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A small request about the new character

· 3 min read
Giovanni Solone
Giovanni Solone
Co-founder of Marvellous Codeworks. Rescued The Great Suspender, built The Marvellous Suspender
Suspendy Guy

Since TMS 9 shipped, most of what reached us about the new mascot pointed in one direction. The 9.0.2 post collected some of it, and 9.0.2 itself answered with a checkbox that brings back the classic The Great Suspender artwork. Fair feedback, taken seriously.

Then, a few weeks ago, an email with a subject line I didn't expect: "A small request about the new character".

It came from a user in Japan, with two screenshots of TMS attached, and it went the other way:

I'm not quite sure why, but this character really struck a chord with me, much more than I expected. I've grown surprisingly attached to them, and seeing them has become one of the little things I enjoy about using the app.

So, if possible, I would be very happy if this character could remain available in future updates as well.

I know this may be an unusual request, but I wanted to let you know how much I like the character.

It made me smile, and I'll admit it made my day too. After a long run of "please remove it", someone wrote in just to say "please keep it", and apologized in advance for asking.

Nobody is going anywhere​

What I replied there is worth repeating here, for anyone who feels the same way (or the opposite one):

  • Suspendy Guy stays. There is no plan to remove the current mascot.
  • The classic artwork stays too. Given how many people asked for it, the old The Great Suspender look is one checkbox away in Options → General, and that isn't changing.
  • If a new character ever arrives, it gets added to the list, it doesn't replace anything. You'll keep being able to pick between every character TMS has used, old and new.

Whichever side of the mascot debate you're on, you get to keep the one you like.

So, to our friend in Japan: thank you. Not for the request, which turned out not to need granting, but for taking the time to tell us that a small drawing on a suspended tab had become one of the little things you enjoy. That kind of email is rare, and it's the kind I keep.