Progress update #12

Hey everyone!

Remember how I said I’d be back around mid-January, once I got settled into my new place and set up a proper workspace? Well, here I am—re-energized, brimming with ideas, and so happy to finally deliver the progress you deserve. Taking that short break was exactly what I needed, and I want to thank you all for your patience while I recharged.

I’ve been hard at work finishing up this revision update—tweaking story paths, experimenting with a new mini-game, and getting ready to refresh some visuals.

(The photo of Jamie is just me testing out how to light a darker scene).

Coding

• Personality Meter:
  I originally planned for Oliver to have a personality meter that would shift based on player choices, which sounded awesome at first—more immersion, new dialogue, subtle changes in how Oliver acts. But the deeper I went, the more it ballooned in complexity. Every scenario or conversation would need multiple variations, and soon it felt like I was rewriting half the game. So, I decided to scrap it—at least for now. I know a few of you were excited about the idea, and I really appreciate your patience while I tested it out. Ultimately, though, I think my time is better spent on other aspects that’ll have a bigger impact.

• Relationship Score Adjustments:
  The relationship score system is still very much alive. I made some small tweaks to how points are tallied in the early chapters. You might not notice anything huge right away—most of these changes affect later story beats—but it should help everything flow more naturally in the long run. You’ll also see a few minor dialogue edits that keep things consistent with these new scores.

Story

A lot of these changes focus on the most recent update:

• Frank’s Path (Photos on the wall):
  One of the things that’s been bugging me was the ending scene of Frank’s path, specifically the part with the photos on the wall. I loved the idea in concept, but something about how it played out just didn’t sit right with me - maybe too “in your face.” So, I've edited that part and tweaked visuals. I’m much happier with how it flows now.

• Nathan’s Path (Cinema Options):
  During Nathan’s path, I realized the cinema scene needed another option or two. It didn’t feel fair that some paths allowed you to decide how “close” you get with a character, while Nathan’s didn’t. So I added the choice to get a bit more intimate—or to keep things platonic, depending on your preferences. This might seem like a small addition, but consistency is important to me, and I want all paths to feel equally fleshed out.

• Jack’s Bonus Scene:
  In the previous iteration, Jack’s bonus scene felt like it was hovering in its own little space, disconnected from the main timeline. Now, I’ve integrated it into Chapter 6, so if you’ve unlocked him, you can choose Jack for the day. This way, his content feels more naturally woven into the storyline. It’s a slight shift, but hopefully it improves the overall pacing for those of you who are particularly fond of Jack’s character.

• The Party:
  I’ve done a bit of revision on the party sequence. Nothing major, but I’ve thrown in some cross-references in the dialogue to make it feel more natural and connected. Tiny touches, but hopefully they help the flow.

Bonus

• Storytime:
  I’ve started weaving in new backstory snippets in the bonus content, tied to things characters mention in the main game. Right now, that mostly connects to Nathan’s escapades downtown (mentioned during the party update). It's a way to get to know the characters a bit more, and see what truly went down in their stories. I’m hoping to expand that idea over time, giving you more fun tidbits about the characters’ lives outside of Oliver’s direct experiences.

• Strip Blackjack:
  This was a spur-of-the-moment idea that I couldn’t resist trying out! Strip blackjack is completely separate from the main storyline, meaning you’re not playing as Oliver. You’ll face off against different characters, and every time you win, they’ll lose an item of clothing. Of course, if you lose, they’ll expect you to do the same. After the game, you get an extra little scene that depends on whether you came out on top or got stripped yourself. It’s purely optional, but if you’re into mini-games and a bit of risqué fun, I hope you’ll enjoy it!

What’s Next

• CG Updates:
  The biggest task I still need to tackle before I release this revision update is updating the CGs from the party sequence onward. I particularly want to rework some of Nathan’s images to make sure his new style is consistent, but there are a few others I’ll touch up for better quality or lighting. The last update itself won’t see drastic changes, but I want everything leading up to that point to look and feel cohesive.

• Release Timeline:
  I’m really hoping to wrap up these CG updates soon, but I won’t release it half-done. Once I’ve fixed up the party CGs, tweaked Nathan’s scenes, and double-checked for any glaring errors, I’ll roll out the revision update for you all.

• Future Posts & Galleries:
  I’m aiming to get back to a weekly posting schedule. I know consistent updates are important. I also plan to keep releasing galleries every other week, so if there’s a specific theme or character set you want to see, don’t hesitate to let me know. Sometimes my creativity runs low after all the coding and writing, so your suggestions are super helpful.

I can also mention that I've in full planning mode for the next update already. I just couldn’t help myself—I'm as eager to see the story progress as I believe you are!

I can’t thank you enough for sticking around through my little hiatus.

If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, please drop them below.

Cheers,
Thonduil