Hi!
On June 1st, I invited you to step into Mrs Glower's chambers and get a first glimpse of my Lovecraftian horror game Dark Lessons. Releasing the demo was at least as terrifying for me as playing it may have been for the more faint-hearted among you. It's been a huge milestone for me, and in my mind's eye, I was going through all the things that might go wrong ...
I want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who played, streamed or has already sent me feedback on the demo! Please know that I read and consider every single piece of feedback and watch the streams of people playing Dark Lessons to see what I can improve.
If you haven't yet found time to play, the demo will be waiting for you right here on Steam:
View game pageAnd if you've played but haven't shared your thoughts, there is still time! Let me know what you liked and what was lacking via my feedback form: https://forms.gle/F6zyZeZD1cAQtQ8SA. Of course, you can also join my Discord and talk to me directly there.
How the Launch Went: Light and Shadow
Eleven days in, the demo has been downloaded around 1,500 times, and 280 people have played it. This may not sound like a lot, but for a first-time solo dev like me, it's amazing to think that ten school rooms full people have joined my little afterschool session.
Most of your feedback so far has been really positive, and the way a dedicated few of you have been cheering me on and supporting me has been a huge motivator.
Luckily, there haven't been a lot of bugs besides some collision issues and a rare interface bug (which is now fixed) that were plaguing some players. The more critical feedback has revolved around missing guidance and progression blocks for one of the puzzles, as well as about the demo still feeling a bit short and leaving you wanting more.
What's Next: The Ritual Has Just Begun
I'm taking your feedback to heart and will continue to improve and expand the demo experience over the next months. At the same time, I'm itching to bring the remaining game world to life (and death) and complete the second and third act of Dark Lessons. In my next posts, you can expect to see all-new concept art and yet-unseen rooms of Mrs Glower's house.
Until then, stay safe in the dark,
Robert