build_0.06 news post #1 (Patreon)

So it's been a few days since the release of 0.05 and while 0.06 is still in early stages, along with applying a hotfix for 0.05 for those 3d scenes soon. I wanted to go over what to expect with 0.06

Since chapter 2 is completed, in 0.06 we'll see the start of the 2nd free day section added. So those of you who like that part of the game will be happy. :) Now while the 1st free day was nearly fully complete in one of the previous builds (minus miki/nova wasn't complete in the old build). I hate to admit that the 1st free day was able to be that big in that update because during that time, the updates were based on a monthly release system instead of bi-weekly like the most recent updates have been based around. Because of this.. We're shooting to have each free day update focus on having two characters fully done, possibly three if time allows for it. But we do wish to make up for the lacking content by making sure we put good time into the two characters content for each update.

So with 0.06 and the above in mind, our first two focused characters will be Miki & Nova. This is based on feedback from the November poll. (That poll can be found on the front page under the downloads section). Every month at the start for the given month, we're going to have a poll for all the characters and allow everyone to vote multiple times for as many of them as possible. This is for us as a team to look at on who's popular and help us decide who to focus on for certain aspects on updates, hence why Miki & Nova will be our first two characters in the 2nd free day to be done for 0.06, then we'll choose two next characters for 0.07, etc. till the 2nd free day is complete. So be sure to look out for these polls, as I'll always have a link to them on the front page! :)

Moving on, while we're still under our monthly goal for funding to support having 1 new 2d cg scene added. We decided it's best to put some of our own rev share funding into it for this month, in order for us to get our 2nd 2d cg scene added to the game! This can't happen all the time, as much as we want to see the game grow in it's art. It's a costly thing to consider and the cost is lower or higher based on certain scenes with how they're done. (more characters, how much of them is seen, variations, etc.) So for the 2nd cg scene being added, we went with the Miki tripping scene from chapter 1. A pretty simple scene and a bit of fan service still. For the 3rd cg scene we'll setup another poll asking everyone what they'd like to see next. So for 0.06 we should see this 2nd cg scene added in chapter 1. Based on funding heading into December, we'll keep everyone updated on the situation for the 3rd cg scene and how we're proceeding with it.

In terms of 2d character sprites, 0.06 will have Erika added! We're looking to have Heather in 0.07 as our goal. We should see a first preview for her in the next few days, so be on the look out for that. :)

In the programming side of things, while content is smaller game play wise. I'll be trying to focus on adding more GUI elements and getting some small stuff done in the background for the game. I'd love to say mini games added, but it's a little bit out of my realm of programming and will require some outside help.

Ideally, as we're a four person team currently. I like to be very open about our project process of things. As of right now while we're happy with the support and very grateful with everyone helping out, being part of this project. We're also looking to slow down a bit on our updates in the sense of what content is offered. So right now our focus is 2nd free day, each update to the game will offer 2 girls free day sections complete, 1 new 2d character sprite added, 1 new cg scene (each update hopefully) and some minor GUI/programming related features. Once this free day is done, chapter 3 will aim for 1st half of chapter 3 in one update and 2nd half of chapter 3 in another, before we repeat the above with the 3rd free day. This might feel like we're spreading our content out, which in some form.. We are. But it isn't intended to get more money out of anyone or trying to be shady about our project. I've mentioned in the past that our team consists of those who work 50+ hour weeks, still in school, etc. So we really do put a lot of our free time into these updates. But with the recent updates and with holidays coming up, we have to understand that we can't continue with our amount of content offered in the previous updates with our monthly funding currently. We're not trying to say it's anyone's fault or requesting more, etc. We're just trying to be clear and open about why we're offering less content in these upcoming updates.

With that said, we're still going to give each update our all. It'll just be more realistic and let us balance our work flow in the project with being able to put some free time towards our own hobbies, etc. Of course this would change with more funding, but we're not expecting that right this moment either or if it'll even happen. I can't speak for the rest of the team, but with the last update. I work Mon-Fri 7am-7pm and all of last week from Monday, my free time went like this.. Get home from work, check up on the team and begin adding everything to the engine, testing and getting progress on the update. 12am-2am rolls around and sleep, repeat the same for the next day till Friday/Saturday. If I'm lucky I'll get an hour or few during a week for my own personal fun or hobbies in the free time. Which brings us to why I'm trying to be open about this and hope everyone understands where I'm coming from personally. It's to be expected that leading this project will take a good chuck of my free time from me, but I have to have limits or I'll burn myself out. So I'm sorry for the big wall of text here, but I do hope this gives some good insight on our choice making to have smaller updates in content coming up, compared to the previous updates before.

Before I continue any further >.< I'll wrap things up there for this news post. I hope everyone is enjoying 0.05 and looking forward to the content being offered in 0.06! :) Have yourselves a lovely week!