Hello Villagers!
The next major update coming to Village Monsters is already well underway, so I wanted to share a dev diary outlining some the cool stuff I'm working on.
I'm calling this release the Living Lands update, and its focus is on making the world of Village Monsters feel immersive and alive. After all, it may be a virtual world, but that's no reason it has to feel artificial!
The Living Lands update will come out at the end of October. Let's take a look at the new things it'll bring with it.
Holidays & Events
While the calendar itself has ostensibly been full of events since launch, you may have noticed that they never seem to actually... happen?
That'll soon change as holidays, tournaments, festivals and feasts come out of hibernation. For this particular release I'm aiming for at least 4 major holidays and a handful of tournaments and minor events sprinkled throughout the year.
In addition, you may even see some interesting changes during real world holidays as well. I wonder if there are any of those coming soon...
Villager Interactions & Hobbies
Villagers will no longer stand around twiddling their thumbs (or claws) while they wait for you to talk to them.
Your monster palls will now pursue activities and hobbies just like you. They'll go fishing, catch up on books at the library, head to the general store and bakery, and much more. They'll even change up their routines depending on the season or weather.
For the first time, villagers will now have conversations with each other instead of just with you! Feel free to eavesdrop on them to learn the learn, or just keep walking.
Bigger & More Interesting Seasonal Changes
Currently, the changing of the season is largely a difference in aesthetics: you get a new tileset, new music, slightly different colored UI elements, and so on.
We can do better! New and more dramatic changes are coming to give each season an unmistakable feel and identity. From seasonal items at the general store to season-appropriate hobbies and activities, you can actually look forward to the changing of the calendar.
A new type of seasonal weather called extreme weather will challenge your common sense - will you brave the obviously dangerous blizzards and hurricanes in search for extremely rare items?
Travelers & Visitors
Travelling bards, merchants, and even the occasional ne'er-do-well will now frequent the village more often. And they'll finally start leaving their rooms at the inn!
Better yet, you'll even start encountering NPCs out in the wilds. Perhaps if your village is attractive enough they'll consider sticking around for an extended stay.
In addition to the above, I'm also planning on fleshing out the lore and history of the world. I don't have a ton to share quite yet, but you can expect many new secrets to discover when the Living Lands update drops at the end of the month.
Until then!