Methods: The Canada Files News

The beta is wrapping up, and we now have a definite release date!



Wow, it feels great to fill in the graph! Here's what I worked on since the last devlog.

Released the File 03 Beta for Patreon and Afdian members!

• Added support puzzles to File 02
  
• Adjusted the scoring system
  
• Viu now gives you a map in File 03
  
• Published File 03's soundtrack
  

I'm so glad that I can finally release File 03 — it will be out on Steam and itch.io in Early Access on April 22nd!

Methods: The Illusion Murders will be released as a free standalone game at the same time, so that more people can discover it!

And the Methods 4 Year Anniversary will be on April 25th!

Lots of exciting things happening this month!!

Until next time!

— LockedOn.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2063530/Methods_The_Canada_Files/

View the backlog of devlogs here on my website!

Support the game's development on Patreon!

File 03 is aaaalmost finished!



Here's what I've done since the last devlog!

• Finished all CGs
  
• Finished all titlecards
  
• Completed half the music tracks needed
  
• Finished and implemented all backgrounds
  
• Added a new menu
  

I'm aiming to complete all the music by the end of the month or very early April, and I feel confident that I can launch the File 03 beta for Patreon/Afdian members within the first two weeks of April. There are more CGs in File 03 than the other ones, so it took a bit of time to work up the motivation to complete them. However, happily I can report that they are done, and finally all the backgrounds are in the game as well.

I do have a whole list of revisions to the mystery to make, which isn't really represented here on the chart. I think I can probably get those done within a week. The Chinese translation is in progress already, and I'm predicting we will be able to release File 03 in the later half of April. Thank you for your patience!

April will be a big month for Methods — we are releasing chapters 21-40 of the game on mobile named "Methods 2: Secrets and Death", as well as adding a Japanese translation to the first mobile game, The Illusion Murders will be released for free as a standalone game, and there is the Methods 4th Anniversary update as well.

Until next time!

— LockedOn.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2063530/Methods_The_Canada_Files/

View the backlog of devlogs here on my website!

Support the game's development on Patreon!

🌸Spring is in the air, detectives! And you know what that means - it's time for the Steam Spring Sale! 🌸

Get ready to dive into incredible discounts on the Methods series! Embark on thrilling adventures with:

🔍 Methods: The Canada Files - Now at an unprecedented 30% off!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2063530/_/

🔍 Methods: The Detective Competition - Enjoy a whopping 60% discount!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1271300/_/

But that's not all! We're not stopping there. Dive into the immersive worlds of game soundtracks and other titles under the LockedOn label, all at jaw-dropping discounts!

It's the season of rejuvenation, so why not rejuvenate your gaming library too? Don't miss out on these amazing deals and immerse yourself in gaming bliss during the Steam Spring Sale!



Happy gaming! 🎮

—— LockedOn & Erabit

File 03 is feature-complete!



Here's what I've done since the last devlog!

• 
  
• Finished and implemented all backgrounds for Chapters 11-14
  
• Implemented all theories and interrogations
  
• Methods minigames implemented
  
• Created a music track
  

File 03 is now playable and feature complete — it is missing a lot of music, CGs, and some backgrounds, but the hardest part is over. I think we will definitely be able to hit a release date in April, and I'll have more details on when the beta will be released to Patreon and Afdian members soon.

Until next time!

— LockedOn.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2063530/Methods_The_Canada_Files/

View the backlog of devlogs here on my website!

Support the game's development on Patreon!

The biggest background in File 03 has been finished... and now it's all coming together very quickly!



Here's what I've done since the last devlog, where I finished all the sprites for File 03!

• 
  
• Finished the largest background
  
• Coded the expressions for all 5 chapters
  
• Rendered backgrounds for Chapter 12
  
• Implemented backgrounds for Chapter 12
  

I've made a ton of progress since the last devlog. It really feels like the "File 03 plane" is heading down the runway, and now that all these pieces are in place, it won't be long before I'm able to finish it! This was one of the hardest backgrounds to make, perhaps the hardest (the Grouse Mountain's opening area was quite a difficult one...) The reason is that I needed to create many more unique textures, due to the nature of the mystery, and this background actually contains four separate spaces, all in one.

Because this background is the location of the entire mystery, the mystery chapters (12, 13 & 14) will be finished first. They are the hardest, so I'm giving them my priority. I'm currently rendering backgrounds as I write this.

Thanks for your patience, it'll be full steam ahead from here on out. 😉

Until next time!

— LockedOn.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2063530/Methods_The_Canada_Files/

View the backlog of devlogs here on my website!

Support the game's development on Patreon!