Release plans for Chapter 12
Added 2023-10-27 16:12:10 +0000 UTCHi guys!
I've been rather silent after the release of Chapter 11's epilogue, but I haven't been idle. I've been focusing on writing Chapter 12 and my plan is to release new content at the end of November. But before that, I wanted to discuss with you guys the approach I'll be taking with this chapter's release cycle.
The initial plan was simple, releasing chapter after chapter, each one featuring both Lena's and Ian's POVs. As development has progressed, it's become clear that each chapter requires a lot more time and work, due to branching narratives, higher production values and personal fatigue, amongst other factors. That's why, inevitably, each new chapter seems to take longer than the one before.
With chapter 11 I switched things up a bit, more out of neccessity than by design, releasing the Prologue, then the Chapter, then the Epilogue, which allowed me to pack quite some content I wanted to include. I've decided to go with a similar strategy when it comes to Chapter 12.
My plan is to release a sort of Prologue, that will finally cover the anticipated MMA tournament, aside from moving the plot forward with several character relationships, and will also have a scene you might not be expecting. My goal is to release this update before December.
After that, I will publish Ian's part of the chapter, that will depict the anticipated trip to Perry's Beach house. And once that's out, I will take care of Lena's part, for which I have some big events in mind.
I know releasing the full chapter all at once would be much better, but the scope of the game is simply too large and I don't want to starve my supporters for content. But the main reason I'm choosing to do it this way is for my own mental sanity: I've noticed that development cycles that are months long become really draining, for two main reasons.
Being able to push out a new update is what keeps me going; I'm able to share the work with you guys, and the feeling of accomplishment is refreshing and allows me to get back to work with enthusiasm. If it takes too long for an update to be completed, tension starts mounting up, and it can get pretty stressful, since I want to deliver and the goalpost feels too far away. When the chapter is as big at these last ones, seeing the mountain of tasks that I still need to complete before having a finished chapter can get pretty daunting, and no matter how much work I complete, it feels there's always a lot more to be done. I always feel a rush of motivation when I'm close to being done with an update, and why I always jump straight away into the next one eagerly.
These past few weeks I've been working on Chapter 12 and I've felt motivated and productive, so hopefully doing things this way will also contribute to speed things up, aside from making development more managable psycologically.
So, hopefully you think my plan is a good idea, but if you'd prefer to wait until the whole chapter is out to susbscribe again, that's perfectly fine too. I'll keep working to make a game worthy of your time and attention, at least, that's what I'm aiming for! Thanks for all your support, past, present or future :)
Comments
Keep it up! Great work!
RobertKing
2023-12-12 07:11:01 +0000 UTCSehe ich auch so
Azrael
2023-12-07 14:31:34 +0000 UTCNimm Dir Urlaub, Weihnachten steht vor der Tür, eine gute Gelegenheit zu entspannen, Familie zu treffen, neue Energie zu tanken. Dein Game ist klasse, kein Grund sich zu beeilen. Ich warte auch gern noch bis Ende Januar auf neue Inhalte, wenn es dir damit besser geht.
Horst Beppo Blonski
2023-11-17 20:33:48 +0000 UTCI like the approach. It improves the quality of writing and character development which really sets ORS apart. I'll stay subscribed.
DadB0d1010
2023-11-17 11:45:25 +0000 UTCEva should you feel empty and spent, just take a month and rest. I think no one of us will get burned out because of a month waiting, but you could you know? Red Line Game will get better if you are not spent. Love what you are doing.
satyr0909
2023-11-09 20:09:04 +0000 UTCI wonder will lena get more tattoo options in the future also change of hair colour or style ???
Reaper
2023-11-07 14:44:07 +0000 UTCMore than that, I felt emotionally connected to the story and all the characters in 'Our Red Strings,' especially the first time I met Lena in the game. My heart started to race, and I felt like I was falling in love with, well, not the game creator, but Lena herself. Yeah, she is really something, or should I say, someone?
as_fuck
2023-11-01 16:30:08 +0000 UTCgreat job,eva!!!in "our red strings"I have found a strong sense of direction in your game, as if i am moving forward, backward, left, or right. It's a bit like controlling an FPS game. How do you achieve this? Clearly, it's one of your talents, and I will continue to follow your work until you complete this marathon-like story, as it's so exciting!!!
as_fuck
2023-11-01 16:18:16 +0000 UTCKeep doing what your doing we all love your work no matter how you release it!
L
2023-10-29 22:52:19 +0000 UTCThe problem is that Eva has tried to find artist that would help her with the art but that happened to be very difficult.
Brother Bethor
2023-10-29 21:22:00 +0000 UTCHi Eva, as always, I fully trust and support you in your work, you've never disappointed (with GGGB & ORS), you'll continue here :) Everything you say here is obvious and it's good that you've found a way that allow you to continue to work with passion and motivation. I would finish on some advice, that could help you go to the next level. If you want to continue to have meaningful & impactful branching narrative, I think you won't have the choice but to have someone working with you on the story and/or on the art. It's not something easy to do (as it's what you love to do), but it will allow you to move forward much faster, while keeping the control on the story & the art. Take as example Seeds of Chaos, they are a big team and work together on it, otherwise it's just a mountain for a single person. But you'll get there when you'll want to move forward at a faster pace :) Take care of yourself, that's the most important thing !
face oupile
2023-10-29 18:03:06 +0000 UTCI'm fine with whatever is better for you. Take care of yourself first. You know, we need you for this project. :-)
Sousou Gnom
2023-10-29 06:44:45 +0000 UTCTotally support this. Burnout is real and you have to take care of your energy level and mental health. I'm glad you're taking steps to help pace yourself; it's a good thing.
Jase C
2023-10-28 21:38:18 +0000 UTCPrimera vez en Patreon, primera vez apoyando a un creador. Enamorado de este juego; dicho eso, me parece genial que marqués un ritmo que te permita seguir con ilusión aunque sea contenido más pequeño pero seguido.
Seth
2023-10-28 20:46:35 +0000 UTCWhatever helps you keep a healthy balance between working on ORS and having a life of your own. I think separating the chapters into smaller, more manageable chunks is a great idea. Go for it. I'm just glad ORS exists and that you're doing such an amazing job with it.
Icytoed
2023-10-28 09:02:13 +0000 UTCLove this plan, the way you did the last chapter felt fantastic because it didn't feel too long between updates and the content is still the great quality.
Briz
2023-10-28 03:42:05 +0000 UTCI will continue to support you throughout the completion of each chapter but will try to keep my curiosity in check until the chapter is completed. I prefer to immerse myself for the long journey instead of bits at a time. Keeping your sanity is of the utmost importance, so I support whatever works best for you (I know fatigue and burnout is a real obstacle in this process - so I'm all for whatever keeps the creative juices flowing). Loving the work, so grateful for the awesome content. Thanks.
Valoris
2023-10-28 01:10:13 +0000 UTCYou know, this might actually be the better path in the long run. Focusing on chapters in 2 parts (or more), rather than releasing the entire thing in one go. We get more updates, you more reasonable 'goalposts' to focus on, and most importantly, you get a chance to breathe between updates.
RyMann88
2023-10-27 21:55:26 +0000 UTCI like the idea of more frequent content even if there isn’t as much. But I fully support you changing if you feel it’s more sustainable for all the reasons you mentioned. Last think I want I have happen is for you to burn out and not finish the game. Thanks for the hard work!!
Rubicon
2023-10-27 20:56:10 +0000 UTCDo what is the best proces for you. Change it up whenever you need to. We are all here for the result of your hard work. And the best way to get that is when you are happiest with the proces.
Yepthatguy
2023-10-27 20:05:18 +0000 UTCI 100% support you on taking your time to both develop the content properly and stays as stress free as possible. I would like to have all of the following chapter to explore these amazing stories as soon as possible but I prefer to wait for a good thing and for you to continue developing amzing stories as long as you want. Your plan is solid.
Duck
2023-10-27 19:54:25 +0000 UTCI think there’s a common theme here! We support you and we are grateful for all your hard work, in whatever format that may be 🙌🏼
Macca
2023-10-27 19:45:23 +0000 UTCStay healthy and motivated. Too many projects have been quit due to the creators not taking care of themselves. The way you released chapter 11 was great.
Jordy
2023-10-27 18:30:44 +0000 UTCYour mental health comes first, and I think it’s a really good idea! Fully support this. :)
Samantha
2023-10-27 18:03:52 +0000 UTCUltimately whatever works best for you is the best way forward. I like playing the game once there's a certain amount of playing time but I can always wait a couple of updates before replaying. I doubt anyone will have a problem with your approach
Michael B Davis
2023-10-27 18:03:06 +0000 UTCI rather have you working on the game when you’re mental health is at its best. So if this is how things are gonna be from now on than so be it. I’m just glad we’re getting another update sooner than expected
Spidey96
2023-10-27 18:00:20 +0000 UTCI’m kinda curious about how doing one character’s entire chapter at a time, and then the other’s, will impact the overall story. Previously, Lena and Ian’s routes were constantly reactive to one another. For example, if you make Ian kiss Lena on their first date, Lena will reflect on it when you switch back to her POV. Putting them in an enclosed space like a beach house, but only letting you control one at a time for the entirety of their trip makes me question how they’ll interact with one another without player choice for the other. If that makes sense?
TommyTheDude
2023-10-27 17:51:15 +0000 UTCHey Eva, glad to hear that you are well and full of spirit. I was a little worried. So even better that you have the energy and make a decision about changing the development of the game a little. I remember you writing about the same topic a year(?) ago when you finally decided to keep publishing whole chapters. So you got older and wiser and now know better what is good for you :) . I am glad you prefer what's good for your over your "crusade for perfection" ;) . I don't think this will change much about the game itself - you are even not afraid to change already written code, so if you find something wrong with the prologue when writing the epilogue, you can still change it. I even think it will do the game good because right now my gaming experience suffers under my bad memory. Having made some decisions months ago and never got in tough with them for months makes me forget them a lot. But If we will now get to play the game on a higher frequency basis, continuing the game will feel more fresh and not like digging into childhood memories ;) . So short: Full support and glad you do something for your motivation :) . Your game ist still the best!
Dennis
2023-10-27 17:45:09 +0000 UTCA hint? I already stated it quite clearly, I want the full chapter and enjoy it intact. The reason being that I do not care for Ian's portion of the story in particular, so I will wait and support when I can expect to continue Lena's too.
Ethereal Twist
2023-10-27 17:41:40 +0000 UTCThis would take some of the speciality away that this game has. It is not two seperate stories, but two intertwined ones. So if you would pick to only play Ians story, you would miss a lot of information that Lena's view adds. It would become a different game.
Dennis
2023-10-27 17:38:40 +0000 UTCFully onboard with your release strategy. Totally agree that smaller, more frequent releases are better.
mungdungus
2023-10-27 17:38:05 +0000 UTCJust out of curiosity: If you donated before, let's say 5$ a month and the release took 6 months, so you donated a total of 30$ per episode. If you now keep your menbership, you still donate this 30$ for half a year, but eva delivers prologue, epilogue and main chapter in this time, you don't loose any buck and if you play it after the last chapter-part ist released, it should not feel different at all. But if you cancel your membership and reenter when the chapter is released completely, you "save" 25$ and get the same amount of gameplay as before. Not speaking against saving money - Eva even supports this with her very generous membership-policy where you get all for 1$. But I just don't get it how this has something to do with Eva releasing in smaller chapters. Can you give me a hint?
Dennis
2023-10-27 17:35:50 +0000 UTCHave you thought of giving the player the option to pick which charter they want to play through at the beginning. That way they can do either and possibly play through multiple times.
Scotty G
2023-10-27 17:13:14 +0000 UTCthis is the way.
ccav0001
2023-10-27 17:04:17 +0000 UTCI totally support your approach. To have a continous progress of the game the growth has to be reasonable to handle over years. Sanity comes first!
OneHandedStunt - Richard
2023-10-27 16:59:50 +0000 UTCI believe this is the correct decision. Best wishes.
VHO
2023-10-27 16:48:06 +0000 UTCThat sounds great..Eva first
ZeroOne
2023-10-27 16:38:49 +0000 UTCYes I love this idea! I love access to content without having to wait as long and sounds like it will have benefits for productivity and your mental health!!
Kurt Wagner
2023-10-27 16:35:57 +0000 UTCThank you for sharung. Your own health codes first. I love the artwork and the story. You have my fulltime support
Now this
2023-10-27 16:34:26 +0000 UTCIt's been fun seeing this game evolve and grow into a story with characters that have personality and development and the scenarios keep getting better and better. It's a knockout game and whatever you need to do to keep your sanity while creating amazing artwork like this is worth it as a consumer
Taylor
2023-10-27 16:27:35 +0000 UTCAwesome news! I give you full support for anything that helps your mental health. Seen too many games where dev burns out and abandons it
Jono Say
2023-10-27 16:22:50 +0000 UTCThank you for sharing! The developer creates the best game - that's why your plan with the best strategy is appropriate for you! 😎
Maverrick888
2023-10-27 16:20:46 +0000 UTCI'm disappointed that the chapter structure will be permanently butchered, but if that is what you feel is necessary for your work-life-balance so be it. I understand that life isn't static. Unfortunately I will be cancelling my patreon subscription and re-apply it when the chapter in full comes out. I have little interest in Ian's story beats by themselves, so I will endeavour to support your work whenever the chapters each approach a more complete state. Good luck with your work going forward.
Ethereal Twist
2023-10-27 16:19:07 +0000 UTCThank you for your hard work. Prologue in the next 30 days? Hell yeah! If you feel that dividing chapters into parts is better then keep it up.
Brother Bethor
2023-10-27 16:18:56 +0000 UTCLove this Eva. Obviously everyone would love a full length chapter every week, but that's plainly impossible. If the choice is between bigger content drops and more frequent updates, I'd pick the second one every time :)
Dorian Wainwright
2023-10-27 16:18:29 +0000 UTCIt makes total sense. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I'd rather have a full quality finished story where branches get their full due, than getting a rushed game where you don't feel you've made the full scope of what you could. Additionally you have to take care of yourself and not burn out. Keep up the good work Eva! ❤️
Jimmy
2023-10-27 16:17:47 +0000 UTCMental health always first! I enjoy the staggered release gives me something to look forward to multiple times. Thank you so much for such a great game. It truly is the gold standard for VN
RetainedKitten
2023-10-27 16:17:09 +0000 UTCThanks for everything Eva ❣️
Felipe
2023-10-27 16:16:31 +0000 UTC
