Important July Devlog Announcement!

Hello my fellow Shibas! Miijii-san here!

I thought that I should type up this devlog just so everyone knows what progress I've made with the game. To be quite honest, it hasn't really been a lot. 

Sure, I patched up most of the issues regarding the Pause Menu, and I revamped the Title Screen a little bit, as well as re-introduced the Extra Stage, and even included a new boss! I have been working, but the efficiency and production of this game has been... subpar... Very subpar.

To be quite frank, even though I've gotten plenty of experience of making games, they were never up to this caliber. Not only that, but my expectations of what I want this game to be to consumers is actually the very thing that slows me down. 

Every time I encounter a bug or glitch that I can't seem to track down, every time I attempt to draw some of the characters in this game or do the sprites. Every time I look at the UI... I'm like... "If someone were to look at this, would they be excited?"

And despite I have improved this game greatly compared to how it was a couple years ago, I simply just feel like it's not good enough... That I'm not good enough as a Game Developer.

I want to make a game that'll leave an impression on people so strong that other's will talk about it down the line. Yes, the Bullet Hell genre isn't as popular as it was maybe a couple decades ago (besides Touhou, which is very relevant, and it being the ultimate reason why this game was created in the first place),  but my goal with this game is to make it accessible for both sides of the spectrum. What I mean by that is I want the game to be super easy yet excited for those new to the whole "Bullet Hell / Danmaku" genre of games, but I also want to provide a very fun and engaging challenge for those already experienced with the genre. I've realized despite I know how I could make it work, making it so is a whole different story.

I've honestly begun to doubt myself with how I'm going to make this game, despite all that I've learned. This is my very first Bullet Hell game with a lot of intricate systems and features; something that I've never done before; something I've always dreamt of making. Yet, with how long it's taking... I honestly don't know. Sure, I'm new. I can take my time... But I'm questioning just how longer it's going to take to get this game to the point that people will actually be interested in it, and won't be frustrated with it.

There's still things that needs working. I need to animate characters. I need to create eye-catching environments and cinematics. I need to draw compelling character designs and make people fall in love with them (or at the very least make it memorable). I need to make the music drag you in on the action. I need to draw the player in...

But I feel like I don't have the skill for that. I'm just a programmer. I'm don't consider an artist either; just someone who happens to be competent. I don't consider myself a music composer either; again, just someone who's competent at it. I'm proud of all the progress I have made with learning how to do character design and composing music. In fact, I argue that in fact I can make this game happen!

For some reason however, if I was someone looking at this... I realize it might not be enough. These thoughts and feelings I've been experiencing in the last several weeks has really slowed down my productivity. I've been to procrastinate more, and each time I'm not at my computer working on the game due to the many bugs and issues I'm worried about shipping... it honestly makes me depressed.

So... I can't give you a definitive date for when the next Alpha build will come out. I don't want to bring anyone's hopes up. I'll still continue to post my progress on X/Twitter, Threads, and on occasions BlueSky.  I want to say that I'm sorry for being a lousy programmer... for being a lousy Game Dev.

I will do better! I'll absolutely do better so that I can deliver a game that you guys, my fellow Shibas, will enjoy the game as I envision it. All I ask is to bare with me. I'll admit, I'm inconsistent, being with the bugs and errors and not feeling motivated, as well as working as a Forecaster on the side. 

It's really hard to convince myself to even continue making this game due to the fear of it being a sloppy and unoptimized game, as well as not having the adequate skill set to even tackle the bugs and glitches and performance issues...

But time and time again... I'm always coming back for more. I want to see this game to the end in hopes that others will play it. And because of that, I'll continue to push through.

When the next Alpha Build does eventually come out, consider giving my game a try. 

I will do better, as your Neighborhood Friendly Shiba.