Saturday Update!

The release date is nearly upon us! I've been completing some background work and stressing behind the scenes and I am very exhausted 😂

Most things are going fairly well! There is some setbacks/bad news but it's nothing too serious. Actually, let's just get all the bad news out of the way first:

So the short version is that I won't be putting up the soundtrack on Spotify or Youtube Music after all. It turns out that you can't do that unless you sign a contract with a distributer [ and pay yearly/monthly fees to them ] and I'm just really not interested in paying someone to distribute something I'm trying to give away for free. I know that kinda sucks and I'm sorry. I just want my music to stay mine and stay free.

I will be posting the music on Youtube [ not Youtube Music ] just as regular videos after the game goes up. I'm also going to have it up as a free OST download on Steam- but that might not come out until the 24th or later because I didn't know the Soundtrack release process was the same as DLC 😩 So I had to configure a whole assed separate app, depots, upload CSV of metadata, and my favourite: waiting for steam employees to approve it :')

What I expected:

What I got:

Sigh. Sorry about that.

The soundtrack will also be bundled with the itch.io version as well of course. I'm pretty sure on there I actually can just tack on the zip folder with it.

I might make a spot for it on my website later as well 🤔

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For the next agenda item, I would like to thank the beta testers for their hard work and help! We concluded beta testing as scheduled on the night of the 8th and I'm very happy with the level of polish and bonus material we were able to give the game. Thank you so much guys!

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Regarding the free steam codes: If you were a supporter before July 9th and you haven't received your code yet, please feel free to contact me through DMs so I can give you your assigned code. Several people with apple relay email addresses couldn't get theirs, for instance. [ I may get back to you slowly as it's the weekend and I'm not on the clock but I will get to it ]

But also, do be aware that I can see your payment history. I've had quite a few people show up with $1 after the announcement saying that they 'didn't get their code'.

Please understand, the codes are meant to be a thank you to my long time supporters for funding the creation of the game, not a 93% discount loophole.

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Store stuff: I'm hoping to be able to reopen the merch store on Etsy on the 16th. The Canada Post situation is still a huge shitshow, but at this point I feel like I'm kind of forced to just gamble with it now. If they start a lockout the day after I send 100 packages though, I'll go... well, I'll go postal.

I will also be switching to merch design work immediately after the game release. I still need to draw the art for 2 new keychains and 2 new dakimakura covers [ Strade and Ren from the new game in the new game style ]. Once I have those designs I'll be ordering the new keychains, dakis, and standees [ already drawn ] to start production.

The plushies are currently being produced!

And the collectors coins will be going up on Etsy once the 'reopening store' rush has died down [ I will warn you guys in advance ]. I can't just pile on everything at once because I am simply 1 person and I pack every order myself.

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Aside from that, I hope you all enjoy the game's release on Tuesday [ 1:00PM MDT ]!

I have one request, and I know it's a bit anti-social of me, but please don't send me any non-urgent questions over the next while 🙏 I know everyone is excited and that people will probably want to ask questions about plot and characters, or just ask me stuff in general [ I've already been getting a lot of questions in DMs ] But I'd really like to just sit back and have some time to relax between work [ I am so, so, so mentally burnt out haha 😅 ]

My pre-recorded answer for anything content related is always this: It's up to you! If it's not explicitly in the game, then it's up to interpretation. I really like people to be able to form their own ideas and headcanons. The diversity in your interpretations and the seeds of your creativity are my favourite things as a creator 💚

Thank you all so much! See you next week!