Today's devlog will focus on explaining how we're trying to do something different with each examination. This is indeed a key points in developing the game, as no one would like to play and repeat the very same actions 96 times with only different characters and words.
You might have already noticed how each scripted exam (random exams are less likely to be different given their own nature) differs a bit from the others. Some might show available diagnostic tools which others are missing (e.g. the "Ophtalmoscope" in Monique's first exam), while others might show unique situations which will require a different approach to the patient (Clara, Maryanne, Kamil just to list some).
This is actually quite important and more of them will come in future updates of the game, since we're over halfway through developing the game and the latest updates are coming out. In 0.0.22, for example, you can expect to see four unusual kinds of examinations involving Erika and the three doctors you might have hired to work for you.
Examinations with Borelli, Kaplan and Poulsen have already been released in the past, but the gameplay around them was quite similar to the one you had before where you had to choose the examination and maybe confront them about it, but they were leaving you in charge of it, no strings attached.
The examinations introduced in 0.0.22 instead will have THEM to lead the exam, to choose what is important and what isn't to do (even though you will have the final word as you're the Clinic's Chief) and they will decide which prognosis to release and which prescriptions to write down.
This will change some of the exams in the game for many reasons, the first one being of course you won't be able to play such exams if you haven't hired them (except for Erika's of course) even though 0.0.22 will have you test them out regardless (this freedom will be removed in 0.0.23). The most important change though is that your relationship with such characters will change according to your behavior during their exams.
As they are the caregivers for the patients they won't like you to interfere with their approach, even though they might be wrong. It's up to you to decide to intervene or not, and what's more important betweeen your relationship with your co-workers and the clinic's reputation.
Also, upcoming updates will see the return of some patients you already met earlier in the game. They will remember what happened during their previous exams, and your experience with them might be a little different as a consequence (good or bad it might be).
That's for scripted exams though, as like I said random exams won't have this kind of option since they already need to face too many variables to keep consistent with the rest of the game. That's why Random Exams will get their own dedicated mini-game in a few updates!
Since random exams will end their development cycle in 0.0.23 with the release of Elder Patients, it will be less likely to meet children or teenagers than it is now. Moreover, each time you will meet the patient, before the visit starts, you will have to check their patient's ID card, similar to the one you are seeing before each scripted exam.
Inspired by the renown indie game "Papers, Please" you will need to look for any issues with your patient's Medical ID Card, which includes expiry date, stamps, authorities authorizations, insurance status etc. It will be up to you how to deal with each of those inconsistencies, if any. Will you perform the exam "pro-bono"? Will you send the seriously-ill back home? Will you alert authorities? This is another layer of gameplay to Random Exams, I hope you'll enjoy it once it gets released!
That's it for this devlog! Remember to check out our new upcoming Visual Novel "The Coroner Saga" on Steam if you haven't already!
Looking forward to hear your comments about this!
Be safe and healthy,