Happy Spooky Season, Researchers! 🎃🍂
Celebrating the spooky season with a little Autumn creature reveal - Skullbeak! Spoopy borb.
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Back to the devlog - in October, I mainly worked on NPC content. Here's a summary:
First 3 Romanceables revealed! Rhea, Theo, and Zuri
For each romanceable NPC, you’ll learn more about them through two main mechanics: Heart Events, and Dates. What stories will they tell?
Heart Events 💜
Each romanceable NPC will have 6 Heart Event cutscenes (Note: For Early Access, only 4 of such cutscenes for each romanceable will be implemented). These are unlocked at every heart level, and will be triggered when conditions (such as time and location) are right. Some of these cutscenes are tied to the main storyline, and others extend beyond it.
Friendly Dates and Romantic Dates 💛❤️
In a previous devlog (Devlog #9), I introduced “Hangout Events” where players can hang out with NPCs. I’ve updated the system, and now players can schedule “Friendly Dates” and “Romantic Dates”. Each romanceable NPC will have 2 “Friendly Dates”, which you can access once you become friends with them. To unlock romantic dates, players will need to show romantic interest at an appropriate juncture and be accepted by the NPC.
Example of 2 Friendly Dates and 1 locked Romantic Date
I've added more date locations and activities, such as a picnic date in the woods!
General NPC mechanics 🏃
Work Day/Rest Days
All NPCs have fixed work days and rest days as part of their schedules. Some of the considerations I had when implementing this system is to have establishments being run on most days, even when the “main” NPC in charge is not working. For example, you’ll find Vallee running the Archive on most days, but during her rest days, Eira’s here to help!
This system allows players to schedule dates with NPCs on their rest days, while shops and other establishments continue to be available.
Routines
After adding routines for most of the NPCs, the town became quite lively! Especially when you visit the tavern at night:
The Tavern is getting lively!
What’s next 📝
NPC content
- Completing content for another 3 romanceable NPCs.
- Additional dialogue
- NPC hand-drawn portraits
Additional systems/side content
- Job board (i.e. fetch quests)
- Building & decoration mechanics
- Simple teleportation system
- More player customisation options
Content for a few more researchables
- Adding more fish, creatures, and plants.
Mines
- Mines where players can collect their ores.
Music & Sound
- Adding more music and sound effects.
With all that said, I’m hoping to do a release date announcement by the end of this year. Exciting times! I’ve said this many times and I’ll say it again - thank you to all of you following the journey of Research Story and truly, I wouldn’t be here without you!! Your patience, support and excitement for the game has been amazing. You’re amazing! :D I'm really excited to be making this game for you. See you soon!
- Miki
