Moonlight In Garland News

Hey Neighbours!

The update is a little early this week because I wanted to get that mail bug patched on Mac and for once the planets actually aligned!

This update is another fun one with changes to inventory management! You can now purchase backpack updates at the clothing shop to expand your inventory to 16 or 24 slots! New games will now start with 8 open slots but current saves will continue with 16.

Some items are now consumable and will require refilling. You can fill your watering can or wash out your cleaning cloth in your apartment sink. If you run out of shots for your camera you can pick up some film at any vending machine. If you’re using an item during an event scene they won’t deplete though so don’t worry about not being able to finish!

This update also has updated portraits and emotes in all the Petal Events, there are a loooot of them that had to be done so if you notice any that don’t match the dialogue please let me know in the discord and I’ll get them fixed up!

As I add new features I’m also going back through the old cutscenes/events and editing them so they are more stable and have better dialogue. This update does that for all of the welcome tasks, they’re still waiting on getting the new portraits though. Next update I’m doing the building events, I know there have been some issues with the event mini games preventing progression (and unintentionally hilarious npc interactions) that have been driving me nuts untangling but fingers crossed that will be polished off once and for all next update! Sorry to anyone that enjoyed Cecile’s special ability to levitate though…

Anyway that’s all for now, see you in Garland!




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General:
- Fixed NPCs and player getting stuck in Maple Place Lobby Tree (stay back Treebeard!).
- Adjusted safe spawn spots in Garland Central to avoid big tree.
- Added auto tab select during tutorials for journal.
- Edited text for when the player doesn’t have a map.
- Transitions between rooms now recognise diagonal movement.
- Added vsync option to settings (I don’t recommend it tbh but it’s there).
- Fixed intermittent crash on mail check (Mac).
- Fixed some typos.
- Adjustments to player range checking for interactions/item usage.
- Building Event - CC2 - fixed some spawn issues but the building events are next on my list to polish so full redos are coming soon.
- Fixed noticeboard tasks not updating in journal in some cases.
- Adjusted furniture in player room to be objects to support future furniture movement.
- Fixed intermittent crash on context menu selection.
- Fixed items on roofs not respecting the fact that they are on the roof (some items behind buildings are still a little transparent but I’m working on getting them fully corporeal again).
- Adjustments to menus during mini games which was preventing date registration on hotbar in some situations.
- Fixed the duck in the North pond deciding to live under the pond.
- Settings - Reset settings option now resets only the options on that page and loads the defaults rather than saved options.

Quests:
- Full polish of the Welcome quests with a heap of small fixes and updates to text. (Move in, building quests and NPC first meeting scenes are next.)
- New mail on first day from the tourism department to give a free ticket to the ferris wheel.
- Ferris wheel quest now requires you to bring a ticket, there is also a council worker there to greet you.

NPCs:
- NPC names are now ??? until first meeting is complete (timing of this to be mid scene will be adjusted when the NPC intros are in edit phase.
- NPC Petal Events now have updated portraits and emotes.

Inventory.
- Adjusted new game inventory slots to 8.
- Added ability to expand inventory to 16 or 24 slots with new backpack items.
- Added functionality for refillable consumable items (watering can, camera, cleaning cloth).
- Added film item to refill camera (sold at various shops).
- Added fill to player sink to refill watering can/cleaning cloth.
- Fixed notification on placing item (now says placed not dropped).
- Added item usage counts to room persistent/save files (including handling old files).
- Added cute new UI to display how much usage consumable items have left.
- Hotbar: if you’re not holding an item but there’s a hotbar selection still acting pressing back will now deselect it.

Shops:
- Added Celina to Fashion Fables shop.
- Added backpack expansion items to shop.
- Added Fashion Fables shop opening via mail (after completing Sophie PE 1). If you’ve already completed this event, you should automatically get the mail delivery for this.

Backend:
- Additional audio system optimisations.
- Continued cleaning up, consolidation of old scripts.
- Added support for text during import of emotes and portraits.
- Optimised player tool usage/labels scripts (some of the tools are still WIP).
- Minor adjustments to some money functions (these are on the list to optimise along with the ATM).
- Minor adjustments to mail trigger (this will be polished in the next round of trigger updates).

Hey Neighbours,
Just a really quick hotfix today which resolves a log crash during mail checking. This hotfix is for PC only, the Mac update will be in the the regular schedule next week.
Thanks so much for reporting bugs when you find them, the quickest way to get them to me to fix is in the discord!

Hey Neighbours!

Rough start to the morning but hope you’re all having a good week :D This update builds on the previous one and is focused on controls, audio and optimisation. The biggest changes are Mac support for controllers, an overhaul of the audio system (more songs available, control the playlist type from your phone!), and the ability to cycle through the inventory row in your hotbar (Q on keyboard, D-Pad on controller).

There have also been some back end changes to logging, general optimisations and the first 4 events in the intro have been updated and reworked into their final forms.

The next section I’m working on will include crossing off some of the remaining things from the roadmap so I’m not sure if next update will be in 2 weeks or if I’ll skip that one to pack more stuff in all at once. Either way, it should be a fun one so see you then!




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General:
- Fixed soft lock when opening a menu during an event (Maple Place BE 1).
- Added window resize to PC version (note that it works kind of funky right now so I recommend resizing the window then using the UI settings to force a size update to the world/ui to adjust it).
- Intro, Train, Hotel, Apartment choice scenes: dialogue changes, many small changes and general rewriting for new system.
- Fixed player being able to walk around when controls menu open during intro.
- Changed Ryan’s name to ??? during opening train scene.
- Reworded a couple of achievements to be clearer.

Audio:
General:
- Full audio system overhaul to allow finer control of soundscape including 3D audio.
- Added Ambient noise and Music to separate controls tracks.
- Added new audio settings to save files
- Fixed initial sound pop on game load.
- Added new audio settings to save and settings files.
- Overhauled background music picker.
- Added music change to all building and petal events. Currently it’s either a default song or a romantic one but these will be edited to be more fitting over time.
- Added a couple of new sound effects and ambient noises to areas for general testing before all of the new ones are activated.
- Adjusted audio in credits screen.

Music app:
- Added 3 kinds of playlists to app: Default Mix, Seasonal, Custom.
- Default Mix: day/night songs are shuffled from a mix of seasonal and other songs.
- Seasonal: day/night songs but only from specifically seasonal options.
- Custom: pick your own music from songs you’ve purchased.
- Note weather and event specific songs will still be played during Default/Seasonal mixed and event songs will play during Custom mixes.
UI:
- Updated settings menu to tab system.
- Added new audio controls.
- Fixed settings/news menu sizes on title screen.

Controls:
Notes:
- Controller tests were performed on Xbox wireless controller and Steamdeck, if you have issues with controllers that aren’t those, please let me know in the Discord so we can test together.
- Custom controls will reset on this upgrade again to reflect these changes, sorry!

Inventory:
- Added ability to cycle through inventory rows in the hotbar: press Q on keyboard, or up/down on D-Pad

UI:
- Text input box: can now use arrow keys to exit.
- Text input box: changed highlight to match scroll box highlight colour/shape.
- Updated controls pictures.

Controller
- Added support for controller on Mac.
- Updated d-pad input on Windows.
- Virtual keyboard - Added support for X to submit, B to back.
- Updated D-Pad registration for custom controls
- Settings buttons now works when menus open.
- Removed walk movement with D-Pad.

Optimisation/back end:
- Added controller debug overlay
- Optimisations to make sure depth sorting, trees, shadows only run while on screen.
- Removed unused pathfinding nodes to prevent npc confusion.
- Rearranged image texture groups for speed.
- Rearranged sound audio groups for speed.
- Massively updated Inventory management code for future feature implementation.
- Started adding levels to logging for future verbose mode.
- Logging - Added min size for buffer to save to the file to deal with lag during heavy log areas.

Hey Neighbours!

It's a pretty big one as today's update includes some (very) long awaited changes to the UI systems, controller support and save files for Steam Cloud Saves. So let's talk about the important bits!

[h3]Important: BEFORE YOU UPDATE PLEASE BACK UP YOUR SAVE FOLDER!! [/h3]

Save files / Steam Cloud Save
This update enables support for Steam Cloud Save which means you can continue your game between devices. For this to happen I've had to make a few changes to the structure and naming conventions of save files. When you open the game for the first time, it will automatically upgrade your files to the new format but PLEASE back up your save folder before opening just to be safe.

Controller/Steamdeck Support
Full game play is now available with controller on PC and Steamdeck. Mac is still partially available because there are some issues with proper button registration that I'm working through (but I am on it!). All of the UI has been updated for this and there have been several changes to the controller maps so please look in game. On first load any old custom controls you've registered will be wiped but if you have any odd behaviour please reset them to default in the custom control settings.

I've still got a couple of back end UI things to take care of next update but we're on track now for more content soon. Next update will most likely be some relationship stuff, music/sound and a lot of small stuff that's been clogging up my to do list.

As always, please report any bugs you find and thank you for your patience while I work my way through everything :hype:




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Important Notes:
- PLEASE BACK UP YOUR SAVE FOLDER BEFORE OPENING THE GAME.
- Controller is now supported on Windows/Steamdeck (still working on Mac).
- Old custom controller settings should be wiped and replaced with the new default on first load but if not, please load the default in the custom settings.
- Save file names have been reformatted for clarity and compatibility, they will be converted to the new naming system on first game open (see Save files section for more info).
- Steam Cloud Save is now available.

General:
- Added Ride Share rescue app.
- Title screen - adjusted graphics for various monitor sizing.
- Adjusted sitting height of some benches.
- Added content warnings to settings and begin game character creation
- Pinewood BE 3 pt1 - fixed issue with getting stuck sitting.
- Added support for Steam integration for future achievements.
- Temporarily removed “press x to skip cutscene” text.
- Fixed double Jake during intro cutscene.
- Adjusted all internal area collisions to hopefully have less void spawning (outdoor locations coming soon)
- Started adjusting private detective mini games for clarity and stability.

Player:
- Fixed player able to keep talking during menu or dialogue.
- Added randomisation button to character creator.
- Adjusted speed of press/hold scroll of skin colour setting.
- Fixed collision issues with birds/animals/non-collidable stuff.
- Sitting:
- Fixed being visible on top of things when sitting.
- Fixed being stuck in weird sitting position and zooming around the screen like Professor X.
- Fixed conflict during popup trigger during sitting.

Save files:
- Save file name changes:
- Save files are now using a new naming convention and are saved with a user_id attached so they can be easily moved and debugged.
- On first game open, old files (MiGSaveDataJson_1.sav) will be moved to a folder with your user id and renamed to the new format (MiG_SaveDataJson_slot_.sav).
- Log files, backups and settings are likewise moved and renamed.
- Steam Cloud Save
- Steam Cloud Saves are now available and will auto move your save between devices. You may need to enable this in your own settings.
- Other:
- Added to settings save files: fullscreen/windowed mode choice.
- Files now show names and last played date in the load area.
- Files are organised by last played date in the load area.

UI/Menus:
- Various changes to menus including: shop, load, controls, settings, relationships, map, inventory, news, help.
- Apartment rental window: Fixed description not changing with controller input.
- Help menu: Items now remember if you’ve read them.
- Settings menu: Moved run toggle/hold setting to be under controls in setting menu.
- Settings menu: Changed default font colour to medium.
- Inventory menu: Removed ability to accidentally move items to unavailable inventory slots.
- Fixed layering and selection problems between stacked menus.
- Fixed context menus not accepting keyboard input in some areas.
- Removed duplicated overlays.
- Some menus now auto select the next relevant section when you make a selection: relationships, news, weddings, help.
- Tabs:
- Added auto tab memory for all menus on load/exit.
- Buttons:
- Full overhaul of button selection logic during controller/keyboard input.
- Button/scroll memory - major update (still a few more fixes required so menus may jump around if buttons are added/removed on refresh).
- Added cooldown to button selection to avoid multiple controller presses.
- Add auto save/refresh of button and scroll logic rather than previous manual version and default to first button in area.
- Scroll areas:
- Adjusted active/inactive modes of scroll areas for better user experience.
- Updated conditions for auto scroll activity in menus (and relative speed of mouse scroll though, it still feels slow to me).
- Added smooth scroll for scroll areas.
- Scroll areas now auto exit on direction press when at the top/bottom if on the first/last button or top/bottom/left/right if no buttons are available.
- Updated scroll bar graphics.
- Updated highlight on active scroll areas and added overlay to inactive scroll areas.
- Fixed issues where scroll bar could move past the edge or not reflect the actual scroll ratio.
- Updated fallback button logic to include auto highlight and selection within scroll areas.

Input/Controls:
- General:
- Consolidated a bunch of functions and added some optimisation.
- Changed arrow/key moving text box forward from left > right.
- On first game open, any currently saved custom controls will be wiped and replaced with the new layout. If you experience problems please reset the controls to default in the custom controls menu.
- Mouse/Keyboard:
- Added tool action selection with mouse scroll wheel.
- Updated graphics for default keyboard map.
- Added ability to cycle through tabs (tab button) when menus open.
- Added support for hotkey 9/0 for future controls update.
- See default controls graphic in game for additional information.
- Controller
- Added ability to cycle through tabs (R/L button) when menus open.
- Added graphics for default controller map.
- Added joystick control for textbox selection.
- See default controls graphic in game for full controller controls.

Back end/optimisation
- General:
- Huge overhaul of UI system back end.
- Separated backed UI areas for easier editing (gift log, phone calls).
- Minor updates to money functions.
- Added a bunch of optimisations for platform specific information including logging and targeted exports.
- General consolidation and optimisation of old code.
- Adjustments to how max surfaces work with pixel upscaling for ultra wide screens.
- Logging
- Added max log size of 5mb, logs over that size will now archive/delete themselves keeping a max of 2 per user file.
- Swapped log writing to buffers for optimisation.

Hey Neighbours!

This is a pretty massive update (though it annoyingly doesn't look that big when it's listed out ;_;). The biggest news here is that you can now plan and hold your wedding/commitment ceremony/elopement/vow renewal!

Customise all the details including date, guests, location, decor style/colours and outfits!

Now of course if things don't work out for long term love, you might want to end things with your lover, well now you can break up with them in 3 fun options of dumpage including in person, text message or even sky writing.

And lastly, if you've been waiting to celebrate your birthday in game it's your lucky day. If you've gotten any NPCs to Friendly level or above, they will throw you a party on your special day :D

That's it for now, the next update will be bug fixing and UI stuff (I'm COMING for you controller scroll bugs!!)




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General:
- Fixed checking if NPCs are home at the lifts.
- Fixed a potential issue with Finn’s event while collecting computer parts - Optimised some ways that subquests are displayed to prevent crashes.
- Some general optimisation fixes.
- Updated restaurant interior.
- Started conversions for player outfits in preparation for handling purchasable clothing.
- Adjusted collisions in Pinewood Lobby to prevent Dan living in the void.
- Fixed a dust bunny crash when save/loading inside your apartment
- Fixed NPC doubling in Dan PE 1 (this is an ongoing thing I’m investigating).

Events:
- Wedding shop now has tabs for break ups and wedding planning.

Weddings/Commitments:
- Added ability to plan your event at the wedding shop menu.
- Event customisation options include: Date, Type (Wedding/Commitment/Elopement/Renewal), Celebrant, Wedding Party, Guests, Location, Decor Style, Decor Colours, Your Outfit, Spouse Outfit.
- Added corresponding event loan.
- Once you’ve paid off the total cost, your event will take place on the selected date.

Break ups:
- Added ability to plan your break up at the wedding shop menu.
- Choose from 3 break up types: In person, by text message, sky writing.

Birthdays:
- If you are Friends level or above with any NPCs they will throw you a birthday party at the North Garland Restaurant now.