June 5 Update (Patreon)

Obviously my previous week was mostly focused on bugfixes and ultimately getting the public release out, so I don't have a lot to report. I will probably put out a 0.18.3 so the most recent version doesn't have a graphical bug.

Though I've begun working through plans for the next TLS update, the NN release is going to consume much of my time for the next while. Lots of things are done, but it's crunch time and I'll be receiving some materials pretty late in the process. Having said that, I will be very happy to have a completed game like this on my CV (so to speak).

You guys probably know there's a lot of animosity toward Patreon games in some places. I try to do what I can to prove I'm trustworthy, but I kind of sabotaged myself by beginning a game as long as TLS. =P I'm glad that Ouroboros was generally well-received as a complete game, though, and NN should soon be done as well.

Beyond that, there's nothing I can really do. Being exposed to such a massive amount of feedback thanks to these games, I feel like I've learned a number of things. One key insight is that a person's reaction to something often has more to do with them than it does with the thing itself.

As a creator, you have to accept that. You improve in response to criticism you agree with, try to learn what you can from criticism you don't, and either way you move on. That's kind of a banal conclusion, but knowing it is one thing and absorbing it into your day to day operations is another. It's something I feel I've made progress on since beginning the project, but there's always further to go.

Anyway! I feel hopeful that the next TLS update will be out in a normal amount of time, regardless of the NN 1.0 release. It'll be a quieter update with a lot more player freedom, so I hope it will be a nice change of pace after the battle.