This Game Isn't Dead!

Kind of. Well, actually, this game specifically is a little bit dead in that I won’t be updating the story here in The Immortal Kingdom anymore. But don’t worry, because I’ve transplanted its soul into another project that has just gone live and that project is called Paper Trails!

Also, this log is going to be long, so a TL;DR for those of you who want to quickly check in:

The Immortal Kingdom is officially retired, but its story lives on in a revamped, more cohesive project called Paper Trails. Same characters and core but with better writing, art, and design. Updates will now happen over there. I’m developing the game with intention this time, and I’m committed to finishing this story right. Thanks for sticking with me <3

So is TIK cancelled?

Basically, yes. This page will not be receiving any more updates, and I’d like to, at some point in the future, archive it entirely and repurpose it for a different project under the same name but with an entirely different premise. But that’s way down the line, so for those of you who really enjoyed this specific version of the story, it’ll still be up for quite a while to download and keep in your hearts (and on your PCs).

Instead, all future updates regarding this story will happen over at Paper Trails’ page.

What is Paper Trails?

It’s nearly the exact same plot as TIK, just rewritten to tell a more meaningful and far more cohesive overall story. Think of it as a revamped version of TIK with not just a better storyline (in my and my beta readers’ opinion) but a better GUI, better art, better sound design, and far better writing.

Does Paper Trails include the same characters?

Yes! Paper Trails includes the exact same cast as TIK, including side characters. In fact, there’s actually one extra LI now, though they aren’t an entirely new character; it’s just someone from the original game that a lot of people had told me they wished they could pursue romantically, so now you have that option!

Will Paper Trails be updated more regularly?

Now that I’m back and better than ever, I would hope so! But keep in mind that I am solo-developing the game (as in, everything except the music is made from scratch by me) and I have other professional obligations taking up my time.

So far, my plan is to work on the rest of the game and release it in one fell swoop when it’s finished.

I know it’s a little hard to trust my word when I abandoned TIK for so long, but please believe me that I really do want to finish telling this story and will get this project done if it’s the last thing I do. For me as a developer, TIK was clumsy with a lot of wasted potential given I started it for fun when I was 19, but I’ve set up Paper Trails in such a way that I’m certain I won’t have this problem again: With purpose.

TIK was just something I did between assignments, but Paper Trails is an intentional project for the sake of a story. Therein lies the difference between them for me, and why I think this project will stand the test of time even if I someday think the backgrounds aren’t as well done as they could be.

That being said, if you don’t want to emotionally invest yourself in the game just in case, I won't blame you. Maybe one day we’ll see each other again in a different project, but for now this is where we part ways <3

And for everyone who reached the end of this log, thanks for sticking with me! I hope you’ll show some love to Paper Trails and that it’s everything I’ve described it to be and more!