcher back in 2013. It was originally a simple executable that would do one thing, launch Project Donut. Lucas had the foresight to realize that we could extend this into the modding tool you all know and love today. His suite of tools covering just about every aspect of The Simpsons Hit & Run has made it possible to breathe new life into a 22 year old game. That new life has bred long lasting friendships, a thriving community and incredible experiences that only you, the community, have been able to create.
I think we could write a novel of what Lucas has done for us, as a team and as our friend. But, the best way to sum it up is to put it bluntly: without Lucas' intellect, his friendship, there would be no Donut Team today. Lucas has taught us so much more than we could possibly express, and has been an integral part of everything we've done up to this point.
I know the biggest question on everyone’s mind is: what does this mean for Lucas’ contributions, and for Donut Team moving forward?
We’re entering a new chapter. Development will continue on Lucas’ Simpsons Hit & Run Mod Launcher. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been actively learning the codebase; understanding its structure, its quirks, and how everything fits together. It's a complex system with a long history, and while we still have a ways to go, we’re making steady progress. We're not ready to discuss what will be in any upcoming update, nor do we think this is the time or place to do so.
We ask that you respect the privacy all parties during this transitional period.
We hope you understand why we've been radio silent about these changes, and believe us when we say that Donut Team is not going anywhere. We greatly appreciate your support and patience during these times.
- Jake, on behalf of Donut Team.