Devlog #1 (December 2024)

Hello everyone,

I know— It’s been a while since my last update (way longer than I’d planned). Back in July, after the extended demo release, I had this grandiose idea to do monthly updates/patches (but life had other plans). Fast forward five months later (and five missed devlogs), here we are (WARNING: spoilers for the current demo ahead.)

History Recap

Let’s start with a quick look back at the project timeline for Chromatic Agape (CA):

• NaNoRenO 2024 (March 1–April 2): We kicked off development, aiming to release a demo for the jam (mission accomplished!)
  
  
• Otome Jam 2024 (May 1–July 1): The goal was to finish the game, but we didn’t manage to wrap it up due to unfinished assets. However, we were able to release an extended demo.

• Post-Release Break (July–September 2024): Our team took a well-deserved three-month break after the intense workload. Personally, I had an internship during this time (mentally exhausting/nearly lost my mind), so I wasn’t super active either.

• Back to Work (October–November 2024): Development resumed in small steps in October, and I really started focusing on the script in November. It’s still a work in progress, but hopefully, it won’t take too much longer!

• Working on Patch (November-December 2024): While Bobbert, our remaining editor, is reviewing the script, I’ve been reworking the programming from the demo game. There were quite a few areas that needed adjustments, so I’ve been focused on making those changes for a second patch release (TBD).

Okay, now that we’ve got our timeline straight...

The Good

~Art/Audio Progress

95% Done! All originally planned assets are finished, and the last 5% is for extras that cropped up during development. Nothing that should steer us too far off course.

~Demo Improvements

Demo Script Updates: I’ve incorporated a lot of your feedback, and here are some highlights

• Sev’s Initial Meeting with Shyloh: Some found Sev too apathetic here. The intent was to show her struggling to trust the nameless pixie's sudden affection, but due to popular request, this has been adjusted.
  
  
• Post-Injection Scene: Sev’s reaction after stopping Shyoh (from choking Helios) was apparently a bit harsh, so I’ve added a short extra scene. Now, you’ll have the option to explore her perspective with more empathy.
  
  
• "Why Didn’t Sev Go Back with Shyloh?" This was the biggest complaint by far. While I needed Sev to earn points with the pixies for future route calculations, I’ve adjusted the dialogue to satisfy the criticism.
  
  
• Helios vs. Kai: Helios’s belittling of Kai was too obvious/antagonistic. I’ve rewritten portions of these interactions to make Helios’s dislike more subtle and layered.
  
  
• Weapon Summoning Scene: Some asked why Sev didn’t summon a bigger weapon (e.g. a flamethrower) to fight the pixies. I thought it was inferred, but to clarify, the limitation is Sev’s familiarity with the weapon in real life. I’ve addressed this in a new illusionary choice where you can pick from multiple weapon options— yes, flamethrower included.

Animations/sprite expressions/ATL changes.

Updated SFX, replaced one music track (the “Parents Theme”), and adjusted sound captions for audio files (SFX/Ambience/Music).

~Character Cards

New character cards are ready! So keep an eye on socials. Shyloh's card is the first one up, so make sure to spread the love <3 You can find it both on  X (Twitter) and BlueSky.

The Bad

Editor Woes: We’re down to one editor (Bobbert), as others left for various reasons: poaching, IRL commitments, ghosting. I tried recruiting after Spooktober Jam but didn’t find the right fit. One editor from a previous game that I worked on offered to help, but they bailed out in less than a week, which was disheartening, to say the least. 

Programming Challenges: We’ve got three programmers at the moment: Carlson, Tsunami, and Bobbert. However, with limited members, we still need to find someone to cover the rest of the workload. I’ve been managing the majority of patch #2 changes so far, but I’m starting to feel the strain T~T

The Future

Upcoming Patch: I plan to share a new patch update during Yandere Jam, featuring the implemented feedback I mentioned earlier.

In Closing

That’s the update for now! I know it’s been a rocky journey, but I’m still committed to bringing this project to a close (especially after all the effort our team members have put in ♡). If you haven’t already, please consider rating the demo HERE. Your support really keeps us going, so feel free to drop the most unhinged comments— you know I love reading them! Still dreaming of some fanart coming CA's way! (Also,  shoutout to Jasmine for being such an amazing, supportive fan. I absolutely love reading your analysis comments, they always make my day :)

It’s been a lonely process at times, and juggling the workload alongside school and internship stress has definitely been overwhelming. I haven’t had as much time to market the game as I’d like, and it’s hard not to feel like I’m falling behind, especially when I see my peers achieving so much more in a shorter time.

Despite all that, I still want to create something meaningful, just in case I don’t get another chance to work on a project like this again. Also,  for the ones who got this far, what are you most looking forward to in the upcoming release? Any tidbits, special scenes, or key moments you're excited about?

Until next time~