Given how long this development cycle is taking, I've decided that I'm going to split dev 8 into two. The two major features I had planned were support for modding and adding monsters. The plan now is to release a dev 8 that focuses on modding, with some minor new content additions, and then start work on dev 9, which will be monsters. Finally, dev 10 will be an update to the strategic combat, rounding out the planned game features.
My current to-do list looks something like this:
- Rewrite rendering code to deal with graphics coming from multiple sprite sheets.
- Port module information to JSON.
- Fix bugs introduced by transition from hardcoded game data to JSON.
- Test and finish mod loading.
- Allow for mod loading from Steam.
- Support uploading mods to Steam.
- Improve AI flexibility to deal with new crew types.
- Add micro-airships.
- Add more small monsters: suspendium bees, etc.
- Add large monsters.
- Tentacle movement code.
- Other large monster special abilities.
- Monster combat challenges.
- Random encounters in strategic mode.
- Monster nests in strategic mode.
So the plan is to make the cut after "Add micro-airships". This means that there'll still be some cool new stuff for people to play with, but it should shorten the time to the next version considerably.