Hello! Thank you so much for the congrats and compliments!
I don't really follow even loose deadlines (I don't really have a team. It's just me, currently - not counting freelancers who do BG work and the like). There are too many variables for solo devs and small teams for me to feel comfortable with deadlines. If I get sick, for instance, that means development completely *stops* until I recover because there's no one else to pick up the slack.
The three additional LIs are getting full routes that are going to be as long as the ones already released. I track word counts pretty closely and the current routes average 108,000 words. So that's my target amount for the additional LIs. They will have the same number of unique CGs/CG sets as well.
I would say that at minimum each route is going take 3 months. I think I gave a quick rundown elsewhere too but this is essentially the flow of development:
- - write each route
- - edit each route
- - script each route (meaning transplanting the writing into the game and formatting it)
- - sending it out for beta reading
- - creating and coding the flowchart for each route
- - coding all sprite expressions, music, and SFX
- - creating and coding any new background animations and variations
- - creating and coding 7 additional CGs + 1 mini CG for each route
- - creating any additional sprites
- - writing and coding new glossary entries for route-specific lore
- - beta testing every route thoroughly to make sure there are no layering issues with the CGs, and to make sure all endings and flowchart modules unlock properly
- - creating a guide and content list for each route
THEN releasing it.
And all of this (except the testing) is done by a single person. So as you can imagine, it's a months long process. With three routes left to release, we're definitely looking at probably another year of working on this game to get them all out.
The main reason I chose to release the six original LIs without the Kickstarter love interests was because I knew they would tack on around another year of development for the game, and I didn't think people would want to wait that long to play.
Having said all that, Quill's route is around half written (currently 60,000 words) and I've already done two (of...5 I think?) of the unique sprites for his route. I'm hoping to have his route fully written by the end of June so I can start working on coding and getting everything else done. I do intend to release the routes one at a time as they're complete rather than releasing them all at once.
So yeah, all of that is to say it will be a while for sure. There's a lot of content even in a single route (one day I'll make a small game. LoL. ONE DAY.) 😂😂