Howdy, folks!

Last month's devlog was a long one, huh? I don't think I can write that much again for this one lol, but I did at least want to provide a brief update on what's been going on.

I've been pretty silent ever since the last devlog dropped, so I have a few things that I'd like to talk about. There's nothing super crazy in this devlog, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. I'll try not to ramble on and on this time!

Anyway, let's get started!

Development of v2.5.0 and future updates

Let's talk about the progress of v2.5.0. Truthfully, it's been going a bit slow on my end. I don't have nearly as much time to work on DFC as I did before (university does that to a guy), so I work on it in small chunks when I can.

I'm considering changing my approach to DFC updates. Instead of trying to make v2.5.0 a really huge update with as much of the new story content as possible, I think I'll release the story quests one-by-one as they get made, so that there isn't a huge rush for me to finish them, and future updates are more consistent. I hope you don't mind that the quests won't be released all at once, but I think it's better this way.

To sum it up, v2.5.0 is an update that mainly focuses on giving the game a visual makeover (new graphics, new UI), adding new gameplay mechanics (skills, EN, partners), expanding the game (new rooms, new enemies, new NPCs), and adding the first of the six story quests. Future updates will add the remaining five story quests, and eventually the ending.

Once the ending is complete, that will probably be the last update for DFC. I expect v3.0.0 to be the final update, so that means 5 more big updates (and however many patches I need to do, of course).

As for the release of v2.5.0, I'm still aiming for December. It's currently about 60% complete. I don't think it'll have to be delayed to 2021, but it really depends on how much work my university throws at me lol. I'll do my best!

For now, have a few recent screenshots of the game (some assets are still a work-in-progress):

One more thing: in celebration of spooky month, a Halloween Event has been started in DFC! If you join the game, you'll see some new decorations strewn about the world! This event will last until November 1st, so hop on if you'd like to get into the spooky spirit!

Development of DF Story Mode

Ah, that's right, DF Story Mode exists too!

It's been doing fine. As with DFC, progress is a little slow because of university, but I'd rather take my time with this one anyway.

As I said in the last devlog, DF Story Mode is going to be made with my new Deltarune engine. DeltaEngine isn't complete yet, so in terms of development, DF Story Mode is still at 0%. That being said, I do have something to announce related to Story Mode!

I've been working hard on getting the game's story right. I already have everything floating around in my head, just waiting to be made into a game. However, I'm the kind of guy who likes making things up as I go too, so I leave a lot of details purposefully vague so that I can do stuff however I feel is best when I actually get to that part in the game.

But I don't think that approach will work with something like DF anymore, so I'm going to try something weird:

I'm working on a novel adaptation of DF Story Mode!

Well, I guess it's not really an "adaptation", since it'll be finished before I even start coding the game, so if anything the game will be an adaptation of the novel, but you get what I mean lol.

This might sound like a weird way to plan out a game's plot, but before I started making games, I actually wanted to be an author as a kid. So in a way, it's kinda like returning to my roots as a creator!

I haven't written out a proper story in a very long time, and I feel like if I want DF's story to be a bit more developed, it would be good to get my ideas down as concisely as possible. The little details count!

The novel will actually be something I'll release for you guys. It'll be available on the GameJolt page sometime after DF Story Mode is released (giving enough time for the game to stand on its own).

I'm not sure how long the novel will be, it might be more of a novella really. As for how it'll be written, the story will be told from the perspective of Harlow. Even after you beat the game, it might be worth reading the novel if you're interested in how Harlow interprets the game's events. Who knows, there might even be an epilogue about what happens after the game ends...?

I'd also like for there to be illustrations in the novel, not very many, but here and there. I'm imagining something like a light novel if you're familiar with those.

So yeah, I've already started working on the novel and it's been going pretty well! It's very refreshing to be trying something new. I've been doing games for so long that it's nice to be expanding my horizons a bit.

I can imagine most people will think "ew, who wants to read in 202X?", but I hope you look forward to the novel anyway lol. I'm very excited to be working on it!

Introducing the DF OST SoundCloud page

It's been requested for a while that the game's soundtrack be made more readily available on other platforms. I'd also like a place where I can upload new tracks so that they can be revealed in devlogs! Music is a big part of DF, and we felt it needed a more convenient place to listen to it on (sorry GameJolt); as such, we've created the official DF OST SoundCloud page!

If there's any tracks missing, they'll be uploaded over time. But this will be the definitive place to find and listen to the entire DF soundtrack!

To commemorate the new page, here are three brand new tracks from DFC v2.5.0!

Here is the new Ruins theme by Synth Mints:

Here is the new composition of That Comedian, Sans' PvP theme (and also his battle theme in DeltaEngine), by Perpetrator:

Here is the new PvP theme for Niko from OneShot, who will be a new vessel in v2.5.0, by Lone-R:

New tracks will be added to the page as the game progresses, so we hope you enjoy listening to them!

New Livestreams and the Ultimate Sin

For a while now, I've been interested in the idea of streaming on my YouTube channel. I don't really use the channel much except for short videos about my games every once in a while, and I'd like to change that. Similar to how I'm writing a novel to branch out, I'd like to give streaming a try to give different creative outlets a whirl.

As for what I'd stream, I'd like to do game dev and maybe play some stuff. I think it'd be really fun to work on some of my projects on-stream (so then the chat can tell me how awful I am at programming lol), but I'd also be open to playing games live too. Maybe I could play DF live with all of you guys? I don't even remember the last time I sat down and actually played the game, so that'd be fun.

So sometime in the next few weeks, I'll start streaming. It won't be a super often thing, but I'd like to give it a shot. If you haven't visited it already, my channel can be found here.

Now, as for the style of the stream (with webcam, just mic, no mic at all), I thought of something that at first was just a joke, but then turned into an actual thing.

I'm sure most of you are probably familiar with the concept of VTubers...

Do you see where I'm going with this?

I'd like to give being a "VTuber" a try.

You're probably not as disappointed in me as I am. I have commited the Ultimate Sin. Forgive me.

In all seriousness, when I was thinking about doing streams, my personal experience is that I'm usually not as engaged in streams where the streamer is just a disembodied voice or doesn't speak at all. It's harder to get into it.

If I'm going to do streams, I want to have some sort of visual, but I'm not 100% into the idea of using a regular webcam just yet, and that's when it hit me: anime is real.

In my streams, I'll be using the avatar above! I'd like to give thanks to Diamoon for being the artist, please go check out their work!

So yeah, if you're interested in seeing how I work in Game Maker, and maybe playing some games, keep an eye out on my channel sometime soon! I'm not taking streaming super seriously, but I do at least want to try it. I hope to see you there!

Conclusion

Well, that about wraps up what I wanted to say! It was a smaller devlog than usual this time, but I think the absolute CHONK that was the last devlog balances it all out. I'm not sure when the next devlog will be, probably not until v2.5.0 is released, but we'll see.

tl;dr:

• DFC v2.5.0 is planned to release in December, and 5 more updates are planned throughout 2021!

• DF Story Mode will be receiving a novel adaptation that will release sometime after the game!

• DF now has an official SoundCloud page!

• I'm going to start streaming on my YouTube channel, developing stuff in Game Maker live and maybe playing some games!

Thanks for reading everyone, and as always, stay determined!