FreshmenVN
patreon
Game Update #12
🕑 Added 2022-07-16 14:20:07 +0000 UTCHey, everyone! It's mid-July and time for the latest status update on the game.
This has been a very productive few weeks! Last week I released an in-progress dev build to our Seniors which covers the first 2/3 of the evening at Matt & Leo's place. (If you're a Senior who missed that update, you can find it here!)
The dev build covered a large chunk of content: 7800 words worth of dialogue and inner monologue for Connor getting to know Matt & Leo better, 13 new CGs, and a bunch of new sprites. It also branches out into several directions depending on your choices. The last two ending paths are being created now.
Parts of the sections below will be a little spoilery in terms of what content is in this next release, but I'll mark them so you can skip if you want to go in blind.
Script
The remainder of the script for the next update is entirely written—an additional 10,000 words worth of dialogue and internal monologue. This is obviously more words than what was in the dev build, but this represents different branches based on choices, so gameplay-wise it'll still be about a third of one playthrough of this evening storyline.
**SPOILERS FOR STORY CONTENT**
You may have realized via my totally-not-subtle hints that Connor's very first hookup opportunity is in this update. It's a big moment and one I've been planning since the game was first conceived.
I'm really, really pleased with how the sex scene turned out. It's hot while still being a little realistic as far as first times go. The reason the script for this section is so long is because I give the opportunity to pick one of two locations in the apartment to hook up; it'll be clear why this was done when you play. The actual script for each version of the sex scene will be mostly the same, but the art will be entirely different.
You can of course choose not to hook up if you're holding out for someone else, just not feeling the vibes, or taking Connor on a no sex path (which you can do!). Things can end in this section a number of different ways based on your choices. It's been a lot of writing, but the many flowcharts I made have proven very helpful!
**END SPOILERS**
Art
I mentioned above that there are already 13 new CGs and a bunch of new sprites in the dev build, with a couple new backgrounds as well. This is just the start. For the remaining portion of this update, I currently have planned around 30 additional CGs. This is again due to offering branching choices. Although this seems like a ton to get done, some images are nearly identical with some key changes to represent choices you've picked. This makes it much easier to set up and render a bunch of images while also being reactive to you as a player.
As I've been creating the game and also the Patreon galleries, I've taken careful note of how long on average it takes me to set up, render, and edit the CGs. I have everything scheduled out to meet certain self-imposed deadlines, so I've already got a good portion of the additional CGs rendered and ready for final edits. The most challenging part is keeping myself from being so nitpicky that I take too long on one image!
**SPOILERS FOR STORY CONTENT**
The large number of CGs is due to offering two versions of the hookup scene. While the actual script is mostly identical, the art will be different for each one. Double the work but, fuck it, double the hot images to unlock ;) There are also a lot of new sprites to show the guys in various states of undress, some new expressions, and a few to show... well, you'll see ;)
**END SPOILERS**
Coding
This section is mostly coded except for the ending scenes being created now. In addition to the branching endings currently in production, I'm also adding in some unique dialogue depending on where you were prior to coming to Matt's apartment, as well as going back and finessing some earlier sections to fix some oversights I've noticed. This part of the game is thankfully very straightforward coding-wise compared to the last few updates, so this hasn't been much of a challenge outside of the time it takes to code and test.
Looking Ahead
The game is truly diving into the story branching now, so I've started planning for "the morning after" as I create this update. I don't want to lose track of all the different alternate timelines I've created! This is the not-entirely-complete flowchart for all the ways you can wake up after two particular paths at Matt's place (this is intentionally small to obscure my notes):
After Day Two ends, we'll be switching to a week to week format rather than going day by day. To that end, I'm also in the early stages of planning where each character will be during the next week of the game. I've said before that what limits your choices isn't necessarily me locking you into a path so much as Connor can't be in more than one place at a time. By figuring out where everyone is at the key points throughout each week, I'll be able to simplify what I need to write so the content is reactive but not so open-ended that it's not feasible for me to create in a reasonable timeframe.
The following is a screenshot of the very early stages of Week One. Although this starts with 7 am and 8 am, this is just for the initial aftermath of Connor's Day Two choices and won't continue to be hourly as I plan further. That type of granularity would be kinda nuts ;)
**STORY SPOILERS FOR THE DAY TWO FRAT PARTY UPDATE**
Lastly, I've been working on planning out the specifics of the frat party update, which is coming up after this Matt & Leo apartment update is released. While I haven't gotten into the nitty gritty of each guys' storyline during the party, I have already planned out the first of the two hookup opportunities that'll be in the update.
You'll actually be able to approach this scenario via several different ways, so the flowchart is far less linear than the hookup flowchart I had in the last update. The top portion has several floating sections representing these different entrances and the different ways they can play out (including not hooking up at all), while the middle portion details the actual sex scene itself. The very bottom lists the different end states of each path.
If you're eagle-eyed or have been paying attention to my color coding, you can probably figure out who the potential hookup will be ;)
**END SPOILERS**
That's all for now! It's been a very productive month so far, and the positive reaction to the dev build that's already been put out is super gratifying. I'm excited to share this next update with all of you very soon. I think it'll be a real turning point and truly show what I'm going for long-term :)
Comments
Dhuran
AAAHHH IM SO EXCITED!
