# ✅ Branding Checklist - Execute Today

**Time to complete:** 4-6 hours  
**Result:** Professional brand identity ready to launch

---

## 🎨 Phase 1: Visual Identity (2 hours)

### Logo Creation (1 hour)
- [ ] Open Canva or Figma
- [ ] Choose logo concept:
  - [ ] Option A: Use the hexagon-cloud concept (assets/logo.svg)
  - [ ] Option B: Create AE monogram
  - [ ] Option C: Design custom in Figma
- [ ] Export in multiple formats:
  - [ ] logo.svg (vector)
  - [ ] logo.png (512x512)
  - [ ] logo.png (256x256)
  - [ ] logo.png (128x128)
  - [ ] logo.png (64x64)
  - [ ] logo.png (32x32)
  - [ ] favicon.ico (16x16, 32x32, 48x48)

**Quick Win:** Just use the provided SVG and export to PNG

### Color Palette (15 minutes)
- [ ] Copy brand-colors.md to your design tool
- [ ] Update design-system.css with new colors:
  ```css
  :root {
    --primary: #8B5CF6;
    --primary-dark: #6D28D9;
    --accent: #06B6D4;
    --background: #111827;
  }
  ```
- [ ] Test colors in Studio UI
- [ ] Verify contrast ratios (use WebAIM contrast checker)

### Replace Default Assets (30 minutes)
- [ ] Replace engine/platform/android/export/logo.svg
- [ ] Replace engine/platform/macos/export/logo.svg
- [ ] Replace engine/platform/windows/godot.ico → aethex.ico
- [ ] Replace aethex-studio/public/favicon.ico
- [ ] Add logo to Studio header

### Typography Setup (15 minutes)
- [ ] Add Google Fonts to project:
  ```html
  <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Inter:wght@400;500;600;700&family=Orbitron:wght@700;900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">
  ```
- [ ] Update CSS font variables
- [ ] Test in Studio UI

---

## 📸 Phase 2: Marketing Assets (2 hours)

### Screenshots (1 hour)
Take high-quality screenshots (1920x1080, full screen):

- [ ] **Unified Studio** - Full IDE view with all panels
  - Scene tree on left
  - Viewport in center
  - Inspector on right
  - Code editor at bottom
  
- [ ] **Code with AI** - Editor showing AI suggestion
  - Write a function
  - Show AI autocomplete
  - Highlight the suggestion
  
- [ ] **3D Viewport** - Game running in viewport
  - Load a 3D scene
  - Show real-time rendering
  - FPS counter visible
  
- [ ] **Cloud Dashboard** - Analytics/stats (mockup if needed)
  - User count chart
  - Active sessions
  - Usage metrics
  
- [ ] **One-Line Multiplayer** - Code comparison
  - Left side: Traditional setup (100+ lines)
  - Right side: AeThex (3 lines)
  
- [ ] **Asset Browser** - File management
  - Grid view of assets
  - File tree visible
  - Professional layout
  
- [ ] **Publishing Flow** - Deploy dialog (mockup if needed)
  - "Publish to Web" button
  - Game name input
  - "yourname.aethex.games" preview
  
- [ ] **Scene Tree** - Node hierarchy
  - Expanded scene tree
  - Multiple nodes visible
  - Node icons clear

**Save to:** /workspaces/AeThex-Engine-Core/assets/screenshots/

### Demo Video (1 hour)
Record a quick demo (2-5 minutes):

- [ ] Set up OBS Studio or QuickTime
- [ ] Set resolution to 1920x1080
- [ ] Turn on microphone
- [ ] Follow this script:
  ```
  0:00 - "This is AeThex" (show studio)
  0:15 - "Watch me add multiplayer" (write 3 lines)
  0:45 - "AI suggests code for me" (show AI)
  1:15 - "Cloud saves work automatically" (demo)
  1:45 - "Publish to web in one click" (show)
  2:00 - "Try it free at aethex.dev"
  ```
- [ ] Edit in DaVinci Resolve (trim, add text overlays)
- [ ] Export as MP4 (1080p, 30fps)
- [ ] Upload to YouTube (unlisted for now)

**Save to:** /workspaces/AeThex-Engine-Core/assets/demo-video.mp4

---

## 🌐 Phase 3: Social Presence (1 hour)

### Twitter/X Setup (20 minutes)
- [ ] Create account: @AeThexEngine
- [ ] Profile photo: Logo (400x400)
- [ ] Banner image: Create in Canva
  - Show Studio UI
  - Add tagline: "The Cloud-Native Game Engine"
  - 1500x500 pixels
- [ ] Bio: "Game engine with cloud services built-in. Multiplayer in 3 lines. Free forever. MIT licensed. 🎮☁️🤖"
- [ ] Pinned tweet: 
  ```
  Introducing AeThex 🚀
  
  The only game engine with cloud services built-in.
  
  ✅ Multiplayer in 3 lines
  ✅ Cloud saves automatic
  ✅ AI coding assistant
  ✅ One-click publishing
  ✅ $0 forever
  
  Try free → [link]
  
  [Demo video]
  ```

### Discord Server (20 minutes)
- [ ] Create server: "AeThex Engine"
- [ ] Upload logo as server icon
- [ ] Create channels:
  ```
  📢 ANNOUNCEMENTS
  ├── #announcements
  ├── #updates
  
  💬 COMMUNITY
  ├── #general
  ├── #showcase
  ├── #help
  
  🛠️ DEVELOPMENT
  ├── #bug-reports
  ├── #feature-requests
  ```
- [ ] Write welcome message in #announcements
- [ ] Create invite link (never expires)
- [ ] Add invite link to README

### GitHub Social (10 minutes)
- [ ] Add logo to repository
- [ ] Update README with logo
- [ ] Add social preview image (1280x640)
  - Settings → Social Preview → Upload
- [ ] Add topics: game-engine, cloud-services, ai-assistant, godot
- [ ] Update description: "Cloud-native game engine with built-in multiplayer, AI assistant, and one-click publishing."

### YouTube Channel (10 minutes)
- [ ] Create channel: "AeThex Engine"
- [ ] Upload logo as channel icon
- [ ] Upload banner (2560x1440)
- [ ] Channel description:
  ```
  Official AeThex Engine channel.
  
  Learn how to build games with cloud services built-in.
  
  • Multiplayer tutorials
  • AI assistant demos
  • Game development tips
  • Feature showcases
  
  Download free: aethex.dev
  ```
- [ ] Upload demo video (unlisted for now)

---

## 📝 Phase 4: Copy & Content (1 hour)

### Landing Page Copy (30 minutes)
Write these sections:

- [ ] **Hero Headline**
  ```
  The Cloud-Native Game Engine
  
  Build multiplayer games in minutes, not months.
  Deploy with one click. Scale automatically. All free.
  ```

- [ ] **Value Props** (3 bullet points)
  ```
  🎮 Multiplayer in 3 Lines
  No servers, no NAT, no config. Just works.
  
  ☁️ Cloud Everything
  Saves, analytics, auth - all built-in and free.
  
  🤖 AI Pair Programming
  Code completion that understands your project.
  ```

- [ ] **Social Proof** (when available)
  ```
  Trusted by 100+ game developers
  50+ games in development
  10+ games published
  ```

- [ ] **CTA**
  ```
  [Download Free] [Watch Demo] [View Docs]
  ```

### Comparison Table (15 minutes)
Create comparison vs competitors:

| Feature | Godot | Unity | AeThex |
|---------|-------|-------|--------|
| Price | Free | Fees | Free |
| Cloud Services | DIY | $50-200/mo | Free |
| Multiplayer Setup | 3-6 weeks | 2-4 weeks | 3 lines of code |
| AI Assistant | No | No | Yes |
| Publishing | Manual | Manual | One-click |

### FAQ (15 minutes)
Write answers to:

- [ ] "Is AeThex really free?"
- [ ] "How is this different from Godot?"
- [ ] "Can I use this for commercial games?"
- [ ] "What platforms can I export to?"
- [ ] "Do I need cloud services to use AeThex?"

---

## ✅ Validation Checklist

Before going public, verify:

### Visual Identity
- [ ] Logo visible in Studio header
- [ ] Colors consistent across all screens
- [ ] Favicon showing in browser tab
- [ ] Typography renders correctly

### Marketing Assets
- [ ] All 8 screenshots taken and saved
- [ ] Demo video recorded and edited
- [ ] Video uploaded to YouTube
- [ ] Social media graphics created

### Social Presence
- [ ] Twitter profile complete
- [ ] Discord server set up
- [ ] GitHub updated with logo
- [ ] YouTube channel ready

### Content
- [ ] Landing page copy written
- [ ] Comparison table complete
- [ ] FAQ answered
- [ ] CTAs clear and compelling

---

## 🚀 Launch Day Checklist

When ready to announce:

- [ ] Update README with new logo
- [ ] Add "Download" buttons with download links
- [ ] Deploy landing page to aethex.dev
- [ ] Make demo video public on YouTube
- [ ] Post announcement on Twitter
- [ ] Share in Discord
- [ ] Post on r/gamedev
- [ ] Post on r/godot
- [ ] Email tech journalists
- [ ] Submit to Product Hunt

---

## 📊 Success Metrics

Track these after launch:

- [ ] Website visits: _____
- [ ] Twitter followers: _____
- [ ] Discord members: _____
- [ ] Video views: _____
- [ ] GitHub stars: _____
- [ ] Downloads: _____

---

## 💡 Quick Wins (Priority Order)

If you only have time for 3 things today:

1. **Create logo** (1 hour) - Use provided SVG or customize
2. **Take 5 screenshots** (30 min) - Studio, code, viewport, AI, cloud
3. **Set up Twitter** (20 min) - Profile, banner, first tweet

That's 1 hour 50 minutes to have a professional brand presence.

---

**Remember:** Done is better than perfect. Launch with "good enough" branding, improve as you grow. 🚀
