Development Update #34

Hey there guys. How are you all doing? Later today is the Monthly Thanks Message time! I'll be spending my time then, making the images to check all the current and new patrons to, of course, thank you all. 

Resume of this Development Update (TLDR):

• Karnal's route is around 68% complete with the normal route.
• If possible, I'll release his route with the extra routes that need certain points to get to and give you more rewarding reading material.
• There was a lot of information I had to change on days 1 - 3 since the Cafeteria was changed to be the "hotel Restaurant".
• After that change, I decided to create an in-depth description of each area of the resort, so I can always quickly check important information to keep consistent information through the routes.
• Tons of Bug fixes in-game again (Always find these while messing with the game testing stuff).
• Wagner's working on the rest of the face colors for Karnal.
• There's still one body type for karnal missing that will be finished on a later date.
• The alpha 0.18 will be out around the middle of the next month, probably between the days 15-20.
• The time set for the next alpha should be enough time to finish Karnal's next day and to give Wagner time to finish the rest of the expressions needed. However, if it comes to a scenario where he's not able to finish those arts the alpha will be released without the missing art pieces.
• There are some new music to be added in-game but some technical issues is preventing me to do so.
• It's not possible to buy music exclusive for the game right now.

Today I'm here to tell you more about the development of the game!

So, since some changes had to be made to certain aspects of the story, I won't be able to add the new alpha this month, just next month. 

The Karnal normal routes are 68% done now (at least written) on Scrivener. I'm having a tough time writing them because it needs to be interesting for you guys to read, and since Wagner's taking his time working on the rest of the sprites for Karnal I want to release everything at the same time. So instead of rushing, I'm taking a good time, thinking about what I should write, trying not to make stuff too obvious nor too bland either. If possible, my goal is to even add the extra routes (the ones with the spicy/fun/friendly scenes you can only access if you have enough points) with the main route instead of waiting more time to add them as I did before.

Karnal's third day will happen in a new area too, the Bar. The bar is also an area that's not in the current MAP of the game, and I also wish for Wagner to add this area to the map before I add the next day in. I also need to think about how the bar can hold sexy scenes since it's a pretty fancy and cool place to be in and have one of the best music I've found for the game. The room for lewdness is less possible there however it's not as I will add any sex on this third day.

Sex scenes in itself will only happen on day 5 or 6. I want to build those character friendships as much as possible in the short time they have together. That's why this visual novel is not a novel about finding a boyfriend but a novel about finding friendship and of course, having some benefits from it. I'm a pretty down to earth kind of person and I don't believe in someone becoming another person boyfriend in such a short time. People need time to know each other, and with time, that type of relationship can grow. 

Anyway, I'm constantly thinking about the story because it needs to be good. Not only that I also need to think about the resort areas, how they work, and stuff like that, I need to make the story to work with it consistently. 

About the resort area, I decided to change the Cafeteria name to "Restaurant", because a resort is a chic expensive place, and Cafeteria is a cheaper place. So I had to change some texts on the Days and some explanations given to the player in some days ingame to fit the new motif of the Hotel Restaurant. I also took some time to write in-depth to myself how some areas of the resort works, so now I have an in-depth description of how the Hotel, the Restaurant, the Bar, Pool, Park, and Beach works in the system. If you're curious, on Day 3 for Wagner the Wolf who talks with you about going to the Cafeteria now will explain how the Restaurant works, and how it changes from a regular place to eat during the day to a full-fledged 5-star restaurant at night. This also gives me some more room to write something cool there in the final days if needed. Who knows?

Anyway, guys, the truth is: Writing is hard. It's difficult to work with when you're interrupted by people who don't give a damn about your work, it's hard to do something good when you're sad or angry, it's hard to work without a calm and peaceful environment. BUT I'm doing whatever I can and working as hard as possible to give you all a good story, so endure with me for a few more weeks so Wagner can have his time to finish what's needed and I can add the story by that point. Even if I finish the next part with Karnal, I won't release the next alpha until Wagner finishes his part too. But I'm assuming by the middle of the next month I'll have something for you all. 

And as soon as the next artwork is done, I will be releasing them for Tier 2 (only one image around 600x600 image size or something like that) and tier 3 on full quality. As soon as he finishes his work I will be with my part done already and probably added to the JSON files (assuming I finish the text for Karnal's route in a week or two, It takes me one or two days to correct and analyze everything with Grammarly and another eight hours to add everything to the game with the JSON editor) I'll be releasing the alpha 0.18. If possible earlier. We are both trying to work as hard as we can on our projects, me on this game and he on his projects, so I'm sure it won't take more than two weeks for everything to be done.

However, like I did before, if it comes to an unpredicted situation where he cannot finish the artwork needed, I will release a new alpha 0.18 without his art so you guys can check the text, but then again: What is a visual novel without the visual part right? That's why I try to release a new day only when the missing artwork for that part is done.

I'm also thinking of adding a piece of new music to the Clearing area of the park, I still don't know how to do it because the music I found has an abrupt end, and I'm not allowed to edit it in any way. So I need to do some research on how to make a 'loopable' song via code, forcing Godot to loop the music on the correct time so it never ends abruptly. That's another reason why I wish I could buy music for this game instead of finding royalty-free music. But like you guys must know, around 120U$ a month is not nearly enough to pay my bills, let alone try to buy any other content for the game. Music is not cheap guys. 

Anyway, for now, that's what I'm working with, and I hope you all have a good week. Stay safe, stay home, only go out if needed, and talk with people as much as you guys can.

Thank you all for sticking with me, my country is going through a hard time and if wasn't for your guys' help I wouldn't be able to do anything here. Thank you all again. I'll talk more about it tomorrow.

See you next time!