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Clair Obscur? Noice!
Haven't played it yet, but I've only heard good things about it. The game is definitely on my list. I bought Lies of P. during the Steam summer sale. I've been wanting to try it out for a while, so I figured why not. It's quite difficult as far as I know, so we'll see how far I get. 

30°C in Finland? I don't believe you! 😆
Nah, we had some pretty hot days here too, then it got colder again and it rained a lot. It's supposed to get warmer again next week, which can only mean one thing ... Barbecues! Barbecues everywhere! I can almost smell my neighbour's charcoal grill already.

Regular breaks can be really helpful to come up with new ideas. And a trip to a cabin? That does indeed sound like a golden opportunity to find extra inspiration.

Have a great time and keep going out there and get those vitamin D's! 💪

~ Mara

Hello Jay! 

It's summer already. I hope you are well, inspired and motivated! 

New questions added to the list: Who is Ada - and who killed her? (Um, is she even dead?) 
Why does this one particular scene deserves voice acting? What happens there? (Seriously, to have voice acting in your game, even if it's just for one scene, is pretty cool).
And: Is a release before autumn still on the cards?  

In any case, keep having fun doing what you do. Just don't forget to take a break now and then. ☕

~ Mara

Thanks for all the updates! I love all the little details (especially on the roof tiles) that make it look like the houses are actually exposed to the weather. Great job as always! :)

Hey, I just wanted to tell you that I really like this album. 

I was watching some old horror movies recently and the soundtrack and, well, I guess the mood, stuck with me a lot longer than the films themselves. 

Your music reminds me of that feeling. Weird, unsettling, but also strangely fascinating. 

I will definitely keep an eye out for your other albums. :)

Haha, a bundle would be super nice! Thanks for that! The game is on my wishlist, so I'll definitely get a message when it comes out.

Several playthroughs are a must, of course. I want to find out everything! Also, the bad ending usually gets me first, so I'd have to play at least until I make it through the game alive. 😅

One thing I'm curious about: are the decisions in your game all tied to a possible ending or are there some that are more, shall we say, cosmetic? Basically just to deepen the MC's personality? I like the inclusion of (some) choices that don't change the outcome of the game, but I know of other players who don't seem to like that, so I was interested to see what your opinions are.

Showing the approximate location of the scene sounds like a good compromise. I just realised that I haven't thought too much about how to implement such a feature and how much work it would be to set it up. I just thought: Hey, that would be neat! 😙

Hello Jay!

I hope you are doing well.

But just to make one thing clear: I am not a potential customer ... I see myself more as a future customer. 😉

Seriously, it's good to hear that the Steam NextFest helped more people find out about your game. That's always the first hurdle.

Now I'm really interested to see the new backgrounds! Also, a map for the area sounds like a great idea. I always like that because it helps to follow the characters and visualise where everyone is or has been at a certain time (Professor Plum with the candlestick in the billiard room).

Oh, and ... I'm already theorising about the end of the demo and now you're telling me I might miss the whodunit? That's a bit mean, don't you think? 😒😆

So, yeah, I'm still curious to see how the story continues. Also nice to hear about the possible release date! That would be sooner than I expected. Keeping my fingers crossed.

~ Mara

It's ginormous! 😲
I really like the scale of your buildings in relation to the character sprites. All those big structures really help to create impressive and interesting places.

I'd like to end with something witty, but all I can think of is: great work, as always. :)

Hello Jay!

Strange noises? Different alarms during the day? Maybe so she doesn't forget to feed the beast? Yeah, that does sound a bit like a horror story.

I'm not superstitious either, but it never hurts to knock on wood to be on the safe side ... ;)    (Nevertheless, it is good to hear that things have got a little better for you)

You're already working on day 4? You wrote that you have 5 days planned, right? Sounds like you've already made really good progress then. That's great!

Can't wait to see how the story develops and I'll definitely continue to keep an eye out for the game.

Keep it up!

~ Mara

Man, that sounds unpleasant, to say the least. Nevertheless, it has made me a little curious about the hourly alarms of the lady above you.

I feel the ‘renovator’ the most. I have two neighbours who are always working on something. One of them lives across the road, and if he's not running a saw, it's his motorbike. In the summer he likes to turn it on-on-on, play with the gas or just leave it running for a few minutes before driving of. The other lives in the house behind mine, so we are practically wall to wall. When he's hammering and drilling, it's so loud that sometimes I expect a hole to open up in the wall, only to release my neighbour into my living room in a cloud of dust.
It's even worse in the summer when you let the window open at night to cool down the rooms and get through the heat of the next day, because there's also a dog at the end of the street that starts howling at the crack of dawn - and like your neighbours he doesn't care about weekends. I love dogs, but sometimes I hate dog owners. 

On the other hand, the biker neighbour helped me quite a few times to get my broken car back on the road. And once, when it rained so hard that our little stream on the hill overflowed and the water came down with such force that it lifted the manhole covers into the air, he was the first to go out and help clear away the debris.
And the wall neighbour, a beefy, stern-looking guy, also likes to cook and garden and sometimes brings over fresh vegetables or a nice piece of cake. And when my mum had to go to the hospital, he came by to ask about her and tell me to come round if I needed anything. Which was kind of funny, because back then I didn't know his name and there was this brief, awkward moment where we just stared at each other before he finally asked, ‘You know who I am, right?’
Sure. Of course I do. ... What was your name again?

So in general, I think, I can consider myself lucky. I'm just very grouchy when I'm tired or trying to concentrate on something.

Hm ... Now I made it sound like I just left a comment, to say, that you, Jay, have it worse than I do.

... Sorry?

But seriously, I wish you the peace and quiet you want and need (and not just for the sake of the game 😉 ) and I hope it gets better. At least there's a chance that the renovator will get his apartment done soon and the party people will just ... move?

Still, the lady with the alarm clock ... I don't know what to make of her ...

~ Mara

Hello Jay!

Like I said, I played through your demo and really enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

My review has become longer than planned. I hope it doesn't clutter up the comments section. If it does - just delete it! 😁

One thing first: I can't seem to find your demo of Shadows of Betrayal here on itch. I've searched for it, but it hasn't come up. I only found the site when I searched for Dreamwalker or your username and went to your profile.

Now to the game ...

In the end, nobody hated me, but I had to sleep alone. Oh, well ...

I liked the summary at the end of day 1. Made me realise what I'd missed - and made me a bit nervous because everyone was healthy (for now?). Well, everyone with the exception of Alex. 😆

The writing is good. The story doesn't drag on, but moves at a nice pace. Important information is relayed in a natural way. Information like the lack of a phone signal (I'm sure that won't be a problem later) …

I also liked the dynamics of the group. The characters are unique, but not so different that you're constantly wondering how they became friends in the first place. (Again, with the exception of Alex. Nah, just kidding. I find him oddly fitting)

Still, I could have used more time with Brooke and Marcus, but I liked Jenna. Alex was a bit much, but I feel like he's the kind of character I find a bit annoying at first, only to grow fond of them later.

I also like that there are situations where the relationship status doesn't change until later (Sleeping on the porch? Not on my watch!), even if it makes ‘cheating’ a bit more difficult. 😝 It just feels more natural that way.

Oh, and the ‘surprise’ at the end was really well done. I liked how all these thoughts (some absurd or inappropriate) flashed through MC's head, showing his shock very well.

I wasn't sure about the art style at first, but the characters have grown on me. You wrote that the budget is tight, and I understand that, but I think that might be a weak point (especially with the use of AI-generated backgrounds).

I'm not sure how many backgrounds you will need. Maybe a solution would be to buy an inexpensive background pack that covers most of your needs, and only hire an artist if you can't find a specific background. ‘Minikle’ on gamedevmarket, for example, has a whole range of background packs. I don't think I've seen anything you could use right now, but maybe something will come up as you continue working on your project.

Using a blue tint to simulate night time could also serve as a compromise instead of creating an additional night version for each background. (This confused me a little when I left the cabin and it was supposed to be night, but it was still bright outside)

Just a little brainstorming here.

Another thing I think you could improve is the cover picture (I mean the image with Jason on the left and the logo on the right). It's the first thing people see of your game, and to me at least, it looks a bit stiff and isn't really eye-catching. I think it would work better if there were either more characters (instead of just Jason), if Jason was actively doing something, or if there was something going on in the background to add interest.

Again just some ideas.

Anyway, enough with my rambling. I enjoyed the demo and am waiting for more. So keep up the good work!

Do you have a release date planned yet? ;)

~ Mara

Oddly enough, I think I had the most trouble getting ‘Just One More’. I don't really know why, I just kept making the wrong (or right?) decision. 😅

I'm glad to hear that the downloads for the demo of Shadows of Betrayal are going well. Sometimes it just takes a little more time for things to get rolling.

I've already tried the demo (good job!) and will gather my thoughts for feedback.

So, don't stop writing, because I'm already hooked.

Until then!

Reading about your experience, I can relate. It's pretty disappointing when the people in your life can't seem to be bothered to engage with something that's so important to you (and instead of talking about it openly, they say they'll look into it but never actually do). And it can be quite difficult to get the kind of feedback that actually helps you improve your work.

At least the internet offers a number of opportunities in this respect. Getting your work 'out there' and finding people who will give you honest feedback. Sometimes it's even easier because they're strangers (at least for me).

I bought your game on Steam (and got all the achievements *yay*).

The story hooked me immediately. I prefer mystery without gore, so I felt right at home.

I liked that you kept the story tight and focused instead of including extra filler to increase the word count. To be honest, it's the filler that often makes me lose interest in visual novels - that and poor characterisation. Which brings me to ... the characters.

I found them likeable and (more importantly) consistent. They felt human and not like character tropes. They didn't flip-flopp around in personality or make stupid decisions just to move the plot along, which helped me feel like I was really getting to know them and didn't leave me scratching my head as to why this or that decision led to a certain outcome.

Now I've seen that you've released a demo for another game. I already had that on my wish list, so I'm definitely going to try the demo.

It's good to see that you're not getting discouraged. Keep doing what you love. I'll be keeping an eye on your future projects.

~ Mara

This is awesome! I don't think I've seen this type of tileset anywhere else, so the uniqueness is even more appreciated. This would work well for some kind of prison break game, too. Keep up the good work - just leave your 'cell' once in a while to take a break. ;)

Looks like a party! And we're going to have a ... crabload of fun! *ba-dum-tss*
But seriously, I love the crabs and the sandcastles and the whole beach theme as a whole. Keep up the good work, just don't forget to take some breaks. :)

This is great! Strangely enough, I was looking for a nice cemetery tileset that offers a bit more than just normal graves. It's crazy what an enormous variety your tilesets offer. So, thanks a lot!

The police box ... It's bigger on the inside! 😲

😂 Sorry, but I couldn't resist.
Great update as always. Thank you!

Very cool! I'm always amazed at how much effort you put into these signs. They give the buildings such a unique and eye-catching look. Also love the spotlights. I immediately thought of using them to call on a certain hero for support ...

Looks great! Can't wait for the finished set :D

Great work as always. <3  I love the clock tower (somehow they always seem so mysterious to me, as if they harbour a secret).

I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Pour yourself a tea or hot chocolate, take a moment to relax and have a great time with your loved ones.

Sounds great! Thanks for the quick reply!

Hey there!

Love your tilesets! Especially the furniture that is a bit askew or the crooked doors. I think it adds a lot of charm that not everything is drawn in a perfect front or side view.

One question: Are you planning to add a winter version of your exterior tileset? I always find it useful to be able to change the seasons (and I love snow). :)

Keep up the good work! Can't wait to see what you come up with next.

I love these modular buildings. Also these shop signs are amazing! I especially love the music store sign. Thanks for continuing your great work! :D

Happy birthday! Relax, explore, do whatever brings you joy and have a great time. Oh, and btw I love the new buildings! :D

Love these animated objects. It adds so much to the atmosphere when it's not just some characters walking up and down the street. Thanks again for your awesome tilesets.  :D

Thanks for all these great updates. Love the whole camping series. And it's always nice to have some big trees in different shapes. :)

Take care - and stay hydrated. ^^

What a cute idea. It's always fun to find assets that are so creatively different. Thank you also for including different sizes. That's really helpful.

Animated objects always add so much life to a scene. Thanks for another awesome update! Keep up the great work - just don't forget to take care of yourself. :)

Wow. What a great tilesets. I especially love the sunflowers. So cool. <3

What, really? Haha, no I didn't see that, but it's nice to know. Thanks!

What a great demo! I saw one of your posts on the RPG Maker forum and just had to try it out. The maps are really beautiful. I also liked the sprite work and the choice of music. The battle system was fun, too. To be honest, I was quite disappointed when I reached the end, because I wanted to keep playing.

Now I'm very curious about the rest of the story.  Keep up the great work! Can't wait to play the whole game!

Very nice! It's always cool to see assets from different settings. I especially like the "sliced" open look into the hut.

Super cool! I think with a little clean up these graffitis could also be used as some cool school mascots. "Canary High - home of the Smiling Beagles!" (Still working on that name)

Wow! These Zaun tile are a riot! *bad pun detected*
But in all honesty, they look great! I watched Arcane just a few days ago and it's an awesome show. It's so great to see, that so many people appreciate your work - you deserve it! Now I'm very excited to see what you come up with next. :D

What a cool journey this was and what an awesome tileset you have created. This was no small feat and you really can be proud of your work. I will definitely keep an eye open for your future projects.

"See you ... outside"? Does that mean an exterior set comes next? :D

Wow. This is absolutely crazy. I have never seen such a large, versatile tileset like this. And now we almost arrived at the 400th update. Can't thank you enough for all this effort and hard work.

Having these sprites doing all kind of different things is so helpful. <3
I think the "pick up" animation is still my favorite. Thanks again for all the work you put into this set.

A museum is such a great idea! Also I really love these new walls. It's one of my daily rituals to look what awesome new stuff you brought us again and you never disappoint. Thank you!