Next Step - DiBS 0.0.80: Renovation

Time to share something I've been planning since last year:

DiBS Renovation

Yep! DiBS is getting a renovation.

What? Why?

Right now, the levels were designed based on one creature.

^ --- This guy right here.

This made the game feel like it was just this one enemy type.

So, DiBS Renovation is to design new levels for other creatures. It also serves as the baseline quality for future levels/content. 

This takes time, however. 5 months, actually, but the end result should have levels that are distinct and better creature representation.

There will be bugs, which won't be fixed until the last phase. To avoid misrepresenting the game, phases of this update will be uploaded on Discord instead of Patreon. This is until the renovation is done.

After renovation is done, the final version of DiBS 0.0.80: Renovation will be uploaded on Patreon.

Also, there will also be no new creatures during the renovation. Only after the renovation, creating new creatures will resume again.

--- Here's the Plan ---

Time frame: January to June. 3-Phases.

Phase 1 (January): Level Mockups

(Using the Cinema Level as an example)

• --- Creating levels designed from other creatures
  --- Structuring levels on where they should go.
  
• Programmer art
• Many many bugs

Phase 2 (February - April): Art Addition

• Creating/Finding Art:
  --- Levels (Feb)
  ------- MainHub
  ------- Stores
  ------- Ads
  ------- SysCams
  --- Burbot (March)
  --- Elaborate animations (April)
• Low priority
  --- Goose-Duck
• Many many bugs

Phase 3 (May): Polish and Optimistic Release

• Feature Freeze - No new content or art for levels.
• Readying for release - (May 30)
  --- Polishing
  --- Bugfixing
  --- Crying
  

Phase 3.5 (June): Release Delayed :(

• Hopefully, this doesn't happen.
• If this happens, there was no time for bug fixes/polish.
• Such is game dev. It happens.

==== End Phase (June or July) ====

• Rest for a week or two, then jumping straight back to new creature votes. 

For disclosure's sake

I have not done anything like this. Levels are time-consuming, and I'm not used to committing a few months on something that doesn't have immediate feedback in the game.

As exciting as this is for me, there will definitely be problems. Usually, ones I won't foresee. When that happens, all I can do is thank you for your patience, and if you're upset, that's perfectly within your right. Things will be handled better, since I'll learn from this one.

Anyway, Phase 1 of DiBS Renovation will be on January 31. It'll be on Discord soon.