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Development log: how the game was built
Shadow Director evolves in small numbered versions, 0.X.Y. Here are the main steps, taken from the project’s real release notes, and the design choices behind them.
How we move forward
The game is updated continuously. Each improvement gets a version number: the second digit marks a major theme (stadium, cups, staff…), the third an improvement or a fix. The current version is 0.37.0, and the full history can be read in the game through the “What’s new” button. Bug fixes appear next to new features: a screen that crashed when reached from a player with no available flight, for instance, was fixed in 0.31.7, and the game now shows a “Back to the office” button instead of a black screen when something goes wrong.
The milestones
| Version | Theme | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| 0.31 | Private life | Outings (karting, cinema, spa, golf, concert…) change every week and play like small scenes with three choices affecting stress, reputation, board trust and money. Karting, swimming, jogging and golf became real mini-simulations (0.32). |
| 0.32 | Accounts and transfers | Account deletion by the player with double confirmation; transfer window opening and closing emails at 7 and 3 days. |
| 0.33 | European cups | Three cups depending on final ranking: Champions League of Championships (top 3, 8 M€ prize), Continental Cup (4th and 5th, 4 M€), Horizons Cup (6th and 7th, 2 M€). |
| 0.34 | Stadium and ticketing | Adjustable ticket price, attendance depending on reputation, ranking, opponent and price; cups in a single 36-club table with 8 league-phase matches. |
| 0.35 | Facilities | Six projects: training centre (+12% progression), recovery centre (-25% post-match injuries), club shop, fan zone, and more. New Stadium & Facilities tab. |
| 0.36 | Training ground | On-site visit with the coach, staff and three players with different profiles; new series of weekly challenges. |
| 0.37 | 3D | Match Center in 3D, stadium depending on division, press room, dressing room, boardroom and academy in 3D, with a button to turn 3D off. |
These numbers come from the project’s release notes. The amounts and percentages quoted are the game’s own, not estimates.
Why so much 3D at the end
For a long time the game was mostly text, numbers and choices. The 3D scenes arrived to give weight to key moments: a match, a press conference, a dressing-room talk. They run in the browser with no download. Since not all devices are equal, 3D adapts to the device’s power and can be turned off scene by scene with the “3D ✓” button, handy on an older phone.
Design choices
- The sporting director does not pick the team. The coach plays. The player prepares, negotiates and takes responsibility. This has stayed stable from the start.
- Every decision has a cost. Ignoring a message costs trust, morale or reputation; approving spending weighs on the budget.
- Messages that change. The same topic does not come back for 40 days, and messages use the club’s real situation: ranking, gap to the leader, next opponent, star player, budget.
- Playable anywhere. Browser, phone or computer, free base game, automatic local saving and export.
- Optional tiers. Free, PRO, EDITOR and LEGEND, one-off payment with no subscription.
What comes next
Upcoming versions extend what works: more playable scenes, more variety in messages and a finer balance of the three difficulty levels. Player feedback is the compass: a reported bug is fixed and listed in the news.
To see what the game contains today, read the free game guide or the rules and engine page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current version?
0.37.0, focused on 3D: stadium, match, interviews, dressing room, meetings, training and academy.
Where can I see the list of updates?
In the game, with the “What’s new” button at the top right.
Can I turn 3D off?
Yes, with the “3D ✓” button on each scene, useful on an old phone.