From the Diary of William Afton
October 17, 1975
I'm not sure what to think anymore. On the one hand, I have had my fair share of successes lately. The first animatronics I built are doing quite well. Fazbear Entertainment has done well organizing sales and distributions of them all across the country. I am quite pleased with that. I suppose it was a lucky break that I found a company with a bear as its mascot. Of course, the other character designs I've made have been going over very well too. People do seem to like the pirate-fox idea.
At the same time, I am conflicted. Much as I appreciate Fazbear Entertainment for getting me my start (and they certainly were generous in their negotiations with me), I feel as though they are starting to be a bit more oppressive, as many large corporations tend to be.
The other day, I learned that the company was expanding, not just into equipment and electronic sales and rentals, but into owning their own restaurants and franchises. They've asked me to be the lead designer and engineer for the endeavor! I cannot say that I am not grateful. Imagine, me a lead designer! But I worry what that may mean going forward.
I learned that with this arrangement, they bought out a little family-owned restaurant as the first of what they hope will be many franchises. They will certainly do this again to other local stores, and that makes me feel uneasy. Has greed gone to their heads? And as part of the deal, they want me to design a new animatronic character based on a rabbit mascot they have there. I don't know how I feel about using someone else's idea like that, nor do I like being told what I must create.
Speaking of, these decisions make me apprehensive of what that may mean for my characters themselves. Until now, I've been designing characters to go to a variety of venues. How long before they trademark my own creations? What then for those buyers? What about me? How long before my own Freddy Bear character is no longer mine?
To top it off, Fazbear Entertainment worries me with how fast they wish to move these plans along. I have just finished the first finalized designs for the hybrid springlock animatronics, a first for the industry. I do believe it will revolutionize the entertainment business. However, while these designs are more finalized than the early prototypes, there is still much work to be done on them, especially regarding safety for employees using them. We have been careful thus far, but there are still too many bugs for them to be ready for use. Still, Fazbear Entertainment wants them ready by the end of the year. That's just not possible, though I do fear they will have their way. Money does terrible things to people.
I have debated leaving, truly I have. No amount of success could be worth all the corporate greed. Nothing has been set in stone yet, at least not contractually for me. I could leave now. But then, I think about my family. A wife and two children; that's not an easy life to keep up with. I know my inventive ideas have brought great successes, but it is no guarantee. Fazbear Entertainment is the only place that let me explore those risks in invention, and thankfully with great reward. I'm not so certain I can find another business to work for at the drop of a hat. And who's to say they would be any better? Even the supposed happiest places on earth to work stifle their creators' creativity.
I suppose Isabelle wishes I left the industry altogether. She isn't wrong. I spend so much of my time working. I'm not sure if one could call it living. Oh sure, I live for my inventions, but Elizabeth has started walking now, and I've missed it. An artist truly suffers for his art, I suppose.
I say all this now, and I guess I will just carry on as always. All bark and no bite, eh? Always at the drawing board. I just wish it didn't have to be so complicated...
