2026. What a weird number to see on the clock, huh?

Unfortunately, this year closed off on one of my many lows. But, just as with all things, we can always hope for things to get better. And, at least for me personally, that’s gonna be one of my goals for 2026, have more hope and hold on for another year of my life. Watching myself grow to an age I always looked upon as being “the cool age I want to be” will probably haunt me for my entire life. Although this year was not my best, in the end, I’m glad I held on.

This year came to me in two phases that seemed to come and go in a flash. For the first half of the year, I was at home, spending seven months of my life doing nothing. I spent a lot of my time, especially in this year and last year, thinking about the past and reminiscing on my younger years, in particular the development side of things. In my desperation, I created the previously considered “definitive” Hoppel’s Funhouse: San Francisco, the sequel to my project from last year, San Diego. I worked day in, day out, until the second phase of my year began, in which I went back to school and continued my education, which severely slowed progress on the game (that was already 80% done) due to school taking up most of my brain power. That’s why the game was never 100% finished, and why I never released it, amongst other factors. As you all know, I made the game for me and my friends to enjoy, but as a gift for new years…

I’ve decided to release a public legacy pre-deluxe version of HF: San Francisco for all of you to explore.

It is rough around the edges and certainly not my “proudest” work. I hope that for at least some of you, this gift is enjoyable enough. Play it here for free, as always. Please remember that it was never finished, and that features are missing/broken.

https://www.roblox.com/games/123126152484100/Hoppels-Funhouse-San-Francisco

I’ve also been enjoying my days crafting the story some of you might recognize as Siren Documents, my biggest collaborative passion-project with @EllieRedruby03 . It’s my biggest focus, and what I enjoy making most, and my gratitude towards her, as well as my other friends, for letting me have this is immense. Thank you for putting up with my horribly, horribly annoying rants and interests. You all mean the world to me. 

Seven years of game-making on my back might mark me as a junior to some, but to me (who’s only sixteen now), it feels like I can’t even remember a time in which I hadn’t been doing this. Here’s to eight. 

Happy New Year, from Hoppel and me. Goodnight everybody.