Spring 2025 Postcard and Status Update

Hey friends! It's long overdue, but I can finally reveal the new postcard I'll be mailing out to all qualifying tiers this month! This one is extra special because it's a collaboration between myself and our character designer Ain. Based on my rough sketch selected in the postcard poll, Ain did the final line art (isn't it gorgeous??) and I added the colours and a quick background. I really love how it turned out!

I think this group photo of Moonshell Island's demo cast is a perfect celebration of the hard work we've done on completing the art, music, narrative and design for the demo, and the love and support of our friends (you all!) that kept us going. It hasn't been easy.

Unfortunately, it's about to get much harder... which brings me to the development status part of this post. It's been a challenge finding the words to explain this situation, so bear with me if it's too long or too vague. I want to assure you that I've made every effort to live up to the expectations I've set here, because I have, but I don't want to make things worse by sharing too much either.

Spring Update 2025 - Development Status

In my Valentines Day post I shared that this postcard and update would be delayed due to a large (still NDA) commission project that kept me busy until mid-April. I was optimistic that the earnings from that project would give us more time to finish the demo and work toward the funding we need to commit to full production. I also hoped that by the time I'd be back the technical side would be caught up enough that I could implement a playable demo and soon after add audio and final touches. It didn't sound like we had much further to go based on what our programmer was saying leading up to that point, so this seemed like a reasonable expectation.

The tricky thing about working as a team with limited funds, is that we can’t afford to pay even a single person a livable wage. I’ve opted to reserve most funds for paying our programmer since this project can’t exist without one, but I could only offer a fraction of what a programmer can make elsewhere.

I’m grateful for the time our programmer did set aside for Moonshell Island and I believe they intended to see that work through to the completion of our demo, but an opportunity did come along for them that was too good too pass up. As a result, no technical progress was made since my last update and we again find ourselves without a programmer.

Despite coming so close to the end of this long leg of the race, I fear this hurdle may set us right back to the beginning. In my experience, replacing a programmer isn’t simply picking up where the last one left off. It’s risk. It’s vetting. It’s orientation. It’s refactoring everything or rebuilding from scratch. It’s redoing much of my own work so the game is easier to build. That’s all assuming we can afford to entice a new programmer to join us with the limited funds we have. Meanwhile I am unemployed and running out of time, money, and the hope that drives this dream.

What's the plan now?

After taking a few weeks to weigh my options, I've decided to tap into the funds myself as needed while I dedicate myself to learning code. My aim is to take over the programming of Moonshell Island myself, or at least try my best to get there before I give up or take a risk on someone else again.

I don't know how long it will take to complete a demo now. I don't know if I'll be able to salvage what's been built so far, or if I'll be starting from scratch. Some programmer friends of mine have generously offered to help within a limited capacity, and I may take them up on it if it feels right. For now I'm starting out slow but strong by reading the GameMaker Manual. A lot has changed since I first attempted the solodev life.

On that note, I did get into gamedev because I wanted to learn this stuff. I regret giving up on it so quickly. Maybe if I take my power back in this way, my love for gamedev can be rekindled. I hope it won’t take too long before we’ll have more technical progress and screenshots to share on a consistent basis.

What can we expect here moving forward?

While things are very unpredictable at this point, the plan is still to bring you quarterly (seasonal) updates and biannual postcards. These updates may include the results and observations from my learning progress and where things stand with Moonshell Island as I get my bearings.

We also hope to share Ain’s lovely concept art and doodles for the game either in the seasonal updates or in the months between them as available. Even if things change along the way, we want to share as much as we can of the Moonshell Island we envision.

Until then, I’ll be mailing out the new postcard to qualifying tiers this week. I’m sorry the wait has been so long!

Through every major roadblock I have been fortunate in having such supportive and reliable friends to lean on. I hope you all know you’re included in that number, despite how closed off I’ve been lately. It’s been hard to talk about all this, and there’s a lot I just can’t say in public for fear of making things worse.

Thank you for your continued support through all these setbacks. I know it's not easy when things like this keep happening. I’m working hard to break that cycle here and now, but there’s no denying I’ve been in over my head this whole time. I don’t blame anyone if they’ve lost faith that this is going anywhere, but I’m not giving up without a fight!

Your friend,
Sam