Hey all! Here with another update: the first draft of the script is 100% done! It's clocked in at 60,000 words all up, with three main routes (Shell, Alasdair, and a bad route) branching off at the end of Day 3. All routes run the full seven days, and vary between 10k and 15k of unique written content, as well as unique CGs and BGs.
So, with that out of the way, what's left?
-Editing the script (I'm intending four edits between now and release-- general improvements, differentiating character's speaking styles, historical accuracy and final copy)
-Drawing up the BGs (I've decided to have one for each location instead of only using them for Tris' workroom, so that'll be 10 BGs on my plate)
-Finishing the code (self-explanitory; GUI and then the text itself)
-Commissioning some missing assets (logo, possibly a couple of extra CGs)
-Getting in the remaining music (3/7 tracks still need to be completed)
-And, of course, testing!
All in all, I'm confident on having the game done within the next few weeks, since I'm almost on university holiday, at which point I'll have all the time in the world to work on this. Getting very close, and I'm excited for finishing the remaining work! Hopefully everyone's likewise excited to see the finished product!
Also, just to share something neat to make this post more visually engaging. I ended up commissioning a friend of mine with a roughly similar artstyle to Cafechan's to do some extra CGs for the endings that didn't have them.
Toasty, said friend, has done a lovely job of these CGs, and while I can't share the full images for spoiler reasons, I'd like to show a snippet of them just to share her awesome work.
Currently, Toasty has supplied 2 CGs for the game, while Cafechan has supplied the other 11, but I may (my time and hers depending, obviously) commission Toasty for a few more, to fill out the routes that currently don't have many.
Another feature I'm looking into adding, on the topic of the routes, is an unlockable 'author's notes' section in the extras menu for those diligent enough to get all six endings. The author's notes would discuss things such as the historical setting of the game, the queer themes included, the inspirations for the story, and where the various endings and implications of the story are headed in the future. It'd just be a fun, informal reward for your patience, since otherwise, the only prize for completing all six routes is the satisfaction of having them all checked in the menu. Would this feature be appreciated, or would it be a waste of everyone's time? I do have a lot to say about this project but I don't know if others want to read it, haha. I'm into post-text author's notes but I might be the only one. Weigh in on this, please!
