Dead Detention (Rescribbled) News

[p]Version 1.6 of Dead Detention is out now! This is a small update that backports some new features and tweaks from one of my new games currently in development--namely a dialogue box closing animation--but I also took the opportunity to refine the writing and visuals a bit more! You can check out the full patch notes below...[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h2]Patch Notes[/h2][h3]Instructions[/h3]

• [p]Instructions on how to play have been added to the start of Episode 1. These explain the controls and how to beat microgames.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Writing and Sequencing[/h3]

• [p]Rewrote and polished lots of dialogue.[/p]
• [p]All three character arcs have been strengthened.[/p]
• [p]Added a few more jokes and punched up some existing ones.[/p]
• [p]Lots of small adjustments have been made to improve pacing and sequencing.[/p]
• [p]Fixed some grammatical errors.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Microgames[/h3]

• [p]Added a new microgame to Episode 4 that happens during a short new scene.[/p]
• [p]Improved the Episode 5 microgame where you have to click 3 icons 3 times. The icons now have to be clicked in a certain order.[/p]
• [p]Beating a boss now spawns yellow paper particles all over the screen--losing will instead spawn red ones.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Character Poses[/h3][p]The Final Boss[/p]

• [p]Changed the surface to black cardboard.[/p]
• [p]The whole surface now shifts with the line boil animation.[/p]

[p]Max[/p]

• [p]Added a new angry pose, which is used before he faces the final boss.[/p]
• [p]Redrew his face on the weapon holding poses.[/p]
• [p]Added sticky tape to the phone pose.[/p]

[p]Okaby[/p]

• [p]Changed the surface of his smiling pose to orange cardboard.[/p]

[p]Sora[/p]

• [p]Added a new pose of her holding the snapped bat--this one has color.[/p]
• [p]Added a new hurt pose--this one has her eyes closed.[/p]
• [p]Replaced the text on the :/ pose with a little doodle.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Scribbles[/h3][p]Added three new scribbles to Episode 5:[/p]

• [p]A city silhouette with a red sky.[/p]
• [p]Max searching for Naomi through the city.[/p]
• [p]Max finding Naomi.[/p]

[p]Some improvements had been made to existing scribbles:[/p]

• [p]Recolored Max grabbing Sora.[/p]
• [p]Added angry eyes to the zombie when she's biting Ms. White[/p]
• [p]Recolored Sora stabbing the climbing zombie.[/p]
• [p]Redrew Naomi grabbing Max's hand.[/p]
• [p]Added a recolored alt of Ryan cornering Max.[/p]
• [p]Max's greyscale eye has increased contrast.[/p]
• [p]Recolored Max and Naomi Seeing the final boss's shadow on the hallway wall.[/p]
• [p]Redrew the final boss appearing.[/p]
• [p]Redrew Naomi's hand while she's thinking.[/p]
• [p]Added scribbly lines to the background of the airport.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Misc[/h3][p]Pastel Filter[/p]

• [p]A filter has been added over the game to give it a pastel color palette.[/p]

[p]Backgrounds[/p]

• [p]The roof background is now darker when it's night time.[/p]

[p]UI[/p]

• [p]Added a dialogue box closing animation.[/p]
• [p]Some other small tweaks.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Let me know if you encounter any bugs or issues over on the community forums![/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]The game will also go on sale in two weeks for the Steam Winter Sale ~ so make sure to add it to your wishlist if you haven't got it yet! I'll do another post when the sale starts...[/p][p]PS. I've been working really hard on three new games, including a spiritual successor to this game. I hope you get to see, and play, them soon....[/p][p]Happy Holidays,[/p][p]Jack :)[/p]

[p]Version 1.5 of Dead Detention is out now! It features improved Gamepad controls, a new unlockable extra, QOL updates, and lots more! It's also 70% off for the next two weeks![/p][p]This will be the final major update for the game (though I'll continue to fix any bugs or issues that pop up, of course), so I've gone through and updated the Steam page to show what the game looks like now, too.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][h2]Patch Notes[/h2][h3]Redesigned Microgames for Gamepads[/h3]

• [p]Almost all the microgames have had tweaks and redesigns to make them work as well with Gamepad buttons and joysticks as they do with a mouse.[/p]

[h3]Other Microgame Improvements[/h3][p]Improved Clarity[/p]

• [p]Some small adjustments were made to some microgames to make their objectives more readable at a glance:[/p]
  • [p]Episode 1 and 2: Added a spinning baseball bat to the touch all icons microgame + changed the moving icons microgame to be similar.[/p]
  • [p]Episode 5: Added the correct answer faintly to the background in the puzzle microgame.[/p]
  • [p]Episode 5: The press 3 times microgame now shows HP numbers.[/p]
  • [p]Episode 5: The phone dial microgame now is a pointing finger instead of a triangle.[/p]
  • [p]Episode 5: Moved the Pac microgame spawn point slightly up so it doesn't instantly hit an icon.[/p]
  • [p]Episode 5: The running icon microgame now shows the goal color spinning and at a smaller size. Also, two of the same color are now never shown at the same time.[/p]
• [p]The instructions for bosses now stay on screen until the player presses to continue.[/p]

[p]Balancing[/p]

• [p]The Rhythm Minigame: Lives are less common in Normal mode.[/p]
• [p]Adjusted lots of time limits, taking the new versions into account.[/p]

[p]Misc[/p]

• [p]Improved the zombie punching sprite in the boxing minigame.[/p]

[h3]Microgame Marathon[/h3]

• [p]A new extra has been added that's unlocked by completing episode 5: Microgame Marathon.[/p]
• [p]In this mode, you play through all the microgames in order from start to finish, which the background and music changing to fit the episode.[/p]

[h3]Max's Exercise Book[/h3]

• [p]Added Max's cut-up exercise book opening up to the intro of Episode 1.[/p]
• [p]Added the book closing to the outro of the Epilogue.[/p]

[h3]Improved Art[/h3][p]Scribbles[/p]

• [p]Episode 1: Improved the blackboard scribbles.[/p]
• [p]Episode 1: Fixed Naomi's bar scribble being slightly over the edge.[/p]
• [p]Episode 1: Improved the equipping items scribbles.[/p]
• [p]Episode 1: Improved the fire-starting scribbles.[/p]
• [p]Episode 2: Improved the teacher firing her bow scribble.[/p]
• [p]Episode 3: Improved Sora defeating ??? scribble.[/p]
• [p]Episode 4: Improved the hiding in locker scribble.[/p]

[p]Character Poses & Arts and Crafts Theming[/p]

• [p]Max[/p]
  • [p]Moved Max's sad equip pose onto grid paper, and made it drawn in ballpoint pen.[/p]
  • [p]Changed some of Max's other equipping poses to grey pencil.[/p]
  • [p]Made his shade pose slightly desaturated.[/p]

• [p]Dr. Miller[/p]
  • [p]Moved her shade pose onto a cardboard texture.[/p]
  • [p]Moved her frown pose onto blue colored paper.[/p]
• [p]Dr. Okaby[/p]
  • [p]Moved his sigh pose onto newspaper.[/p]
• [p]Ryan[/p]
  • [p]Moved his crying pose onto blue paper.[/p]
• [p]Naomi[/p]
  • [p]Moved her laughing pose onto cardboard.[/p]
  • [p]Changed her ":/" pose to a taped-on sticker.[/p]
  • [p]Lowered her height slightly to keep it more consistent with the scribbles.[/p]
  • [p]Moved her crying pose onto blue paper.[/p]
• [p]Ms. White[/p]
  • [p]Moved her anger pose onto red colored paper.[/p]
  • [p]Moved her chalk pose onto cardboard.[/p]
• [p]Sora[/p]
  • [p]Made her eyes angry when holding the bat.[/p]
  • [p]Made her face :3 when playing DS or using her phone.[/p]
  • [p]Improved the outlines on her ":/" pose.[/p]
• [p]Substitute Teacher[/p]
  • [p]Moved her anger pose onto red paper.[/p]

[h3]Improved Story[/h3][p]Script[/p]

• [p]Improved lots of dialogue.[/p]
• [p]Punched up and added a few jokes.[/p]
• [p]Cut some of the weaker jokes.[/p]
• [p]Smoothed out some slight plot holes.[/p]

[p]Sequencing[/p]

• [p]Lots of small improvements were made across many scenes, such as additional sounds or screen shakes.[/p]

[h3]Other Updates[/h3][p]General Clarity and QOL[/p]

• [p]If you're playing on Easy or Normal difficulty, you can now toggle between them anytime from the pause menu. (This won't affect any achievements or unlocks.)[/p]
• [p]Added a Plot Tokens explanation to the Choices window.[/p]
• [p]Added a note at the start of the game saying keyboard controls aren't recommended.[/p]

[p]Menus[/p]

• [p]The screen now fades out before entering the Boss Rush.[/p]
• [p]Improved the exclamation icon on the extras button.[/p]

[p]Bug Fixes[/p]

• [p]Fixed the atmosphere volume only updating on load.[/p]

[p]Thanks so much for playing my dumb little game! It's improved and grown so much since that initial launch version back in 2024 - I kinda wish I held back on release until now! 😅 But that's how I always feel, I guess...[/p][p]This was so much fun to make and continue to release updates for. I'll definitely miss it...[/p][p]Which is why I've started another small project in the same style that I'll be announcing soon! It's basically a hugely refined spiritual successor, with a brand new story and cast of characters.[/p][p]I'm not ready to show it just yet, but I can say that it's about a girl and her dog being hunted down by a witch on New Years Eve! It's called "Like Papercuts." It's probably my favorite game script I've ever written, so I'm really excited about it - and thematically it's about some personal things I went through this year. I'll do another post when the Steam page and demo for it is up, which will hopefully be sometime this year![/p][p]Until then,[/p][p]Jack[/p]

[p]The Final Update for Dead Detention - Version 1.5 - will be released in two weeks on August 23rd! (This will be timed with another sale.) You can try the beta version early by selecting the beta branch from the build options!![/p][p]My main focus was to improve the Gamepad controls in the microgames, as well as add a final bit of visual polish. Version 1.5 also adds a new unlockable extra called "Microgame Marathon." This mode plays through all the microgames in order with shuffling backgrounds and songs![/p][p]You can check out the draft of the patch notes early here on the community forums.[/p][p]I've also gone through early and updated the Steam page screenshots and trailer showing what the game looks like now after all five updates. 😊😊😊[/p][p]Until then,[/p][p]Jack[/p]

[p]Dead Detention Version 1.4 is out now. It includes a new song, a new flashback scene, more arts and crafts theming, plus lots of other tweaks and improvements. It's also 70% off for the next two weeks![/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][h2]Patch Notes[/h2][h3]Stronger Arts and Crafts Visual Theming[/h3][p]Paper Plates[/p]

• [p]Moved some round background scribbles onto paper plates propped up by randomly colored straws.[/p]
• [p]Some of these plates spin.[/p]

[p]Backgrounds[/p]

• [p]Each time the background changes, random arts and crafts supplies are placed along the edges.[/p]
• [p]Supplies are also shown randomly around the edges of the screen during scribbles. (Added in 1.41)[/p]
• [p]There are now two more backgrounds that might be chosen instead of cardboard; newspaper and a messy table. (Added in 1.41)[/p]
• [p]Added shadows to the paper sheets. (Added in 1.41)[/p]

[p]Character Straws[/p]

• [p]Characters are now propped up by randomly colored straws taped to them.[/p]

[p]More Tape and Pins etc.[/p]

• [p]Added tape and pins to the receive item window.[/p]
• [p]Added sticky tape to the vent screws.[/p]
• [p]Added sticky tape to the loot items.[/p]
• [p]Added tape to the microgame titles. (Added in 1.41)[/p]
• [p]Added a pin to the microgame time bar. (Added in 1.41)[/p]
• [p]Added tape to the episode and transition titles. (Added in 1.41)[/p]
• [p]Added tape to the end screen title. (Added in 1.41)[/p]
• [p]Added popsticks behind the end screen buttons. (Added in 1.41)[/p]

[p]Character Textures[/p]

• [p]Some character poses are now on different textures, including newspaper, colored paper, cardboard, and more.[/p]

[h3]Expanded Soundtrack[/h3][p]New Music[/p]

• [p]Added a little new song called "Lullaby." (It was written for the flashback added to Episode 5.)[/p]
• [p]The Steam version of the soundtrack has been updated to include it.[/p]

[h3]Improved Story[/h3][p]Stronger Emotional Core[/p]

• [p]Episode 1: The new song plays faintly while Max is sleeping at the start.[/p]
• [p]Episode 3: Max now hears brief words from his father when he's cornered.[/p]

• [p]Episode 5: Added a brief flashback to the start of Episode 5 with Max and his father.[/p]
• [p]Episode 5: The Lullaby song now plays before Max stands up to the boss.[/p]
• [p]Episode 5: Max hears words from his father when he thinks back to his friends.[/p]

[p]General Improvements[/p]

• [p]Added heavy footsteps to the zombies approaching Max in Episode 1 and 3.[/p]
• [p]Added a couple more alternative lines throughout the story based on Player choices. (Added in 1.41)[/p]
• [p]Other minor adjustments to some other sequences to improve flow.[/p]

[h3]Improved Visuals[/h3][p]General[/p]

• [p]Lowered the frequency of the paper scraps blowing across the screen slightly.[/p]

[p]Episode 1[/p]

• [p]Replaced the sleeping scribble with the better one from Episode 4 + made it smaller.[/p]
• [p]Improved the Naomi sneaking up on the zombie scribble.[/p]
• [p]Improved the Sora killing the zombie scribble.[/p]

[p]Episode 4[/p]

• [p]Improved the Sora crying scribble + made it purple like the other art in the scene.[/p]

[p]Episode 5[/p]

• [p]Improved the Naomi thinking scribbles.[/p]

[p]Character Sprites[/p]

• [p]Improved Naomi's eyes on her idle frame.[/p]
• [p]Made Dr. Miller's eyes closed on her concerned frame.[/p]

[h3]Improved Microgames (Added in 1.41)[/h3]

• [p]Added a hammer to the whack-a-mole microgame.[/p]
• [p]Made the icons in the dragging microgame spawn closer to the goal.[/p]
• [p]Blocking in the boxing minigame now also rewards a point of progress.[/p]
• [p]Added an extra second to the confidence microgame.[/p]
• [p]In normal mode, Episode 1 microgames now have a 1 second bonus.[/p]
• [p]Changed the opening door microgame back to the clearer original.[/p]

[h3]Other Tweaks and Fixes[/h3][p]Bug Fixes[/p]

• [p]Fixed the Boss Rush crashing (whoops!).[/p]
• [p]Fixed a possible crash in the casino slot microgame. (Added in 1.41)[/p]

[p]UI[/p]

• [p]Added a sound effect when hovering over a story choice.[/p]

[p]Thanks so much to everyone who's played so far! If you encounter any bugs or issues, you can report them here. [/p][p]More soon,[/p][p]Jack[/p]

Dead Detention is part of Steam's Zombies vs. Vampires Fest 2025! To celebrate, you can grab the game for 70% off throughout the week long event! You can also grab the soundtrack for 20% off, too.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Thanks for playing!

More soon,
Jack