Hey there, everyone! Big news today: The dev build for the next story update is now complete!
Build dev-v0.2.3.1 includes the continuation of the main story, picking up after Will's class where the release version ends. This in-progress build adds 74 new CGs to unlock (plus 24 variants of some of those), along with 14 revised CGs and a lot of updated sprites.
Like The Morning After Update before it, this part of the game has a lot of content hidden behind choices. Many but not all of the main characters have something new, in particular Marco.
Please note that this is not the final release. Rather, it's a preview build I'm sharing with Senior & Graduate patrons. If you are a patron at that level, click here for the post with more details and the download links.
Importantly, this marks a development milestone as I'm now mostly past the hurdle of juggling a dozen storylines at once, all of which have many different choice branches.
After I posted Status Report #92, in which I talked about focusing on one guy at a time after I finish the next story update, I realized I don't actually need to wait. The Getting to Know You Update, Part 1 was meant to feature Evan and Matt, but it didn't make sense to hold off on releasing finished content for one guy while I worked on the other guy's story.
Instead, I have decided to narrow the focus on the next story update as well. At first I was going to do Evan's portion, since his scenes take place before Matt's scenes chronologically. But looking over the updated To-Do List in the last status report, I realized I have a lot done for Matt already and a lot less left to create.
So the next story update has a new focus and a new name: The Getting to Know Matt Update.
The To-Do List below is now narrowed down to just his scenes. I did want to note I actually have more done than listed; there are a lot of CGs that are set up but need the final details finished before rendering.
Here's an example of one CG that's well on its way to being done but needs final adjustments (like Matt's hand not going inside the bed!):
Several Sneak Peek posts have more previews of Matt's upcoming content, including CGs in Sneak Peek 39 and Sneak Peek 43, as well as a portion of the script in Sneak Peek 37.
And of course, one of his CGs is the focus of the new Behind the Scenes series, starting with Behind the Scenes 8.
All that to say, I'm excited about all I've made so far and am eager to fully dive into creating the rest. Knowing the next story update will now come out much faster is a relief since I really don't like keeping you all hanging!
I'll elaborate more in future Status Reports. For now, here's the new To-Do List for The Getting to Know Matt Update!
TO-DO LIST
For anyone new, I don't guess at release dates since I'm notoriously bad at guesstimating. Rather, I share my to-do list in these posts so you can follow along with development in another way.
This list is focused entirely on new content and doesn't cover the full extent of all tasks being done, like programming changes and other revisions. This is, however, the bulk of what needs done before The Getting to Know Matt Update is ready to be released.
WRITING
"Variants" are different versions of scenes to account for choices; there are many choice-reactive dialogue changes in these scenes that are not included in the count.
Gym transition (needed)
Matt hangout, opening conversations (0/40 variants)
Matt sexual situation #1 (2/2 variants, completed)
Matt sexual situation #2 (2/2 variants, completed)
Matt hangout ending (1/2 variants)
ART
Note: These numbers will likely fluctuate with each new status report.
Sprites
Matt, revised (107/107, completed)
Matt, new (49/107)
Leo, new (0/?)
CGs
Gym (1/3)
Matt hangout (0/79)
Backgrounds
Gym (0/4)
Character Models (done)
Matt (tweaked, done)
Leo (tweaked, done)
Henri (new, done)
Will (tweaked, done)
Character Design
Matt, week 1b outfit/gym outfit (needed)
Leo, week 1b outfit (needed)
Sets
Gym (1/4)
I think that covers it for now. I'm off to catch up on sleep but will be back with more soon!