aaryn
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DevLog Update
🕑 Added 2022-12-01 18:16:41 +0000 UTCHey all,
So I dropped some teaser pics a couple days ago, but I wanted to put out one of the usual DevLog posts that gives a more in-depth overview of where things are for the next update.
Here we go...
Writing
So the rough draft for the writing is complete. Now... I'll be honest on this one, the writing in a couple spots here is very "rough." I'm still trying to string the repeating sections of the original game into a more linear story and that's required some new additions, chopping, and a few new ideas to make things cohesive. I gotta do some pretty heavy revision work on a couple of these sections but I'm optimistic. This isn't a new problem and some of the best scenes in the game, imo, started as some of the roughest.
I'm also sitting pretty nice on the technical side. I tweeted out yesterday that I was going to start coding things in and had a goal to get the game actually bootable by the end of today. Three hours later, it was booting. That's leagues ahead of where I wanted to be. I easily put in 12 hours days so being a full day ahead of my projection is very rare; in fact, I can't remember the last time it happened. I celebrated with comic books and ate half a box of Count Chocula because I'm an infant.
But I'm starting bug hunting today then I'll work on polishing the writing and I haven't even started on sound yet but that usually takes a couple days.
CGs
Ok. All the initial CGs look like they're completed. Now, remember these earlier updates were much shorter than the end game updates some of you may be used to. That's because back in the day, it took me 12 hours per picture to render so including like 30-50 pics was a lot of work for one update!. That being said, this update folder has 229 new CGs in it. If that doesn't sound like a lot, remember the end game updates took like 4 to 5 months to complete and had around 500-600 in it. It's only been a month since v0.02 was released so I'm very much on schedule so far. These early updates have a lot of scenes that take place in the same environment (Dorm room, cafeteria, shower, etc.) so I'm able to reuse CGs from the previous update and pair that with new dialogue as the story progresses. A lot of the future CGs are just outfit changes and stuff, which really helps speed up development.
What to Expect
This update will conclude Chapter 1 of the story. It will also include a feature like the previous original game that will let you jump straight to the update and not have to start completely over like you did last time. Remember not to use old saves or it could potentially crash the game. Almost every game error players get is due to using an old save. This update has a lot to add to the previous story. There's a ton of new Ernie content and shots. For those that haven't seen any of the teaser pics, we'll get an early introduction to the bathroom scenes as well as the pool. Zack will also go to work for Ernie, which includes some new features, outfits and stuff like that to just make it a little more immersive, comical, and chaotic. This update also has a lot more skin than the previous one as well as... well... some of you may remember how Chapter 1 ended before... so yeah...
Be ready for.... that.
Visually, this update has a lot of world building and should continue to make the campus feel larger than it did in the original game. Some of that is fluff in the background, but at least they're not the only people at the school anymore.
Release Date
Alright, so for those curious about a release date, I'm hoping it won't be that much longer. I'm pretty confident this will drop in December-- hopefully the earlier half. Right now the game plan is bugs, polishing writing, adding sound. Then I just gotta get feedback and we should be good to go.
I'll keep you posted here, Discord, and on Twitter
-Aaryn
Comments
Aaryn
we'll see. i'm open to it if it fits the story and stuff. A lot of the revamp stuff I'm just feeling out as I get to it. I dont really wanna change things that work or fluff a bunch of things that don't. if i see a window for something like that, it could work though :)
Aaryn
haha. thanks a lot Liam. I really appreciate it. And don't worry about not saying anything until now. Life is busy. I'm just happy that you enjoyed the story; you shouldn't ever feel compelled to say something back. I also appreciate the Zack love, too. I think Braden checks a lot of twink boxes for people. Zack is very much hit and miss from an attraction standpoint. I think for most people, it's because he's so raw. We get all of him: the good and the bad. And some of those good moments are incredible but the bad ones are equally as horrible sometimes. He's flawed. Like all of us but the sum of his parts is really fun. He definitely has a special place in my heart and I'm glad that you appreciate him just as much <3
Liam
hey I'm so excited for the revamp. I personally loved the older version, too. and I feel guilty for never telling you that -- it's the best of its genre. there are other games with more sexual themes that do it very very well and come close to you narratively (I can think of maybe two off the top of my head), but there aren't any *at all* that speak so closely to the gay experience growing up. the characters' insecurities and the utter banality of being gay in straight society (showers, bathrooms, roommates) is so accurate and so real. your visual novel is fun and interesting and amazing because it gives just the tiniest twist on what happened to all of us. it gives us a chance to see what could've happened if all of our fantasies ?–– both the more graphic ones and the more romantic ones –– had come true for us, when we needed it most. you've heard it all before, and I think you know this project is important to many of us. that said, I'll say something I don't see too many people saying: my favorite character is Zack, hands down. I find him more appealing, more interesting, more relatable, and far more attractive than Braden. I feel like Braden is often the focus for some fans, which I totally get because he is an amazing character, and I love him to death...but Zack just does it for me haha. good luck as you bring the revamp to life!
Afees700
I think it would be great if you could incorporate some music into the latest iteration. Maybe some music genre that kinda ties them together? Maybe they get to listen together over a shared love of a style of music. Maybe?
