Hello, Folks!
Been a while since I posted to Steam, hasn't it?
First off, I want to apologize for my absence on this platform. I have tried to keep every other place in the loop on Kosmos Connections' progress, but Steam was neglected due to my desire to update you on major releases. For that, I am sorry, and I promise to do better in the future.
The last time I posted here was for Visual Novel Fest in 2023. I can't believe it's already been over 2 years since then. Thankfully, the wait is now over, and a ton of progress has been made in that time!
Since the previous demo, the script has received a major update in the form of a final draft. This draft expanded on each character's story, increasing the total word count of the script from around 77k words to over 150k at the moment. The crazy part is that this isn't even the final word count, as not only edits are still being made, but I have to write the game's True Ending (known as the Final Week). This is something I will tackle once the three main routes are completely edited.
To celebrate this milestone, however, I have commissioned new art by my friend, Sayuui! It's a small, celebratory piece of the girls in some wonderful gala dresses. You can check out the full artwork by clicking here.
What can you expect from this new demo?
A completely updated 35,000 word script (~2:30-3 hours of playtime to complete in its entirety)
The Prologue + Chapter 1 of Kosmos Connections and Uplink Alethia
Instant Skip feature for repeated segments (Prologue + Uplink Alethia Chapter 1)
15+ choices across 3 character routes (Tau, Runia, and Jennavieve)
Over 10 music tracks
4 CG scenes
Higher-resolution character sprites to create unique and engaging animations.
In terms of features that will be added in the future:
Extra assets to represent certain items in the story
More sound effects to create a more immersive experience
Partial voice acting when the script is fully finalized
Over the past 2 years, my team and I have been hard at work improving various aspects of the game, and the script is a prime example of that. As you'll be able to see, we have included different types of player choice per character route, allowing you to make your time in Kosmos truly your own. There is still plenty of work to be done before the final release, but the updated script puts us one step closer to finishing the game.
I am also quite proud of the character animations we have been able to implement. Ren'py is doing its best handling everything, and there will no doubt need to be some small fixes made before release. Still, considering the time frame we were working with (I reprogrammed the entire front end of the game with the high-resolution layered sprites starting in August), I would dare say the game is unrecognizable animation-wise. It should make for a much more engaging reading experience.
I hope you all enjoy what this demo has to offer, and we'll be sure to bring another major update as soon as we possibly can! Expect those planned features to be added, as well as when you can expect the full release of the game! Don't worry, it won't take another 2 years, I promise! You all have waited more than enough.
Until the next update, take care!