MilesMouse

Changes Coming to my Patreon

With the release of our first game, it's as good a time as any to make some changes. These changes won't happen immediately, but likely within the next month. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, this is the place to talk about it! :)

Definitive Changes:

• Progress reports here on Patreon will be made public from now on, and similar reports will be shared on my Twitter. As such, the $1 ti...
  2021-07-30 18:01:15 +0000 UTC View Post

Postmortem Questions for Grape Escape

Over the next month, I'll be writing a postmortem of Grape Escape. A postmortem is a document or post that looks back on the entire process of a game's development and reflects on what went right or wrong, things the developer(s) learned, and feelings about the project as a whole.

And trust me, I've got a LOT to say about Grape Escape. It's been one heck of a journey! :o

This is also an excellent opportunity to answer any questions you guys have about the development process of Gr...

Grape Escape 2.0 (The Full Release)

I can't imagine a more fitting 100th post for Grape Escape! Also the 69th progress report... Nice! Here's what I got done this week:

• Updated the credits and made them dynamic so I can just drag in a text file instead of entering every name manually. Much, much easier! :D
• Added the riddle for Spooky Mode into the Extras Menu
• Realized I hadn't tested Spooky Mode in forever and updated a bunch of stuff to make it functional again
• Added a "King of the Grapes...
  2021-07-30 18:00:58 +0000 UTC View Post

Grape Escape 1.4.4 (The Break Time Update)

Reminder: Do NOT move your save file into the newer version, as this will break certain features. Until this is resolved (or until full release) first-time startups of Grape Escape will give you 5,000 wine to start off with.

Changelog:

• Added a ka-ching sound for a successful "Girl Power" purchase in the Upgrade Lab
• Added a bubbling sound for a successful "Grape Science" purchase in the Upgrade Lab
• Added a buzzing sound for a failed pur...
  2021-07-23 13:30:23 +0000 UTC View Post

Progress Report 7/23/2021

Put this shell up to your ear. If you listen closely enough, you'll hear the sounds of Friday! Here's what I got done this week:

• Added a ka-ching sound for a successful "Girl Power" purchase in the Upgrade Lab
• Added a bubbling sound for a successful "Grape Science" purchase in the Upgrade Lab
• Added a buzzing sound for a failed purchase in the Upgrade Lab
• Added a gas release sound effect for the Gas Leak upgrade
• Added music for the Upgrade Lab 2021-07-23 13:30:18 +0000 UTC View Post

Grape Escape 1.4.3 (Now with Even More UI!)

Reminder: Do NOT move your save file into the newer version, as this will break certain features. Until this is resolved (or until full release) first-time startups of Grape Escape will give you 3,000 wine to start off with.

Changelog:

• Disabled consumable use while Endless Mode is enabled
• Made an animation of the two BG feet stepping into the vat during the countdown
• Created a UI element that shows how many uses of excavation are left ...
  2021-07-16 23:32:06 +0000 UTC View Post

Progress Report 7/16/2021

Friday is MY day! Here's what I got done this week:

• Added a depth bonus multiplier for wine in story mode (+0.1 every 100 grape meters)
• Fixed a bug in the Gallery in which looping back to the first image caused weird behavior in going to the next/previous photo.
• Released 1.4.3!

C'mon, don't waste your time here! Go! Play it! Have fun! :D

...

Are they gone? Excellent! So I added a depth bonus multiplier which will multiply the wine you earn...

Progress Report 7/9/2021

Is it time already to ruin Squidward's day? Here's what I got done this week:

• Disabled consumable use while Endless Mode is enabled
• Made an animation of the two BG feet stepping into the vat during the countdown
• Created a UI element that shows how many uses of excavation are left so you don't have to go to the Lab to check

It's good to be back! I hope my fellow Americans had a great 4th of July! As for the rest of the world... I hope you had a great 4...

Progress Report 6/25/2021

Summer is here, and that's not cool. Literally. Here's what I got done this week:

• Added a button in the Main Menu for toggling Endless Mode
• Made the Endless Mode menu slide in and out when hovering the mouse near the Play button
• In Endless Mode, removed the scrolling background and the trigger for the end cinematic
• Made the score system track wine instead of depth while Endless Mode is enabled (including a separate high score)

Hmm... Is it me...

Grape Escape 1.4.2 (The Endless Update)

Reminder: Do NOT move your save file into the newer version, as this will break certain features. Until this is resolved (or until full release) first-time startups of Grape Escape will give you 3,000 wine to start off with.

Changelog:

• Added a button in the Main Menu for toggling Endless Mode
• Made the Endless Mode menu slide in and out when hovering the mouse near the Play button
• In Endless Mode, removed the scrolling background and th...
  2021-06-25 18:02:53 +0000 UTC View Post

Grape Escape 1.4.1 (Science & Art)

Reminder: Do NOT move your save file into the newer version, as this will break certain features. Until this is resolved (or until full release) first-time startups of Grape Escape will give you 3,000 wine to start off with.

Changelog:

• Added drawings for all remaining upgrades in the Upgrade Lab.
• Added icon drawings for the upgrade buttons in the Upgrade Lab.
• Updated all other buttons in the Upgrade Lab to look a bit better.
• A...
  2021-06-19 03:42:35 +0000 UTC View Post

Progress Report 6/18/2021

I'm melting, meeeltiiiiing! Ohhhhh, what a Friday, what a Friday! Here's what I got done this week:

• Added "Yes", "No", and "Okay" buttons for the film strip menus in the Gallery
• Made the credit HUD for fan art appear and disappear as needed
• Added doodles for each photograph in the Gallery
• Gave the fires in the scrolling background a little animation

This was a bit of an odd week for me. My sleep schedule flipped from diurnal to nocturnal (thi...

Progress Report 6/11/2021

Ugh, summer is near. I hate summer almost as much as I love Friday! Here's what I got done this week:

• Nearly finished work on hands for the 3d model
• Updated the Lab button sprites
• Added additional pages in the Gallery
• Added a film strip in the gallery that allows you to rewatch the end cinematic
• Added a "Watch Cutscene?" confirmation menu for the film strip in the gallery
• Added a hint menu for the film strip in the gallery
• Adde...
  2021-06-11 21:40:09 +0000 UTC View Post

Progress Report 6/4/2021

Three cheers for Friday! Hip hip! ................ No, it's cool. Take your time. While we wait, here's what I got done this week:

• Made a science vial sprite for the Lab button
• Made a gas release animation for the grape

Admittedly a bit of a slow week. Still, three things crossed off the list is my weekly goal and I met that, so I can at least be happy about that!

It's crazy to think that the artwork of Grape Escape is nearly done -- just a few more item...

Progress Report 5/28/2021

It's getting really hard to come up with new intros for Friday! Here's what I got done this week:

• Drew up and added all sprites for the upgrade buttons
• Made upgrade buttons light up and make sounds with mouse interaction
• Made sprites for the quantity arrows for the Upgrade Lab
• Updated sprites for the big buttons in the Upgrade Lab
• Made two lights for the Upgrade Lab to indicate if a purchase is successful or unsuccessful
• Fixed a bug tha...
  2021-05-28 22:48:42 +0000 UTC View Post

Upgrade Lab: Music vs Ambiance

I'm making the Upgrade Lab less quiet! The question is, what sounds better?

The music

The ambiance

Yes, I know. the music is Kevin Macleod which means it's probably been overdone to death on YouTube videos, but it's the best sciencey music I could find that fit the tone of the other music. Besides, a lot of hi...

Progress Report 5/21/2021

*Sip* Ah, there's nothing like a nice glass of Friday! Here's what I got done this week:

• Finished upgrade drawings for Juiciness 2 & 3
• Found music and/or ambiance that could work for the Upgrade Lab
• Found additional music to be added

If you went back in time and told younger me that one day I'd be drawing a grape in a hospital bed getting a transfusion, I'd have thought you were nuts. This, uh... this is definitely something that requires context,...

Progress Report 5/14/2021

FRIDAAAAAAAY!!! >:o  Here's what I got done this week:

• Finished upgrade drawings for Excavation 3 and Juiciness 1

It's a short list this week, but I have an excuse! I got my second Covid vaccine shot this week and it made me feel a bit under the weather. Nothing too serious, just a minor fever and some insomnia, which was juuuust enough to totally throw me off this week. I'm feeling much better now, though!

In addition to that, I do feel like I'm in the g...

Progress Report 5/7/2021

Who's ready for Friday? This guy is! Here's what I got done this week:

• Finished upgrade drawings for Elasticity 1, 2, & 3
• Finished retopologizing an anime-style 3D head and attached it to the body
• Began sculpting the hands for the 3D model

Okay, so I miiiiiight have been 3D modelling again... I'm not addicted, YOU'RE addicted! Expect more in my 2021-05-07 23:06:57 +0000 UTC View Post

Progress Report 4/30/2021

*Sniff sniff* Hey, do you guys smell something burning? OH CRAP LAST WEEK'S POPCORN IS STILL POPPING! Quick, grab a bucket while I tell you what I got done this week:

• Continued practicing Blender and working on retopology for the head.
• Finished the planning and most of the line art for the next drawing.
• Continued fleshing out the comic characters.

An admittedly short list, but the drawing is coming along nicely (the design of it has been the biggest c...

Progress Report 4/23/2021

Grab some popcorn and turn out the lights! It's Friday! Here's what I got done this week:

• Finished throwing everything together and released the Cinematic Update!
• Made non-menu sounds pause while the game is paused.
• Roughly sketched out the first 3 1/2 pages of the comic.
• Continued fleshing out the comic characters.

It's finally done! It's far from perfect, but darn it if I'm not proud of this thing! I'll refrain from pointing out the flaws i...

Grape Escape 1.4 (The Cinematic Update)

Reminder: Do NOT move your save file into the newer version, as this will break certain features. Until this is resolved (or until full release) first-time startups of Grape Escape will give you 3,000 wine to start off with.

Changelog:

• Added an ending cinematic for that sweet, sweet closure!
• Added another background element to indicate that you're getting close to the end.
• Made non-menu sounds pause when the game is paused.
• Ad...
  2021-04-21 19:55:56 +0000 UTC View Post

Progress Report 4/16/2020

Fridays! Get your Fridays over here! Get 'em while they're hot, folks! Here's what I got done this week:

• Continued work on the end cinematic; finished and added all of the remaining art for the cinematic as well as almost all of the sounds!
• Started work on the next drawing.
• Worked on fleshing out the characters of the comic more.
• Sketched out some music to be made for Grape Escape later on. Basically, I recorded a bunch of sounds with my mouth and it sou...
  2021-04-16 19:30:30 +0000 UTC View Post

Progress Report 4/9/2021

Earth! Fire! Wind! Water! Friday! With your powers combined, I am REALLY HUNGRY! Here's what I got done this week:

• Continued work on the end cinematic; added more polish and sounds.
• Finished the drawing for the Grape Science tab. Muhahaha!
• Wrote the script for the first chapter of the upcoming comic.
• Realized that I may not have told you guys that you can disable upgrades. You just right click them in the upgrade lab and they'll turn red...
  2021-04-09 18:09:02 +0000 UTC View Post

Progress Report 4/2/2021

Are you as rested as I am? I know I am!

Between my lack of access to my computer this week and this being the end of the third month of the year, I decided to take the opportunity to make this my first quarterly week off. Based on my research, taking a week-long break from work every three months is good for both mental health and productivity!

The first half of the week wasn't much of a vacation since I was stressing about my situation a bit, but the second half (once I decided t...

Progress Report 3/26/2021

Here's what I got done this week:

• Continued work on the end cinematic; began adding sounds and polished up the intro to the cinematic.
• Created the trigger for the end cinematic with the Arena gameplay and made it flashy.
• Added shiny new depth meter and gas tank icons for the UI, and made the gas tanks turn yellow while they're refilling. Lookin' good!

Hoo boy, we're almost there! The cinematic update is so close I can taste it, and it tastes like... p...

Should I add comics into the mix?

Sooooo I just realized that I'm very close to 1,000 watchers on DeviantArt (WHOOHOO!!!), and I also just realized that I haven't started on any form of celebration drawing. o - o

That brings me to something I've been planning out for a very, very long time. A long-running, slice-of-life comedy adventure about a tiny man and his normal-sized female friends. It's quite the undertaking, but I absolutely want to do this someday. So why not today?

How would you guys feel about me split...

Progress Report 3/19/2021

♫ It's the most important day of the week! Servin' it up Garry's... uh... Look, it's Friday, okay? Here's what I got done this week:

• Continued work on the end cinematic; polished up the timing here and there and added some more interest to a section that needed it.
• Polished the transition into the end cinematic a bit, and made the fading in and out to black in all scenes more consistent (hopefully).
• Finished drawing for Excavation 1 & 2. 2021-03-20 00:12:09 +0000 UTC View Post

NOPE!

I was just minding my own business in Paint Tool Sai... I thought I was safe from the horrors of game creation...

I was wrong.

Whilst working on the drawing for Gas Leak 3, I needed to color in the mouth. No problem, I thought. I like consistency, so I'll just pull up the drawing for Gas Leak 1 and take the mouth color from that. Little did I know that a Lovecraftian horror awaited me.

You see, the Gas Leak 1 drawing was on a lower layer, which means it'll ...

Progress Report 3/12/2021

*Sniiiiiiiff* Ah, nothing like the smell of a brand new Friday! Here's what I got done this week:

• Continued work on the end cinematic; the trickiest part is done! All that's left is some polish, updating some of the timing, making a few more sprites, and adding in the sounds. So... still a lot, but we're getting there!
• Finalized and released the drawing Eart...
  2021-03-12 22:47:18 +0000 UTC View Post