A Merchant's Promise News

[p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]I wanted to provide a brief intro to the game, its status and where it's going:[/h3][p][/p][h3]What is the "goal" of the game?[/h3][p]A Merchant's Promise is about exploring and handling items in which you travel and trade with limited prompts, menus, and UI (Ui can now be toggled as well), while being paired up with some light survival elements. There is no specific goal or end game. For those that love to collect, travel, explore, organize, survive...you should feel right at home![/p][p][/p][p]The main dynamic of the game is your Merchant Status...and trying to earn the best reputation you can.[/p][p][/p][p]The end goal for this Merchant Status is to be difficult to maintain and constantly affected by what you trade, where you stay, the quality of the items you deal in, and your behaviors. This will continue to be improved.[/p][p][/p][h3]What is the current status of this Early Access?[/h3][p]There are currently 3 towns and a prison to travel between and trade (Or even buy a house), There are several items to buy and sell that as of the current Beta, are unique to each town.[/p][p][/p][p]There is only the 1 Cart for now, but more will be added along with upgrades. The carts wheels can break and be replaced.[/p][p][/p][p]Villagers have limited dialogue, and there is a light crime system implemented.[/p][p][/p][p]Most items can be dirty, damaged, and broken that you handle.[/p][p][/p][h3]What does the near future of the game look like?[/h3][p]Progress is fairly quick. I work on this project approx 60-65hrs a week as I learn and develop the game.[/p][p][/p][p]There is currently a Beta being tested by those that enjoy doing so, and that is about 7 weeks ahead of the Regular Version. There is no password to join the Beta, so if you would like to get an idea of the pace of progress within your 2 hour Refund window, feel free to opt in and try the Beta![/p][p][/p][p]Priorities for the immediate future is bug fixes for the beta and merging the updates to the regular version within the week. Afterwards, map updates, adding another town, and diving into including another cart, upgrades and some more shops. Then more life into the game world.[/p][p][/p][p]As always I'm in Discord should you have any questions! Thank you again for your support and look forward to hearing your feedback.[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Give it a whirl...[/h2][p][/p][p]Alright so I'm still doing work on it but it's at a "safe" stage to start trying out and at least see what's been going on![/p][p][/p][p]You will be forced to begin a NEW GAME but it will load in your money from your last save at least.[/p][p][/p][p]I'll be continuing to add in some more trading things, going back over some environment and game map needs, and completing some more work on the King's Road Guards and roads.[/p][p][/p][p]But, I did want to get this out there and force myself out of the single dev life bubble that's so easy to fall into and just keep working with no updates or releases! (Which is no fun for anyone haha)[/p][p][/p][p]I hope you enjoy the changes and the direction the game is going![/p][p][/p][p]Here is a full list, and as always I'm in the Discord if you need anything! Thank you![/p][p][/p][h2]BETA: Patch 031[/h2][p] [/p][h3]Improvements:[/h3]

• [p] Added Swimming[/p]
• [p] Improved Ocean[/p]
• [p] Added Toggle to Hide UI[/p]
• [p] Added Configurable Key for Hide UI[/p]
• [p] Updated Map (Still WIP)[/p]
• [p] Doors open/close via Interact Key[/p]
• [p] Rivers rise/fall with rain/weather[/p]
• [p] NPC logic improvement[/p]
• [p] Loot boxes with random items[/p]
• [p] Game loading routine updated[/p]
• [p] King’s Road and Road Guards[/p]
• [p] Added area names[/p]
• [p] Menu Updated[/p]
• [p] Added Unstuck Button to In Game Menu[/p]
• [p] Some NPC Dialogue updates[/p]
• [p] Updated Dialogue Font Clarity, Formatting, Answer Selection indication[/p]
• [p] Added Game Dictionary (will continue being updated)[/p]
• [p] Added Configurable key for Dictionary[/p]
• [p] Added Progress Circle to Cart Recover[/p]
• [p] Added Progress Circle to Crate Lid opening/closing[/p]
• [p] Added Progress Circle to Signing Contract[/p]
• [p] Player Look and movement locked while Signing Contract[/p]
• [p] Towns will start having items unique to them[/p]
• [p] Removed Town Names from items[/p]
• [p] Added more game items[/p]
• [p] Magistrates will be in their offices unless check Trade Stall[/p]

[p] [/p][h3]Bug Fixes:[/h3]

• [p] NPCs walking off mid-conversation[/p]
• [p] Some Doors not-aligned[/p]
• [p] Fixed Player Menu from opening while inputting name[/p]
• [p] Water clipping when near surface[/p]
• [p] Unable to pickup some tutorial items[/p]
• [p] Tutorial Shop Chest blocked item text[/p]
• [p] Boxes/Crates not rotating correctly unless picked up first[/p]
• [p] Transport Wheels sometimes not spawning in on New Games[/p]
• [p] Removed NPC title popup when in Dialogue[/p]
• [p] Item Reset Orientation caused held item to clip into other objects[/p]
• [p] Death menu button fixed[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]This may be the longest period I think officially without an update to A Merchant’s Promise! However, I assure you it has been worked on Full Time (+) all the while.[/h3][p] [/p][p]I was pushing hard to get a Beta Patch/Update out this week. but as I play through and adjust, tweak, add, and fix things I would prefer giving a more complete experience than where it is at.[/p][p] [/p][p]YES the map is bigger, yes there are new things, menu updates, swimming, unstuck button, some better performance etc...but I can also see the current stage overall just needs to feel more complete to ensure you are just as excited as I am to see the work that went into it and deliver a more ready to dive in experience.[/p][p] [/p][p]Timeframe wise I don’t plan on dragging it out much longer, but I did just want to stay communicative through the process.[/p][p] [/p][p]Thank you for understanding![/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h2]Patch 031 PROGRESS[/h2][p] [/p][h3]Improvements:[/h3]

• [p] Added Swimming[/p]
• [p] Improved Ocean[/p]
• [p] Updated Map (Still WIP)[/p]
• [p] Dialogue Updates[/p]
• [p] Doors open/close via Interact Key[/p]
• [p] Rivers rise/fall with rain/weather[/p]
• [p] NPC logic improvement for better performance[/p]
• [p] Loot boxes with random items[/p]
• [p] Interactable/Lootable items in the game world[/p]
• [p] Crimes for Theft (Stealing from Villager Home)[/p]
• [p] Crimes for Destroying Property (Breaking Villager Items)[/p]
• [p] Game loading routine updated[/p]
• [p] King’s Road and Road Guards[/p]
• [p] Added area names[/p]
• [p] Menu Updated[/p]
• [p] Added Unstuck Button to In Game Menu[/p]
• [p] Backend NPC Dialogue updates to allow for more involved relationships later[/p]
• [p] Updated Dialogue Font Clarity, Formatting, Answer Selection indication[/p]
• [p] Added Conversation Dictionary (will continue being updated)[/p]
• [p] All Trade Stalls Save and Load their open status to allow trading at all Trade Stalls whether you are present or not[/p]
• [p] Villagers Hunger, Thirst, Supply, Healing needs updated to allow for better flow and less waiting around for the player[/p]

[p] [/p][h3]Bug Fixes:[/h3]

• [p] Prisoners dropping/leaving ore[/p]
• [p] NPCs walking off mid-conversation[/p]
• [p] Some Doors not-aligned[/p]
• [p] Fixed Player Menu from opening while inputting name[/p]
• [p] Water clipping when near surface[/p]
• [p] Unable to pickup some tutorial items[/p]
• [p] Tutorial Shop Chest blocked item text[/p]
• [p] Boxes/Crates not rotating correctly unless picked up first[/p]
• [p] Transport Wheels sometimes not spawning in on New Games[/p]
• [p] Removed NPC title popup when in Dialogue[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]This patch includes a couple quality of life things such as most Items have their own icons and the Abacus sliders match those icons for easier identification. Also, Abacus slider position should save and when you adjust prices you will see the amount you should get for selling the items appear over them briefly.[/p][p][/p][p]While I don't want to rely on UI, players were a little too lost in terms of pricing and this is a compromise for the meantime.[/p][p][/p][p]Bigger Note: There are no more boundaries/invisible walls. The map was not designed with this in mind but I did wish to really give this a shot. I'll be updating the map now to accommodate this playstyle.[/p][p][/p][p]This has also allowed players to leave their stalls open when leaving town and npc's can still buy their goods.[/p][p][/p][p]With these big changes new games may be required more than I would like, so I ADDED an option when starting a new game to continue with your Current Character which allows you to keep your name, money, status.[/p][p][/p][p]Here is the full list:[/p][p][/p][h3]Patch 030 Regular and Beta (synced)[/h3][h3](NEW GAME REQUIRED FOR REGULAR (NON BETA USERS)[/h3][p][/p][p]Improvements:[/p]

• [p] Open World style gameplay. Map will be updated to account for this.[/p]
• [p] Items now have specific Icons for Food, Drink, Healing, Supplies[/p]
• [p] Abacus Sliders match new Item Icons for easier identification[/p]
• [p] Abacus Sliders save position[/p]
• [p] Changing prices with Abacus results in visual display of New Item Prices[/p]
• [p] Villagers can buy your For Sale items while you are gone[/p]
• [p] Updated Stamina Icon and Visual Representation[/p]
• [p] NPC UI Text no longer blurry[/p]
• [p] NPC UI Text changed to not scale (creates effect of conversation further away you must get close to read)[/p]
• [p] Testing NPC’s being “live” in all towns[/p]
• [p] Updated NPC navigation logic[/p]
• [p] Added Option to keep Player Name, Money, Status when starting new game[/p]
• [p] Controller navigation to autosave slider in menu[/p]
• [p] Removed Giant Transition Walls into Yorlen Harbor and Yorlen Village[/p]
• [p] Adjust some sound performance for Player Footsteps[/p]

[p][/p][p]Bug Fixes:[/p]

• [p] Floating NPC’s along ground headed to bed position at night[/p]
• [p] Not loading saved position on start[/p]
• [p] Putting on Shop Wheels for carts[/p]
• [p] NPC Torches not loading when traveling between towns[/p]
• [p] NPCs not waking up at dawn[/p]
• [p] Shop Items being damaged by weather[/p]
• [p] Added checks to NPC’s buying to not buy your purchased items [/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]After getting the reports in for the Regular Version with Patch 029, I decided to experiment and test some more Open World design and logic as it would help with some of the reported issues. Open World would/will impact performance but the goal is for a reliable fps on mid-range computers and to begin adding to the game...rather than have 150-200+ fps with not much in it.[/p][p][/p][p]I will spend a a little time on this and if it doesn't look feasible to get up and running I will quickly revert and correct the Regular version for those experience crashes![/p][p][/p][p]As always I'm in Discord if you need anything.[/p]