Tick-tock went the clock on our grant application. With only 48 hours left, I was on a wild chase to encapsulate our canon-shattering game's true essence. I'd have called it a lost cause on any other day.

"It's just impossible! How do you visualize a game boasting 20,000 unique powers, each with exclusive applications and techniques? And to top it off, it all depends on the player's imagination!"

The dream of creating an experience like Sword Art Online isn't quite in our grasp yet. And as the hours dwindled, I was left with a mediocre representation of our ambitious vision. It was far from perfect. While I'm no design guru, I could tell it lacked that oomph.

After weeks of wrestling with DiscordJS, the allure of building our platform grew stronger. The prospect of breaking free from the constraints of other platforms was tempting. We imagined a world where we were the masters of our destiny.

This is a nice setup, don't you think? You're probably expecting a movie-like twist here. A sudden strike of genius? Sorry to burst the bubble, but here's what we had when we clicked 'Submit':

But hey, we were done with the application and could focus on game development. Or so I thought. I couldn't shake off the unease from our design blunders. The nagging question was:

"What should our game really look like?"

During Theosis's "Discord Era", the feedback loop was enlightening. While the concept was loved, many wished for more visual elements. As I mulled over incorporating every feedback, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were steering the ship amiss.

What's the essence we want players to feel?

You know that feeling of disappointment? That nagging sensation of "Maybe I shouldn't have watched the movie", "That didn't do the book justice", "They should have just stuck with the manga", or "It was better in my imagination"?

We aim for Theosis to dodge that pitfall. If we can't ace visual representations now, why not champion text? After all, text can bridge the vast expanse of imagination until technology catches up.

So, what did we decide?

1. Text-Centric: Keep the interface primarily text-driven.
2. Interactive: Engage players actively.
3. Immersive: Draw players deep into the narrative.
4. Fun: Games shouldn't be boring!

Here's what we've done so far:

Logo Evolution

Our initial logo depicted most of our game's core. But the second had something the first really lacked - a persona.

Lore Infusion

We delved deeper into the game's backstory, aligning it with our new logo's essence.

Website overhaul

We emphasized Theosis's core elements – battles, personal narratives, marketplace dynamics, events, etc.

We have a lot to say, and jumping right into walls of text can be overwhelming, especially for a game that relies on user engagement.

So we broke the text down into short forms, each in its own full-page section that can be glanced over. Kinda like scrolling through your feed on your favorite social media app but a little more immersive. 

Interactivity boost

We personalized the user journey by asking users for their names. 

Demo delight

And the most important part. A demo, so anyone can jump right into the experience and build anticipation about the possibilities of the full game. 

She came, she saw, you know the rest ?

Moving on!

Alright, we've got a kickin' landing page up and running, and it's got our style written all over it!

So, what's next on our roadmap?

Well, first things first, we're going to spice up that battle screen.

It's not quite at its zenith yet, but the ideas are brewing (props if you can decipher what's going on with those screens!).

Next, we're setting our sights on infusing some dazzle in our text interface, creating dynamic and electrifying interactions that'll keep you on your toes. And you bet we're amping up our AI and responses!

Now, onto the elephant in the room: defining the heart and soul of our initial product and figuring out how to turn this passion project into a sustainable venture.

With Buildspace Nights and Weekends back in full swing for Season 4, we're gunning for a product launch by the finale - talk about a cliffhanger!

And the best part? I'll be your tour guide every step of the way! So buckle up, and let's embark on this adventure together!

Thanks for reading. ??