Right now Im working on overhauling the background art first cause i agree it does look messy. Character's will probably be done later once i find the right artist. Im working on some new dialogue for the characters since "Character's dont react to changes" has been a big theme in the user feedback so far. Though those new dialogue lines will not come in the next update (next update is focused more on the Captain). I have the code systems made for reacting to changes, but its lot of dialogue to write, a lot a lot. The check myself button will be some thing I will be working on in 6.3 or 6.4. It just stares at me while im playtesting lol.
Im a little hesitant to do combined transformations due to the amount of work (mostly dialogue writing) involved. Its not off the table, but i wanna get the dialogue for the main transformations done first. There was feedback a couple of months back to change it from 4 transformations in a transformation route to 7 or 8. That is something i will probably end up doing, but it will take time. Maybe i can get it done in early december or somthing, but i have no date written down.
So to answer your final questions:
1. Yes there is plan for more tf writing (doing it now but wont be in next update). "Better" all depends on my ability to write good lol. I am a coder by trade so writing is not my strong suite yet lol.
2. Commisioned art - Yes there will be commisioned art thanks to the Patreons (eventually subscribe star once i get that set up). But it wont happen as fast as a like because artists take a bit to make their work look good. The first bit of commisioned art will be the water bottle logo's, that should be coming by end of month (fingers crossed) If you know any artists who would be willing to work on the project, i would be happy to view their work and talk to them if i think it fits.
The first chem determines the main effect yes. The number value of each multipler is different for each effect. For example, a tier 2 mutiplier for the support points is 3x but the tier for endurance is 2x. I split them up like this so i could balance each multiplier for each effect's tier.
This is something that is still being worked on. In the near future, depending on how much people like you will significantly increase how many resource they can bring back to you. That is the first idea rumaging around my brain at the moment.
Oh yeah for the morning conversations, those need to be updated before going into Alpha. They were made quick and dirty >_>
There is no longer a combination of chemicals to win. That was the old way of winning but it left too much to chance for the player and generally had negative player feedback. I will be reworking the purpose of hints as they still allude to the old system of winning.
I do like the ideas you have presented in your post... I've been thinking about it all day lol. Im going to the drawing board to see how that would all piece together.
As for the AI art, I dont think i will continue to expand the game using it. I liked using it as a place holder for now and to convey a visual theme to the player.
Making games is tricky but i'll figure it out lol.
Raising relationships dont do anything yet :\ There will be an update in October to address that.
When the pool meter is filled you can win. This version of the pool meter is a concept i am expanding in 5.5. Right now it is super easy to fill, and the following day you can leave, meaning you win. That system will change as more updates come out.
Yeah... more dialogue and state checks need to be made to address that. It's something that will be address in time but i have no esitmate on when.
I like the dialogue tag idea. i will add to my feedback list. Colors and a character portait should confirm to the player who is talking in the moment.
Sorry about the game ending with no warning. I can add that is as a "Are you sure you wanna leave? (this will end the game)". This ending is not final and is just a placeholder.
I have some ideas of how i can scale up the amount of unique assets for each character without breaking time or the bank lol. The game is still in the prototype phase, so there will be the AI art in there for a while, as i build in more systems and features. Once i get into Alpha that is when assets and gameplay polish can happen. A map is something i need to add to the feedback list.
My 2d art isnt the greatest and i am indredebly slow at making them. The drinks art is stuff i drew for reference lol.
The backgrounds look terrible >_>. Once im in Alpha I have plans of making 3d background in blender and "anime-ifying" them to make them look 2d. That i know i can do lol.
For reference I am defining Alpha as the state where all the core mechanics are in the game, they are fun (based on feedback), and the player can beat the game with all the major win conditions in place.
For the Edit question:
Its a subtraction based system. If you give somone 3 purple drinks they are at T3 purple. If you give them a green drink, it sets them to T2 purple. That system could use some love, so any feedback there would be appreciated.
I hope that answers all of your questions! Thank you for playing the game and your feedback!
Once I have the gameplay-able from start to end with the core game mechanics in place, I will swap the project over to the alpha stage. Once in Alpha and beyond, there will be more dedicated time to add things like this and more transformations.
Yeah, gifts are something ill be updating before moving onto Update 6. The things to do there are dialogue for giving and accepting gifts, and give purpose to the gifts.
Theres a good bit more to come before moving onto an update 6 lol
1. "I don't like how vague the goal is for the game, is the goal using a particular set of chems every day or avoiding using them?..."
Yeah this part of the game is not fun. In 5.4 I am changing the system of how you purifiy the pool, and the progress you make will be more apparent in the UI.
On the inspection points not being hightlighted, that is a good call out. Ill mark that in my notes.
2. "Another thing but something lesser that can change is I don't like how the dialogue is the same as the player regardless of who you are, same with the fact that regardless of what TF your going down...."
In a future update, im looking to add more dialogue and the systems for determining character and TF dialogues. Im more of a coder than a writer so getting the dialogue to a point I like takes me a bit for now. (5.3 took me 3 weeks I think >_>). But i want to make it clear that i have my eye on the dialogue still and in a future update, I will revist the system.
"For stuff I do like"
1. Thank you. I'm not a writer by trade so I was a little concered how the dialogue would land with the player base. I'll be trying my best to keep up'ing the quality of the writing and story as the game develops.
2. You know, I never considered muscle girl TF. Yeah I think having some of the characters and transformations lean in that direction would make sense.
Thank you for the all the feedback! As the game continues to march in to Alpha, I will keep going my best to address all the feedback thats core to the game.
Thank you for continuing to enjoy the game and I hope you enjoy whats to come!
On the status of pools chems, I am going to be busy this week working on redoing that system and hopefully you all will like the directions im taking it.
CGs and relationship scenes will come father down the developments line. Probably once i make it into alpha or beta.
The goal right now, in the prototype phase, is to make the game playable from start to end with the core mechanics developed, tested and have some indicator that players find them fun.
Thank you for the kind words and for your feedback!
TL;DR : I will be supporting Android mobile, when i can get an android phone.
I want to do a mobile version, but I have no android phone to test on.
I have an IOS phone, but no macOS computer to build to the IOS target.
I do have a lead for an Android phone and that is all TBD if I get it.
If people want IOS, I would need to know in the comment or somewhere how many people would want that. After that it would be an issue of how to get it on the store (probably wont pass apple's Terms of Service), or how players can side load it to their device.
Ohhh i see what happened. Once you collected the last item, you went backwards through a wall i recently found did not have collision. The screen going black was your character falling through the world. Ill be fixing that soon.
The exit should be in the middle of the map (I made it very bright lol). I'll double check on my end, but thank you for playing it and letting me know!
