Devlog: Version 0.4.0 

Update Release Date: 07/08/2026.

Overview: In version 0.4.0 we're introducing a plethora of updates with the UI, backend code, the store, stuff for members, and more.

In the last year we've watched our SEO build an algorithm that didn't represent clearly what or who our site was for. The navigation was confusing and visibility was limited.

Here's what we've done in more detail.

The Updates

1. The Hidden Minstrels' Market - Our market has a lot of items, and in order to minimize being overwhelmed or lost, we've decided to downsize the shops and make it easier for users to navigate between the items they want to see and the items they don't. For now, the shop is closed for renovations and will reopen soon! - Right now, this also includes subscriptions, which will also be available at a later date. Right now viewing the comic is completely free for members.

2. Member Sign Up Authorization - Previously, we allowed everyone to sign up without any authorization besides an emailed code. In order to deter bots and spam, new members will now be required to wait for their account request to be approved. This will happen when new members sign up. They'll be sent an email within 24 hours if their membership has been approved then they can immediately log in.

3. Mobile Users - In the last versions of our site, a lot of people were left out of the experience because of our lack of mobile accessibility. Now 90% of our pages are mobile friendly, as we continue to update each page as the site grows. We are currently also designing a dedicated app for our website as well so users can visit and read our comic on the go, no matter where they are!

4. Page Navigation - The main page and our heading nav bar were confusing to follow. Now, the home page shows you clear options on where to go, how to get to the comic, other pages and who else is on the site.

As you explore the site you'll notice little updates here and there that we left for you to discover. If you notice anything out of place or something that needs fixing, please use the buttons at the top of every screen to file the correct report. Complaints, questions and concerns can be filed by using the corresponding form and are reviewed every 24 hours.

Thank you for being a loyal citizen of the empire!

Empire of Ice Devlog – Version 0.3.2

Release Date: March 19, 2026

Q1 2026 Update

Most of the first quarter of 2026 has happened behind the scenes, with a major focus on artwork and visual development. A lot of time and energy has gone into drawing, refining, and preparing the world of Empire of Ice for what comes next.

The biggest update: the new prologue episode is out now. If you have not read it yet, now is the perfect time to step back into the Known World.

Store and Community Updates:

We would love to hear from you. If there are features you would like to see, issues you have noticed, or anything you think would improve your experience, please send us a message and let us know.

We are also welcoming readers and shoppers with a new store discount code:

• MINSTRELSWELCOME

• 15% off all products

• One use per member, per order

We are also excited to share that we are currently building a candle line, with more details to come as development continues.

Thank You

A huge thank you to all members, staff, and future members for being part of this long journey with us. Your support, patience, and enthusiasm mean everything as we continue building Empire of Ice into the immersive experience we have always envisioned.

We are grateful to have you with us, and we cannot wait to share more soon.

Devlog: Version 0.3.1 

Update Release Date: December 19, 2025.

Overview: In version 0.3.1 we've been focused all on accessibility. With an updated color scheme, higher contrasts and a better layout, readability is clearer and navigation is more user-friendly.

Website updates:

• The Color Theme : The color theme in the previous version was more muted with transparencies that made some pages hard to read. Some of the elements might've been outside of the reachable area.

• Accessibility : Our site is made of over 500 pages, and each one has a structure that is used not only by us, but by search platforms - enabling the ability for users and guests to search for us online, making us 'findable'. 

• The Hidden Minstrels' Market Update : Special delivery! The Hidden Minstrels' Market has more products just in time for the holidays! Explore all of the over 400 new items!

Devlog: Version 0.3.0 

Update Release Date: December 1, 2025.

Overview: In version 0.3.0, we focused on making the Empire of Ice website more user-friendly and immersive. While the forums were discontinued, we've introduced a simple live-chat feature so you can still connect with us and each other directly. 

Website updates:

• Menu & Feedback : The desktop menu is now streamlined, with easy-access forms for feedback, suggestions, and complaints.

• Hidden Minstrels' Market : We've expanded our range of mature and adult-themed items. Check them out!

• Member Experience : Custom sign-up and personalized member profiles are in the works. We're refining the backend to ensure every member gets a unique and private experience.

• Mobile Improvements : Several pages have been updated for a smoother mobile experience.

New Features:

• The Known World Calendar : Track events, moon cycles, and weather in our universe! (Currently deskstop-only; a standalone mobile app is on our roadmap.)

• Donation Page : Want to help us grow? Visit our new donation page - your support brings more gifts and content to the community!

Behind the Scenes

2025 has been a whirlwind - balancing life, work, and creative projects. We're deepening our world's lore, character details, fashion, and culture to ensure both the story and art remain rich and consistent.

Content Updates:

Episode Hiatus

We're settling into a new routine and working hard behind the scenes. Look for new and improved episodes of Empire of Ice in February 2026!

Connect with Us

We would love to hear from you! Reach out any time on Empireofice.com, empireofice@duck.com, any of our social medias, or text us at 808-353-1079!

(your personal phone/text rates may vary by your location)

We're dedicated to building an immersive, social graphic novel experience for every reader and connoisseur of the webcomic. Welcome to the Empire of Ice - See you in The Known World.

Devlog: Version 0.2.9 Update Release Date: August 31, 2025 Overview:

 In version 0.2.9 we're focused on ease of access and mobile friendly viewing for users without a desktop, or on the go. Updates and Improvements: Page Nav has been updates, removing pages with duplicated or rudimentary information for a faster experience between pages. The website has been updated to fit mobile devices so you can sign up and read on without the need for a desktop. Some text may still be out of the viewing margins. Some animations and hover interactions are unavailable on mobile devices. Episode navigation has been updated so that an entire volume is on one page. We're committed to continuous improvement and value your feedback. Please share your thoughts and suggestions through our contact form or community forums. Thank you for being part of our journey and for your continued support as we work to enhance your experience and bring our graphic novel to life in new and exciting ways!

Devlog: Version 0.2.8. Update Release Date: June 20, 2025. Overview: You might've noticed a few changes happening throughout the site. First, header nav has been updated for a clearer, more readable menu. We wanted our first impression to last, so we put a lot of work into our home page with big navigation buttons to take you directly to the most important parts of the site: signing up, reading the graphic novel, or entering HMM. View a list of other citizens; follow and send messages. Right now, we're working tirelessly to update our profile/member pages for more accessibility and better connection. Right now, wix features are very limited. Next, we've added a few interactive features: A name and title generator for new, existing members or guests who want to generate cool names or titles for their OCs. We also added a small mouse-hover interactive, called 'catch the will'o'wisp' (which we will be adding a leaderboard and points to). There is an area for Dev notes, updates, the roadmap and reported issues in the Info and Updates section of the home-page (where you're reading this). This area has all the information you need about the site version and current updates. LFP says thanks for sticking with us!

HMM - The Hidden Minstrels' Market soft opening invites members to browse general and adult products. The Hidden Minstrels' Market is an Empire of Ice Themed store where we offer items from candles and creams, to pleasure toys and fizzy baths. We want to continue updating the store's UI for user friendliness and ease of use. The Forums are Evolving...   Right now, our standard forums do not impress us and we're working around the clock behind the scenes to bring a better, more inclusive forum experience, with more categories, better styles and easier navigation. Stay tuned - because in the future our forums will be directly linked to an immersive site-wide experience for all our members. Music, UI, Member pages and more...   As we continue to develop our site, we remain dedicated to creating a unique and seamless experience for our guests and members alike, so you may notice things like different background music in the bottom left-hand corner. A snowy animation. We developed our first two LFP Apps for EOI including the Random Name and Random Title Generators where our users can click to their heart's content to find a 'vulsrian-esque' sounding term for their use! Notes:   As we continue to build, we want to bring focus to creating an entirely new sign-up experience with a profile page and customizable features - including signing up to become a citizen of the known world. Creating an original character and participating in a site-wide roleplaying parallel-event; to allow members to react to the known universe - think MMO/Roleplay universe aligning with the Empire of Ice story, in which your character could have a chance to appear in the graphic novel and react to events in real time between episodes. - CAPTCHA & RECAPTCHA have been updated, now they should only appear for suspected bots, not at every log in and sign up. - THE HIDDEN MINSTRELS' MARKET will have frequent updates with new products. As the shop grows, we want all of our members to have the opportunity to enjoy the store in new and bigger ways. - EPISODE NOTES are comments and details added to the end of each episode by the artist giving everyone a glimpse into their thoughts about the art and the episode. - RELEASE DATES have been changing as we continue production of the graphic novel and settle into a routine. Members are asked to bear with us as release dates become more consistent.

Devlog: Version 0.2.6 Update Release Date: April 4th, 2025 After updating the site DNS records I made a mistake ;( the domain www.empireofice.com was redirecting visitors to the wrong website with a shopify address. In our future updates we mentioned adding more onto our site, like a store to buy exclusive EOI themed merchandise - we realize that as we continue to construct our site, service interruptions will be hard to avoid, but we hope this will be the last significant distraction for our viewers. Regular service should be expected to return within 48 hours. If you have any questions, please contact us at empireoficeofficial@gmail.com or mylittleflowerproductions@gmail.com Thank you for your patience as we continue to expand and grow!

Devlog: Version 0.2.5 Update Release Date: March 30, 2025 Over the last few months we've been working with the default Forum software we were provided. However due to the lack of customization and poor accessibility the LFP team is currently and actively looking for a more appropriate, user friendly forum software. Please stay tuned!

Devlog: Version 0.2.4 Update Release Date: March 24, 2025 Overview: In version 0.2.4, we've focused mostly on our backend code to further enhance the functionality of the site itself. We want to make sure not only the buttons, but the links and the codes work depending on the subscription tier. Updates and Improvements Visual Enhancements Theme Overhaul: We updated the entire site theme  AGAIN to improve contrast and optimize the viewing experience. This includes bigger images and bigger font size. Episode/Volume Navigation: The episode and volume selection interface has a few knots that we're working on untangling - like the episode selection not directing you to the corresponding episode. The release dates are going to be updated April 1st, 2025, due to delay in the site build. User Experience Sign-Up Process: The sign up page requires new members to wait at least 24 hours for profile confirmation from an administrator due to the volume of bots trying to enter the site. We want to update the sign up to enhance user immersion in The Known World Universe. Security Enhancements: Additional security checks have been implemented during sign-up to prevent bots and protect member privacy from data phishing. Community Features Member Chat: our member chat is currently suspended while we work on a few fatal issues in the build. Messages were not recorded and not customizable. Upcoming Features: In addition to sitewide events, we're researching the ability for a choices-matter / visual novel style game on the site, giving each member the ability to tailor their own adventure within TKW. SEO and Performance SEO Updates: We're actively updating our SEO settings across the site to improve visibility and reach. Bug Fixes: We've addressed multiple bugs, including issues with sign-up confirmation emails. Future Plans Improved Chat: We're exploring ways to enhance our current chat functionality to foster better communication among members. Interactive Features: Plans are underway to introduce games with leaderboards, adding a competitive and fun element to the community experience. Event Calendar: A site-wide calendar for events is in development to keep members informed and engaged.    We're committed to continuous improvement and value your feedback. Please share your thoughts and suggestions through our contact form or community forums. Thank you for being part of our journey and for your continued support as we work to enhance your experience and bring our graphic novel to life in new and exciting ways!

Devlog: Version 0.2.2 Update Release Date: February 15, 2025 Overview: In version 0.2.2, we've made significant strides in enhancing user experience and site functionality. Our focus has been on improving accessibility, security, and community engagement, while also laying the groundwork for exciting future features. Updates and Improvements Visual Enhancements Theme Overhaul: We've updated the entire site theme to improve contrast and optimize the viewing experience. This includes larger font sizes for better readability. Episode/Volume Navigation: The episode and volume selection interface has been updated for easier navigation with estimated release dates now available for each episode. User Experience Sign-Up Process: We've streamlined the sign-up experience, making it smoother and more intuitive for new members. Security Enhancements: Additional security checks have been implemented during sign-up to prevent bots and protect member privacy from data phishing. Community Features Member Chat: A new chat feature has been added, allowing members to interact and connect with one another. Upcoming Features: We're planning to introduce groups with exclusive perks and behind-the-scenes access, as well as leaderboards and site-wide event calendars. SEO and Performance SEO Updates: We're actively updating our SEO settings across the site to improve visibility and reach. Bug Fixes: We've addressed multiple bugs, including issues with sign-up confirmation emails, chat display and scrolling announcements. We're also optimizing screen sizes for all devices to prevent content from being cut off. Future Plans Improved Chat: We're exploring ways to enhance our current chat functionality to foster better communication among members. Interactive Features: Plans are underway to introduce games with leaderboards, adding a competitive and fun element to the community experience. Event Calendar: A site-wide calendar for events is in development to keep members informed and engaged.    We're committed to continuous improvement and value your feedback. Please share your thoughts and suggestions through our contact form or community forums. Thank you for being part of our journey and for your continued support as we work to enhance your experience and bring our graphic novel to life in new and exciting ways!