Time Forge – March 5, 2025

We’re thrilled to share that our progress is bringing us closer to finalizing a minimal, playable pre-Alpha for Time Forge Chronicles. It’s not quite ready for public release just yet. Our immediate goal is to wrap up contract development over the next couple of weeks. Once that foundation is set, we’ll shift our focus to refining the core features that make Time Forge Chronicles feel truly immersive.

With our MVP stable and polished behind the scenes, we’ll then move full steam into the Alpha phase, which will open the door to outside testing. This is a major milestone for us, and we can’t wait to see how everything holds up under real-world conditions.

We appreciate your patience and support as we work to get every detail just right. It means a lot that you’ve stuck with us through this journey, and we’re excited to share more details soon—including a full roadmap, the official Alpha release date, and a sneak peek at some of the Cards (NFTs) you can expect when Alpha drops!

Time Forge – February 18, 2025

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of development, problem-solving, and refining the core mechanics of Time Forge: Chronicles of Valithe. On this solo journey for now, every step forward is a mix of coding, design, and planning. Ensuring that the game evolves in a way that aligns with the vision we’ve been building. Here’s a rundown of what we’ve been working on recently:

MVP Roadmap Finalization

We’ve locked in a roughly 8-week roadmap for the game’s Minimum Viable Product (MVP), which sets the foundation for the alpha build. The plan is structured into these four main phases:

Core Infrastructure & NFT Minting – Setting up ERC-1155 contracts on Immutable X, integrating them with a SQL database, and ensuring the Unity client can fetch and display NFTs.
Staking & Resource Generation – Implementing a staking system where players assign NFTs to regions on the map, generating resources over time.
Territory Control & Region Ownership – Connecting the game’s staking mechanics to territory influence, with control shifting based on NFT presence.
NFT Exertion & Full Gameplay Loop – Finalizing resource mechanics, a little bit of UI polish, and turn-based progression before looking forward to launching a closed alpha.

This gives a clear structure while allowing me flexibility as we iterate and refine mechanics along the way. Note that this is just a rough estimate and could change due to other personal obligations.

Unity & Backend Development

A lot of focus has been on setting up the connection between the Unity client and the backend. We’ve been working on:

Fetching NFT Data: Ensuring that Unity can retrieve owned NFTs from Immutable X and display them in-game.
Database & API Integration: Structuring the SQL database to store NFT metadata and gameplay-related data.
Smart Contract Planning: Outlining how the staking mechanics will tie into on-chain data while remaining efficient and user-friendly.

Some other things came up working in the Unity API communication with the backend, refining authentication handling, and ensuring session persistence remains for player logins.

Game World & Lore Expansion

The lore behind Chronicles of Valithe continues to take shape. The faction of undead will be bound to the will of Kyvaris. This has been fleshed out with three distinct sub-factions.

Beyond that, Veylthar, represents a force that could shatter the balance of undeath itself. These little tid bits should be enough to get your imaginations going! They’ll intertwine with the game’s strategy mechanics, reinforcing the high-level decision-making for players to engage.

Looking forward as we spend more time working on the lore we’ll definitely be adding in a Lore section to the website.

Overcoming Challenges

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. We’ve had to troubleshoot Unity issues. Debugging Immutable Passport authentication, session validation, and JWT handling. These challenges slowed progress some, but overcoming them ensures a more stable and reliable foundation for the game.

What’s Next?

With major backend components coming together, the next steps involve:

Finalizing the Unity-Backend API connection
Implementing NFT staking & territory control mechanics
Expanding lore-driven UI elements in the game client
Setting up the closed alpha test phase

Every milestone brings Time Forge closer to a fully playable experience. If you’ve been following along, we appreciate your interest and support! There’s much more to come!

Stay tuned for further updates as we continue forging the path forward. =)

Time Forge – February 8, 2025

Hello to those of you listening!

First off, we want to apologize for the serious lapse in delivering this update. As a solo developer juggling multiple responsibilities, from coding to testing to community building. We truly appreciate the patience of any of you following and your continued support. Rest assured, the work has not stopped on Time Forge, and I’m very excited to share all the progress I’ve made over the last couple of months.

1. Optimization & Performance Enhancements

Streamlined Gameplay: I’ve dedicated a significant amount of time to optimizing in-game systems for Time Forge, ensuring smoother frame rates/transitions and more efficient memory usage.
Improved Load Times: Targeted updates to the Unity build pipeline mean faster transitions and a more responsive gameplay experience.

2. Backend Server Development

Authentication & SQL: Implemented the server architecture which now manages part of the user authentication, SQL databases, and player data. This helps prevent bottlenecks while keeping player progress secure.
Patching System: Refined patching pipeline ensures that deploying updates and bug fixes happens as seamlessly as possible, minimizing downtime for players.
Unity Integration: End-to-end backend support means a more stable environment for future features and expansions.

3. Embracing Immutable for NFT Integration

Why Immutable? After a good deal of research, we finally chose to go with Immutable because of its gas-free NFT transactions, streamlined developer tools, and their proven track record in the blockchain gaming space.
NFT-Centric Economy: Time Forge will harness Immutable’s platform to provide true digital ownership of in-game items. That means NFTs for days and more! Not to mention it’s all secured on a solid Layer-2 network.
Smooth User Onboarding: One of the key advantages of building on the Immutable platform is its ability to simplify wallet creation and transactions, lowering the usual blockchain barriers for new and casual players. In the future, I’m considering the option of adding a custodial wallet to streamline the onboarding process even further. However, for now, the primary focus is on catering to the dedicated NFT enthusiasts who have been eagerly awaiting this feature.

4. Implementing Immutable Passport Authentication

Single Sign-On (SSO): Implemented the Immutable Passport, players gain a straightforward and secure entry point into Time Forge. Plus the fancy Immutable Play hub where you can view all your other NFT related game information.
Future-Proof Authentication: Adding this system paves the way for additional integrations and expansions, ensuring the Time Forge community will always have cutting-edge options for managing their Time Forge accounts.

5. Complete System Build & Deployment

Full Integration: All core components—from back-end servers to NFT minting—are now communicating smoothly.
Stable Builds: With the foundational system in place, we can shift focus toward feature polishing, additional Smart Contracts (Marketplace and Trading) and iterative testing, ensuring that each update adds meaningful value.

Looking Ahead

The next steps involve further refining of the NFT mechanics, introducing new gameplay features, and eventually preparing for larger-scale testing. I’ll also be sharing more frequent insights into how Time Forge is shaping up. I’m thinking once things really start to take shape I’ll add in some sneak peeks at upcoming content or deeper dives into the technology powering it all.

Your feedback and support are invaluable, especially as a solo dev navigating the world of both gaming and blockchain technologies. Thank you again for your patience and for sticking with Time Forge—I can’t wait to show you what’s next!

Oh – be sure to hop on the discord. I’ll occasionally pop in and see if there’s anyone there to chat.

Time Forge – November 30, 2024

In the development of the Time Forge map system, the aim is to create not just a visually appealing map but something that allows for a strategic and interactive environment that emphasizes depth and engagement. One of the most exciting milestones in this journey is the implementation of region selection and the underpinning that good maps are never just a single layer.

Designing Region Selection

Region selection is an integral feature in strategy games, allowing players to interact directly with the map and make decisions. The goal was to ensure region selection felt intuitive, responsive, and integrated seamlessly with the visual and functional design of the game world.

Initial Concept
The idea was simple, to give players the ability to click on specific regions to trigger actions such as highlighting, displaying information, or initiating gameplay events. This required dividing the map into distinct regions, each with defined boundaries and unique identifiers. This is especially important given the goal of implementing factions.
Challenges
The first hurdle was to accurately define and highlight regions without overloading the player’s screen with visual clutter. We wanted the regions to stand out without breaking immersion. Some maps just present way too much initially.
Implementation
By leveraging Unity’s World Map Strategy Kit (WMSK), we were able to drastically accelerate our development, enabling us to concentrate on other crucial features of the game. Here’s how WMSK made a significant impact:

Polygonal Region Shapes
Utilizing WMSK allowed us to import comprehensive geographic data and create custom polygons to represent our regions effortlessly. Instead of spending endless hours building region boundaries from scratch, WMSK provided precise boundary detection right out of the box.
Highlighting
Implementing dynamic region highlighting became a streamlined process with WMSK’s built-in capabilities. The asset provides ready-made shader effects that subtly overlay color on selected regions, preserving the natural aesthetic of the map.
Event Triggers
WMSK simplified the process of handling user interactions by allowing us to assign event listeners directly to each region. This makes detecting player clicks and triggering context-sensitive actions—such as zooming into a region or displaying tooltips—simple.

By not having to reinvent the wheel and build an entire map system from the ground up, we can focus more on gameplay. Utilizing WMSK didn’t just speed up one part of our development—it elevated the entire project’s progress. Thank you Kronnect for such an amazing product!

Next Steps

Moving forward, we plan to begin populating the map:

Strategic Points: Strategic points for staking NFTs.
Resource Nodes: Because every strategy game needs resources.
Ticker Notifications: Utilize WMSK built in Tickers to present game information.
NFT staking interactions: Begin development of NFT interactions with the map.

Stay tuned as we continue to build and bring new depth to strategic gameplay!

Time Forge – November 28, 2024

As we continue to forge (pun intended?) the future of Time Forge: Chronicles of Valithe, I’m thrilled to share a major breakthrough. The integration of procedural map generation into our development. This marks a major step forward for the game, one that is going to set the stage for dynamic and immersive gameplay experiences, especially once we being to delve deeper into the turn-based strategy elements of the project.

Why Procedural Map Generation Matters

In a game like Time Forge, the battlefield is more than just a backdrop; it’s a living, breathing component of strategy, storytelling, and player engagement. Procedural map generation introduces unparalleled diversity to these battlegrounds, ensuring that no two matches feel the same. This variety not only enhances replayability but also encourages players to think on their feet, adapting their strategies to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by each map.

Here’s a breakdown of the benefits procedural map generation will bring to Time Forge:

Endless Replayability
Every game session will feature a distinct map layout, with varied terrain, resource placements, and choke points. This keeps gameplay fresh and prevents players from relying solely on memorized strategies, fostering creativity and adaptability.
Immersive Worldbuilding
The world of Valithe is vast and varied, encompassing lush forests, arid deserts, towering mountain ranges, and ancient ruins. Procedural generation allows us to represent this diversity authentically, creating maps that feel like real, lived-in places within the lore of Valithe.
Strategic Depth
Maps won’t just look different—they’ll play differently. From terrain types that influence unit movement to strategically placed resources that spark conflict, each procedurally generated map will challenge players to rethink their approach to conquest and defense. This also creates a great deal of development and balancing challenges as well.
Scalability for Faction-Based Gameplay
Procedural generation will be key in creating maps for faction-based governance, a feature we plan to develop post-launch. As DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) shape the politics of Valithe, procedurally generated sub-regions will adapt to reflect the shifting tides of power and influence.

The Process Behind the Scenes

Building a procedural map generation system is no small feat. The system starts with algorithms that define the basic structure of the map—landmasses, water bodies, and elevation levels. From there, layers of detail are added:

Biome Assignment: Determining the areas of focus we can use noise functions and climate simulation, the map will then be divided into various biomes, each with distinct characteristics.
Resource Placement: Resources will be scattered across the map based on biome type, ensuring strategic distribution.
Point of Interest Generation: Ancient ruins, hidden treasure troves, and key strategic landmarks are procedurally placed, adding layers of narrative, strategy and exploration to the gameplay.
Pathfinding Optimization: Maps are refined to ensure that units can navigate them logically and that strategic bottlenecks are present to heighten tactical gameplay.

Looking Ahead: Procedural Maps in Turn-Based Strategy

In the near term, this system will support the high-level strategy phase of Time Forge, where players stake NFTs to influence control over regions. Each region will feature its own static layout. These static layouts will form the foundation of each region. As we expand into turn-based tactical battles, procedural maps will provide dynamic encounters, ensuring that every skirmish feels fresh and challenging.

The implementation of procedural map generation is a leap forward in realizing our vision for Time Forge. It is not only going to enhance gameplay but also reinforces the game’s mission: to create a rich, immersive, and strategic experience that rewards players for their creativity and adaptability.

Stay tuned as we continue to refine this system and unveil more updates on how procedural generation will shape the world of Valithe. Together, lets build something truly extraordinary!