Back in December 2021, we wrote the very first lines of code for what would become an MMORPG. There was no world, no characters, no combat — just a dream and a blank project. The first months were all about building the foundation: online multiplayer infrastructure, Steam authentication, and a server browser so players could actually find and join games. It wasn't glamorous, but it was the backbone of everything to come.
By early 2022, we had character creation and selection working — you could finally make an adventurer and step into the world. Then came the inventory system with full drag-and-drop, item slots, and even a recycle bin to protect you from accidental deletions. The pieces were starting to fit together, and it was starting to feel like a real game.
Summer 2022 was when things really heated up. We built the combat system — both melee and magic — with targeting, damage calculations, and the very first Fireball spell. Monsters appeared in the world with AI behavior: Skeleton Grunts, Wolves, and Earth Golems that would hunt you down if you got too close. We added leveling with XP, death penalties, and attribute points, plus equipment and armor sets that changed your character's appearance in real-time.
By August 2022, we had a hotbar for quick ability access, a buff and debuff system, and footstep sounds on different terrain. It was a tiny game by any standard, but it was ours — a working MMORPG with combat, inventory, multiplayer, and monsters. Looking back, those first eight months laid every brick we're still building on today.