Finding a player after two years of silence. 🎮
Back in 2023, I built a browser-based MMORPG. I was terrible at marketing, so I eventually stopped working on it. I left the database and hosting running, but otherwise, the project was gathering digital dust.
A few days ago, a random YouTube comment popped up asking for an update. It was a surreal moment. I decided to check the server stats: 38 active players, with the top users having logged more than 10 hours each. It is an amazing feeling to know someone was actually living in a world I created and abandoned.
I hate wasting code, so I decided to give it a second life. I am currently building an AI chatbot as well, and that is a struggle in its own right. Solving hallucinations is hard.
I decided to import the game as a feature inside the new chatbot platform. While merging the projects, I finally gave the game the polish it deserved:
- Squashed some ancient bugs.
- Implemented an auto-mode for idle play.
- Built a proper mobile version so it is actually playable on phones.
It is a good reminder that old projects do not have to die. Sometimes they just need a new home to find their audience.