Ok, this is a minor bug.
Usually, when you encounter errors that say “ignore,” you can safely click it.
Basically, because the game supports playing as either a male or female character, there are some functions that transform words or expressions, and they are case-sensitive. In this case, I wrote the expression as He_she instead of he_she xDDD
I’ve already fixed it in the newer versions, so in the next silent update this should be fine 😛
(and thank you)
No need to apologize, you’ve already been a huge help heheh.
In that stadium section, you can actually talk to both Diego and Harry one on one. There is a way to do that.
And yes, there are some timed events in the game. Things that “disappear” if you go do something else in the meantime. The wander around option is only available there as soon as you arrive at the stadium at that point Lucas is still within reach to be saved and if you do anything else then... well... he dies... Not really but you get what I mean xD
Ahh the mini game! It’s actually not total randomness. They do adapt to what you do. For example, if you keep spamming one stance, they are supposed to adapt to it and counter it. That system is more refined for the actual fight, with actives and passives, but it’s not available yet.
Ahhh! And it’s in the stadium section! For some reason I thought it was at the start of the game. Most of what you described is actually supposed to happen — except for you going to talk to Matt and getting the same conversations on a loop xDDDD.
Okay, I think I found what was going on and I released a silent update (you can download the game again). I tested it and it’s working properly now, but you’ll need to replay Matt’s part.
That initial stadium section (version 0.5) is what I call the exploration part, meaning there are a lot of variables that change scenes in different ways depending on the choices you make. When you explore and then get sent automatically to Matt, you kind of end up skipping some keys (basically the game doesn’t remember you already went to Matt). That was a coding mistake on my end. It should be fixed now (I just hope I didn’t accidentally break anything else).
And thank you so, so much.
Hey BDM!
Of course I remember you, heheh. You’ve really been around almost since day one and I'm glad to see you are still with us ^^.
About Discord, for now we’re not planning to create one. I’ve got a lot on my plate, and I’m even thinking of making a post to look for someone else to join us and help me with a few things.
So yeah, long story short — no Discord for now.
Hey Ni_Fi,
That error you’re describing is definitely strange, because when you choose “wander around”, you’re not supposed to be sent to Matt automatically — it should take you to the choice menu where you decide where to go next.
I’ve never used the itch.io app myself, so it could indeed be related to that.
Hey Kendys!
Honestly? I have no idea xD
I’m really trying to go into detail with the game and avoid ending up with a rushed product. So if we’re talking about the full game, I’d say it’ll probably still take a few years.
That said, if we’re talking about sagas (sets of episodes), I believe the Matt vs Diego saga is getting close to its end. I think it should be finished within about 3 months (I say think because it always takes longer than I expect).
After that, a new phase begins — the Beach Saga, which was voted for by the Patreons 😉
Hey Lehyan!
In version 0.5 there was a slight change to his sprite, but it was mostly just a sharpening of the artwork so I could zoom in and play with the camera without it becoming completely blurry. But even slight modifications like that can change how the sprite looks.
The reason we shapened his sprite if he, Diego, and drunk Harry were some of the very first sprites I ever made. Back then, I simply didn’t know better, and they’re starting to feel a bit out of sync with the newer sprites I’ve been making over time. You can tell they’re a bit lower in quality compared to the newer ones, specially ones that I haven't shown you guys yet.
That said, I totally understand what you mean. Even small changes are noticeable, and when we like a character, we really notice them.
To be 100% honest, I might suggest a full sprite update for him on Patreon at some point but that would only come to be:
The vast majority of people like it
It keeps his essence, or even improves it
It fits well with the current art style of the game
So yeah, we’ll see. It’s definitely not a high priority right now. At the moment I need to focus on creating enough content for the 0.7 patch itself, then work on the logs (the in-game system that helps you track what content you’ve unlocked), and only then think about visual updates.
A lot of things to do in a little under a month xDD
Still, I’m really glad you’re enjoying the game, and I hope you like the UI changes coming in 0.6 as well — I personally love them, but I might be biased hehehe.
Hey BlackFenrir!
About Lucas. I get you. And people are really liking him as well heheh.
As for the team dynamic itself, I can tell you that I have things planned for that in Season 2. I’m dividing the game into seasons and chapters, with each season containing multiple chapters.
Season 1 is Diego vs Matt (the one currently happening), and Season 2 will be the beach season (voted by the Patreons).
Coming back to your question — yes, I do have plans in that direction for Season 2, but I’m still thinking through some details. Since I’m basically a solo developer, everything takes time, and sometimes allowing extra decisions means taking time away from developing other things.
Just to give you a quick example: I love how Lucas’ scene works in the stadium, but for every scene I have to be careful about adding or removing him depending on whether he’s accompanying you or not. And later on, if he’s introduced again, I’d need multiple versions — one if he’s already on the team, one if he’s not on the team but you helped him, or one if he doesn’t even know you yet :P
I genuinely love doing this kind of branching, but it takes time. Because of that, when it comes to the team, I basically have two options:
Either I give you conditional freedom — meaning you can decide certain things but within limits — or, for now, while I’m still developing and writing everything on my own, I make some decisions that don’t fully depend on the player.
Anyway, I’m rambling now. In short, and without giving spoilers: yes, there is a possibility for that to happen in Season 2 — both Diego and Harry joining the team or you leaving it to join them. Whether it actually happens, whether you get to choose, or whether fate decides for you… you’ll have to wait and see :P
(But I can tell you it’s already planned — it just needs a bit more polishing.)
We get what you mean! A full walkthrough would indeed be a lot of work 😅
That said, we’re actually working on adding something similar to the game itself — a memory log system.
The idea is to help players keep track of important information: details about the characters, knowledge you’ve unlocked, hints about what you might be missing, gallery progress, etc. Kind of like an in-game record of your journey, so you don’t feel lost but still get to explore and discover things naturally.
It’s something that’s quite challenging to implement because of its complexity, but what we’ve been working on so far feels like a really good start, we'll see where that goes hehe.
Hey Kelvin! Zak here
Ahh, so Diego makes you nervous. I see Matt isn't the only one who gets nervous around him <.< (joking)
About the NSFW, let me try to be as honest and clear as possible to manage expectations well.
My biggest passion is writing belivable characters that feel alive at the same time that make you feel something. In real life there's sex and NSFW scenes, so those are also planned for TrueClash. But when? Honestly, I don't expect that to appear before Season 2 at the beach (after the Diego vs Matt conflict) because only then will more daring characters be introduced in that sense and things may have matured enough with the current cast by then. But I should highlight that explicit NSFW won't be the focus of TrueClash. They will exist and I want to do them fun and exciting but it won't be the focus of the game.
Now about your specific question, I'm planning to make sexual or making out scenes more interactive. So I believe the vast majority of characters will be versatile so everyone can be satisfied.
About branching, a topic that also gives me a lot to think about heheh. I have ideas to control the branching — ideas that allow me to give you freedom to do things like decide who's on your team. In that aspect it won't be a problem. But of course even small changes add work. I don't think you're a patron, but basically in the version they have access to and that's coming out this week for the public, I had to make scene variations depending on whether you managed or did something earlier or not. So all the scenes change with the 'presence' of that previous decision of yours (I'm trying to speak in code words to avoid spoilers xD). It's more work yes, but it's also something I enjoy doing and I think it adds shine to the game. But yeah, I have to be careful with branching so I don't get myself into a mess that'll be hard to get out of xDD
And yes, I've been trying to take time for myself, to rest and do other things. I confess it's hard and sometimes I fail, but I'm doing much better in that aspect xDDD
I really love doing this but I understand what you're saying. I have to be careful not to burn out and end up not enjoying it or not wanting to do it anymore. It has to be something enjoyable in the long run ^^
Thank you for the kind words and I hope you like what's coming!
Hey CaptainMal888 ! Zak here.
With that "game rocks" comment I was tempted to reply with an image of a character but it's still in the making and hasn't even been revealed to patrons yet, so I'll hold back xD.
I'm glad you like the game, I hope it keeps on rocking ^^
Hey exusiai777! Zak here.
I'm really happy you're enjoying it.
And yes, I try to take my time and care of myself, but sometimes it's hard because I just want to be around this!
But I'm managing to take some days for myself, part of the reason I'm only replying now :P
I hope you like what's coming, it's an impactful patch xDD
Hey DuskyMane, Zak here!
I'm glad you're loving the game hehehe.
I know why this is happening, and the fact that you sent me the error itself helps immensely. Because there are so many variables and little things that something always slips past me.
It's an idle animation (them breathing and such) that no longer exists (I gave them an upgrade and this one slipped past me). I already fixed them, but apparently it was a fix in version 0.5 and not in this one... I really thought I had also fixed it in version 0.4 at the time but no... Sorry... The fact that I have multiple versions sometimes means it gets fixed in one and not in another.
But it's a minor bug. You can press ignore and the game should run perfectly, Matt just won't have his idle animation.
Thank you for spotting this one out, I already checked and it's fixed in 0.5.
Hope you keep enjoying our game. Anything you want to share with us, feel free to do so ^^
Hey KayJay, Jack here!
We are really glad you are enjoying Trueclash heheh!
The free version ends where you said, at the end of the night with Matt, Diego, or Harry.
The version coming out tomorrow for free players doesn’t go much further than that, since it’s basically an expansion of that same night. You’ll be able to meet Joel (the redhead), spend more time with Diego (up until now he was the only one you couldn’t really get too involved with), and start the next day — where you’ll get to do a bit more customization of your character, especially regarding their backstory.
That said, at the same time as version 0.4 releases for everyone tomorrow, version 0.5 will release for Tier 3 patrons. That one expands the game to the stadium, where you can meet a new character (Lucas) and talk to Matt, Diego, and Harry again. Let’s just say it’s more of an exploration update, where your past choices and the ones you make in the stadium really matter and change some outcomes. There’s also quite an impactful moment waiting there, though I won’t spoil what’s coming. Neither if it is a good or bad impactful one ;)
If you’re eager to play and don’t want to wait for tomorrow’s free version, last week we gave out Patreon keys. There should still be some left (check the post). If you grab one, you can already play tomorrow’s free version right now ;)
Hey BMD99! Zak here!
So glad you're enjoying it so much! I'm really excited to see your reaction to the public version coming out next week, but I'm especially looking forward to seeing the reaction to the Patreon version because that one's gonna hit different xDDD
And about the slow burn, I completely agree! It makes the relationship feel way more rewarding in my opinion ;)
Thanks for the continued support! 🙏
Hey! Zak here!
Being 100% honest about the NSFW side of things — I’m planning to start introducing that kind of content in Saga 2 (the beach arc), which was actually the most voted setting by our Patreons.
So yeah, it won’t appear before the whole Matt vs Diego storyline wraps up.
I should also emphasize that NSFW content won’t be the main focus of Trueclash. The real core will always be the story, the romance, the characters and the player’s choices.
That said, it’s still something I want to explore. Especially because I’ve already had some ideas that could serve both the narrative and the emotional tone of those moments.
Ideally, I’d love to make them feel a bit more interactive. Almost like a mini-game, where the player can choose what to say or do instead of it just being a static erotic CG with a few lines of text.
I’m also currently waiting for a response from an NSFW artist who told me they’d need about a month before being able to start working with us — so let’s see how that goes!
Haha, yeah — seems like a lot of people are gaining interest on Joel, heheh.
And I’m glad he’s… um… your “type on paper,” xDDD
Of course, you want to learn more about Diego — seeing him shirtless is just part of the process, right? 😏
Ahh yes! You definitely get to see a very different side of Matt there. That was one of the main goals of that ending, hehe.
And yeah, it’s definitely hard sometimes. Back when I was writing the beer pong sequence, it was honestly melting my brain — I was exhausted for days after finishing it. These days, though, I’ve found better methods to manage all the keys, so it’s not as chaotic anymore (thankfully).
That moment you mentioned with Diego — getting closer to him through the tattoo talk with Matt — that’s exactly the kind of feeling I wanted players to have.
Seeing how small choices can subtly shift relationships and unlock different moments. I obviously can’t predict or code every single possibility, but I still love sprinkling in those little variations whenever I can.
I actually noted down the names of those games you mentioned — Virtue’s Last Reward and 13 Sentinels. I’ll definitely check them out; maybe they’ll give me a clearer idea of how to structure the memory log in the future.
And about the darker moments, I completely agree with you. I never want to force drama just for the sake of it. I prefer when things happen naturally, making sense with each character’s personality and emotional logic. There’s always a “why” behind every decision, not just a narrative twist.
I genuinely love talking about all this, it’s a real passion of mine (or, like you said, maybe I’m just really good at faking it 😈).
Thank you again for taking the time to share all this. And seriously, if anything else comes to mind, don’t hesitate to tell me!
Hey! You can totally steal my intro anytime, heheh.
And please, don’t ever hesitate to send messages like this. I genuinely love reading them. Feedback like yours helps me see both what’s working well and what still needs improvement.
Ahh, Diego and Matt, huh? Hehehe. In the version that’s coming out for free soon (around three weeks from now), you’ll actually get the chance to deepen the night with Diego even more.
Matt, on the other hand, gets a conversation with Mafalda that shows a new side of him. That upcoming free patch mainly expands on existing content while the one I’m working on right now pushes the story forward in a big way.
About unlocking visuals, I totally get what you mean. A lot of people have mentioned that too. There’s a lot of variation, and the fact that I use so many Echoes definitely makes it tricky to unlock everything.
To help with that, we’re currently working on a Memory Log system. Our GUI artist is first finishing some of the more standard elements — like improving dialogue boxes and building a new in-game menu (based on an idea we came up with). The log will be part of that menu.
And yeah, I know what you mean by “branching scenario trees.” Trueclash actually tracks your decisions in two main ways.
One is through branching paths. For example, at the end of the night you can choose to go home with Harry, Diego, or Matt (and in version 0.4, Joel joins that list too 👀).
But the other is scene transformation and adaptation. You can already see that during the beer-pong section but in the current version I’m writing (0.5), I’ve taken it even further. Scenes dynamically change depending on your past choices: characters say different things or react differently.
It’s not exactly a new branch; it’s more like the main storyline reshaping itself based on what you’ve done. Get it?
That’s what makes a “branch map” quite difficult to create, but I might still ask Alex to try something like that. He’s the one who made some of the guides on Patreon.
I’ve also been reducing the number of Echoes overall. Things that used to trigger an Echo (like a small dialogue change) no longer do. Now, only the truly meaningful or game-changing decisions create one. Hopefully this helps make the game easier to follow without feeling like you’re chasing every minor variation. But this is something to revisit when the log is ready to be worked upon.
About being “mean,” haha — there are actually two ways to be mean, after that you don’t have to be cruel to unlock more visuals. And yep, that one specific fight? It’s almost impossible to win. You don’t really miss out on anything major, just a slightly different line. I considered adding an achievement or image in case someone managed to win but decided it would feel unfair, given how hard it is, haha.
And yeah, I get what you mean about those looks from Matt and Diego… it’s definitely a wild ride.
You’ll mostly feel happy while playing Trueclash — but there will be moments that hurt, a lot. Especially in version 0.5 (currently in development). Let’s just say Alex needed a few days to emotionally recover from that one after he beta tested it due to happens with one of the characters there 😅.
But those imperfect, sometimes painful moments are what I think make a story truly good.
So, thank you again and we’ll be waiting for you on the next chapter of your Trueclash journey! 💙
Hey bababubu1505!
About Diego and the romance you can have with him that’s actually something you can start exploring in version 0.4 of the game (the one currently available on Patreon).
Romance in Trueclash tends to be gradual, though.
As for version 0.3 (the one currently public here on Itch.io, which I believe is the one you played), you can already start getting along better with Diego there and even walk with him to the dorms.
I’m pretty sure Viv or Alex made a small guide a while back about one of Diego’s CGs, I just don’t remember if it’s something publicly available or one of the Patreon-exclusive tips.
Hope you’ll enjoy what’s coming next (I think you will <.<)
Hey Luhnaire!
Honestly, I think you should play however feels best for you, heheh.
And I totally get what you mean about Matt, one of the team members (Alex) feels the exact same way, he absolutely loves him too haha.
I’ll be looking forward to hearing your thoughts once you get the chance to talk with Joel in the next patch!
If it were up to me, I’d bring even more people onto the team already, but the budget doesn’t quite allow for that yet. Hopefully in the future :P
And don’t worry. I tend to write long messages myself too ;)
Hope you keep enjoying the game! ^^
Hey Luhnaire! Zak here!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the game. Messages like yours honestly give me a huge boost of motivation to keep doing even more hehehe.
About what you said regarding wanting to experience the story all at once, I totally get that. This will still take a good while to reach its full form, but I’ve been thinking of the game in “sagas.”
The first saga, the one you’ve just experienced, is the Matt vs Diego arc, everything you’ve experienced so far plus what's to come that leads up to that fight.
After that, the story will move into a new saga where these characters (and a few new ones) continue to play important roles.
So maybe you would prefer to only play it when a new saga get's fully released. Maybe it’ll feel a bit like following a series, one saga at a time ;)
I really want Trueclash to stay centered around the characters and the stories that connect them. My goal has always been to make players feel something real. Mostly positive emotions, yes, but also the tougher ones that belong in any meaningful story: frustration, anger, sadness…
The characters I like to write (and read about) are the ones who have both strengths and flaws, the kind that feel human. Those who are not perfect, but alive.
As for finishing the game, I genuinely love working on it.
Actually, I might love it a bit too much sometimes… I tend to push myself until I burn out and then have to take a few days off. xD
That said, I’ve gotten much better at this. It’s been quite a while since I’ve truly burned out, mostly because I’ve learned to recognize the signs in myself and step back before it happens.
Still, I sometimes slip and get close to it again — it’s such a subtle thing. I’ll get completely focused on a single scene for days, the fatigue slowly builds up, and only once it’s done do I realize how mentally exhausted I’ve become. xD
But yeah, I’ve gotten a lot better at not letting myself reach that point.
In short, this whole process is just too addictive and I think the only things that could make me stop are either something happening to me or me forgetting to rest xDDD
And about the financial support — I truly appreciate the thought. If you ever do decide to support us, it would help me bring more people onto the project, increasing quality and speeding up production.
But honestly, messages like yours are also a form of support. Just reading them and knowing people care about this journey means a lot to me.
Thank you again for taking the time to write all that, and for the kindness in your words.
I really hope we can keep creating content that resonates with you 💙
— Zak
Hey Sharpsz! Zak here, it’s really nice hearing from you again heheh.
I’m glad you enjoyed Harry and Joel! If you haven’t played the Patreon version yet, definitely look forward to the next one, you'll get the opportunity to speak with Joel alone :P
About the coding part, being 100% honest, someone else reached out recently and we had quite a few long talks about both the code and the game itself. Because of that, I felt it was only fair to move forward with him for now.
We actually just started this partnership yesterday as a commission-based collaboration!
That said, I really want to see the project grow, and if I ever reach the point where I can afford to bring on a second programmer or tester I’d definitely consider it ^^
Thanks again for offering to help 💙
Hey Weenie! Zak here o/
First off, I have to admit, I wasn’t even sure what to say at first, haha. Your comment was just really nice to read.
I truly hope that once you get the chance to play the game, you’ll have a great time with it and enjoy a few solid hours of fun and discovery.
As for the devs and teammates honestly I think I’m incredibly lucky to have them. The amount of support they give, both to the game and to me personally, is something I cherish deeply. The team has recently started to expand as well and I really hope everyone joining us will have as much fun creating this project as we’ve had so far on this journey.
Thank you so much for your message — it truly made my day.
Wishing you all the best too 💙
Hey, Zak here!
I don’t think that’s a strange question at all! On the contrary, it’s more than fair. I’ll try to answer with as few spoilers as possible.
Some characters have a specific purpose, something they (or I) want to tell. In Viktor’s case, I can say that from the Matt vs. Diego point onward,you’ll start seeing more of him. You might be able to “date” him, yes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it should or can become something more serious.
As for the big, muscular archetype: I try to include people with different body types and I always aim for the bodies to tell a story or fit the personality archetype I want to add at that moment. So I do have bigger guys planned, I also have chubbier/bear-like men, as well as smaller and taller ones. In other words, it’s very possible you’ll see men like Viktor beyond Viktor himself.
In short: possibly yes. But he has a defined role in the story that’s coming. That said, I stress “possibly,” because I develop the story very organically, like a garden I keep pruning. Many times even I don’t know what will happen; things come to light through the writing and the characters’ interactions. :)
But yeah, stick around, more Viktor to come!
Hey, Zak here!
Uhhh, another Diego fan ehhehe.
Actually, he’s been gaining quite a bit of popularity :P
In this new version we released yesterday to the public for the first time, you can interact with him in different circumstances and environments without Harry constantly bothering him heheh.
In version 0.4 (currently on Tier 3 Patreon), I thought it would be fair to give him a more intimate moment with Ren, to balance things out with the content that already existed for Harry and Matt... But I think I might have gotten a little carried away xDDD
Viv (our proofreader and Diego fan) really liked it, and I hope you’ll enjoy it too when you get the chance to play.
And thank you so much for your kind words! Comments like these get me even more hyped :P
Hey everyone, Zak here.
First of all, thank you so much for all the messages of interest, as well as for sharing your portfolios with us.
I can’t reply to everyone but I have looked through all your portfolios and artworks. I’ve been truly amazed by so many of them. <.<
I’ll be meeting with the team to talk things over, show your work, and make a decision about whether we’ll be hiring someone and, if so, who.
If we do hire someone, we’ll announce it on itch.io.
For now consider this post closed.
Thanks again,
Zak
Hey, Zak here!
Regarding unlocking images and other content:
We currently have a few tips on Patreon about how to unlock certain harder scenes, but we don't have an official guide yet.
I completely understand what you're saying tho. with so many variables, it becomes difficult to keep track of everything you've done or discovered. Actually, this is something we want to address to make things simpler and more accessible. We're planning to implement memory logs that will not only store the images for you to review but also keep a record of key decisions you've made and knowledge you've gained about the characters. I think this will help you see what you might want to try differently.
However, even though we don't have guides or the logs available yet, I'd be happy to help if you're looking for specific images for particular characters. I can also check if there might be a bug on our end that's listing more images than there should be.
Hey! Zak here 👋
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. You actually brought up something I hadn’t really considered before: the overall file size of the game, especially from a mobile player’s perspective. That’s super valuable feedback.
When I first started working on the images, I decided to use PNG format so they’d retain more quality… but now after reading what you had to say, I’m definitely thinking of switching to webp, since it keeps almost the same quality while reducing the file size a lot. So that’s already something I plan to change moving forward.
I also took this oportunity to take a closer look at the files… and to my surprise, the bulk of the weight isn’t actually the images, it’s the music and sound effects. 😅
Right now I have over 50 music tracks already in place for content up to version 0.3, and even though some aren’t used yet in 0.2.5, they’re still bundled with the build.
On top of that, the ambient sounds and nightclub tracks (which alone are over 3 hours long) take up a lot of space.
I’m already using .ogg format for most audio files, which from what I understand is one of the more efficient ones but I’ll double check to make sure I’m compressing things the best way I can.
So yes, I’ll definitely start converting all future images to .webp and also go through the soundtrack to see where I can reclaim some MBs.
If I manage to shorten a few tracks, especially the long club ambient loops, I think I can cut down 100–200MB right away.
As for the content:
Yes, the current public version (0.2.5) ends right after the first beer pong match.
It’s still early days for the game overall but there are multiple paths that can lead to that scene with variations that unlock more or less content depending on your choices both before and during the match. That branching might make it feel like there’s less content at first glance, but it was a design choice: I wanted to encourage exploration and replayability.
That said, I totally get how it could feel short, especially since most of the narrative buildup happens before any big payoff.
Starting from version 0.3, things become more structured and story-heavy, so I think that feeling of progression will come through more clearly.
(For reference, the current content for 0.2.5 adds up to around 70,000 words so far.)
Also, just a quick heads-up:
There’s a bug on the mobile version right now where the speaker bars aren’t updating properly (they’re supposed to change color depending on who’s speaking).
It’s not critical, but it definitely makes it harder to follow conversations.
Marc (our GUI dev) will be looking into this soon, so thank you for your patience there as well!
I really appreciate your message. What you said about file size is something I’ll start tackling right away before the game grows too much to optimize easily.
And PS: I’d love to hear your feedback once you get to try version 0.3! It’s currently on Patreon for Tier 3 members, but it’ll be free for everyone in about a month and hope I hear from you by then💙
Thanks again and take care!
— Zak
