Patreon exclusive content and v0.3 direction
Added 2024-04-08 14:31:17 +0000 UTCTL;DR:
I'm making the version selector and a cheat interface exclusive to the Patreon version.
v0.3 will focus on open world content, adding locations, sub-locations and stuff to do in those locations.
The first Beta version with at least some of that implemented will be out April 26th and a new one each month from then on.
Content:
1) Free Version delay and $1 supporter delay
2) Patreon exclusive content
3) Game direction
1) So based on the poll I have decided to have the free version of the game trail the Patreon version by an entire version. So the free version will release the same day of the release of v0.3 for Patreon supports (or more likely a couple of days later as I get around to doing it).
Additionally, $1 Patreon supporters will receive the Patreon version 1 month after higher tier supporters. It already says so on the box, I just have not applied it to v0.2 as it was only changed at the time of its release, so it felt like betraying supporters. It will however come into effect for v0.3.
2) Additionally, I want to add more value for Patreon supporters:
The version selector when starting a new game is gonna be a convenient way for Patreon supporters to easily select their starting point. This is already a thing in v0.2, but it will become exclusive to the Patreon version starting with v0.3 (well the Beta versions, but still).
I also plan on adding a proper cheat interface since the game is gonna become more complicated from here on out:
fitness levels are gonna take much longer to raise, and they will drop back down gradually when not doing sports for a while. I plan on adding a way to show you how much longer it's gonna be to your next level. Kinda like an xp bar
relationship points are gonna start to be important, and you may have to raise them with little side missions or giving gifts to people and so on. Gifting stuff will probably be just a temporary solution, as proper content is far more interesting, but also just takes longer to implement.
those side missions and gifts will cost you money, you need to earn first
for earning money I want to add a few more options, but there is nothing concrete I can calk about just yet
university grades will be added, meaning you will have to study to raise them. They will gradually drop back down when not studying for a while similarly to the fitness levels
adding a stat for confidence, that is influenced by your progression in the story, but also your fitness level and university grades. Story progression will lead to a permanent boost in confidence, while having high level of fitness will also raise Eileen's confidence, but only as long as you maintain that level.
Now for the cheat interface, I need something like this for myself anyway, since I need to constantly be testing every aspect of the game. So really, I just need to polish that up for you to use. But I also always meant to add cheats right from the beginning. I firmly believe that since this is a single player game, you should be able to play it however you want to.
The cheat interface is also gonna be exclusive to the Patreon version of the game and is planned for v0.3 (and of course the Beta versions up till then).
Btw, this won't be a cheat code you have to manually enter, but instead it will all be built right into the special game version. To activate it you'd simply flick a switch in the game's settings, then you'd be able to access it.
In the future I will probably add more Patreon exclusive features, like the option to change the name of characters. That will then also be exclusive to the Patreon version. Basically any additional feature that does not affect the overall game much or at all will probably turn into a Patreon exclusive feature.
3) Now on to what I'm working on right now.
So I basically took the criticism I received on Discord to heart and changed my focus. In short: I want the world to feel less empty.
What does that mean? I'm adding a couple of locations, sub-locations and people you can interact with in those locations. So for instance the gym is gonna have sub-locations you have already seen: the locker room, the reception desk, the office. And also a couple of new ones like the sauna, the showers and the yoga studio.
Some of those will be locked until you have reached a certain amount of self-confidence - so you are gonna have to make progress in the story and/or raise your fitness level and uni grades to access them early.
I have been playing around with how to navigate between those sub-locations and I have settled on the classic image-bubbles up top that show each location and clicking on them makes you go to that location. Right now it's just simple little text-buttons as I'm working on adding it all into the game, wiring it all up, and then I will make it look better.
Here is what it looks like right now. This will look better in time for v0.3 of course.
Oh, and I want to show where relevant characters are. For that I want to add little images that show you where everyone is at any point in time. Their exact sub-location might be randomized, or they might also just have gone home, and I don't want you to have to check every single sub-location looking for them.
And of course there will be additional proper locations like the Photo Studio, the University, the Uni dorms, the Park and more.
There might also be some locations that are exclusive to those side missions for raising relationship points like the cinema I am in the process of adding. Going there by yourself is kinda pointless, so I might just not add locations like that to the map in the first place. After all, the entire point of what I'm doing right now is to have less of these dead locations you can't do anything with. So for the cinema to make sense outside these side missions, I'd have to add something interesting to it, so until then I'll probably keep them "date only".
The obvious downside to this is that v0.3 will be light on story related content, but I think it does improve the overall feel of the game A LOT. Every little location and thing you can do helps make the game feel more like... well a game.
If you are interested in it, I will try to get as much as possible into the first Beta release on April 26th, but I will make another post then, detailing what is and isn't in that version.
Have a great day!
- Chonka
