Sand Saga Insider: January 2025
Hello everyone, and welcome to the first update of 2025! You have probably noticed the new device – the Burner. However, I have also been busy working on things that are not so visible at first glance.
January Additions
- Game: Bug fixes and improvements
- Erase tool can be used to delete entities;
- Fixed missing temperature effects and entities in previews – Move tool, Import, Workshop items (it does not apply to already created previews);
- Fallback renderer improved so it now also renders temperature effects just like the primary WebGL renderer
- Game: Introduced Burner
* Minor bug fixes and tweaks are not listed
Burner
The Burner is an entity that provides a continuous flame, something that was missing in the game.
Some players have already noticed that it explodes when overheated and have started to take advantage of this feature in creative ways.
New Trailer
I finally created a new video for Sand Saga – a proper trailer! I've been meaning to do this for a while, but I kept putting it off. This is the first time I've edited a video from multiple clips using video editing software and really focused on making it look polished. It was a learning experience, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Check it out on YouTube!
Experiments with Ads
As I announced on our Discord (and as you may have noticed afterward), I experimented with introducing ads to explore if they could be a viable way to help fund Sand Saga. While I truly appreciate direct financial support, unfortunately, there aren't many people willing to contribute real money. This was a bit disappointing because I had hoped Sand Saga could run entirely ad-free. Preliminary results show that ads work quite well and will likely become a stable source of funding. I will do my best to keep them as non-intrusive as possible and ensure they don't disrupt the user experience. In return, I hope players won't block them. Supporters will, of course, always enjoy an ad-free experience.
Thanks for your understanding and support! And remember: better funding = better Sand Saga.
From Sand Saga to Tax Saga
It turns out that, regardless of income, what I'm doing is technically a business, and I should register a sole proprietorship. At the start of the year, I decided to go for it and began sorting out all the paperwork with the authorities. The country I live in is extremely bureaucratic, with outdated processes and laws that don't really accommodate "modern" things like AdSense. So, dealing with this has been quite an experience. It has already taken a lot of my time and will likely continue to do so in the future. But hey, I'm an entrepreneur now!
Conclusion
That's all for today. Stay tuned for more updates!
The next update (25w05a) is already in preparation and will be a lot about fixing and improving things that players complain about.
Discussion
There are 4 comments.