Game
Eternal Frenemies: Return to Eternity

2 days ago

So....with the game done, I think I'll let it marinate... Hope that it works well enough to grow an audience.

What was the takeaway for me as a dev?

Read the article to find out! #ScreenshotSaturday


Just so you know, the game is a solid foundation for the EF project, but I'm nowhere near done with it. I still got a comic to finish, and if the game does well enough I have the material for a sequel!

The Return to Eternity VN is NOT my first VN project, but I did learn a lot from it:

  • It is indeed impossible to test everything in one place, so there will always be bugs that get through the cracks. The better devs understand this and are less condescending in their review of it - yeah, I said it. That "spoonful of sugar" can be a lifesaver at times like this, so I make sure to exercise it and I hope others do too.

  • Ren'Py web builds have different ground rules than downloadable packages - so it is best to stick to customization of already existing variables when making an HTML version of the game. I had planned a lot prettier set of GUI elements for the release, but the browser doesn't like when I do that from scratch - the only reason the dialogue boxes got in is because the variables already existed as a default. All of these advanced customizations work perfectly in my launcher, and someday I will find a way to work that into a web build.

  • It is best to complete and test a game THIS advanced before even thinking about a release date. Due to life circumstances, I couldn't do that this time because I did not have as much time on my hands as I would have wanted to dedicate to this. And to be fair, the game was finished being built before the 7th, but the one thing I should have been testing from the beginning is browser capability, every step of the way and not just after it was done.

Regardless of the fact that art may not be as pretty or the story may not be as compelling as other VNs here, I still think this is a pretty good honest try at a solodev game. I play with a lot of older tropes because I love them, but I make sure to put them in as relatable a setting as I can. My art style is non-negotiable, but there is always novel mode (I hope it works).

Even though I know better than to get my hopes up because of the ten-percent rule, I have faith in a chance that those of you who do play might get invested enough to check out the rest of the project and follow along with its other parts (tis the goal of the game anyway)! Even if the bugs get in your way I urge you to have fun with it!!

And also, please take the survey after you give the game a try:

https://forms.gle/KEmg6THTgQThtBPa9

Thank you in advance if you help!

#renpy #visualnovel #advice #solodev #community #gamedev #VN #screencap #renpygame #python #pygame #browser #webgame #html #freetoplay #storygame #interactivechoice #help



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Welp, it’s official:

The Return to Eternity VN game is up and playable for anyone with access to an internet browser! It may not have all the fancy UI elements planned, but the story and art are fully intact! I hope you enjoy and take the survey after!

Too depressed and anxious to get any sleep till I finished this.... It has been tested in both Chrome and Firefox with success, and is uploaded, scheduled to publish itself in about 5 hours.

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE BELOW IF YOU PLAN TO PLAY.

Okay, so the first 24 hours seem good....of course, the ten percent rule reared its ugly head, but the game did a little bit better than I hoped! The game has 50 followers!πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

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Head over to the shop to collect yours πŸ‘‰ https://gamejolt.com/#shop

Letter to my people here....

That includes those follow me and/or the game and/or just lurking.

Read the article for the elaboration you deserve on the status of the Return to Eternity VN that was scheduled for today.

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Those who follow me and/or this game, the following article is for you to read.

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Complete the quests in your quest log.

Play the demo & wishlist now: https://bit.ly/AetherAndIron

So on tap for today, I want to go over a few simple choice types for the fellow devs that need a refresher as they plan future VNs.

Used correctly, they can make people invest in your VN game more.

Read article for whole breakdown.