A few months ago, I sat down to write the usual “we’re launching soon” post. Instead, I find myself explaining why we haven’t launched yet – and why we’re genuinely glad about that.
This is the story of Kingdom of Clarity, our Business Adventure. What began as a modest internal project has become something far larger than any of us imagined.
April – A modest beginning
The original brief was simple: create a short, engaging experience that would let folks explore Crowded Igloo’s culture and our solutions in Asset, Maintenance, and Facilities Management. We wanted something light and intuitive that could be completed in under 10 minutes – essentially a polished calling card.
Development began in May. By June we had a working version and invited a small group to try it.
The verdict was encouraging: people enjoyed the humour and the tone, but almost everyone asked for more depth, more challenge, and a stronger sense of achievement. Their feedback was clear – we were on the right track, but the idea deserved to be taken further.
Our leadership team agreed, and the scope was expanded and the budget doubled.
July – The first “We’re definitely shipping this” moment
The second iteration introduced meaningful decisions, and real consequences. Testers responded strongly – they leaned in, debated choices, and visibly celebrated when they succeeded.
Following that session, one of our long-standing partners approached us. They argued that this was no longer just a clever marketing tool; it had the potential to reach a much wider audience and could prove valuable in numerous industries. They proposed a formal collaboration and committed significant additional resources.
After careful consideration, we accepted, and two teams became one larger unit. The vision grew, and the original launch timeline quietly moved.
September – The second “We’re definitely shipping this!” Moment
Together we replaced the simplified choice mechanics with a dynamic system that better reflects real-world conditions: unpredictable events, competing priorities, and consequences that unfold over time. The result felt strikingly authentic.
At the next playtest in September, the reaction was even stronger. One participant described the tension as “déjà vu of an incident that really happened!”. (They’re fine now – we gave them the rest of the day off…)
As if two teams weren’t enough, another close industry player who joined that session delivered the same message we had heard before: this project was special and deserved to be seen by more people. The decision wasn’t easy, but within weeks a third organisation joined the collaboration, bringing fresh expertise and further investment.
Three companies, one shared conviction – the idea that started as a modest marketing tool had evolved into something capable of standing on its own merits.
Today – Where we are right now – still baking
What began as a single short adventure is now a continually expanding world. New scenarios, new challenges, and new lessons will be arriving throughout the year, each designed to mirror the realities our clients face – and the satisfaction of solving them well.
All of this means we need a little more time to weave everything together properly and put it through its paces. We’re aiming to open public testing in early 2026, and the moment we have a firm date you’ll hear it straight from us – so watch this space.
The moral of the story (if there is one)
We could have released any of the earlier versions. Each would have been competent, even impressive in its own context.
Instead, three separate leadership teams independently concluded that the concept was worth significantly more time and resource. That is not a decision taken lightly, nor one we intend to waste.
A delayed product is eventually good; a rushed product is forever bad.
When Kingdom of Clarity opens its doors, it will reflect the combined care of dozens of people who refused to settle for “good enough.”
I’ll close with the same question I asked our amazing testers:
When was the last time you came across software – any software – where every detail felt carefully considered, built by people who cared more about getting it right than shipping it on time?
I’d love to hear your examples in the comments below. The best stories may well find their way into the adventure…
Your continued patience is appreciated, and we look forward to welcoming you in 2026!
Storm
Founder at @Crowded Igloo