STRAIGHT ANSWERS

FAQ

The questions we get most, answered straight. Still stuck? Ask in the Discord or email [email protected].

Will my progress get wiped?

Yes: once, when the beta ends. Chaser Dot is a test beta, and there will be a full wipe before the game opens to the public: every character, dollar, card, and base resets to zero so everyone starts the public launch at the same starting line. It's the fair thing to do. The wipe happens before any store exists, so nothing anyone paid for will ever be wiped. And what beta chasers keep, no wipe can touch: you'll know the game better than anyone walking in on day one. We'll announce the timing loudly on the news page and in the Discord well ahead of time.

How do I get in right now?

The beta is open. Go to play.chaserdot.com and sign in with Discord or Google. Free, on any desktop browser. Pick one sign-in and keep using it: accounts don't link, and your progress lives behind the door you chose.

If a huge crowd is on at once, the world has a capacity door: you'll see "the world is full" with a short countdown, and it keeps trying for you until a seat opens. Want game news by email? Drop your address on the front page.

Do I still need a Discord role?

No. The beta opened to everyone on July 21, 2026, and the role gate is retired: you don't need any role, or Discord at all, to play. The Ryan Hall, Y'all Discord is still the game's home for bug reports, feedback, and chase-day chatter, and we'd love to see you there.

What do I need to play? Is there an app?

Chaser Dot is built for desktop/laptop (a real keyboard and a big map make the chase). A dedicated macOS and Windows app is in final beta review; until its download links go live, the current beta continues to run at play.chaserdot.com. A mobile experience is on the roadmap, not in this beta.

Does it cost anything?

The game is free to play, and the free game will always be complete: the Chaser Dot role is a free grab in the Discord, everything you need to chase, level up, and build a career is earned by playing, and in-game dollars aren't real money and can't be cashed out. There are no purchases in the game today. Down the road, an optional premium account (early thinking: a few dollars a month) may add extras: things like a library of past-event replays, cosmetics, and priority login when servers are full. Nothing for sale will ever make you stronger than a free player. No pay-to-win, ever. And a portion of all proceeds goes to the Y'all Squad, our non-profit that helps people after storms.

What is Chaser Dot, exactly?

A storm-chasing MMO where the game world is today's real weather. Real radar, real National Weather Service warnings, real Storm Prediction Center outlooks. You drive a dot across a live national map, chase actual storms alongside everyone else online, launch weather balloons, survey damage, and build a career. When it's quiet, it's quiet; when it's a big day, it's a big day. See the live world for exactly what's happening right now.

Who's building this?

Mostly one person. Chaser Dot is Ryan's passion project. He builds it himself, leaning hard on AI coding tools, which is how a single person can even attempt an MMO. As the game grows, the plan is to bring on real developers and real graphic artists. That's part of why the game will eventually need to make some money. More on that below.

How much of this game is made with AI?

A lot of the making, none of the weather. Chaser Dot is mostly one person, and the honest answer is that it exists because new tools let one person build what used to take a studio. The code is written with AI coding tools, with every feature designed, tested, and ruled on by a human. The icon art is AI-generated in one hand-picked style, and every asset gets approved or rejected by a human eye before it ships. The tutorial's radio voice is synthesized from scripts we wrote. What is never AI: the weather. The radar, the warnings, and the storms you chase are the real thing, live, from the same feeds real chasers watch. If AI tools or AI art are a dealbreaker for you, we understand, and we will not argue with you about it. Our plan has always been the same: when the game earns money, it goes toward bringing real developers and real artists onto the team.

Why would a passion project need to make money?

Because keeping an online game alive costs real money: it has already cost thousands of dollars to build, and that's with one person doing all the work. The bills aren't just "a server," either: it's the mapping platform, telemetry, and eventually salaries for the people we hire. The philosophy is simple: the free game stays complete, and if the game makes money, the money makes the game better.

Isn't it strange to build a game on real, life-threatening weather?

It's a fair question, and we think about it a lot. Chaser Dot shows the same public data you'd see watching live storm coverage, and it must never be used for real-world safety (see below). The point was never to profit off tragedy; it's to get people engaged with weather. That's why a portion of all proceeds goes to the Y'all Squad, our non-profit that helps people after storms, and why we keep listening to the community about how to handle real events respectfully. When something in the game feels wrong to you, tell us. That feedback has already shaped it.

Will I actually learn anything playing this?

The goal is fun. This isn't a class. But you can't play Chaser Dot without reading real radar, real Storm Prediction Center outlooks, and real National Weather Service warnings. Our bet is that most players walk away understanding weather a lot better without ever feeling like they were being taught.

What's coming next?

The news page is the running record. We ship constantly. The big thing in the works: replays, letting you chase curated past events as practice. They won't grant XP or in-game money; they're training and an experience, and the first one will double as the tutorial for new players. Beyond that: no promised dates. Things ship when they're ready.

Is this a real weather service? Should I use it for safety?

No. Never. Chaser Dot is a game built on real data, not a warning system. Don't chase, navigate, or take shelter based on anything you see here. When real weather threatens you, follow real warnings from the National Weather Service and your local officials. More in Conduct & safety.

How do I delete my account or data?

You can delete your character and account yourself from your account page. It's permanent and immediate. Prefer we handle it? Email [email protected]. Details in the Privacy Policy.

The beta broke / I found a bug. What do I do?

Beta life, thank you for chasing it down. There's a 🚩 Feedback button in-game that lands on a real desk, and the news page is the running record of everything we ship (and we ship constantly). Big stuff goes in the Discord too.