Dev Log #13 | Episode 2

124 days ago by JoyFI Games (@joyfigames)

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Published on Patreon, SubscribeStar, Itch.io, Discord, and Steam.

Introduction and Progress Update

Thank you for supporting my project, Hardenville. This past year has been a challenging journey, with more personal ups and downs than I anticipated. However, I’m thrilled by how much I’ve grown in coding and rendering since The Prologue. Several key improvements have been made for Episode 2, including:

Enhanced Field of View and Camera Positioning: Adjustments for a more immersive first-person experience.
Improved Lighting: Optimized lighting setups for more realistic and visually appealing scenes.
Better Character Rigging: Significant improvements to character bones and rigging, making it easier to create natural poses and expressions.
Rendering Optimizations: These changes lead to faster rendering times, allowing for quicker updates and progress.

These improvements are all aimed at making Hardenville a more polished and enjoyable experience.

Episode 2: A Shift in Focus

Based on the feedback I received from Episode 1, I’ve made significant improvements to the script and overall flow for Episode 2. This episode will continue the detailed style you enjoyed in Episode 1 but with a new focus on romance and professionalism. The cringe humor from The Prologue has been greatly reduced, allowing for a more mature and engaging narrative. Inspired by titles like Summer Heat by Naughty Fox Games and Summer's Gone by Ocean, I’m committed to creating something uniquely Hardenville—a game that stands out for its style and emotional depth.

This new direction will make Hardenville more appealing to a broader audience while maintaining the essence of what makes it special.

The Importance of Episode 2

Delivering a perfect Episode 2 is crucial for the future of Hardenville. The success of this episode will directly impact my ability to attract more players, improve reviews, and generate the income needed to continue development at the pace this project deserves. If Episode 2 is well-received, I can dedicate more time to Hardenville, resulting in shorter development cycles between updates. Conversely, a lukewarm reception might force me to split my time with other jobs to maintain a steady income.

Rest assured, I will never abandon Hardenville, no matter what. However, the reception of Episode 2 will significantly influence how quickly and frequently I can deliver new content.

Financial Situation and Time Constraints

Currently, I’m in a tight financial situation, with credit cards maxed out because every cent has gone into this project. I can continue working on Hardenville as planned until November or December. My goal is to see Hardenville move from a Mixed to a Positive rating on Steam by the end of the year, thanks to the improvements and new content in Episode 2, including deeper romance and enhanced erotic elements.

Feedback and Release Schedule Adjustments

I’ve heard your feedback, especially from Patreon and SubscribeStar members who feel they aren't getting enough value. As a result, I’ll be focusing more on these platforms moving forward, sharing more frequent Dev Logs, polls, and development updates. Currently, these two platforms are my primary sources of revenue, with Patreon leading at $148 a month before taxes. My hope is that this increased focus will attract more members and provide the necessary support to sustain Hardenville’s development.

To manage expectations better, I need to set the release date for Episode 2 to simply "2024" and leave the release dates for Episodes 3 through 9 as TBA until I have a better handle on the time required for each episode.

Development Timeline and Rendering Goals

If everything goes according to plan, I’ll begin rendering later this week—at the latest, early next week. Episode 2 will feature nearly 1,000 renders and a few erotic animations for the sex scenes. Once the rendering phase begins, I expect to produce between 50 and 120 static renders each week, depending on other tasks such as coding and script development.

Member Benefits and Platform-Specific Updates

Member Benefits:

Gold Members and Above: Receive major game updates, including the first releases of each episode in an Alpha state, one week before the stable release.
Silver Members and Above: Receive major game updates in a Beta state three days before the stable release.
Bronze Members, Steam, and Itch.io Owners: Receive the stable release one week after the Alpha, ensuring the highest quality upon release on platforms like Steam and Itch.io.

All minor updates within episodes will be released simultaneously across all platforms, meaning only the initial episode releases will have Alpha and Beta stages.

To my Steam and Itch.io buyers, I want you to know that you’re not being left out. You will still receive updates, release notes, and major news like release dates. However, due to the different requirements for banners, image sizes, and file formats on these platforms, I’m focusing my detailed updates on Patreon and SubscribeStar. This approach allows me to dedicate more time to development while keeping you informed.

Many Thanks

Thank you again for your continued support! I am committed to making Hardenville the best it can be, and with your help, we can achieve great things. I’m excited to deliver an Episode 2 that exceeds your expectations and helps Hardenville reach new heights.