Dev update 7 Apr. 2024 (Patreon)

Just wanted to drop a quick line. First, I apologize for the delay. I am continuing to work steadily on the game. Without making any excuses, I wanted to offer an explanation.

In short, I got in over my head and burned out a little bit.

Basically, after the March polls, I mapped out where I wanted to go and spent the next two weeks writing and coding and editing media. As I got closer to the projected release date, I started trying to do the writing to connect each of the big scenes that I had already put in place.

This is where I started to have problems. For the first time since I launched ITOH, I let "scope creep" get the better of me. I committed to doing more than I could realistically accomplish in the amount of time I had. And the amount I had to do increased as I moved from high-level plans to detailed scnes. The easiest way to describe it would be to use a metaphor: I had spent time perfecting Scene 4 before I wrote Scenes 1 or 3 and didn't even realize none of it made sense without Scene 2.

Now multiply this by two, because I had planned to have two big paths updated here with multi-scene progressions.

Every day that passed caused a bit more anxiety. I realized quickly that was not sustainable. I also realized that the priority should be to create the game and story that I want, to maintain the high standards I have had for S&D since Day 1, rather than try to rush something out that I wasn't happy with.

Moving forward, I now have a better, more realistic idea about what can be done on the monthly schedule. I won't fall back into the trap of expecting too much of myself. This will keep me on schedule in the future.

So, I thank you all for your patience. I expect to be finished this week, but I don't want to put the pressure back on to meet a self-imposed deadline. The content I am working on presents a few giant steps forward in more than one direction. I am confident that you will enjoy it, as long as I take the time I need to do it right.

Once the update is finished, we will move directly into the normal monthly schedule of polls, etc.

Thanks again,

S&D