An exclusive sneak peek of lily's world XD✨

Check out an exclusive WIP screenshot, why I make games, and dev updates!

TL;DR I started a YouTube dev log for lily’s world XD (click here to watch! I talk in depth about my early development and share tips), I won $10k and a custom Starforge PC at the OTK Games Expo, I’m working on the demo, and you can wishlist the game on Steam here (I would be forever grateful).

Before lily’s world XD, I was working on a different game, with a different team, and with wildly different goals. As I slowly realized the project was not feasible, I began resenting my game and game development as a whole. I even made a video “I regret being a game developer” about my dejected feelings, which I shared: “I want to get back into why I started making games. I’m tired of guiding my creative vision to what I think investors will want. I want to make weird, cool, artistic, disturbing, beautiful games.”

Today, I confidently say I have regained that spark. That spark is lily’s world XD.

From the moment I started making games, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I didn’t care if I had to stay up until 2am working on projects or that my games sucked, I loved it so much I would look forward to those late nights. Games are special because they offer player agency. Instead of observing a story in a book or movie, you are controlling the player’s actions. Of course, with limitations, but I actually think those limitations are what cause designers to really think out of box and innovate on the medium. My goal is people will play lily’s world XD, reach a certain part, and go, “Oh my god, this game is REALLY going there?” It’s a moment of delight that you can only get with games, like when [spoiler] in Doki Doki Literature Club and when [spoiler] in Inscryption.

GAMES ARE JUST REALLY COOL IDK.

When I first had the inkling I’d want to make games, I had no idea what it was like, and I wish I had insights into how my favorite games are made. Instagram reels are quick and fun, but I want to have a place where I can really dig in: YouTube! From now on, I’ll be posting semi-regular dev logs on my YouTube channel diving into what I’m working on. The first episode is out now.

Recently, I participated in the OTK Games Expo, a showcase of indie games. Out of all the games in the event, five games won a $10,000 grant and one game won a custom Starforge PC. I’m still in shock but lily’s world XD won both the grant and the PC! Truly, thank you so much to anyone who voted. You guys are the reason I can pursue my dream ❤️.

lily’s world XD is also in the Women-Led Games x The Game Awards Showcase. You can check out the Steam event here. Because of this, my game is featured in The Game Awards 2024 Steam event. I’m ecstatic I get to be featured alongside such wonderful games!

As promised, here is your sneak peek of lily’s world XD! This is a WIP screenshot of an online forum I’m making in my game. I wanted to create a website that mimicked the design of Girls Go Games and Yahoo Answers! A lot of this is placeholder; it’s important to show the early stages of development so you can really see the growth when the final product is out. I’m also not very happy with the website being titled GirlsAnswer.com, so let me know if you have suggestions!

One misconception I had about game development is that you work on all parts of the game at once. Often times, developers will make a vertical slice or demo as a proof of concept and to get a sense of what the full game might be like. I’ve been working on mine for the past couple of months and hope to finish it soon (ish — you need to include the ish just in case). After that, I will run a closed beta and invite some of you to play the demo and give early feedback. Please let me know if you are interested in this (must be 18+ and sign an NDA. Preferably you can record a playthrough and send it to me). I’m hoping the demo will come out for everyone in the first half of 2025.

Since my last newsletter, I’ve made great strides in developing the story and structure of my game. And I might be a little biased, but I am obsessed. I have not seen the themes my game tackles in other games, and I’m so excited and nervous for you to experience it.

Another thing I wanted to address is I’ve gotten quite a few comments comparing my game to other games. While on the surface my game has a similar premise to other titles, the actual game will diverge a lot. I wish I could say how, but you’ll just have to play to find out. Trust me, there’s so much in the game that I have not shared on my social media.

Making this game really is my dream and every day I am stressed about making the right decisions so I can continue doing what I love. Your kind comments mean everything to me. If you’re wondering how to best support lily’s world XD, wishlisting and telling your friends to wishlist is the way to go. Wishlists are so important because they place you higher in events, put you on the popular upcoming list on Steam, and can trigger being in the Steam discovery queue. So if you have any interest in getting the game, please wishlist as it helps me so much as an independent developer.

See you in the next one!