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Progress report 7
🕑 Added 2024-04-27 06:57:11 +0000 UTCA bit sooner than usual from last one, but here we go once again!
This report will be quite lengthy, but it's mostly to remind some people of the current path the game is on, and to also function as a post that I can refer to in the future if I need to. People that are active on Discord/fully aware of game progress can probably skip the last part ^^
Game progress last two weeks has been great. I've got my proofreader's part back (thanks Scooter!) for Episode 1 script, and with that and few other fixes, I managed to have a fully working "alpha" version of the Reworked Episode 1 for my small Discord team to test out. Sure, they are my closest ppl, but I've got only positive feedback from them, which even more reassures me that rework was the right call long term. The main reason, fixing plotholes and Eiko ep4 persona, were a huge success. 🥳🎉
Meaning, Episode 1 total brand new renders count: 2150 & 10 Animations
Roughly 50 new SFX sounds and 20 New Songs (few best ep1 ones managed to survive)
Tons of improved maps, plotholes fixed, changed encounters with some girls, etc.
Besides that, last 2 weeks I've been working with an amazing artist who will help me design the new GUI. Of course, that's a much lower priority, so we try to work on that in some of my "resting" time. However, I do think that's also an aspect I need to tackle sooner or later, as the game truly has like... 5 different design/themes in the menu/gallery and all other elements. And I am really happy with what we managed to work/cook so far. Once it's done, it will truly have a nice, modern, and unified UI look.
And last but not least from new progress in 2 weeks, with Ep1 fully done and locked I've moved onto Ep2 script. So far, there is 400 new dialogue lines, and I can't wait to continue fixing and improving the Eiko/Valentina/Levy encounters so they start having and matching similar impact to the other girls that had most screentime in old version.
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That's from new stuff, and you if you are active on Discord/fully aware of current game progress, you can stop reading here. If you are new, have some questions/concerns, or just woke up from winter hibernation, here is some important questions answered below:
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Why are you reworking all the early episodes?
K: While working on Episode 4, I realized the amount of plotholes/inconsistencies was rather large. And the biggest offender was Eiko. There is no sugarcoating, Ep1-3 Eiko personality was literally "that hot crazy bitch". Nothing more, nothing less. No depth. And as Episode 4 was supposed to be "her" arc, I finally sat down, thought about her, and gave her a ton of depth. However, my hands were tied behind my back with what I could do, due to how bad I made her ep1-3 content. If I had to pick one main reason, that would be her, but there were many, many other things that needed fixing.
Why not just fix her early parts and call it a day?
K: Because it's not so simple. If I add extra context/dialogue and reshape her early parts, that naturally needs to have renders. And if I add new renders in the much different visuals ep1-2 parts, it will look extremely out of place. And if God forbid, Mc had to say a few lines... I'd use his new look, right? Or would I have to find his old files, to render him in old look to not break immersion. But what do I do with lightning? Do I try to make it look as bad as possible, so it looks similar to my old renders? But if I try my best, it would then again break immersion when the very next scene looks greatly different visually. And even then, as some might know, most of my Ep2 scenes/maps are broken. It doesn't even load the visual aspects the same AS I SAVED it.
Ok but what are all those plotholes/inconsistencies you speak of, I didn't see a thing?
K: Besides the main Eiko part, there is tons of background stuff. Old script had multiple mafia related elements that never got removed. Why is there a girl early on saying "a storm is coming" menacingly, just to never appear again? Why does the Thug mention Scorpios? They dont even exist ingame anymore. Koko saying on plane they are working on the big IT deal, then in Ep2 she says deal has been done, and then in Ep4 she says the meetings/talks about the deal havent even began and she is only prepping for it. Also a lot of Ep1 choices with MC being a total creep.
Upskirting Avis in metro, then the creeper thug appears and repels him... Just to have a choice of being a total creep 2 mins later saying "some other kind of fun". Or running alongside a cop in the park, literally staring at her cleveage 1 meter away for a minute. 🤣🤣🤣
Or if you don't trip the thief, you are locked out of almost any Levy dialogue till Ep3... Great choices.
I listed many more on my Discord, but yea, plenty to go around.
Aren't you slow as fuck though?
K: I mean, yesn't? if we look total time needed for Episode 4.5 release, yes, it's gonna be a long time. Don't expect it to drop in at least 2-3 months. But for some that think this is extremely slow, you have to understand I just completed a full, brand new, full renders, tested, proofread, sounded episode, in 5 month. Five months for a full episode of content, 2150 renders, all with a few irl challenges (family hospitalization) + still living with my family which slightly hinders me. I could have shaved a few weeks if neither of those two things happened/were true, but with that being the case as is, I am quite happy with the speed so far. Unless you want me to sacrifice my health and sleep, which long term won't be a positive thing.
Quick edit/extra question> Does that mean my favorite girl/character design will be changed?
K: Of course not. All the visual designs of Episode 4 will be applied to Episode 1-3. So the only real "changes" is Eiko's new design being consistent throughout, same with MC. Serena will have her old hair, Valentina will have glasses/her ep3-4 design in ep1-2 content, and that's about it. I am not changing any designs or reworking them.
Anyway, hopefully this answers a few questions some might have had/might ask in future, so I can link to this post if there is ever a need to do so. I am sure there will be some people negatively portraying this or ignoring all of my valid points, or dumbos saying I am milking (I don't earn enough to move out without going into debt). It was a decision "damned if you do, damned if you don't", and I truly didn't want to sacrifice or outright remove Eiko/maybe even some other Love interest just due to me fumbling the early episodes. I'd rather sacrifice myself early on, then having a terrible game in the end due to never fixing obvious glaring issues.
And I truly, truly mean when I say that I cannot wait to release Episode 4.5, as Ep1 reworked is already looking so promising.
Thanks to anyone who actually fully read the post, and as always, thanks to patrons that continue supporting me.
Much love, and see you in next progress report/sneak peeks
Kat <3
P.s. here is cutie Raiko eating a cookie. #sneakpeek
Comments
Bormaley
Way to go! I truly appreciate your hard work and attention to the details. I don’t know if you hear it often, but dude, your music taste for scenes to support immersion is one of the best in the market.
Fancy Frog
Scooter is the GOAT. And Kat is an awesome Dev! ❤️🐸
