It's been a year of this project, I wasn't planning to invest more than one year in it, but, the community taught me this year that I can make a much better game than I originally planned.
The rebuild: Part 2
When this project started it was a broken mess with not so many bugs, but bugs that were super serious like the infamous Demon Lag, which, for those blessed enough to not know, was a bug that froze your game after a playing for long enough, making you lose progress and brain cells.
The bug inspired me to make a total remake of the programming of the game, the game is now stable, it plays and functions like a game should and while the update came with a graphic update, my focus was to make it play good.
The next update will start to include several graphic updates, I want to rebuild the game in terms of graphic design and art quality, I can do so much better than this, and the reason is very simple, this year I did absolutely nothing but to dedicate my time to draw and work on the project
New Taikavoran and Zyrenette cards:
New players may not make much of this, but for reference
this is what the first card I made a year ago looked like:
This is why this update is taking longer than usual, I've been reworking graphics on top of adding the new area, Mauraders Wake, a far-North district that will have a new dungeon.
The Manga:
For those unaware, the Volume 1 of Vitakrosis is now available on Amazon, it contains the first 5 chapters, which can also be read for free on Webtoons.
Read Vitakrosis online:
https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/vitakrosis-the-art-of-revenge/list?title_no=933635Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPDXN79NSite:
https://www.bokensha.org/vitakrosis-official-siteTo me, it was an important milestone, I wanted to do something like this since I was a kid, and Vitakrosis also carries the special milestone of being the first Mahou-Shoujo manga made in Uruguay, a lovely small country from South America, if you're curious about why Hex is always carrying Mate gear and has a box of alfajores, this is why.
Making the first volume of the manga as physical copies was one of the goals of the Kickstarter, but I wanna keep going and make more, making the manga was the most fun I had in a long time, and I'm passionate about the story I am building.
Which brings me to:
Story:
The story of VD2 was built to follow the dark, noir film style and narrative of VD1, but, the game has changed so massively in tone and purpose that the story will go through a rebuild as well, it will intersect with the Vitakrosis manga around chapter 8 or 9.
Progress on Kickstarter:
Some goals were met, some were not yet, some rewards were delivered, some were not yet.
For the most part we're right on schedule but there are rewards that are delayed as much as this last update is, the reason for those delays are many, I got sick, I got through a financial crisis and this was from the start biting more than I could chew, but, all goals will be met, and all rewards delivered.
The song is under production, it will introduce a new Maidbot and lore, it's an exciting production experience, I know you've been waiting for long but I'm gonna make it worth your while, and your money, don't forget you gave me thousands of dollars for this.
The cosplay is also under production, same deal, the creator behind this is doing her best.
The lorebook is delayed, I'm sorry, on top of the workload some of the VA interviews are not ready yet.
The free game is now two free games because one is a small mobile game, that one is complete and awaiting for Google Play's approval/proccess.
The year:
This year was bittersweet, on one hand, I got some things that were my dream, being a full time game dev and printing my own manga were things I wanted since I was a kid, on the other, I worked way too much, and keeping the balance between what all the actors involved want is hard, the deadlines, the community, the director, the backers, the players, I wanna keep all those relationships healthy.
I never worked so hard on anything in my life, which at some points was unhealthy, but I am trying to find balance now and I think I am slowly getting it as things get done, the game is not exactly selling well, but, if life gives you lemons, make a lemon Maidbot.
Hope this isn't too much of a downer ey! It's worth it, this is the type of challenge that makes life worth living, and everything will get done regardless.
Merry Christmas and happy new year. You've all made this project into what it is, and I hope you get everything you want and more.
HUGE THANKS TO:
A huge thanks once more to GOLIATHMK2 for saving the project earlier this year, FAZZULOUS for sponsoring it, and the people who order comms and special requests, this year the first place was for BGUNDAM2018
A huge thanks to the people who support in other ways, by being there, making content and sharing it, EMPY and the server crew, ROACH, REI, and the content creators that promote the project, VICKY SPADE, PSYLENCE and LAUROFON
A huge thank to the Voice Talents that went beyond their duties and were there too, and those who are not even associated with the project but show their support always.
A huge thank you to the Chaotic Helleaven crew, who helped get the manga out there,
we love Rika like it's one of ours, and I'll never forgive YouTube for killing the channel.
For more up to date news of what I work on check out my twitter:
https://x.com/boukensha_balMy discord: bal_dev
Don't hestitate to contact me if you have anything you wanna say, feedback is always important, and I'll always make time for you.
Sorry for the wall of text
love
-Bal
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