# START AGAIN: a prologue

> 2021 video game

**Wikidata**: [Q122364915](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q122364915)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/start-again-a-prologue

## Summary
**START AGAIN: a prologue** is a 2021 role-playing video game developed by insertdisc5 and released on August 18, 2021. The single-player RPG is available exclusively through digital distribution on Microsoft Windows via Steam and on macOS via itch.io, supporting both English and Japanese languages.

## Key Facts
- **Publication Date**: August 18, 2021 (verified via Steam catalog entry 1691420 on September 9, 2023)
- **Developer**: insertdisc5 (author name string from official itch.io page)
- **Genre**: Role-playing video game (classified on itch.io store page)
- **Game Mode**: Single-player only (confirmed via Steam metadata)
- **Primary Platform**: Microsoft Windows (distributed via Steam with application ID 1691420)
- **Secondary Platform**: macOS (available through itch.io)
- **Distribution Method**: Digital distribution exclusively (Steam and itch.io channels)
- **Language Support**: English and Japanese (both listed in Steam store metadata from September 9, 2023)
- **itch.io URL**: https://insertdisc5.itch.io/start-again-prologue (official page)
- **itch.io Numeric ID**: 841129 (catalog identifier from itch.io database as of January 24, 2025)
- **Steam Application ID**: 1691420 (Windows-specific identifier)
- **RAWG Database ID**: start-again-a-prologue (cross-platform game identifier)
- **Lutris Game ID**: start-again-a-prologue (Linux gaming platform reference)
- **SteamGridDB ID**: 5291992 (artwork database entry from March 27, 2024)
- **GameSpot Game ID**: start-again-a-prologue (GameSpot catalog reference from April 22, 2025)
- **GOG Dreamlist ID**: start-again-a-prologue-2021 (GOG wishlist identifier from May 10, 2025)
- **HowLongToBeat ID**: 94247 (completion time database entry from September 13, 2023)
- **IsThereAnyDeal ID**: start-again-a-prologue (price tracking identifier from June 15, 2024)
- **MobyGames Game ID**: 183407 (gaming database reference from September 11, 2023)
- **Vglist Video Game ID**: 66186 (catalog identifier)
- **GamerProfiles Game ID**: 79K8B (profile database entry from May 17, 2024)
- **Internet Game Database ID**: start-again-a-prologue with qualifier 144092 (Steam-linked reference from September 9, 2023)

## FAQs
**What exactly is START AGAIN: a prologue?**
START AGAIN: a prologue is a 2021 role-playing video game built for single-player experiences, developed by the independent creator insertdisc5 and released digitally on August 18, 2021.

**Who created this game and where can I find them?**
The game was developed by insertdisc5, whose official distribution page is hosted at https://insertdisc5.itch.io/start-again-prologue, where the macOS version is specifically available.

**Which computer platforms support START AGAIN: a prologue?**
Microsoft Windows users can purchase and download the game through Steam using application ID 1691420, while macOS users must obtain it through the itch.io platform at the developer's official page.

**Is this a multiplayer or single-player experience?**
The game operates exclusively in single-player mode with no multiplayer functionality, as documented in Steam's technical specifications verified on September 9, 2023.

**What languages are available in the game?**
Players can experience the game in either English or Japanese, with both language options officially supported according to Steam store metadata.

**How is the game sold and delivered to customers?**
Distribution follows a digital-only model through two verified channels: Valve's Steam platform for Windows and the independent itch.io marketplace for macOS, with no physical retail version existing.

**Why does this game have so many different ID numbers?**
As an independently published title, it has been cataloged across eleven major gaming databases including RAWG, MobyGames, HowLongToBeat, and SteamGridDB, each assigning unique identifiers for tracking, artwork, pricing, and community features.

## Why It Matters
START AGAIN: a prologue represents a modern indie RPG that leverages digital-native distribution, releasing simultaneously across multiple PC platforms without physical manufacturing. Its August 2021 launch positioned it within the growing trend of prologue-style games that serve as narrative or mechanical introductions to larger concepts, allowing developers to test gameplay systems and build community before potential full releases. The game's presence across over ten specialized databases—from mainstream sites like GameSpot to niche tools like SteamGridDB and HowLongToBeat—demonstrates how contemporary indie titles must maintain extensive digital footprints for discoverability in crowded marketplaces. Supporting both English and Japanese languages indicates deliberate targeting of both Western and Eastern RPG audiences, a strategic choice that maximizes potential player base for a small-scale project. The Windows/macOS dual-platform approach, while splitting distribution between Steam and itch.io, ensures comprehensive PC market coverage without console development costs. As a single-player RPG, it caters to players seeking narrative-driven, solitary experiences rather than service-based multiplayer games. The developer's choice to distribute through itch.io for macOS specifically suggests either technical limitations with Steam's Mac pipeline or a desire to maintain direct community relationships on the indie-friendly platform. Its cataloging in preservation-focused databases like MobyGames and Lutris ensures long-term documentation, while commercial tracking IDs on GOG Dreamlist and IsThereAnyDeal reflect ongoing market viability years after release.

## Notable For
- **Prologue Structure**: Explicitly titled as "a prologue," positioning it as an introductory experience rather than a complete narrative
- **Dual-Platform Split Distribution**: Windows version exclusively on Steam while macOS version exclusively on itch.io, a rare platform-segregated approach
- **Digital-Only Existence**: No physical edition or console ports, existing solely through digital storefronts
- **Bilingual Support**: Offers both English and Japanese language options despite being developed by a Western indie creator
- **Massive Database Penetration**: Cataloged across eleven distinct gaming databases, exceeding typical indie title coverage
- **Single-Player Focus**: Commitment to solitary RPG experience in an era of multiplayer-dominated design
- **Indie Developer Branding**: Released under developer handle insertdisc5 rather than a formal studio name
- **Persistent Cataloging**: Continuously added to new databases through 2025, indicating ongoing community interest
- **Price Tracking Integration**: Listed on IsThereAnyDeal and GOG Dreamlist, enabling consumer deal-hunting
- **Artwork Database Inclusion**: SteamGridDB entry allows custom artwork creation, showing community engagement tools

## Body

### Overview and Classification
START AGAIN: a prologue is a video game that belongs to the role-playing genre, designed specifically for single-player gameplay. The title's naming convention explicitly identifies it as a prologue, suggesting it serves as an introductory chapter to a potentially larger game world or narrative arc. Developed by the independent creator operating under the name insertdisc5, the game entered the market on August 18, 2021, as a digitally distributed product with no physical retail counterpart. Its classification as an instance of "video game" across multiple authoritative databases establishes its fundamental identity within interactive entertainment.

### Release and Distribution Strategy
The game launched on a single publication date: August 18, 2021. Distribution follows a bifurcated digital-only strategy. For Microsoft Windows users, the game is available exclusively through Steam, where it holds application ID 1691420. This Steam listing was verified on September 9, 2023, confirming its active status on Valve's platform. For macOS users, the developer chose itch.io as the sole distribution channel, hosting the game at the canonical URL https://insertdisc5.itch.io/start-again-prologue. This platform split represents an unusual distribution pattern, as most multi-platform indie titles release on both storefronts for both operating systems. The itch.io page serves as the developer's direct channel, while Steam provides access to a larger Windows-centric marketplace.

### Technical and Gameplay Specifications
The game operates in single-player mode only, with no cooperative or competitive multiplayer components. This design choice aligns with its role-playing genre focus on narrative and character progression rather than social interaction. Digital distribution is the only format available, with no boxed edition or physical media production. The game supports two languages: English and Japanese, as documented in Steam's technical specifications from September 2023. This bilingual support suggests either translation resources beyond typical indie scope or deliberate targeting of the Japanese RPG market.

### Platform Availability and Requirements
Platform support is explicitly divided: Microsoft Windows through Steam, macOS through itch.io. The Steam application ID 1691420 is specifically tied to the Windows build, while the itch.io numeric ID 841129 (recorded on January 24, 2025) identifies the macOS version within itch.io's internal catalog. This separation may indicate different build versions, update schedules, or technical requirements between platforms. No console versions exist, and no Linux-native version is mentioned, though the Lutris game ID start-again-a-prologue suggests community-driven Linux compatibility efforts.

### Comprehensive Database Ecosystem
The game maintains an unusually extensive presence across gaming databases, reflecting both its 2021 release timing and ongoing cataloging efforts through 2025. Each database serves a distinct function:
- **Commercial Platforms**: Steam (1691420), itch.io (841129), GOG Dreamlist (start-again-a-prologue-2021)
- **Community Databases**: RAWG (start-again-a-prologue), MobyGames (183407), GameSpot (start-again-a-prologue)
- **Utility Services**: HowLongToBeat (94247) for completion metrics, IsThereAnyDeal (start-again-a-prologue) for price tracking, SteamGridDB (5291992) for custom artwork
- **Linux Gaming**: Lutris (start-again-a-prologue) for compatibility layer management
- **Preservation**: Vglist (66186), Internet Game Database (start-again-a-prologue with qualifier 144092)
- **Social**: GamerProfiles (79K8B) for player profiles

This multi-database strategy ensures discoverability across different user behaviors, from deal-seekers to completionists to preservationists.

### Developer and Publishing Identity
The developer operates under the handle insertdisc5 with no formal studio name listed in any database. This personal branding approach is common in the itch.io ecosystem but less typical for Steam releases. The official itch.io page serves as the primary web presence, suggesting direct community engagement rather than corporate marketing. The developer's decision to split platforms—Steam for Windows, itch.io for macOS—may reflect technical comfort, revenue share preferences, or community building strategies inherent to each platform's culture.

### Language and Localization
Steam's metadata confirms two supported languages: English and Japanese. The inclusion of Japanese is notable for a Western indie RPG, potentially indicating either developer language skills, collaboration with Japanese translators, or market research showing Japanese RPG fan interest in indie Western titles. No other languages are documented in the provided sources, suggesting focused rather than comprehensive localization efforts.

### Cataloging Timeline and Persistence
Database entries span from the game's 2021 release through May 2025, showing continuous attention. The Steam entry was verified in September 2023, itch.io ID recorded in January 2025, GameSpot ID added in April 2025, and GOG Dreamlist ID in May 2025. This four-year cataloging window demonstrates that indie titles can achieve long-term database persistence and ongoing platform integration years after initial release, contrary to assumptions about digital ephemerality.

### Market Positioning and Discoverability
The game's extensive ID mapping across price trackers, completion databases, and artwork repositories indicates sophisticated market positioning. IsThereAnyDeal integration allows price-conscious consumers to track discounts, while HowLongToBeat inclusion helps time-invested players gauge commitment. SteamGridDB presence enables community-created custom artwork, enhancing Steam Library aesthetics. GOG Dreamlist inclusion, despite no GOG release, shows cross-platform wishlist functionality. This multi-service strategy maximizes touchpoints for potential players across different discovery mechanisms.

## References

1. Steam
2. [Source](https://insertdisc5.itch.io/start-again-prologue)
3. GameSpot
4. RAWG
5. Q124398839
6. GOG Dreamlist