Over such time, I came to realize that for my target devices, it makes no sense reinventing the wheel so many people has done before me… nah, life is too short for that. So……. new order of release via phases…

Phase 1: Itch.io for Windows and Macintosh. This will be my go to for releases during alpha (and perhaps some beta) development. Basically while I develop the beginner island and it’s instance dungeon. I will open the itch.io page for everyone (to the public), after some tweaks to the page so it doesn’t look so ugly. So.. there will be no need to hand out keys. During this phase, there will be steam releases for windows, macintosh, and steam deck. However, you will need steam keys to access.

Phase 2: Steam for Windows, Macintosh, AND Steam Deck via Early Release. This means, no more keys are needed. The beginning island and instance dungeon should be completed or mostly completed by this time. I currently have the client working on steam and steam deck just fine. This would just open up the game to everyone with no keys needed (and it’s a free game any how, so …)

This phase might see a Steam Machine release if that hardware comes out this year. No matter what, there will be a machine release whenever that hardware releases and I can get my hands on it. The same logic applies to Steam Frames. Although it IS VR, so it will likely require some tweaking of the game to get it working right on there.

Phase 3: iPhone/iPad release. I currently have the client running on the ipad just fine so far. I have some testing to do on the iPhone, however. And.. I need to properly integrate into Apple’s Game Center APIs. By this phase, the first continent should be mostly or completely built.

I -hope- to have an Apple TV release, however, developing for that is a bit… odd, and the tv remote is a real PITA just for regular use, let alone gaming.. we’ll see… I have the ability to develop for VisionOS. But.. I have no clue what to do there, and I don’t know if I want to spend the $,$$$ to find out. If I do, it will have to be pre-retirement as the cost is literally 10 months of retirement checks.. If you have any ideas. The same goes for the Apple Watch… hmmm

Phase 4: Android tablets and phones. So… in theory, the development process is the same as the apple tablets and phones. However, Google closed my developer account back in 2016 and I somehow found out about that yesterday. So I will need to create yet another developer account in order to release on there. I -expect- to purchase an android tablet phone combo (Red series?) together, port the game over and test, then release shortly after Phase 3.

Please note that both Apple and Google can have a long initial and update turn around process, while I hear that Steam can be done with a 2 - 3 business day lead. MMOs are meant to be constantly updated (preferably weekly), meaning that a new client might end up in the review pipeline before the old client is released. This makes things a -real- pain for those platforms, so I’ll have to figure out something there. Perhaps a platform/version locked server for them. But I am unsure as that over complicates things. hmm..

Phase 5: Continue content releases, bug fixes, and new features. Especially additional continents, zones, dungeons, etc.

There. Now that phases are laid out for 2026 and beyond… I think I’m doubling down on the motto “Earn Everything”. Even… your… name. You will wake up on the beach with no memory of who you are. Not even your name. So you will be given whatever name an NPC gives you. After beating the first dungeon, you will earn the right to name yourself… yes? no? Earn Everything!

As always.. .errr pics/videos (?) to come.