History of the Caseyverse

Caseyverse, or Casey Universe, is a fictional universe created by Tony Bark. It began as a simple question regarding how elements of Bark's story, Sunset, could be utilized to free its protagonist, Zack Casey, from the baggage and copyright constraints posed by past collaborations with friends who had moved on to different forms of communication.

Sunset, a light-hearted slice-of-life tale written in the early 2010s, aimed to reintroduce Zack Casey, originally a blue fox character, in a fresh setting. Sunset was shared on Google Docs for feedback before publication and is where these initial questions regarding Bridgeport were asked. It was intended to serve as a foundation for a larger, darker narrative that involved saving the city of Bridgeport. While Sunset remained unfinished, it introduced key elements that would become integral to the Caseyverse.

Evolution

Borrowing from various sources became a recurring theme. In 2020, AI Dungeon text adventures introduced Pawprint Press, FNN, eCity Expo, and the Central Tower, marking the emergence of key locations within Bridgeport. A few years later, aspects like genetic engineering and Gene Clinics were incorporated from the video game Stellaris.

Since 2023, additional elements took shape, including Sunset Arms apartments, 456 Bark Street, and the Bridgeport Institute of Technology (BIT). This expansion saw a shift in focus to these three locations, with smaller, walkable streets added between larger corridors, mirroring the structure of cities like Tokyo. The change in scope and name of the apartment drew inspiration from Nickelodeon's Hey Arnold! Sunset Arms, a recurring starting point in Bark's personal AI Dungeon adventures, became particularly prominent.

Once Upon a Forest

Though Caseyverse initially centered around Zack Casey, the titular character and fursona, the focus gradually shifted towards Max Casey, a cousin, reflecting evolving tastes. This dynamic, akin to inspirations from Hey Arnold!, allowed Bark to revisit elements of his childhood through a new lens, exploring a brotherly bond with his cousin. The relationship between Max and Zack mirrors their real-life counterparts, and Bark remains indifferent to interpretations of them as brothers or cousins, emphasizing the essence of their connection transcends labels.

A pivotal turning point occurred when Bark drew inspiration from Once Upon a Forest by transforming Kit Welsh, originally a raccoon, into a badger and establishing him as a teacher at the Bridgeport Institute of Technology. This homage to Cornelius brought a much-needed voice of reason to Caseyverse, grounding the universe and providing a compelling foil to both Max and Zack.

Hosting

Initially, Caseyverse lore and past projects were housed across various Wikis, primarily Fandom/Wikia platforms. The name "Caseyverse" emerged organically from a comment made by a friend who envisioned Bark's stories as existing under a single verse, such as the Whoniverse. When self-hosting became viable, newer wikis adopted this moniker. However, technical challenges with alternative wiki software prompted the reluctant use of Notion. Finally, with the support of his boyfriend, a reliable home was established on the Heartlands domain, securing a permanent platform for Caseyverse content.

Copyright

Ever since discovering Creative Commons as a teenager, Bark has always been permissive about the usage of his artwork. This permissiveness likely contributed to his early success during his time on DeviantArt.

Caseyverse initially operated under simple attribution terms for most of its early existence when hosted on Fandom platform. However, after learning about the complexities of copyright and the extended protection afforded by "Life Plus 70," Bark realized the intricacies involved were not worth the hassle. He subsequently waived all copyrights to his work and the entirety of Caseyverse under CC0, ensuring complete public domain access.