Wow wow wow.. How are we in here? BIG THINGS ARE SHAPING UP!

SUMMARY:

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 1. Beta_Build (Community Testing)

In this version, you’re not just a player, you’re a key part of shaping the game. With so many changes introduced in this update, we need your help to stress-test everything and uncover any issues before we scale it up to the full game. Your feedback is absolutely crucial to making this the best it can be!

[v0.1.6c] marks a major turning point for our project. It completely overhauls the game’s structure, giving you more control and letting you truly feel the impact of your choices in a deeper, more meaningful way.

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2. UI Changes

The UI changed for a more 'minimalistic' design to let you fully grasp what's happening on your screen. 

Main_Menu UI changes:

- Made it simpler by only having 3 options: Start, Load, Prefs (Preferences).

- Added a Parallax effect based on the position of your cursor (PC_Build) or the location of where your finger is pressed and sliding to (Phone_Build).

Game UI changes:

The dialogue box:

- Has been changed to take up less space and be less of a visual nuisance to your eyes. Friendly reminder that there is an option/slider to adjust it to your liking in the Preferences tab (putting the slider all the way down will result in fully hiding the dialogue box). 

Quick Action text buttons replaced by imagebuttons: 

- Bottom of game screen:

"Rollback"   

"Skip"  

"Save"  

- Top right corner of game screen:

"Quick Menu Access"  

"Patreon"  

Top left of game screen :

"Day Indicator" 

Hoping these changes will accomplish their mission of being consice, precise and subtle enough for a sustainable player experience.

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3. Week/Day System

Depending on the day, you’ll find characters in different locations, so keep your eyes peeled as you explore! You never know who you might bump into or where they might be headed, making every step of your journey feel dynamic and full of surprises.

We designed this system to make your experience more natural and intuitive. Instead of feeling like you’re just checking off boxes or being forced into interactions, you’ll have the freedom to discover and connect with characters in a way that feels more organic. Plus, this opens the door to some really intriguing 'quest' mechanics that could change based on who you encounter and when.

What’s even better? If there’s a character you don’t particularly vibe with, you can focus your energy elsewhere. Whether you’re drawn to one person’s story or want to explore all your options, this system puts the power in your hands and adds a layer of strategy to your choices.

Personal Note: This version's week system only lasts 3 days (mon./tue./wed.) for beta-testing purposes. If 3 manages to work properly so will 7.

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4. Affection/Love Stats

Starting Monday (in-game), a new and improved version of the Affection Points system will be running quietly in the background as you play. 

Every interaction you make will be tracked and tied directly to the characters you engage with, influencing how they behave towards you and respond to your requests. Think of it as a "living", it's a system that reflects your choices and makes every moment with each character feel unique.

Quests, will play a big role in shaping these stats, giving you an exciting way to deepen your relationships or..  shake them up!

In this Beta_Build, we’ve added an extra layer of experimentation. At the end of each in-game week (Wednesday in this build), you’ll have the ability to set the Affection/Love Points for all characters to MAX, MIN, or even RNG. This gives you the chance to test out different dynamics, see how characters react to different affinity levels, and get a glimpse of how the gameplay might feel later on.

Whether you’re looking to create harmony, chaos, or something in between, the goal is to let the choice is entirely up to you.

Have fun experimenting and let us know what stands out!

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5. Free Roam

In this update, we’re giving you more freedom to explore and decide where you want to go. No more being forced into rooms or locked inside the house, you’re in control now! While this version includes only the House and Beach locations (for now), it’s a step towards creating a more open and immersive experience.

We’re still working on Taka’s Thrift Store, as it’s a bit more complex to code. Once it’s ready, it’ll serve as a versatile hub where you can earn money, strengthen (or strain) your relationship with Takahashi, and even meet new girls who drop by to shop for clothes and might need a little... assistance. It's shaping up to be a fun and dynamic location, so stay tuned!

For now, you’ll find simple ‘Go Outside’ and ‘Enter’ options, letting you move freely in and out of the house whenever you feel like it. Whether you’re looking to relax by the beach or hang around the house, the choice is entirely yours. Let us know how you enjoy this added freedom and what you’d like to see next!

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6. Animated Sprites

Yep, it is the return of animated sprites!

They do take quite some time & efforts to make rather than sticking to 'still' sprites but they are definetly worth it.

Standard set of emotions for each character through Olivia's exemple:

"Idle"   

"Talking" 

"Smiling_Blush"    

"Angry" 

Some Sprites are yet to be animated, they've been marked in game with "x To Animate" near their faces.  

(They will undergo the same Sprites Animation process than the exemple given above.)

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7. Android Notes

I am struggling with some details such as the dialogue box.. I got rid of the dark one phone users have been complaining about. Yet, the pc version dialogue box appears without being resized properly making for a "funny" undersized dialogue box.. I strongly recommend using the DialogueBoxOpacity slider in the Preferences tab to remove it completely [Refer to /2. UI Changes/ up above on how to do so]. (If you can't see it, it works.. right..?)

I'm doing research on a way to have an updater going for Android, which would only download new files and merge them with the existing ones on your device instead of creating a whole new instance of the game each time. 

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8. Patreon Discounts Still on-going

The promotion has started on December 31st of 2024 and will end on this January 30th 2025 (lasting an entire month).

To apply a discount you will need to use the following codes at checkout for the corresponding tier:

- Study Partner, 10% off: SP-10

- Roommate, 20% off: RM-20

- Intimate Confidant, 30% off: IC-30

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9. When is this going live?

Already live for Patrons / 9th of February at 23:00 UTC+1 for the public

From the bottom of our hearts. 

 Thank you for reading this!

See you soon.