Back in 2014, E McNeill blazed a trail by launching the first full VR game for Gear VR headsets, drawing inspiration from the vibrant portrayals of cyberspace in films. This innovative strategy game, set against the backdrop of the “Darknet,” immerses players in a world where they must outsmart hackers and secure virtual bitcoins. Players navigate through computational nodes, strategizing to fortify their arsenal with more powerful electronic weaponry.
When McNeill was crafting Darknet between 2013 and 2014, bitcoin prices hovered around $1,000 per coin. Fast forward to our conversation on January 31, 2025; that figure has skyrocketed, with a single bitcoin now fetching over $100,000. If McNeill had invested in five bitcoins then, his initial $5,000 would now be worth half a million dollars.
However, McNeill didn’t purchase any bitcoins. Instead, he dedicated the past 12 years to honing his craft as an indie game developer. He began with pioneering the first full VR game for Gear VR and gradually expanded his repertoire to include a series of VR titles on the latest consumer VR platforms.
“There was a fleeting moment when I thought I’d hit the jackpot and was on top of the world. But that moment has since passed,” McNeill reflected on his journey in indie game development. “If I had bought bitcoin like we mentioned at the start of this interview, things might have turned out differently. But managing to sustain this journey for 12 years already feels like a miracle to me. Honestly, if I could go back in time and assure my younger self that this path would work for at least a dozen years, that would have been a dream realized.”
Before McNeill took a break, Don Hopper and I dived into Darknet: Remastered on the Quest, as well as McNeill’s recent action-packed games, Ironstrike and Ironlights. We engaged in a candid hour-long chat with McNeill while Don explored each title in real-time.
Later, McNeill joined Don, offering hands-on instructions on spell-casting and combat tactics. He walked us through quick tutorials for both Ironstrike and Ironlights, sharing insights into the deliberate weapon handling mechanics he incorporated into his VR experiences. A special shout-out to YouTube’s Arlen for joining our session and posing insightful questions. You can watch the full, timestamped interview with McNeill below.
Just last week, we delved deep into discussions with the creator of Airspace Defender and Tablecraft. Looking ahead, we’re arranging a lineup of developer interviews, focusing on upcoming and newly released innovations.
During our stream, we immersed ourselves in three of McNeill’s creations, progressing from Darknet: Remastered to Ironstrike, and wrapping up with Ironlights. For those eager to explore more, all the details about McNeill’s games are available on his website. Stay tuned, as we’re excited to reconnect with McNeill in the coming months.
