This is the 2nd pass of the chapter 04. This is a HUGE milestone. Now all chapters contains 2 passes. This can be considered a release point. The Alpha version. It contains some new content, and also quite a few improvements all around, and a TON of fixes. This sprint was still very challenging, but i’ve managed to keep progressing. I’m actually quite happy with the amount of work that i’ve managed to achieve. Thanks so much for everyone following the project and supporting me in one way or another! My humble appreciation for you :) So i really hope you enjoy this !

If you want to help me test it, please contact me.

—— Sprint log:

Explanation and demo

—— Game

Important note: If the game has problems, make sure to delete old config files.

General

NEW:

• Moved to 5.5!!!!!
• Added FBUtility editor widget to speed up tests..
• Added MegaLights support.

Tweaks:

• Improved the docs all over the place.
• Constness, TObjectPtr, Branch prediction hints (Un/Likely). And other cleanups docs and fixes.
• Improved build pipeline for windows.

Fixes:

• Fixed settings menu on the intro not working well.

• Fixed crash on hot-reload (yes, hot-reload).

• Ghost pool flag is saved.

• no パラメーター adjustments.

Settings

NEW:

• Added new features.
• • MegaLights are working now ;)
• • Dialog auto skip, with configurable time.
• • Configurable default flashback duration.
• • Configurable Interact drag.
• • Experimental: Batch ticks & Concurrent tick. (see engine docs).
• Added Dynamic resolution, FPS cap, AntiAlias mode.
• Added version number.
• Added Main Menu button.
• Revamped ui. Works better.

FIX:

• Issue with menu interfering with music and flashback on intro level.
• Fixed issue with speed min/max + foxification.

Art

NEW:

• Re-exported and adjusted a bunch of assets for improved performance/space and visuals. (bra, clout03, shirt01, clout01, bed, card, fake window, tv00, door00, walkman00, shirt01, ghost03, kitchen, rice box interact size, door collision).
• • Finally deleted a few more deprecated materials.
• Added more stub assets to the level.

FIX:

• Fixed a bunch of assets (bed).
• Removed a bunch of unused assets (char18, char22, test char, snake).
• Fix TV button’s outline.
• Improved Flashback post process (a lot, medium rework).
• Improved Ghosts.
• Fixed a couple Vertex Interpolators broken from 5.4.
• Fixed some DataLayer assignment on some assets.
• itsraresight changed name to Ovlune.

Chapters

CH04:

• Added card and modified the flow.
• Added matchbox, knife, fork, pictures.
• Fixed poem03 look at description. Added patch to allow multi-dialog item description.
• Added matches and reworked pot interaction, also with stove.
• Added and improved dialogs.

CH02:

• Fixed card reward soft-lock.

—–– Subsystems and plugins

Flashbacks

LifeDev:

• Fixed flashback post process with outline.
• Fix animation duration on multiple triggers.
• Fix flashback auto increment on dialogs working better with current value.
• Improved the GhostPool actor and ghost items.
• • Made some stuff on ghost item configurable through Ini files.
• Experimented with objects only on flashback side.
• • Created a new material and functions.
• • Added FB_Depth, FB_Offset functions.

Dialogs

LifeDev: Plugin:

• Removed (unused) dialog type and emotion.

Story

LifeDev:

• Fix step stopping RandFB at end.
• Disabled input during camera blends.
• Disable pointer text on blend.

Plugin:

• Improved handling wait time (in tandem with camera blends).

Inventory / Flags

Plugin:

Interactions

LifeDev:

• Improved how interactions can interact with other interactions. (And reworked some instances).
• • Added Interacts to fade out.
• • Added ability to select instances at runtime based on the class.
• Fixed checking for rewards.
• Fixed fade and active on failed item reward.

Plugin:

• Added HoverStencilID property. Configurable by default via Ini file, and also per instance.
• Updated default config ini.
• Fixed crash with StateNum==0.
• Removed network code.
• Changed some pointers to WeakPointers.
• Added instigator.

Sound

LifeDev:

• Added TV noise. Removed unreal engine’s sound.
• Updated musics’ MetaSound version.
• Adjusted some sound levels.
• Fixed certain sound effects not working on windows.

Utils

NEW:

• Added CamFade function. (fade according to distance to the camera).
• Added FakeWorldUV function. (something with screen coords to uv).
• Added Float3ToUV function.
• Added Equals function (to quickly test for equality).
• Added CQuickMesh::SetUseCustomDepth.
• Added GetPIEWorld and IsPIE.
• Added Hidden material.
• Removed some old materials. Now voxel material defaults to non-color correction.

Significance

NEW:

• Added ability to calculate distance based on the origin component.

Links

Play it on itch.io https://jerobarraco.itch.io/lifedev

Wishlist on steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/2450230/LifeDev/

Support on patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/jerobarraco