Hey again, everyone!
We're already a decent bit into January, so what better than to have a progress report? This month's devlog won't be too lengthy in terms of content, but we've still got some neat stuff to showcase and talk about!
Let's start!
Brief Catch-Up!
In case you missed our December 2021 devlog, here's a quick recap!
We announced that Starlight Isles was roughly 71% complete!
There's still a lot to do from there before we reach 100% completion, though, and eventually we'll have to focus on polishing, playtesting, and finalizing everything.
In terms of that month's general updates:
Writing -- Further developed needed dialogue and structure for various scenes, and finished all flavor text for Greater Dog battle.
Battles -- All battles for Stardust Woods implemented in varying levels of completion. Some are mostly finished, whereas others needed attacks and per-route variations.
Environments -- Created more tiles and environment art for Koffin Keep, and structures for Starstruck Village.
Soundtrack -- 18/28 planned tracks complete, with 5 nearing completion and 5 others ranging from early concepts to not yet started.
Programming -- Code progress was almost completely caught up with assets made, with some attacks being worked on with placeholder assets.
As for everything else covered:
Koffin Keep -- 15 total rooms exist in-game for Koffin Keep.
8 rooms with playable logic, 11 visually complete rooms, some character scenes, and an entire introduction sequence for Koffin Keep and Koffin-K.
We also showcased an outdated screenshot of the courtyard!
Spep Mode -- We made substantial progress with planning and in-game implementation for Spep Mode, including a rough outline and scope for the mode.
We also showcased an interesting screenshot, using assets which predate the release of DELTARUNE Chapter 1.
Quick Reading -- We added two brand new ways to quickly access the journal, with visual demonstrations:
Pressing C / CTRL from the STAT menu.
Holding C / CTRL when a journal notification appears.
Small Talk -- We discussed how relying on text communication can have drawbacks, and the benefits that voice chat sessions have for development. We hope to do more going forward!
Progress Updates
In previous progress reports, we mentioned how there's been a certain development roadblock that's prevented us from making progress. Fortunately, we've now been making great progress! Without spoiling anything, its writing is nearly finished and we're starting on in-game implementation and experimenting with mechanics.
In terms of our general progress since last month:
Writing -- We've further developed some of our post-Koffin Keep plans, as well as written out needed dialogue for certain sequences.
Battles -- Lesser Dog's battle has been completely finished and given an appropriate introduction cutscene! Greater Dog's battle has received further development on assets, which will be implemented.
We've also started working on concept art and ideas for some needed attacks (random encounter enemies' and minibosses').
Certain attacks for minibosses are being prototyped with placeholder assets.
Environments -- We've created more assets for Koffin Keep and added them in-game.
In order to implement content without waiting for certain assets to be finished, we've added text placeholders to mark where certain objects will go.
Soundtrack -- We currently have 19 tracks completed out of a planned 28!
There's also 4 tracks nearing completion, and 5 others ranging from early concepts to not yet started.
Koffin Keep -- Koffin Keep has been further developed using placeholder writing and assets. We're working on implementing the area's objectives and progression, and creating assets as needed.
Spep Mode -- It got worse.
Right now, though, we're prioritizing Starlight Isles work!
Your Name Is...
Last month, we mentioned how player feedback inspired us to add new ways to quickly access the journal!
We're always looking to make improvements to the player experience as needed--taking constructive criticism and feedback into consideration to add QOL (quality of life) and accessibility features, and improve existing content.
Keeping in line with this, we've now added the ability to change your name when resetting!
Before, players were only able to change their SAVE file's name if they were to manually reset the data from within the files. While this was generally easy to do, it wasn't very accessible--and for Android users, they would have to reinstall the game to completely reset their data.
Because of this, we've decided that resetting your SAVE file from in-game will allow you to change your name. However, the game will still keep track of everything you've done.
Community Spotlight
It's time for this month's Community Spotlight!
We started these back in June 2021 to highlight community fanworks, and fellow fan-projects.
First up: on January 10th, GameJolt announced that they've finally added an Undertale fan-game section!
We wanted to take a moment to congratulate the creators that have made it to the very top of the "best" category for #undertale, in early access status!
Shoutouts to:
@TeamUTY
for Undertale Yellow (still going strong after so long!)@RynoGG for DELTATRAVELER
@RickyG
for DONTFORGET
On December 12th, TheMaximus released RIBBIT - The Deltarune Mod -- an entire re-imagining of DELTARUNE Chapter 1 with a brand new story, custom content, nonstop jokes, new boss fights, and horrifying monstrosities! (Please read the content warning.)
As described by its creator:
RIBBIT is a massive jack-of-all-trades mod, based on taking Deltarune Chapter 1's world and telling an entirely new story about frogs, ghosts, and the mysterious powers that surround them both. Half a joke mod, and half a character-driven narrative, revisit Deltarune's familiar locations, in a new context, with new custom content, and New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch.
YOU the Frog, the last of their kind, finds themselves abandoned at a nearby orphanage... for approximately six minutes before a strange girl (the first of her kind??) with glowing pink eyes shows up and drags them both down into an alternate realm filled with YOU's long-croaked frog ancestors. There, they find out that the realm has come under a devastating invasion of a bizarre breed of ghosts called the MOTHERSPAWNs, reducing most living creatures to ashes, their reach spread over most of the land, an apocalypse in the making.
Together, along with Prince Noyno and his barely sufferable ego, they embark on a mission to kill the two people responsible for the invasion... the ghosts of YOU and Susie's mothers. By the way, Lancer is also there, and he's got, like, muscles, just thought you should know that even though everyone is dead.
Make sure to go and check out the official trailer, too!
(GameJolt doesn't let us embed Twitter posts, sadly.)
Mrky made some fanart of Chara, wandering through Stardust Woods!
We really liked the style and presentation of this piece, especially against the white background.
Well, that's everything for now!
While this devlog was shorter than others we've done, there's been more work behind the scenes we just aren't able to show off just yet. Spoilers aren't fun!
Until next time!
- Beethovenus and Team Switched
27 comments