This game is really charming and fun! My top priority for a full release is a different control schema. I'm disabled, and the mouse controls for the sewing machine are intuitive and true to life, but excruciatingly painful after two dresses. Controller support would be ideal (one joystick for rotating, the other for forward/back?) but honestly any step you take away from the click/hold/drag combo would be awesome. Being able to click to move cut patterns back into storage rather than drag would also be great. Anything that dramatically cuts down on the amount of holding and dragging would make the game miles more accessible.
The hand drawn art style used for the characters/sketchbook is really gorgeous, and I honestly like it better than the textures currently used for the fabrics. I'd take some abstraction in my fabrics in favor of textures that feel more in sync with the art style of the rest of the game.
The design aspect is charming, and I feel like the color/patterns compliment each other pretty well. I'd love to see it a little more grounded in a more specific era of fashion history, though. Right now, the dresses feel a little modern compared to some of the character designs. Fancy purple suit lady's ensemble suggests a very specific historical period, and it's hard to make a dress for her that feels like it matches. The skirts and necklines are the big problem here, I think. Historically grounded colors and patterns would be cool too.
I could easily see myself paying $30-$50 for a full release of this game, depending on included features. The accessibility features are my highest priority (and I wouldn't pay the $50 for a game with the current control schema. I might not even pay the $30.), but some form of story/relationship managements also very high priority for me.
Some other things I'd like to see:
- Closures! I love the buttons, but they feel a little superfluous and it breaks my immersion as a sewist to be making these highly tailored gowns that absolutely don't fit over the head.
- More types of accessory. Ribbon, braid, and beaded trims. Possibly appliques? I'd love embroidery but I have no idea how to make that not break the gameplay loop. More decorative elements for the dresses would be lovely as well.
- Ensembles. If you ground the fashion to a particular period a bit more, there are a lot of cases where people would buy a Jacket/skirt/shirtwaist combo rather than a dress, and I'd love to get commissions for coordinated sets.
- A zoom function for the dress model. It's hard to place items on the shoulders or other high areas on the garment, and precision accessory placement is difficult so far away from the dress
- Accessory suggestions: I don't necessarily feel the need to sell hats, shoes, or jewelry myself, but I'd love to be able to suggest things to go with it.
- More detailed commissions and feedback. Do they have a favorite color? pattern? What exactly did they like about my dress??? I want characters to have more hidden preferences they comment on.
- More detailed and transparent pricing. Ngl, I really don't understand how the pricing works. Will customers pay more for quality? It's not very clear.
- Trends. I would love to see certain colors and patterns go in and out, and even have new customers come in and ask for something similar to another clients' commission.
- Menswear. You'd probably want to do this as a paid dlc, but you'd be surprised how many male dress-up game fans there are who would eat this up.
- Corsetry. I think there's a paid dlc here as well.
- Small commissions to break things up. Maybe someone wants some silk stockings? ten handkerchiefs? Hair ribbons and sock garters? Maybe you can make these after hours and sell them ready-made and if a customer is particularly happy, they'll pick one up with their order.
Thank you for the lovely time! I hope this one gets fully developed!!