Hey everyone! v0.15.2 should have gone out to $20 members an hour ago, BUT we still have another build to look forward to!
What will be in v0.15.3?
This next build is smaller but very important to the game's overarching story. Back in the original Ren'Py build, Isaac (your player character) mentions what happened after he went to Cafe Estro and why he was in Jade City in the first place. Well, now we get to see that business meeting and who he meets there.
There are no lewd scenes.
Animation
There are two sprites that need to be done for this build. Sprites are very intensive since we need to make a character move and emote. Because this will take time, and our animator is still finishing up college, this is all we are animating for this build.
Which is a bit sad, since I wanted the special moments also animated, but we're going to move those to later. We have a whole "catch up" build set up for after the main content is done.
We're also in contact with an animator we worked with during the Ren'Py days to come on and help us with the animations we don't have time to get to.
Illustration
We have one special moment done, but we are working on another. We were done with this build in terms of art, but after our meeting today, we thought adding a moment would emphasize an important moment.
Both backgrounds for this build are complete! As are all the backgrounds we need for Episode 1. Since that is done, Kikii and I are going to start figuring out the map for Jade City.
Coding
We reset the Features bar since there was old stuff on it that we've moved past.
Features we want to add! Gallery, Point and Click Framework (for clicking on the environment), Password for Guided Mode, Guided Mode, and SFW Mode.
Lotus feels pretty confident that some of the weirder things have been ironed out, so we want to start working on these fun QoL features.
Not much has been done on coding for v0.15.3, since Lotus is still finishing up v0.15.2.
Writing
Still plugging away at the second draft/refresher for Episode 2. I'm tackling it in stages, editing for each build I want to do. I have all of Episode 2 planned out, and which content will go into each build. Trying to find a balance of assets we're reusing and assets we need to make so the artists have time to cook.
I have Episode 2 pretty spread out in this planning stage, but hopefully, when we get there, we'll have the money to have people working more hours.
Also, Frisbee spent the weekend going over and redrafting Episode 1, especially the Galli segment with Charlene. This week, she is going to try to finish the rest of Galli.
As for the Mega Outline, I've put it aside for a while to focus on Ep 2 again. Frisbee and I have half the game really planned out, but there is some other character stuff we need to just sit on and wait for inspiration to hit us.
Wrap Up
v0.15.3 drops on June 2nd! So we are shifting gears and getting that ready!
Thank you all so much for your support! It seems like the monthly builds are keeping the money far more consistent than in the past, which means I don't need to worry about paying my incredible team of artists!
Well, I'm writing this yesterday for you, so I gotta get back to prepping the release.
Stay Rad!