Welcome to Friday Fun, the blog where I poke my head up from underground, let you all know I’m still alive, and hopefully entertain you with some bits about my project progress and game development experience.
Preview Demo 1 for Dehoarder 2 is now available for download for Patreon supporters at Beta Cat tier or higher! Sign up as a patron today and be among the first to play this early, pre-release version of the game!
What Comes Next?
So now that Dehoarder 2 is available in a pre-release state, what’s next? Dehoarder 2 now enters a market test state, where I try to determine, based on interest and feedback on the pre-release version, whether it is worthwhile to continue working on the game.
During this phase, development will still continue as the game is refined. The primary development focus during this period will be to incorporate feedback received, with a secondary focus of adding more features and story. I will be seeking to enter the game into showcases, festivals, and exhibitions to show it off. I will be reaching out to streamers to see if they are interested in streaming the game.
As far as features, some of the things I want to specifically work on during this period:
- Improving the tool usage/item carry UI experience especially with switching tools and going back and forth between tool, carry, and interact modes (I know it’s kind of dodgy right now).
- Enabling more core mechanics like vermin removal and crafting.
- Enabling more events.
- Enabling economy (money, buying, and selling items).
At some point, a few months down the line, I will make a binding go/no-go decision on continuing development, based on engagement and feedback received. A “go” decision will see the game completed to release. A “no-go” decision will abruptly stop the project and shelve it indefinitely.
Until that go/no-go decision date, I will continue to give Dehoarder 2 my all. My hope is that when the d-date comes, it will be an easy decision to continue development.
Vacation Time
For the latter half of this week and until the start of next week, I am taking a well-deserved vacation. Since taking Smiling Cat full time in April, I have been putting a lot of hours into doing the hard work necessary to try to stand up Smiling Cat as a viable endeavor. I’ve had only one three-day weekend since starting, and only a few two-day weekends. So to get a string of four days off is great!
So far, I’m not planning anything special with my time off other than enjoying playing some games, getting outdoors while the Ohio weather holds up, and watching my Philadelphia Phillies jump out to a 2 game lead on Houston in the World Series. I haven’t had a chance to play the latest update of Satisfactory yet, maybe I’ll check that out.
We’re coming into the season of Thankfulness where we celebrate the bounty that we have harvested this year. No matter what happens from here, I am Thankful for having this opportunity to live my dream and actually BE a game developer with 100% of my person. It has been very good alchemy for this worn soul, and it is a goal that I have been working toward since age six.
Until Next Time
I am off to go play some games, go unwind, and come back next week ready for the next phase. Until we meet up here again next Friday, have some fun yourself and remember to be good to each other.