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Hardenville News

Dev Log #9 | Episode 1

[h3]Sneak Preview of What's to Come in the next big update, Episode 1[/h3]

The Prologue:

  • Added emojis for text messages
  • Improved support for gamepad
  • Option to refer to the landlady as Johanna or the landlord as Tom in the dialogues
  • Corrected grammar errors
  • Fixed some screens that were not pointing back to the correct screen
  • Faster menu with reduced lag
  • Fixed some persistent values that were not being saved
  • Made slight changes to the UI
  • More achievements added (Steam): Porta-Potty Fun, Win Rock Paper Scissors


Episode 1:

  • Added 2 new mini-games: handball and beer pong
  • Included 2 new sex scenes
  • Added new contacts
  • Added new gallery images
  • Introduced new residents: dog, cat, Hallie, Kiara
  • Added new songs
  • Added new text messages
  • Added new achievements (Steam): Doggo (Name Your Dog), Goalie of the Day (Win The Shoot-Out Against Millie), Beer Pong Champion (Win the Beer Pong match), Cashed in V-Card (Best 20 Seconds of My Life), Complete Episode 1
  • Added more SFX


[h3]Work, work, render, render, code, code[/h3]
I just wanted to tell you guys how amazingly patient you've all been. I know for a fact that it is very frustrating being promised a release date and it not being met. It is the worst feeling for me to disappoint you over and over again. Many have wondered why there's been so much delay, and that is a very fair question to ask. For those who don't know, I'm the sole developer. As a sole developer, I don't get that much input from others, which means that I can indeed change my mind a lot when it comes to content and how it's going to be portrayed. As has been said many times before, renders take a lot of time to render, and if renders don't look that great after all, I would need to change up a lot and then try again. With renders taking from 30 to 120 minutes, and then maybe altering some renders two or three times, that means that it doesn't always result in a lot of progress in a day. I do have some personal stuff here and there as well that I need to prioritize. But rest assured, my mind and focus are on Hardenville. I'm still super confident and eager to work and deliver new updates to you all. So please don't worry about the project being abandoned. I'm not a quitter! Just a tiny bit of a perfectionist when it comes to making the renders look good.

I have promised many more episodes for this year. And for each episode, I expect faster progress because of less extra tweaking on characters, environments, code functionality, and so on. Realistically, I probably would need to push Episode 5 to be the first episode launched in 2025, which means that I will work my butt off to deliver Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, and Episode 4 to you all this year.

A massive thank you again for supporting this project. I'm using your hard-earned money on new assets and other Hardenville-related additions almost every single day. Once Episode 1 is launched, and I can begin work on Episode 2, I will consider doing some streams of showing you the creation of the new renders as other developers do if you're interested.



[h3]Hardenville[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2010460/Hardenville/

Dev Log #8 | Episode 1

[h3]Translators and Script Updates[/h3]
Earlier this year, we were searching for translators for Hardenville. We've received some applications, and we're beginning to accept them. So far, we've received applications for Chinese, English proofreading, French, German, and Portuguese. I'm going to send them the script for The Prologue soon for them to begin working with, and hopefully, within this week, I'll send the entire script for Episode 1 to the English proofreader. Then, hopefully, I'll send the script for Episode 1 to the other translators next week.

[h3]Renders are still in production[/h3]
The images and animations are still rendering, which is, once again, time-consuming considering renders take from 30 to 90 minutes just for the image to render, not including the time to pose, set up lighting, etc.

I still can't promise a specific date for the release of Hardenville Episode 1, which means, once again, that it won't happen this month either. I'm not going to sugarcoat it, but I'm so sorry to disappoint you again and again about the release schedule. But rest assured, this will indeed be a good episode compared to the Prologue.

As always, thank you so much for your patience and support!



[h3]Hardenville[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2010460/Hardenville/

Dev Log #7 | Episode 1

[h3]The Bucket Is Filling[/h3]
While there is no doubt that Episode 1 is long overdue for its previous planned release, I can assure you that I'm working hard on a fantastic release. I fully understand that the longer the wait, the more frustrated some of you may become with the amount of time it's taking. At the same time, I'm thankful that the majority of you are still positive and are giving me the time I need to develop Hardenville. I'm spending much time building pieces to fit the story better than previously planned. I've listened to feedback across multiple sites, and much of it aligns with my own thoughts. Rest assured, I won't change Hardenville's story based on feedback I disagree with, but I will improve it with the many good suggestions I've received.

Jasmine is filling the bucket. What kind of devilish plan does she have in store?



[h3]VR Support Put On Ice[/h3]
The majority of the feedback regarding VR possibilities has been negative, as it would extend the development time of the episodes even further. I understand your concerns. VR was not originally part of the plan, so I respect your feedback, and VR support will be put on hold until Season 1 is finished.

Thank you all for your patience, feedback, and support

[h3]Hardenville[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2010460/Hardenville/

Dev Log #6 | Episode 1

[h3]Change of Release[/h3]
As mentioned before, and as saddened as I am to deliver the news, I will need to officially change the release for Episode 1 to February. I don't have a set day in February because I will release it as soon as it's done. That also means that the release for Episode 2 won't make it for Q1, but I'm hopeful for Episode 2 in early Q2, and Episode 3 for late Q2. Either way, I am committed to releasing 5 episodes this year as planned. Thanks for being patient with my first project.



[h3]Sneak Peek for the Animations in the Intro for Episode 1[/h3]
JoyFI Games has just launched a YouTube channel, and we've uploaded a sneak peek for the intro of the next release for you. For these few seconds of animations, it has around 400-450 renders combined to create a 4K 30 fps animation.

https://youtu.be/Z7QRjVapwK8?feature=shared

[h3]Sample of a Potential VR Version[/h3]
Naturally, I've received multiple questions about the potential VR version. As previously mentioned, I've briefly tested it, and it is still early to confirm whether it will happen or not. But for those who have a VR headset and would like to see a sample of an 8K 360 spherical render, please take a look below.

To test the image with Quest 3, download the image directly or transfer it via USB. Then, open the Media App, select the image, and at the bottom right corner, there is an icon that says 2D. Click on it and select VR 360 (not VR 360 3D). Afterward, press the home button on the right Oculus controller to hide all UI.

The attached sample is compressed. For the raw render and a better experience, please visit https://hardenville.joyfigames.com/vr-samples/ to download and test it in the best quality.



[h3]Hardenville[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2010460/Hardenville/

Dev Log #5 | Episode 1

[h3]Calling All Translators![/h3]
We're thrilled to announce that we're actively seeking translators from our community for multiple languages—a highly requested feature since the launch of The Prologue. With Hardenville, we are committed to enhancing the user experience and building a better Adult Visual Novel.



Our primary focus is on finding translators for the following languages:
  • English (proofreading, minimizing grammar mistakes)
  • Spanish
  • French
  • German
  • Simplified Chinese
  • Russian
Secondary priorities include:
  • Italian
  • Portuguese
  • Korean
  • Japanese


Q: Who can apply as a translator for Hardenville? A: Everyone!

Q: What experience do I need? A: Mastery of the target language and a strong understanding of English.

Q: How can I apply? A: Share a bit about yourself, the language you'd like to translate, and send us an email at [email protected]

Q: How many will be selected? A: We aim to have at least two individuals for each language.

Q: When will I know if I've been selected as a translator? A: While we're prioritizing this process, it may take a few weeks. You'll receive a confirmation email promptly upon receiving your application.

Q: What happens if I get selected? A: Once selected, you'll gain access to an exclusive Discord channel for all translators and another exclusive channel specifically for translators of the chosen language.

Q: What do I get in return? A: Exclusive insights into Hardenville's development, early access to builds, and the highest tier on Discord, offering exclusive renders. In the coming months, we plan to extend additional perks such as Steam gift cards. It's important to note that, initially, translation of Hardenville is a community project, and the benefits are not comparable to a permanent translator position.

[h3]New Equipment[/h3]
After some time, we've received the majority of our PC parts for our second build, featuring a 14th gen i9, 128GB DDR5 RAM, 4TB of NVMe storage, and more. Unfortunately, the RTX 4090 I desire is still out of stock, leading me to temporarily borrow the RTX 3090 from my old rig. Despite having one PC rig to work on, it's already noticeably faster and smoother. The build took longer than expected, marking the first time in two or three years since the last rig.



[h3]VR[/h3]
Additionally, I've invested in the Meta Quest 3 to explore the potential of Hardenville in VR. While it's too early to promise anything, I'll dedicate time after Episode 1's release to assess the viability of a VR version. If feasible, it will be released at no extra cost as a separate installation due to potential huge file size. I aim to render in 8k for impressive VR quality, with hopes of supporting the same game saves.
However, we may be getting ahead of ourselves. I'll provide an update in a few weeks or months regarding VR support.

[h3]New Website[/h3]
I recently purchased the domains joyfigames.com and hardenville.com, completing the setup to look decent for now. Stay tuned for exciting plans for this website in the future.
Check out https://www.joyfigames.com/


[h3]Progress on Episode 1[/h3]
Since the start of January, progress on Episode 1 hasn't met my initial expectations due to multitasking and the challenge of perfecting certain scenes. Some days, rendering takes 1-2 hours, and on completion, I may need to redo them to meet my standards. This can be frustrating, and I understand it may be for you too. However, I'm pleased with the current look, and with the website and new rig set up, progress will be faster moving forward.



A burning question you likely have: Q: Will Hardenville Episode 1 still be released in January? A: Right now, all I can say is that I truly hope so. I understand your frustration for delays, and believe me, nobody dislikes them more than I do.

Apologies for the lengthy post, but it's been two weeks since I've updated you, and there was more than the usual to share!

[h3]Hardenville[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2010460/Hardenville/