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I remember when all this was just fields...

It’s a cliched saying, I know, but it certainly rings true when I think back to the origins of this game, or at least the first time I actually installed the client on my machine.

It was a few days after I’d first started working here that I’d got my first view of the lifestyle engine.

It was just a field. A huge field. A never-ending field. With trees in it. And grass. Lots and lots of grass…

The atmosphere was generally dark and oppressive, clouds hanging in grey clusters in the sky, threatening to unleash a torrent of rain from their bursting innards. A far cry from the Sega blue skies we have now!

All this was seen from a first person perspective, with just a Mini-map in one corner, happily pointing the way to nowhere, and a chat window that, in an empty world, offered you the chance to talk to yourself.

The football engine too was in its initial stages of inception. We had one, very small, 5-a-side ‘stadium’. The stands were empty, no-one there to watch two players, on opposing sides, kicking the ball about and running around (I use the term ‘running’ very loosely – we had no animations!).

This was a great period of experimentation, with different views and control systems going in and out of the football client on a regular basis.

And then, things started to happen. Fast.

Our first NPC (non player character) was born. A bear (don’t ask). Very grizzly he was too. Soon after, he became a human NPC who was also bare (I’m here all week – try the soup, it’s delicious!) bar a simple loincloth.

If I remember correctly, this NPC was called Bob, and was our first trader. He sold a grand total of three items. One of which was a skull.

Now the game is full of Bobs. His progeny inhabit our many, many shops, and sell as wide a selection of clothing as I’ve seen in any recent games. No skulls though, sorry.

Over time, the game has transformed itself. Where there were once open fields, shops have emerged. Boats float in water underneath colossal bridges spanning vast distances and leading to beautiful stadiums. Games of football are being played, with some audacious moves on show, and some cracking goals being thundered home. You can play a game of football, then leave and go relax in a bar, or train up your stats and skills or speak to a journalist.

I could go on and list the changes and improvements forever to be honest. In just over a year, with a relatively tiny team of people, the game has become unrecognisable from its humble beginnings.

We’re close. We can see the finish line.

And as I look over this world we’ve created, I can’t help but be reminded of yet another cliched saying:

“One day, all this will be yours.”

We sincerely hope you like it!