Dev Update #27
Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all well and in good health. I want to say thanks to all the new supporters. I appreciate all the support. I also want to thank all the supporters that have been here for a while. It means a lot to me that. I can't believe a temporary project like this already has come this far. When I got laid off during the start of the pandemic, I just wanted to try something creative and cure my boredom before I had to go back to work. After a year of working on Ripples, I felt maybe there is something more here. Maybe I can keep doing this. Although I enjoyed working in IT, I enjoy creating this much more. It's a dream to be able to have a story in mind and see it a year and a half later to what it's become. My only wish is that my brother could have seen what it was today. Before he passed, I read him a summarized script and what I had in mind and what I wanted it to be. He liked it and even gave me some ideas to add to the story. One of his ideas made it into the ep4 update. He was a film buff and went to a nice film school in Detroit and wrote a lot of stories himself. He worked on music videos for Ne-Yo and other artists. Anyways, I'm getting sentimental and getting off track. I just wanted to thank everyone for supporting and believing that I can actually make this into something real and won't need to go back to my old job.
So how am I doing? Well, in a couple of days I'm finally getting surgery on my sinuses. (23rd of Feb). Hopefully, everything goes fine and I have a quick recovery. I am not exactly sure how long recovery will take. I haven't gotten a chance to take to the surgery since last month but I have been doing some research and have been hearing several different things. From a week to months, so who knows. I will ask him again next time I see him. Yes, I am a little nervous but it's not my first surgery. I'm just looking forward to getting some relief. Some days are miserable and some days are not so bad. It seems to come in waves. It has been slowing down Ripple's development a lot so If anyone wants a refund for this month, just let me know and I will give a refund. I was thinking about pausing Patreon but maybe I'll wait until I see how long recovery takes, but nonetheless, if you want a refund for this month or next month, let me know. Anyways, I'm ready to get the surgery done and get back to working on Ripples full time!
Even with that being said, I still have got some work done. The start to ep5 has been started and I also have 2-3 scenes remastered in ep1. I haven't decided yet how much more I am going to remaster this time. I almost just want to quickly knock out the rest of episode 1 and get it over with. There are also some things like a points menu and character bio and decision overview that you guys have been asking for. I think these things will really add to the experience and I do want to add them. So I don't know if I should buckle down on all that stuff or just work on episode 5. I have time to think about it and will do so. I know returning players don't want to hear that, but if we want this project to be the best it can be and attract more new players, it may be for the best. Let me know what you guys think in the comments.
Thanks again for all the support and playing ripples. I hope you all have a wonderful day!
-Jestur
Comments (15)
how did the surgery go i hope it went well get well soon and hope to see later installments of this game
New to genre and new supporter and your work has been the trigger for both. Hope you continue to take care of yourself and churn out great stuff like Ripples. The art was different enough that I wasn't sure I'd like it as much as others, but I really, really do. More than anything though, your story and writing is above what anyone else is doing. I've played 6 of the big ones in the last month and this is by far the most engaging title out there. In my opinion, episode 5 would be a priority over remastering or adding in points but not because I'm greedy :) I actually like not knowing if the choice of the MC is good or bad, and your story in particular is so unique in the scope and impacts the branching can have. If I was to ask anything, it would be a small thing to lock down the gallery so I can't peek at what's coming but only that there's something I haven't unlocked.
All the best. I can't wait, but will anyway; I'm patient, even when I'm not. Wishing you gorgeous and VERY attentive nurses,
Jestur, I hope the surgery went well and your recovery is both fast and as easy as possible. Good luck!
Hey Jestur, I had the sinus surgery, and other than the first four days it's been great. It does take a while to heal completely but is well worth it. Good luck to you
eh $2 a month isn't worth requesting a refund for. Usually what I do is start at bottom tier for easy access to progress updates then bump it up temporarily for the month a new update comes out. As long as a dev doesn't simply ghost everyone or starts taking 6 months to a year for updates I usually stay subbed in some form on some platform somewhere (lately preferring Subscribestar over Patreon due to their stupid TOS/censorship policies).
I'm sorry about your loss. Personally I don't mind keeping my patreon payments going. Your game has been incredibly fun and I think it's worth it.
keep at it dude your work is eceptional and addictive.. id stuck to the more cgi real looking stuff before now with th exception of once in a lifetime and Eternum and it so glad i found your work.. its also great seeing that overseas city enviroments i loved from anime/manga like Gantz.. my all time fav manga book series and (1st season at least) of the anime.. You mention it as a temp thing but i hope this story can be around for a while as it really has multi seasonal potential.. each one feels like its own anime episode and even tho its more work id love to see a 'Previously on...' inspired opening lol with season finales and such as it continues
Get well soon. You are authoring one of the best games out there: keep believing it and we will always have your back.
Best of luck with the surgery. I have been a huge supporter of this project from the moment I first played it. And it just keeps getting better. So, get well, take your time and I will be here for you through the whole process.
You're up front about the time involved and how long updates take. If people want to pause their patreon or do something else during that time I'd say they can manage that. For me, I'm good.
Your brother will always watch and support you don't forget this and I'm sure he is proud of you right now ;) Best of luck with the surgery ... Watch lots of anime or listen to our favorite music during the recovery to pass the time or I will send all ugly nurses to take care of you hehe Stay rock my friend, you and Ripples are simply the best
At least something good came out of this damn pandemic :) I hope your surgery goes well and you have a fast recovery!
Jes, best of luck with the surgery my friend. Get yourself well... I know that your supporters will stick around because this is a great project that has a very promising future. Our small ring of devs are all shooting for the same thing: something different than just a simple 'fuck' game. And Ripples is easily raising the bar on that. Love ya man, ...Fire
It was amazing reading how invested your brother was in Ripples and how much he helped and supported you as well!! I hope the surgery goes well and that you have a quick recovery!!!