drblackjack
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FNWF 2 - Update and Root Cause Analysis
🕑 Added 2021-12-26 01:11:13 +0000 UTCFirst of all, we would very much like to thank everyone for their ongoing support for this game and our other projects.
We would very much like to assure you that we are continuing to work on this game whenever we have the opportunity and do apologize for not having a clear window for release well beyond this year’s Halloween projection.
There have been a number of unavoidable and unpredictable scenarios which had led to this delay, which we have been working to try and rectify. As such, here is a brief breakdown of the current situation and our intended actions to take to address each component.
1. The lack of a dedicated pixel artist
This has been the most rate limiting step. As such, Cookies of TeamPoppu has been doing her best to try and juggle both programming and pixel art duties with assistance from our other artists. However, since no one is truly dedicated to this position, it has resulted in the most significant delay for the extra minigames whe have included that we hope you will all enjoy. I have been searching for someone to help fill this position and have made contact with a few artists who may be able to help with both this project and ones moving forward once we reach a reasonable agreement.
2. What do we do with all this extra time?
While managing the ongoing requirements mentioned above, the remaining team members have set about applying more polish to their components where possible. First impressions do last and we would very much like this game to be something you can all enjoy tremendously with the best possible user experience we can muster. This includes an updated end credits theme song which has been recorded with new vocals, character art updates and an end card animation. Unfortunately this has not included a mobile release, but we are looking at future prospects for other platforms outside of PC.
3. Dedicated Update system
Furthering this, we have considered the implementation of a DLC system in order to continue ongoing support ongoing content to further the longevity of this game. This decision was made based on previous requests for the last game and as a means of allowing others to help bolster the roster in future. We look forward to seeing who would make the cut!
4. Balancing
The most difficult mode of this game has often been seen as a highlight for some and as such, due to the incredibly large roster of Girls compared to the previous game, we have been looking to ensure that the game is actually winnable. As it stands, the hardest mode is now bug free as much as we can see, and entirely achievable (with significant discipline and a prayer to RNGsus). We look forward to your attempts which will be retained in your stats page!
5. Planning for future projects
In order to try and address these issues in future, we aim to start more projects earlier. This was previously not viable due to the financial constraints derived from the patreon itself, but I believe we have worked our support into a better place at this point thanks to all of you guys. This is inclusive of all our existing projects which we are continuing to put forward at a reasonable pace as we continue to work even through the holiday season.
6. So when does the game come out then?
We really do wish we could give you a solid release date, but as you have seen so far, it has often been a target that has gone unmet and has only resulted in more disappointment. While we do want to be as transparent as possible with our projects and although the game is more than 97% complete at this point, we still could not say for sure based on the rate at which the pixel art still needs to be generated. We had initially considered releasing the game without these components, but as we have seen with a lot of commercial game releases, it is usually after that initial play through that a lot of people‘s opinions and impressions are shaped and given the sheer amount of effort and time put into this game, we want to maximize that as much as possible even at the cost of filling a certain launch window. We do hope that you understand and will find that the end result is far more entertaining and impactful than ever anticipated.
We hope that this answers some of your burning questions and hope for your continued support in the new year!
Comments
Dr-Black-Jack
Thank you for your comprehensive input. To elucidate your inquiries, yes the minigames are very much a necessary component to the game as we do feel it will help flesh out the characters far better than before. This is a component of story element more in telling how the night guard interacts with them that overall adds to the initial impact and enjoyment of the game as a whole. While we are aware that most FNAF games are very simple affairs, it was largely a desire to do better than that which lead to a number of decisions including the expanded roster and DLC content. Following the feedback we received from the last game, it was literally these sort of things which were most asked for so we decided to implement them for the sake of our fans. That does send us in the direction of ultimate custom night which is probably a reasonable long term goal. While we also do respect that there are others who may feel that they would prefer more frequent smaller projects to be put out in future, we will try to establish a greater balance between long and short term titles based on the total amount of input we receive.
AlextricBunyip
So with the minigames being the primary reason for the delay currently I do have to ask if the minigames will bring any game changes with them, a sort of "beat this minigame and you unlock toggles that could make the nights easier" sort of this, because, imo, if they don't I'd say delaying the game further feels like the wrong choice. I know with the holidays having happened those likely delays everything for everyone a good bit but having what I'm interpreting as the just this one aspect being the main reason for another delay; and an unknown time delay at that; as well as if a dedicated pixel artist is hired on it makes me think the game could potentially be delays until maybe February or March, and having it be delays that much longer feels like it'll sap a lot of the patience for some people. The other thing I disagree with is the whole dlc aspect of this as that feels like a total misstep. The reason I say that is due to the general nature of how the FNAF style games go and my general feelings from the demo. From the demo what I can see is that the full release is going to have 12 different characters all with a unique mechanic to them, and just from that front the game is already going to potentially feel a bit bloated and maybe even a bit feature-creep-ish depending on how used some of the mechanics are, and adding even more characters past 12 feels like just a step in the wrong direction and heading completely into feature-creep territory. The other part is that with FNAF style games they tend to already be extremely short lived each release, sure there might be some updates here and there for balance things but they tend to be very short lived and it feels like trying to, almost pad out the longevity of it feels like you're either trying to convert the game into an Ultimate Custom Night scenario. Just my own thoughts on this really but to me it feels like a misstep overall imo.
Dr-Black-Jack
The demo isn’t updated yet. We will go for the full release when it is ready as explained in the post
wuud gs
Where is the update file?
Scryer
Thanks for the update, mate. Seriously, it's nice to know what's going on from time to time rather than hearing nothing. Still very much looking forward to the final product, but am curious if the background might change as more nights are completed.
