altosandherdone
patreon
Development Update 56
🕑 Added 2024-06-14 13:40:43 +0000 UTCHey guys,
I am pleased to report that version 0.16 is in the final stages now. I have completed the vast majority of the script work and storyboarding and I have moved on to the final rendering stage. The good news is that the update is going to be our biggest yet, the bad news is I am going to have to make you all wait just a little longer. I am setting the release date for the beta version as August 9th. The update will mainly star Samantha and Liz. However, Sally and Lucy will also get a fair bit of screen time. Plus, we’ll see a little bit of all the girls during the new group medical scene.
Samantha will have the most content in version 0.16.
My original plan for version 0.16 was to make a small update for late spring, instead we are heading towards a big update in the summer. I am sure you all understand this is a creative project and estimating timeframes is difficult. However, I was very off this time and I think you are all still owed an explanation. I started work on version 0.16 by creating a fun scene I wrote last year featuring Liz and Samantha. I knew I needed to write a bit extra for both characters to fit in before that scene. However, I made the mistake of assuming that wouldn’t be too difficult. Writing the missing parts started off well, however, I soon found myself hitting a wall creatively. In particular, I found myself stuck with Samantha’s content. I had about 10,000 words written but I wasn’t happy with it and I found myself going round in circles in my head. This happens to me from time to time and whenever I find myself stuck, I just move onto something else then come back to it later. After having a problem in the back of my mind for a while it usually solves itself. So, I moved on to making a short Mykock’s manor special, then I made a bunch of content for the cafeteria, then I worked on the medicals for a bit. All of which had already been in the back of my mind for a long time, and which needed to be done at some point anyway. Eventually, I figured out where I was going wrong with Samantha’s content (I hadn’t been clear and consistent with the character’s motivations) and I managed to push my way through the part I was stuck on. I’m pleased to say the reworked script is great, however, it's also way longer than I initially intended. So, that is how my plan for a quick update went out the window and instead I'm in the final stages of a big one.
Those of you who have been supporting me for a while will know that this isn’t the first time I’ve been in this exact situation. My software manager has been telling me for a while that I should give up trying to push myself to make quick updates and to switch to roughly six monthly releases on a permanent basis; in order to give myself time to account for any hurdles, creative or otherwise. I fully agree with him and he’s got every right to tell me “I told you so” (which he politely did already). The truth is, my reasons for wanting to make a quick update were entirely self centered. I was hoping to get an update out in the spring and then spend the summer months writing version 0.17 outside in the sunshine. Instead, I have mistimed everything and now I need to spend the entirety of my June and July chained to my desk taking all the final renders for 0.16. Such is life though and at least I got a bit of writing time outside a few weeks back. Plus, I may have finally learned my lesson. Version 0.17 will need to have Faye and the twins' punishment systems, so there is no chance of a quick update anyway.
The headmaster will need to make some difficult decisions in order to earn Samantha’s trust.
Now, speaking of Samantha’s content, I had to make some changes to earlier parts of the game to make everything work. There was also a huge gap which needed to be explained, between the first date with Samantha (available from the beginning of chapter 1) and Patricia’s job interview early on in Chapter 2. Apart from a few lines here and there, I generally avoid tinkering with old parts of the script. However, I couldn’t see a way around it this time. Don’t worry though, there will be absolutely no need to start a new save. I created a couple of extra short scenes specifically for old saves to bring everyone back to the same place. Basically, Samantha will become concerned that dating her boss might negatively affect her professional reputation. So, she will turn down a second date until you get to know her better during chapter 2.
The headmaster will finally get to visit Sally in her apartment
In the comment section for my last dev update, someone asked if we would finally get to see Sally’s apartment in the next version. The answer to that question is yes, we will. It will only be one short scene with about 30 renders (featuring Sally and Izzy). However, now that it is all set up, I expect I will be writing plenty more scenes for that location in the future.
So, in summary, I am in the final stages of our biggest update yet, and I am setting a release date for the beta version as August 9th (to our $10 and up patrons), with a main release (to our $5 and up patrons) August 16th and a public release on September 13th.
Altos
Comments
Paul P
can't be soon enough for me. This is one of the most enjoyable games out there, so it's like severe withdrawal symptoms when it's a long time between episodes/editions. It's about time that secretary was brought in on the action, as well as increasing the night options, be it visiting staff or creeping around the dorms.
D
great work
Sterpack
Good things come to those who wait
Psusennes Bey
This is a tough wait, but I love your work, so 😅🤷🏾♂️
Link Lovell
Hey I’m here for the long haul. Playhome is pretty outdated compared to the other illusion choices but it does add to the uniqueness of what is out there. I’ve fiddled with it myself many times, it just gets less support than Honey Select 1 did and especially DX now. And as a creator myself, passing on a creative task is a huge leap that is tough, I’m pretty positive I wouldn’t be able to handle that at my stage. I can feel this project has a degree of perfectionism that does make it difficult to allow someone else to your own standards for yourself. If I could ever wiggle physical support from myself I’d gladly jump at the chance to. Best wishes as always
Altos and Herdone
At some stage I would like to expand my business and create similar content using different software that is easier to collaborate with, however, that isn't on the cards just now.
Altos and Herdone
I'm adding Liz's punishment system up to level 3. However, things will move very quickly with Liz and her first 2 punishments have more actions than most girls have in their first 5.
Altos and Herdone
I appreciate your support, my friend, and I do share your frustrations. I would like to have more hands on deck. The problem I have is that the software I use is very niche and there is not a big pool of people using it. Even fewer who can both write and create art in the same style as me. That means I would need to find separate artists or writers and manage them. With artists, I need to spend a lot of time training them with the software and explaining exactly what I need them to do. As well as reviewing their work, making edits and then taking a lot of the final renders myself. When creating a scene I've written, I've found it's easier and quicker just to do it myself. There are some nice images in the game created by a different artist, however, it's a tiny fraction and I've usually had at least some involvement in creating them. A writer would be even less helpful, as I don't have time to create art for their writing as well as mine. I’m also very protective of the script and I’m not comfortable sharing that part of the job anyway. I outsource every aspect of the project that I can, such as the coding, the quest and character logs, some of the animation work, project management, accounting etc. However, all the writing and the vast majority of the art is still done by me and there isn't an easy way around that, unfortunately. I don't do a huge number of custom requests these days, to be honest. I used to use the custom requests as a way to try out new things with the software. However, there isn't much for me to figure out at this point and it's no longer a productive use of my time. Going forward I'm probably going to restrict custom requests to things like swapping characters or outfits in already existing art (check out the headmaster's study on the Discord to see a few examples), as I can do things like that pretty quickly. So, feel free to ask something along those lines if you like.
blackmage8472
Can you give any insight into the Liz update?
Link Lovell
A six month dev cycle is brutal for a monthly subscription cycle. I’d anticipate people potentially dropping out in the dark months if those middle months aren’t made enticing for other worthy reasons. Anticipation is a major driver for people actively following dev updates, and once set to a schedule it will be easier for people to just turn their brain off to the project and check back in six months later. Not that I am outright disagreeing with this new direction, I’d just suggest keeping an open mind to this and seeing if the numbers fluctuate through the months. I know there are people supporting in spirit, contrary to my entire point. I am one of them. But even still, since I am supporting a high tier for such a long time I actually want the game to grow based on its support, hopefully to the point where more hands on the outsides can help really fill in the gaps of the game outside the main story lines. I’d hate to see the funding fall into waves where the dips cannot justify allocating a percentage of the built up support to a mainstay hired help. I also could just be blowing smoke. I haven’t ever requested a custom image set for my tier yet after years of support purely because I just don’t want to impose even a little time away from the project. That’s already indicative of the type of support who wouldn’t take the release cycle into account.
Phillip Chappell
cann't wait
Tosca
Thank you always. Is there any punishment for Samantha?
Snapperoe
August...Can't wait...
Colin Mitchell
I look forward to both this update with Liz + Sam and I am super excited personally for 0.17 for Faye getting her punishment system (I know this isnt a hugely popular opinion but she is my favorite followed closely by Nina and Lucy)
