New month, new updates! Here is the monthly update for what's going on at whimindie. Our 62nd development log. Note that some of this information will be cross-posted to our Spellbearers project page on Kickstarter for project backers.
---
Spellbearers
Work has begun on the final level of Spellbearers. Gerren has completed all of the enemy implementations in the game and sent this over to show! Take a bow, enemies!
 |
| Spellbearers Enemy Showcase |
Last month I showed you a preview of the Fiery Lands of Floga, and now I'd like to show you preview of the first form of the boss, the Hygregore.
 |
| The Hygregore |
We are still a few months away from finishing Spellbearers, thank you for being patient with us while we work on a final release date.
---
Selatria
Voiceover Recordings Complete!
As of last month, all voiceover work for Selatria is finally complete! 10 years in the making. A big thanks to Shadoe who took charge on voiceover editing and scheduling voiceovers to come in to do recordings and retakes... so many retakes. A big thanks to Jabari Lewis-Smith to challenging us to make a game using voiceovers and a huge thanks to all of the voiceover cast of Selatria for working with us over the years, and being patient on my personal incompetence with never have leading a project let alone with voices. And I'm very glad that milestone is finally completed.
Adjustment to New Game Experience/Control Windows
A big issue I want to address with Selatria is that we dump a lot of control schemes and complicated diagrams at the player early on and expect them to magically remember in Chapter 1. I noticed it with streamers who get confused by our options windows and by inexperienced gamers at conventions and shows who stare at the control screen at the beginning for what I feel is a bit too long.
We're currently looking into a way to simplify the new game and control experiences to make the game a bit easier to understand early on by showing only the keys that plan to be used and separating the controller diagram to its own section. We're only in the diagram and planning stages for this at present, and we're open to ideas as well. If you have any games that have really good control tutorials, we'd love to hear them and study for science.
Selactic Cave - Preview
As of last month, all voiceover work for Selatria is finally complete! 10 years in the making. A big thanks to Shadoe who took charge on voiceover editing and scheduling voiceovers to come in to do recordings and retakes... so many retakes. A big thanks to Jabari Lewis-Smith to challenging us to make a game using voiceovers and a huge thanks to all of the voiceover cast of Selatria for working with us over the years, and being patient on my personal incompetence with never have leading a project let alone with voices. And I'm very glad that milestone is finally completed.
Adjustment to New Game Experience/Control Windows
A big issue I want to address with Selatria is that we dump a lot of control schemes and complicated diagrams at the player early on and expect them to magically remember in Chapter 1. I noticed it with streamers who get confused by our options windows and by inexperienced gamers at conventions and shows who stare at the control screen at the beginning for what I feel is a bit too long.
We're currently looking into a way to simplify the new game and control experiences to make the game a bit easier to understand early on by showing only the keys that plan to be used and separating the controller diagram to its own section. We're only in the diagram and planning stages for this at present, and we're open to ideas as well. If you have any games that have really good control tutorials, we'd love to hear them and study for science.
Selactic Cave - Preview
One of the dungeons that I've been working on is the Selactic Cave. In Chapter 3 when you get the ship, you have access to be able to explore just the first level of the area, but later in the game you will be asked to return for a reason I won't get to in this blog entry. (Find out by playing in the second half when it releases!)
There were quite a bit of adjustments needed to solve some slowdown issues and to make the map a bit more simplified/streamlined. (The original vision of the map had the player constantly getting on and off a raft and it got a bit too tedious, not to mention add un-necessary load to the area.)
There were quite a bit of adjustments needed to solve some slowdown issues and to make the map a bit more simplified/streamlined. (The original vision of the map had the player constantly getting on and off a raft and it got a bit too tedious, not to mention add un-necessary load to the area.)
As I mentioned last month, we're finally back on track a bit for Selatria, so expect a few more updates on new dungeons and new screenshots in the next few months including some other dungeons the other team members have been working on.
--
Gameacon 2021 @ Rancho Mirage
I know with the Delta variant of COVID-19 making its rounds, us attending the Gameacon convention was a bit of an obstacle, but we had a safe and good turnout. A big props to the team at Agua Caliente Casino and the Gameacon showrunners for emphasizing a safe convention by limiting attendance, promoting social distancing, and requiring the use of face masks for the convention.
We got a lot of valuable feedback on Spellbearers and Selatria and we plan on using it to improve both games before their final release.
A big thanks to Paul, Morgan, and Parker for helping show at the convention!
--
End of Physical Studio Space
whimindie is switching to be a complete virtual studio. We've moved out of the studio space in San Bernardino and all of our team will be working remotely from home permanently. It was the best way to reduce costs and put more focus on the team and cloud infrastructure and continue to do what we love to do. Making fun experiences.
Some final pictures from move out day.
--
Also a thank you to Black Game Developers for the shoutout!
Thanks for your support, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, and join our Discord! Until next time! Follow whimindie on itch.io Wishlist Selatria - Full Version on Steam Wishlist Spellbearers on Steam Wishlist Corpse Castle on Steam
Thanks for your support, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, and join our Discord! Until next time! Follow whimindie on itch.io Wishlist Selatria - Full Version on Steam Wishlist Spellbearers on Steam Wishlist Corpse Castle on Steam
