Weekly Update – 04/11/2024

Phew, what a crazy month! Anyway, I’m finished with some real life things that took precedent, and am back to give you all a progress update.

You’ve all been more than patient waiting for the 004 C release, and I thank you for it, so let’s rip this plaster off – The next version of the game to release will be Version 005.

I was going to wait until the end of the year to reveal this, but from 005 onwards, I will be getting rid of the monthly a,b,c,d,e,f releases. Otherwise it’d be 2030 before the game was at “Version 010”, which is obviously not good enough.

Instead I’ll be focusing fully on Versions 006/7/8/9 over the course of 2025, with the aim being getting the game in basically a state as close to “ready for release” as possible, at least story-wise by this time next year – the “official release” ideally being spring 2026.

Then versions 010,020,030, being things like adding in side content, treasure, smaller quests/areas, bug fixes and balancing etc.

I had originally envisioned the game being, well, closer to done by now than it currently is, and I KNOW you guys did too. Of course, Game Development takes time and one man show and all that, but those excuses are running a little thin by this point and I want to get the game going places before I end up hating working on it or worse – which is what prompted this change.

What will happen from 2025 onwards is 3 month “releases” (March for 006, June for 007, September for 008, and December for 009) – although I will still be releasing monthly builds for you guys to test out as I go – just to make sure things and bugs are found, work as you all are wonderfully adapt at finding things I missed.

So for example, in March 005 will be released to the public, while you guys get 006 and so on.

This isn’t set in stone just yet but this is my Game Map (of sorts) for 2025/6.

Now, for the remainder of this year.

As you can see, I’ve been having a lot of fun with the new drawing system, and yes, I did find out that even with my new shiny super-fast colouring system, Rome was not built in a day. I won’t lie though, I’ve been having a lot of fun redrawing the old art (when I got a few minutes to myself).

You’ve probably guessed by now that since 004C isn’t released, another delay is coming. And I say this knowing, and appreciating fully, that you’ve all been waiting for C for waaaay too long right now.

The next release date for Version 005 is the 20th of December.

I know, I know, that’s a big oof.

Now, I’ve been saying all year that I need to update art, and the game is clearly better looking now than ever – however, I’ve still got a list that’s over 3 pages of things that needed to be updated BEFORE I discovered my new beloved Vector art. Using 2 weeks for old art and 2 for new just isn’t enough to cover the “debt”, I suppose would be a good word, of updating the art in a timely manner, simply because the newer stuff is always going to be my main focus.  

So, we’ll call this 46 day wait a “test run” for the new release schedule next year. Besides, nothing saying I can’t release something at the end of November just to show my progress.

I’ll be continuing to redraw art for what would be Version 004C’s release (slime grab etc), all of which will be included in 005, but also updating as close to ALL the old art as I possibly can. I just want to get it done by this point.

Now that I’m fully on the new drawing system (I don’t eve use GIMP anymore, that’s how much I enjoy Paint Clip Studio!), I’m genuinely surprised by how smoothly the art process is with the new software, and I feel confident that I can actually get everything updated.

I’m also going to try and not disappear as much, though if I do, please just assume I’m still working hard in the SnakeByte Mines when I can. Real world things often tie me down, you all know how it is. Just as a side note – if I do get hit by a thunderbolt or something really bad, I do have a package in place where my brother will let you all know what’s going on… and also discover all this craziness with blue but that’ll just be a fun treat for him I’m sure haha.

Naturally, those who don’t stick around will still have their name in the higher section of the credits, and those who do stick around I of course cannot possibly thank you enough.

So again, thank you for waiting, thank you for supporting, and I’ll be able to go back to Wednesday weekly reports now.