malixegames

[Release] Steps 4 Happiness v0.2.2.3

Added 2022-04-07 07:46:31 +0000 UTC

Hi guys, I hope you are all well. What I bring to you here is not yet the continuation of the story, but it is a very important update that defines the visual of the game and fixes almost all the problems with the aesthetics, so if that's what bothered you the most, I recommend you to give it a try.

Windows .zip: Mega, Pixeldrain
Windows setup.exe: Mega, Pixeldrain

I redid the shaders from scratch, adding lighting control parameters that don't exist natively in the engine, defining the behavior of colors in the materials and less in post-processing, which gives me a lot more artistic control. The result is quite unique and is what I intended since I started this project, characters that look more like living illustrations and less like lifeless dolls.

I also added a depth of field focus element, which is also not the engine's usual one. This allows me dynamic control between frames and consumes fewer system resources, although it still behaves weirdly under the hair at times, which I intend to correct during development.

I also improved the hair and clothing of some characters, modified the textures to suit the new shaders, and reconfigured the lighting for all scenes. I added and replaced various scenery elements.

I prepared this update while working on the next step and for this was necessary to modify the activation system of the whole game. This does not change anything in the gameplay, but it can influence old saves, so I recommend that you start from the beginning, which should be the best to see all the changes.

I really hope you like the new look of my game. I know there is still room for improvement, but the overall picture is on track, and it's what I had in mind from the beginning, which makes me feel very accomplished.

Thank you all. I hope you continue with me on this development journey. See you!