Status update Episode 8
For the better part of this week, I wrote code and performed quality assurance for the episode by playtesting and polishing art, code, and dialogue.
I have now added music and sound effects for most of the episode, and I still need a few more songs for specific scenes.
I started working on a big coding task that I have hinted about in the past, and today it's a good time to share some details on it.
Because the game is getting pretty big, and Ren'Py is getting pushed to its limits in some areas, I want to make a new binary for Season 3.
What this means is that after you have completed episode 8, and thus Season 2, you will save your game in a menu and continue your game using another .exe/.app file.
Making a new binary has the added benefit that the initial episodes for Season 3 will have a smaller download size, and you shouldn't have to redownload Season 1 and 2 every update.
If you're getting confused by this, think of this as the same game, only sliced into another part.
Season 1 and 2 will be one separate download. And Season 3 and onward will be another download.
From a developer's standpoint, there are some challenges with this task. My goals are to make this system simple to use for all of you, robust in transferring saves, and functional for both Steam and Patreon. While I'm at it, I also want to trim some fat stored in the save files.
I have both the knowledge and strategy to do all of this, but it will take more time to implement and test it thoroughly as the game has thousands of variables that I want to control and double-check. I have already made good progress on this during this week.
Next week I will continue writing the remaining scenes and pose more static renders.
Have a nice weekend
Dr PinkCake
Comments (35)
I was hoping it would be out today too because of the Halloween party angle, but I can wait. :(
should we expect the chapter to come out this month? or november? Since this chapter is based on halloween, it would be nice if it came out this month. But ik you're working hard so i can wait a little longer.
It is rumored that every time the good Doctor sees a question about release, the release is postponed by an extra month ;)
you never delete the old game XD you keep the old game and replay it hahaahaha. your taking a file with variables from your choices that you made in season 1 and season 2 and we are transferring that file to the new game that he is separating out from season 1 and season 2. that way Renpy the core system that the game is designed on. think of it as your operating system. doesn't explode. or become unstable due to memory and file size and overall size of the game entirely. because if his game explodes, it will refract the code that hes worked on... it will corrupt lines and lines of code and files that he then would have to fix.... if so hence that would happen. so hes making sure it does not. by intelligently separating said games. and starting Season 3 new and fresh on a new fresh word page of renpy. Understand?
Yes, thanks mate! I don't know anything about coding etc., so I misunderstood initially. Obviously I keep the old file, then. Thanks for explaining. :)
So, essentially you download Chapter 8 as previously done and save your game(s) at the end, keep this version until the first episode of season 3 releases, transfer your saves at this point and then delete the old game? Am I understanding this correctly?
You could do it, yes, if you never intend to replay Season 1 and 2. My recommendation however would be to download Episode 8 and keep that file until you never want to play the game again. v0.8.0 and any patches needed to fix bugs will be considered "complete" for Season 1 and Season2 in terms of new content. All new content will continue in the new binary. If you ever played any games on let's say Playstation 1, you could see it like having two separate discs for the game. You wouldn't throw away the first disc when you reached the point you'd continue playing on disc 2.
I so hope DPC will make it before the end of the month. Will be awesome to play during Spooktober/Halloween.
I wish. With that big coding task he is doing, we are probably looking at an early to mid november release. I hope I'm wrong in this.
would be nice to have an approx ETA if during this month or not
Sounds logical to me, not overly crazy for us users either :)
I support your decisions 100%, you have the best quality as far as story, renders, animations and sex scenes. No other AVN developer is even close to in your league.
Can't wait for end of October/Early November
sounds like common sense really DPC and sound business plan for the future going forwards.. cant wait to see the new content.. and thus awaiting the next season considering this will be a finale.. looking forward more than ever for that amazing intro as the words .. Previously on Being a Dik.. appear on my screen.. pure class
As long as nobody is murdered, I'll be happy. ))
Thanks for all the hard work, DPC! Out of curiosity, would that mean in-game lag would be reduced in season 3?
Thats great news. Shouldn't be too long before an official release date is announced. This game actually surprised me on the actual size
All that techno mumbo jumbo makes my head hurt lol. All I know is that your game ROCKS! 🤘🖤🤘If you say it'll work, I believe you.
i think it means season 1 & 2 will be merged with season 3 as one file
You're doing awesome work! Keep it up! Congrats on such a great professional product.
I love you
Wow, that's great news!
Where BELLA 😭😭🥵
*Big cheesy smile* Right on
I just want to thank you for continuing to support Mac users, from the bottom of my heart. I know it is a pain in the ass with the new M1 architecture. Thank you DPC!
Best of luck mate, you rock !
Very good choice DPC! I've seen other similar games take the same route, and albeit a bit jarring the first time to use a save in a new exe, it def keeps separation and programming a bit easier and scalable. Haven't done Renpy myself, but I can only imagine how many thousands of lines of code you must have in Being a DIK as another dev. Keep up the great work, and I can't wait for chapter 8!
Great news. Splitting the game should make your life easier in the future and a smaller download isn't a bad thing either.
I'll always support your decisions about the game, and the new binary sounds like a smart thing to do at this point.
Looking forward to all the great changes! Your're doing incredible work Doc!
Woohoo!
Thanks DPC!
You made my day saying that there is going to be a season 3. Keep up the outstanding work.
Always My Favourite Friday update 👍👍👍👍
So excited for this update, episode 7 ended on one hell of a cliffhanger