Canvastown Preview

Happy Friday, everyone!

Writing to you from Shanghai, where I have arrived ahead of tomorrow’s TapTap Game Fest—an appearance I briefly teased in a previous update. During the showcase, we’re thrilled to demonstrate our multiplayer architecture alongside the ‘MyHome’ system through an entirely new game mode called ‘Canvastown.’ Crafted diligently by a dedicated sub-team within our studio, the moniker ‘Canvastown’ embodies the vision of a shared creative haven where we can coexist and build memories together.

To ensure we manage expectations properly, please note that ambitious features circulating in online rumors—such as constructing an entire metropolis from the ground up or manually laying down complex road networks—are not yet available. Naturally, we fully intend to expand our suite of terrain-editing and city-decoration tools moving forward. For now, however, Canvastown remains an experimental side project while our primary focus stays locked firmly on our core milestones.

At its heart, Canvastown is designed as an escape from the humdrum of daily routines. It captures the most extraordinary, cinematic highlights of a life simulation, allowing you to dive straight into the magic. It serves as a sandbox for crafting compelling narratives, assuming specific roles, and experiencing alternate lives.

In the accompanying preview video, you’ll catch a glimpse of this foundational concept: players connect online, step into curated scenarios via “AR Company,” and adopt assigned roles. Within our dedicated digital spaces, roughly 50 individuals can converse and interact harmoniously in real time. Meanwhile, Zoi NPCs adhere strictly to the behavioral parameters we’ve established. Acting much like a film director, you hold the creative reins—casting actors and choreographing events to bring your unique vision to life. I often questioned whether this approach amounted to reinventing the wheel, especially since players generally gravitate toward familiar mechanics.

To empower this style of emergent gameplay, we will also provide robust script mods, enabling creators to sprinkle in bespoke features that breathe life into their stories. Through modding, we’ve even managed to whip up impromptu mini-games like street racing—though admittedly, it cannot rival a dedicated racing title. Ultimately, our ambition is to establish a seamless pipeline where successful mini-games prototyped in Canvastown can eventually transition into the main game.

I firmly believe the ultimate charm of role-playing games lies not in merely reaching the credits, but in sharing a living, breathing world with fellow players. That philosophy served as the genesis for ‘AR Company.’ My ongoing pitch has always been to offer a sanctuary where players can momentarily step outside of reality and immerse themselves in the universe of *inZOI* to live out a completely different existence. If you picture something akin to the film *Ready Player One*, you will be very close to the mark.

Naturally, examining our current build often leaves me sighing with realization. We still have countless gaps to fill and an immense journey ahead of us. Yet, I hold onto the hope that one day, I can fully realize this cherished dream.

My objective is simply to lay down a rock-solid foundation, leaving the storytelling entirely in your capable hands. By cultivating a space ripe for unpredictable encounters and genuine social dynamics, I am confident that—given time—it will blossom into a vibrant, autonomous world.

While I am naturally introverted and rarely eager to leave the comfort of my home, game development brings out a fiercely adventurous streak when confronting novel design challenges. Even so, much like the nervous glance I cast at my beloved wife last Sunday after tossing experimental kimchi into our pasta to see if she approved, I harbor that exact same fluttering anxiety ahead of tomorrow’s presentation.

Conventional wisdom suggests that embracing bold risks triumphs over playing it safe, but unlike the virtual sandbox, the real world brings unfiltered critiques, public scrutiny, and occasional applause—which can undeniably be daunting. I’ve informed the team that Canvastown’s immediate future will hinge on how tomorrow’s event unfolds. Whether it is met with enthusiasm or exposes glaring flaws, I consider it an indispensable stepping stone on our path forward.

I eagerly look forward to writing to you again soon with favorable updates.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unwavering support.

Hoping that one day, we can truly live life like a game,

From Shanghai ~ kjun

※ To view the video footage, please visit our Discord server or community forums.

🔗 Discord: Link

🔗 Forum: Link

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