The dawn of the new year is upon us, and therefore, I decided to make a little retrospective of everything what happened to YGD and myself in 2024.

First things first, even though technically Indev-1 and Indev-2 versions of the game were released back in 2023, the Indev-3 version, that actually took it all off, was released in January 2024. Thus, I deem 2024 to be the real first year of the game's existence.
If anyone is interested in numbers, since then and throughout the year the average daily plays count steadily kept on around 100-150. As of now, the total amount of YGD's itch.io page views is 52.1k, the download count is 334. In 2024 the game has got 2 version updates and more than 80 patches. As of now, there are 4 global game modes, 9 event-related modes and 53 unique events available in the base game. There are also 22 achievements, 20 common upgrades and 12 ascension upgrades.
I hope the game brought joy to everyone who played it.

I would like to express special gratefulness to everyone who supported and keeps supporting the game on Boosty!
Thanks to your support, I can continue pushing the things forward, polishing rough edges and bringing in the most ambitious ideas.
I was also able to cover nearly 70% of money I spent on some of the game's assets, including music and graphics.
Speaking of which, in the 2024 YGD got 3 unique compositions, that were written exclusively for the game (main theme, space theme and kaiju mode theme). Well, technically 5, because there are 2 compositions I had to cut during the development. They were also custom made, but did not really 'click' with the game.
The game has also got the new UI, which is present in the PC version (browser version will also get the UI update in a short time).

However, the development is obviously not over yet.
Here I would like to share some of my plans*:
1. Further Scenario Editor development;
2. Completing YGD's graphical overhaul;
3. More references for estimating character's size;
4. New modes, including, but not limited to the 'Influencer mode' and the first real boss battle mode;
5. 'Reality shift' (unlockable content upon completing the game);
6. Incorporating a story for the base game mode (I do already have a concept of the plot I would want to elaborate).
*The goals are present in no real order.

I hope to release the first definitive alpha version by the summer of 2025, though I am quite uncertain whether I would be able to do it by that time, giving some IRL obstacles I am going to face in the upcoming year.

I am also working on setting up a dedicated Discord server. Unfortunately it proved to be a bit more complicated than expected, due to Discord being blocked in the country of my residence. :<

For me personally the new year draws very harsh perspectives.
Certain IRL circumstances are going to hit me very hard. :<
YGD has always been a test of endurance for me and it will likely stay this way moving forward into 2025.
But I want YGD completed nevertheless.

Sorry if I let down your expectations at any point in 2024 and once again thank you very much for the interest in YGD, it really means a world to me.
Let the new year bring you and your close ones only the best of experiences.
Stay positive at all times and simply be happy.
Thank you.

Happy New Year. <3