u/IggypornGames

Nowadays, people read less. Not because they’ve stopped appreciating good stories, but because the pace of life has changed. New ways of telling stories have emerged, and we ourselves have changed — we’ve developed new habits and don’t always find the time for things we once enjoyed.

AI has finally made it possible for people like me to become something of a one-man army. I can now compensate for gaps in my knowledge of certain programming languages or a lack of artistic skills — all while holding on to a strong desire to tell stories and share what I find meaningful. I made time for it and started working on my first game.

I chose Godot Engine as my engine, since I’m not aiming for complex mechanics or resource-heavy graphics. As for the setting, I turned to the Ukrainian steppe where I come from: the salty Black Sea air, ancient burial mounds, fish-rich waters, a unique cuisine, Cossack culture, and the legends of the chumaks — traders who traveled hundreds of kilometers, carrying one of the most valuable resources of their time: salt.

I grew up on fairy tales and legends, but pop culture has shaped me just as much. In this game, I want to weave both of these influences into a story that might help someone discover something new about my culture, traditions, and way of life.

I also want to highlight the culture of the Crimean Tatars. We have always been different peoples, but today we are part of one shared political nation. I believe that even Ukrainians themselves could benefit from knowing more about these pages of our history — and for everyone else, even more so.

At its core, the game is about a caravan traveling across Ukrainian lands. The foundation is already in place, and right now I’m filling the game with stories, side events, and quests. Some mechanics are already working, others are still in development. There’s plenty sitting in the backlog, and the game’s economy is being reworked from time to time to find the right balance and make the experience engaging.

In this improvised developer diary, I’ll try to share how the work on the game is progressing.

Nowadays, people read less. Not because they’ve stopped appreciating good stories, but because the pace of life has changed. New ways of telling stories have emerged, and we ourselves have changed — we’ve developed new habits and don’t always find the time for things we once enjoyed.

AI has finally made it possible for people like me to become something of a one-man army. I can now compensate for gaps in my knowledge of certain programming languages or a lack of artistic skills — all while holding on to a strong desire to tell stories and share what I find meaningful. I made time for it and started working on my first game.

I chose Godot Engine as my engine, since I’m not aiming for complex mechanics or resource-heavy graphics. As for the setting, I turned to the Ukrainian steppe where I come from: the salty Black Sea air, ancient burial mounds, fish-rich waters, a unique cuisine, Cossack culture, and the legends of the chumaks — traders who traveled hundreds of kilometers, carrying one of the most valuable resources of their time: salt.

I grew up on fairy tales and legends, but pop culture has shaped me just as much. In this game, I want to weave both of these influences into a story that might help someone discover something new about my culture, traditions, and way of life.

I also want to highlight the culture of the Crimean Tatars. We have always been different peoples, but today we are part of one shared political nation. I believe that even Ukrainians themselves could benefit from knowing more about these pages of our history — and for everyone else, even more so.

At its core, the game is about a caravan traveling across Ukrainian lands. The foundation is already in place, and right now I’m filling the game with stories, side events, and quests. Some mechanics are already working, others are still in development. There’s plenty sitting in the backlog, and the game’s economy is being reworked from time to time to find the right balance and make the experience engaging.

In this improvised developer diary, I’ll try to share how the work on the game is progressing.

В наш час люди стали читати менше. Не тому, що перестали цінувати гарні історії, а тому що змінився ритм життя, з’явилися нові інструменти для їхнього донесення, і змінилися ми самі — набули нових звичок і не завжди знаходимо час на те, що колись любили.

ШІ нарешті зробив можливим для таких, як я, стати своєрідною one-man army. Тепер я можу компенсувати нестачу знань у деяких мовах програмування чи відсутність художніх навичок — маючи лише сильне бажання розповідати історії та ділитися всім цікавим, що вдається пізнати. Я знайшов час і почав працювати над своєю першою грою.

Як рушій я обрав Godot Engine — не планую складних механік чи ресурсоємної графіки. А сеттінгом став український степ, з якого я родом: причорноморське солоне повітря, кургани, багаті на рибу водойми, самобутня кухня, козацька культура та легенди про чумаків — торговців, які долали сотні кілометрів, перевозячи один із найцінніших ресурсів свого часу — сіль.

Я виріс на казках і легендах, але й попкультура сформувала мене не менше. У своїй грі я хочу переплести обидві ці складові в історію, яка, можливо, відкриє комусь нові сторінки моєї культури, традицій і життя загалом.

Окремо хочу розповісти і про культуру кримських татар. Ми завжди були різними народами, але сьогодні є частиною однієї спільної політичної нації. Мені здається, навіть українцям варто краще знати ці сторінки нашої історії — а для інших і поготів.

В основі гри — караван, який ви ведете українськими землями. Базу вже закладено, і зараз я наповнюю гру історіями, побічними подіями та завданнями. Деякі механіки вже працюють, інші — ще в розробці. Багато ідей чекають у беклозі, а економіка гри періодично переписується, щоб знайти баланс і зробити процес справді цікавим.

У цьому імпровізованому щоденнику розробника я спробую ділитися тим, як просувається робота над грою.

Nowadays, people read less. Not because they’ve stopped appreciating good stories, but because the pace of life has changed. New ways of telling stories have emerged, and we ourselves have changed — we’ve developed new habits and don’t always find the time for things we once enjoyed.

AI has finally made it possible for people like me to become something of a one-man army. I can now compensate for gaps in my knowledge of certain programming languages or a lack of artistic skills — all while holding on to a strong desire to tell stories and share what I find meaningful. I made time for it and started working on my first game.

I chose Godot Engine as my engine, since I’m not aiming for complex mechanics or resource-heavy graphics. As for the setting, I turned to the Ukrainian steppe where I come from: the salty Black Sea air, ancient burial mounds, fish-rich waters, a unique cuisine, Cossack culture, and the legends of the chumaks — traders who traveled hundreds of kilometers, carrying one of the most valuable resources of their time: salt.

I grew up on fairy tales and legends, but pop culture has shaped me just as much. In this game, I want to weave both of these influences into a story that might help someone discover something new about my culture, traditions, and way of life.

I also want to highlight the culture of the Crimean Tatars. We have always been different peoples, but today we are part of one shared political nation. I believe that even Ukrainians themselves could benefit from knowing more about these pages of our history — and for everyone else, even more so.

At its core, the game is about a caravan traveling across Ukrainian lands. The foundation is already in place, and right now I’m filling the game with stories, side events, and quests. Some mechanics are already working, others are still in development. There’s plenty sitting in the backlog, and the game’s economy is being reworked from time to time to find the right balance and make the experience engaging.

In this improvised developer diary, I’ll try to share how the work on the game is progressing.