Plans for 0.56

Howdy, folks.

Today we're getting back into the swing of things and we've set our plans for the next update. Of course, plans can and often will change, but at this stage, we're hoping to focus almost solely on content for this next release. Specifically, we're hoping to get the final chapters of Tai's Route out the door once and for all.

Whether this happens all depends on how smoothly the writing process for the remaining chapters goes. If things take too long, we'll just release it piecemeal, but it's been a bit since we've shipped multiple chapters in a single update so I'd really like that to be the case here. 

As of right now, the remainder of the route is split across two chapters, but it's entirely possible it'll spread out to three or maybe even four depending on whether I stick to the plan or if the chapters end up expanding. Usually, I go into these things with all the core story pieces planned out ahead of time, but a lot of the moment-to-moment dialogue and minor events are written in as inspiration strikes. This keeps dialogue feeling natural and allows for creativity in an otherwise fairly rigid script, and it's certainly necessary to ensure everything flows nicely, but it can result in chapters ballooning into several. Time will tell how this pans out. 

The only other addition planned on my end for this update is to update the character sprite gallery menu design. This is specifically the menu leading to each individual characters options, not the options themselves, so it's not expected to take long to do. 

On the artwork end, CurryCatz is already more than halfway done with the artwork for these final chapters and so will be filling the remaining time with more drawn backgrounds. At this stage I've tasked him with three, Woodcrest Steps, Logan's House Exterior, and the Sporting Goods Store. Depending on his progress, he might not finish all three for the next build, but we'll just have to see how things go. 

All going well, there'll be news of progress coming your way soon!