Hi everyone, here is the developer's log for November. I apologize for the delay in publishing it.
This one is admittedly going to be a little shorter, as I've had a few things come up in my personal life that have affected progress a bit. There are also some important announcements to share regarding the roadmap.
Demo Announcement
The past several months, I’ve been working incredibly hard to create a free demo of the game that showcases what Astravia is about. I was aiming to release the demo this month, to generate some interest and excitement for the game ahead of its first chapter release next year.
To be blunt: The demo is no longer expected to release this month, December 2021.
There are a couple of key reasons for this. While I believe I have the capability to launch it in time, I think it is better for myself and the game if I delay a bit longer. I like to remain transparent, so I will go into these reasons below:
- Health: I have been considerably ill the past few weeks, and I need to prioritize my mental and physical wellbeing. It’s too early in the game’s development to further subject myself to long hours and sleepless nights. A pile of dust on the ground isn’t particularly good at shipping video games, after all.
- Quality: I believe it is better for me to ensure the game is the best it can be, instead of rushing to launch something that still has issues. I’ve run into a few more bugs and problems, and I’d rather take the time to make this “first impression” a long-lasting one.
- Finances: I have spent the better part of 3 years working on this game and commissioning very talented individuals for assets and help, all entirely out of my own pocket. It’s becoming more and more difficult, and I would like to start looking for funding opportunities for the game. This requires holding out a little longer before a public release. The hope is that I can gain the resources to assemble a proper team to ensure the game can be released in a timely manner, and in the way I envisioned it.
All of this said, I do still need to get some eyes on the game for testing. Those who have been faithfully supporting the game up to this point will still have an opportunity to try it out. Feel free to drop into the Discord Server if you are interested in testing the demo out when the release candidate becomes available.
I appreciate everyone’s support up to this point, especially those who have stuck around for the past several years as the game has found its identity and flourished into something special. Here are a few more screenshots of the demo, hopefully to help ensure the delay will be worth it:
Soundtrack Progress
Soundtrack composition has been going very well. Harmless has been doing a phenomenal job capturing the essence of Astravia in their work.
Here is a preview of the track that will play in the first dungeon:
Harmless Games is posting updates on their Twitter regularly, so be sure to follow them! Here are a few more from their account:
Title Theme
Mordin Swamp
The Great Cataclysm
After a little while, they will also be posted to the official Youtube Account.
Remaining Cast
The key artwork for the remaining main cast members has been worked out. Their names, profiles and sprites will be shown as a follower milestone on Twitter, but in the meantime, here is a little preview:
MacOS Universal Build
Lastly, thanks to the work of Struma on MKXP-Z, and their help with building the app, Legends of Astravia will have a Universal MacOS build that will support both Intel and Apple Silicon machines. This is really exciting and an amazing opportunity for both the game and the demo!
Linux support is currently still pending. While the functionality exists for me to create Linux builds, I may not have the time or resources to ensure it's possible in time for the demo right away. So for those few Linux users reading this and interested in the game--I haven't forgotten you, and I’m actually hoping to make this game available on as many platforms as possible.
Thank you to everyone who has been following me on this journey. I hope that the wait will be worthwhile for all of you who are eager to try the game out.
-Jaiden