this is actually really close to what I've been thinking about
I proposed seasonal resets a few times before I went quiet. something like how path of exile does it. standard server where everything carries over, then fresh seasonal servers that reset every few months with their own leaderboards and economy. gives people that clean slate feeling without permanently wiping anything
got shut down pretty hard every time I brought it up though. people didn't want to lose what they'd built up, which I get. but that's exactly why I think a full reset from scratch is the way to go. if I try to bolt seasons onto the existing game, the same resistance happens again. if the game launches with seasons as a core mechanic from day one, nobody has anything to lose yet and it's just how the game works
on the battle pass thing, yeah. vip / battle pass as the primary revenue source is something I'd want to build around from the start this time. should have leaned into that way harder with GO
the solana point is fair. same extraction problems exist on any chain. but at least there's more exposure and the chain itself isn't bleeding value the way hive is. it's not a silver bullet, just a better starting point
and yeah health first, 100%. that's the biggest lesson from all of this. if I do come back to game dev I need a team and I need to not be the one absorbing every complaint directly. that's non-negotiable this time
the OSRS comparison is interesting actually. they've been fighting bots and gold farmers for 20 years and they're still standing. says something about the core loop being strong enough to survive the abuse.
appreciate the comment. and don't worry about the coding part lol, good game design ideas don't need code
RE: Breaking the Silence: Where I've Been, What Went Wrong, and What Might Come Next