June 2022 / End of Spring Update

Hello, everyone! Been a while!

At first, I wanted to wait until I'd completed a major game milestone to post again (I was aiming for the 1/3 mark), but I realized I'd rather do more consistent, smaller updates that prove I'm regularly working on this game than drop off the face of the planet until it's mostly done. To that end, I'm going to start trying to do a Monthly Update. Welcome to June's, not a moment too soon!

So, what have I been up to since I announced the game in February? 

• Mapping: Due to the nature of the game, I needed a thorough but sort of "rough draft" map that will function as the scaffolding for the bulk of the game. I finished it recently, and can now start adding in the details that tell the game's story and make the world worth exploring. 
• Graphics: I finished the protagonist's Young sprite - meaning 1 down, 2 to go for her graphics! I also finished compiling all the components of the main woods tileset, although the colors aren't 100% nailed down yet.
• Story: Most of the game's outline was already done when I announced it, but I've been adding more to it - filling out sidequests and details that build each ending.
• Engine: I've implemented a simple dash mechanic, and am overall cleaning up the system to be pretty and functional for a game with no-combat. Still a work in progress, but it's coming along nicely so well.

Perhaps most importantly, but least interestingly, one of the things that's made game dev hardest for me is that I have a lot of other hobbies I enjoy doing, and I have trouble balancing all of them. In May, however, I started out a new personal system to make sure I don't let any of my interests fall to the wayside, and I have to say, it's going really well for me! It's helped me stay focused on game dev a lot - I definitely got more done in May-June than I did in February-March-April, and I hope the trend will continue.

Since I'm finally starting to fill in the map with details, the July update should come with screenshots! I'll see you all then. In the meanwhile, I'm going to try making weekly updates on my Twitter.