End of January Progress Update (we're halfway there!) (Patreon)

Hi everyone! Wait, is it February already?! That means we're halfway to the next full update for Baby Maker. Whaaa!!

I'd like to say a big "THANK YOU!" to you all for your support on the project. You guys are awesome and it has been super motivating to see your interest in the game! I hope that you're enjoying these progress updates, and am happy to chat if you have any questions or thoughts regarding the project :)

As we approach the April 1 update, I've been dialing back on new ideas and am focusing on building out what's already in place. Having done some playthroughs, I'm confident that the main issues with the demo have been addressed, and the next version will be a lot smoother to play (fewer bugs, easier dialogue cycling, ability to save). Most of the background systems of the game are working properly now, too, so I'm getting to focus on the fun part and add more stuff to do around the daycare!

I've always been a fan of games that have a lot of variability in interactions. So, a big part of what I'm doing is creating lots of dialogue trees with the different NPCs and objects in the game. You may have caught glimpses of this in the demo, but now more characters will  react differently to Kiera based on stuff like her clothes, whether she's padded... or whether a certain smell seems to be following her around the daycare!

I've been adding more adventures to do- which are now fully functional by the way! You'll get updates to your adventures menu when a new one pops up, and when you finish it, you'll get your "reward" of losing XP. Through Kiera's adventures, you'll get to learn more about the other characters at daycare, and start to see some of the plot develop. (Yes, there is a plot beyond diapers! I swear!!) You'll also get to level down and spend points on customization through traits and skills, which actually do things now!

Yep! While traits were just an idea in the first demo, they now have an influence on gameplay. Some will affect her overall behaviour (is she friendly or bratty?), while others will apply in specific situations (is she brave enough to go down the slide by herself, or too much of a scaredy-cat?). Some traits will even come into effect for random events (is Kiera focused enough to remember she has to go potty, or is the prospect of playing with her favourite toy too distracting? A certain trait might influence the result!)! You'll also be able to unlock a couple silly skills for Kiera to use around the daycare- though she might not be pleased with you for making her do them!

I've been guilty of putting entirely too much time into the potty system lately- dialogue, as well as and animations for various levels of desperation and accidents. It wouldn't be as fun if Kiera ONLY had accidents, either- so in the update, you'll finally be able to get her to use the potty! This way, you can have her potty training go as well as you'd like it to- be it accidents or successes, jumping between big girl pull-ups and baby diapers as you see fit! There are lots of variables to consider with going potty- her underwear type, her stats, traits, how desperate she is, whether she's accompanied by a grown-up.. So there's always a lot to work on with this!

As usual, lots of sprite work has been on the go. I find it adds more character to the interactions if Kiera's sprite responds to things- so there are additional emotions, actions, and animations on the way!

No videos to show this time, but I've attached a few pictures. I'm hoping that along with improved functionality, the game looks a bit nicer too, with some changes to the menus and layout.

So yeah, I think that sums it up for now! Don't be a stranger if you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you! Take care!