L36 — Shipping mindset & next steps

Goal

Know how to finish, test, credit third parties, and keep learning.

Pre-ship checklist

• [ ] Builds clean with ./scripts/build-all.sh
• [ ] Runs in Ares Homebrew mode
• [ ] Title / play / pause / win all reachable
• [ ] Audio not ear-splitting; music loops
• [ ] No soft-lock if player falls (bounds / kill plane)
• [ ] Credits: libdragon, Tiny3D, Quaternius (if using sample character), your name
• [ ] assets-src/ATTRIBUTION.md updated for new art

Hardware (optional)

Flashcarts (SC64, EverDrive, 64drive) load the same .z64. Prefer USB loaders that support libdragon debug logging when hunting issues.

Performance habits

• Conservative polycounts and texture sizes
• Don’t thrash TMEM with huge unique maps
• Measure frame ms (L39); if under budget, stop optimizing
• Profile by feel only after the meter looks fine

Persistence

• Best times / settings: L38 + capstone EEPROM
• Flashcart save type must match N64_ROM_SAVETYPE

Where to go next

• N64brew Discord
• Tiny3D examples (particles, HDR, culling)
• Fast64 deep materials
• Author feature roadmap (optional menu)
• Your own sequel island

You shipped

If Starshard Cove runs end-to-end, you can honestly say you built a 3D N64 homebrew game with authored art, animation, and audio using modern open tooling.

Congratulations.

Related source

Shipping checklist — build and ship from Starshard Cove (capstone/starshard-cove/).