DoverDad

Active Member
Oct 16, 2021
732
1,770
Hi everyone!

I had a very long night working on the game and would like to get back to it even more tonight, so forgive me if my writing is a bit sporadic and disorganized. But here is the status as of right now:

After working this week and seeing where things stand, I've decided to try and squeeze one more week of adding content to the Test Version. I'm not going to make all the scenes I wanted to add, but I am now creating a tier of priority with Test Version scenes and post Test Version scenes that I will try and add to Final Version, Episode 8, Part I. The main scenes for sure that are OUT for the Test Version are the Easter Egg scenes, the K1 scene, and 2-3 others.

One difference I think from prior episodes is that I think I will add more content between the Test and Final Versions given the deadlines I am trying to impose on myself.

I have also had some conversations about trying to allow brand new players to Episode 8 a way to create a "save status" somehow, but this is not a Test Version issue but rather Final.

Anyway, here is the content status:

Dom Path: 1098 ---> 1128 renders (100% content, only editing remains)

Secret Sub: 189 ---> 189 (100%)

Main Branch: 429 ---> 429 (100%)

Sub Path: 927 ---> 1,040 (90+%)

Total: 2643 ---> 2,786 renders

----

The Final Version will end up easily over 3,000 renders, so this episode ended up bigger than I anticipated (I remember I wanted 1500-2000 renders only!), but with the way branching/paths work, I always feel like the gameplay is too short for one path if the update is too small. I guess this is a habit I need to break and just accept that some paths may feel shorter if an update is not huge.

For the sub path for the TEST version only, I am trying to get three more scenes to make the content stage. If I do, that will likely take the total sub renders from 1,040 to a bit over the dom path total of 1128. (I did add a few renders to the dom path this week after testing it a bit in gameplay)

As is normal this time of the update...I am sprinting and very tired too. So please forgive the lack of response time for messages.

I'll try and write a better update next week, but at that point, I anticipate I will stop adding content and shift completely to editing. If all goes well, I hope to crank out the Test Version by the end of this month. The only real fear on this for me is tech stuff because of how saves are being imported over, which I have never done before at all. But I'm going to give it my all!

I hope everyone is having a good 2024 so far! As always, words cannot adequately express how much I appreciate the patience and support! I am always working really hard!

Love,

Mistress Tess
 

Among Us

Member
Nov 29, 2020
180
297
I have also had some conversations about trying to allow brand new players to Episode 8 a way to create a "save status" somehow, but this is not a Test Version issue but rather Final.
I really hope she doesn't do that. That'd make a lot of previous choices, even if minor, pointless and bring down the complexity of the game. We'd miss a lot of little details and dialogues if new players are just allowed to start episode 8 after making a few choices.
 

Maviarab

Dark Lord of the Coffee
Donor
Jul 12, 2020
11,060
26,393
I really hope she doesn't do that. That'd make a lot of previous choices, even if minor, pointless and bring down the complexity of the game. We'd miss a lot of little details and dialogues if new players are just allowed to start episode 8 after making a few choices.
I'm pretty sure like many VN's, if she did that there will also be questions to be answered regarding anything with a flag or variable.
 
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Among Us

Member
Nov 29, 2020
180
297
I'm pretty sure like many VN's, if she did that there will also be questions to be answered regarding anything with a flag or variable.
There are a TON of choices, flags and variables. There's no way she gonna make new players answer that many questions before they start episode 8. So the other choices essentially become pointless because she simply won't make content based on the little choices from previous episodes.
 
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Silver_Crow117

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2021
1,290
1,446
Hi everyone!

I had a very long night working on the game and would like to get back to it even more tonight, so forgive me if my writing is a bit sporadic and disorganized. But here is the status as of right now:

After working this week and seeing where things stand, I've decided to try and squeeze one more week of adding content to the Test Version. I'm not going to make all the scenes I wanted to add, but I am now creating a tier of priority with Test Version scenes and post Test Version scenes that I will try and add to Final Version, Episode 8, Part I. The main scenes for sure that are OUT for the Test Version are the Easter Egg scenes, the K1 scene, and 2-3 others.

One difference I think from prior episodes is that I think I will add more content between the Test and Final Versions given the deadlines I am trying to impose on myself.

I have also had some conversations about trying to allow brand new players to Episode 8 a way to create a "save status" somehow, but this is not a Test Version issue but rather Final.

Anyway, here is the content status:

Dom Path: 1098 ---> 1128 renders (100% content, only editing remains)

Secret Sub: 189 ---> 189 (100%)

Main Branch: 429 ---> 429 (100%)

Sub Path: 927 ---> 1,040 (90+%)

Total: 2643 ---> 2,786 renders

----

The Final Version will end up easily over 3,000 renders, so this episode ended up bigger than I anticipated (I remember I wanted 1500-2000 renders only!), but with the way branching/paths work, I always feel like the gameplay is too short for one path if the update is too small. I guess this is a habit I need to break and just accept that some paths may feel shorter if an update is not huge.

For the sub path for the TEST version only, I am trying to get three more scenes to make the content stage. If I do, that will likely take the total sub renders from 1,040 to a bit over the dom path total of 1128. (I did add a few renders to the dom path this week after testing it a bit in gameplay)

As is normal this time of the update...I am sprinting and very tired too. So please forgive the lack of response time for messages.

I'll try and write a better update next week, but at that point, I anticipate I will stop adding content and shift completely to editing. If all goes well, I hope to crank out the Test Version by the end of this month. The only real fear on this for me is tech stuff because of how saves are being imported over, which I have never done before at all. But I'm going to give it my all!

I hope everyone is having a good 2024 so far! As always, words cannot adequately express how much I appreciate the patience and support! I am always working really hard!

Love,

Mistress Tess
Dude was sweating to post this first HAHAHA thanks
 
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Silver_Crow117

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2021
1,290
1,446
I'm pretty sure like many VN's, if she did that there will also be questions to be answered regarding anything with a flag or variable.
Yeah I mean even Mass effect does this… one of the best RPGs out there… so there’s no problem… people that play it will probably get more specific dialogues from lesser and main choices!
 
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MilesEdgeworth

Engaged Member
Nov 8, 2021
2,160
2,780
Yeah I mean even Mass effect does this… one of the best RPGs out there… so there’s no problem… people that play it will probably get more specific dialogues from lesser and main choices!
Mass Effect does it alright, but it's far from effective. Much different experience playing from the beginning and playing from the second or third part.
 

Silver_Crow117

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2021
1,290
1,446
Mass Effect does it alright, but it's far from effective. Much different experience playing from the beginning and playing from the second or third part.
Of course! That’s why there’s different dialogues interactions if you play throughout all the games! They wouldn’t be there if you skipped ahead! And started like ME2 or ME3
 

risky0

Member
Oct 7, 2022
325
1,190
Hi everyone!

I had a very long night working on the game and would like to get back to it even more tonight, so forgive me if my writing is a bit sporadic and disorganized. But here is the status as of right now:

After working this week and seeing where things stand, I've decided to try and squeeze one more week of adding content to the Test Version. I'm not going to make all the scenes I wanted to add, but I am now creating a tier of priority with Test Version scenes and post Test Version scenes that I will try and add to Final Version, Episode 8, Part I. The main scenes for sure that are OUT for the Test Version are the Easter Egg scenes, the K1 scene, and 2-3 others.

One difference I think from prior episodes is that I think I will add more content between the Test and Final Versions given the deadlines I am trying to impose on myself.

I have also had some conversations about trying to allow brand new players to Episode 8 a way to create a "save status" somehow, but this is not a Test Version issue but rather Final.

Anyway, here is the content status:

Dom Path: 1098 ---> 1128 renders (100% content, only editing remains)

Secret Sub: 189 ---> 189 (100%)

Main Branch: 429 ---> 429 (100%)

Sub Path: 927 ---> 1,040 (90+%)

Total: 2643 ---> 2,786 renders

----

The Final Version will end up easily over 3,000 renders, so this episode ended up bigger than I anticipated (I remember I wanted 1500-2000 renders only!), but with the way branching/paths work, I always feel like the gameplay is too short for one path if the update is too small. I guess this is a habit I need to break and just accept that some paths may feel shorter if an update is not huge.

For the sub path for the TEST version only, I am trying to get three more scenes to make the content stage. If I do, that will likely take the total sub renders from 1,040 to a bit over the dom path total of 1128. (I did add a few renders to the dom path this week after testing it a bit in gameplay)

As is normal this time of the update...I am sprinting and very tired too. So please forgive the lack of response time for messages.

I'll try and write a better update next week, but at that point, I anticipate I will stop adding content and shift completely to editing. If all goes well, I hope to crank out the Test Version by the end of this month. The only real fear on this for me is tech stuff because of how saves are being imported over, which I have never done before at all. But I'm going to give it my all!

I hope everyone is having a good 2024 so far! As always, words cannot adequately express how much I appreciate the patience and support! I am always working really hard!

Love,

Mistress Tess
There were people who seriously believed that the new update would come in 4-5 months, I want to sell them a bridge.
 

FinrayB

Newbie
Feb 12, 2021
79
103
Great!. But I gotta say... Does anyone else think that Tess is adding too many new characters late to the story and outta nowhere?. idk, i fear it will possibly get a little convoluted (if thats the right word). Just a little too much going on i guess
 
Last edited:

MilesEdgeworth

Engaged Member
Nov 8, 2021
2,160
2,780
Great!. But I gotta say... Does anyone else think that Tess is adding too many new characters outta nowhere to the story?. idk, i fear it will possibly get a little convoluted (if thats the right word). Just a little too much going on i guess
She has an ending in mind. Apparently the only character increased that wasn't originally planned was kazumi
 

Don Sucio

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2021
1,218
2,102
The Final Version will end up easily over 3,000 renders, so this episode ended up bigger than I anticipated (I remember I wanted 1500-2000 renders only!), but with the way branching/paths work, I always feel like the gameplay is too short for one path if the update is too small. I guess this is a habit I need to break and just accept that some paths may feel shorter if an update is not huge.
I think is better for all if Tess does big actualizations even if we need to wait more time, when she speaked about the short chapter with 1.500 renders releasing it each 4 months i was not very happy , the amount of content with less than 2.000 renders is very short for this type of stories with many routes and variables. I play the sub and dom paths so it would be sad for me have less content in one of them :cry:.

Yea I agree, there is way too much to recap for a new player to effectively incorporate themselves at episode 8. I appreciate Tess's ambition, but this is coming off as way too ambitious
Why a new player would begin in the chapter 8? I mean, is always better beginning in the chapter 1 right? :LOL:
 

YuNobi1

Member
Aug 9, 2021
360
363
Yeah I just don't see anything under a 6-7 month cycle being possible with the amount of routes and content. Personally I'm looking at it more in 8 month windows. The 4-5 month cycle was floated when the idea was to do partial releases of chapters, but I think that was dropped and it's full episode releases, which is better imo anyway. This and NiF are pretty much the only 2 titles I really bother caring about, when they're both complete I don't plan on looking at these types of games anymore, easier to just play full complete regular games instead. That's not a knock on these small/solo devs, they provide something very unique, but you have to accept several years for a game to finish.
You do realize that this IS a partial chapter release, right? Chapter 8-Part I (out of III). Tess has said that the game show doesn't really start until Part II.
 
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Maviarab

Dark Lord of the Coffee
Donor
Jul 12, 2020
11,060
26,393
*sits in the corner with his coffee musing over the latest comments while chuckling to himself*
 
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