Sometimes Always Monsters News

If it's been a little while since your first time through Sometimes Always Monsters, we've got a hot new update that's makes it a great time to re-enter for another tour across the country with your writer pals.

In addition to a stack of new content that's been added since launch (and more in this patch), we've also added the Author Outfits DLC to add some fresh styles to your fellow author companions. It's available right now for only $1.99, or even cheaper with the 25% launch discount until August 11.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1341860

In addition to the amazing new outfits, we've got a bunch of new stuff that's slowly been added to the game over the past month.

[h2]Character Selector[/h2]
Players who want to select which main character they'll play in Sometimes Always Monsters can now talk to the Dir. Nona character in the break room during the intro (while still controlling Shelly). There will be a conversation there that'll allow you to choose which player character you'd like to use.

[h2]Mobile DLC Control[/h2]
We've added a new button to the phone that will allow players to control their DLC options remotely, rather than having to be on the bus. This means you can change any of the author outfits, or the party dogs at any point during the game.

[h2]Hop on the Party Bus[/h2]
After everything is said and done with the finale sequence, players will now have the option to join a fun party on the bus where they'll have an opportunity to read their (now preserved) novel to the other authors, hear their takes on your chapters, and talk a little about the journey you've shared before you all head back home.

[h2]New Fan: Iago[/h2]
Sometime during your stop in Sequoia, you many encounter a new NPC named Iago. He's a bit of an odd person, some might even call him creepy. You'll have a conversation about your book, the intent with your work, and his interpretation of it. The responses you give may lead to an unfortunate situation.

[h2]New NPC: Amy[/h2]
There's a woman in Sequoia with a very old profession. Players can interact with her, and given a little covert language (and some funds) can spend the night off the bus having a little fun. Just pray that your spouse doesn't find out where you've been.

[h2]NPC Cameos[/h2]
Several active viewers on our Twitch channel have unlocked the ultimate reward via their stream points, earning themselves a brief NPC cameo in the game. You can find the characters integrated throughout the various cities, and their interactions have significant variation if you bring their favourite of the author companions with you. Want more details? Join our Discord, or catch one of the Twitch streams.

[h3]Here's what else is in the update:[/h3]

• Improvements to flow for Hassan's quest in Slab Town
  
• Fixed a bug with Alexa talking about games in the arcade
  
• Edited a typo with the self-defense instructor
  
• Added tutorial explanations for the treadmill mechanics
  
• Improved mechanics for the treadmill, exiting and going faster
  
• Updated flow for Pablo's quest in Slab Town
  
• Pablo's quest can now be completed if you make too many sandwiches
  
• Blocked player from entering Quarry Bar with Pablo while on-quest
  
• Added graphics for DLC character portraits and animations
  
• Removed the cellphone theft from the interaction with Aaron
  
• Added the ability to buy cellphones from Cellblock Mobile
  
• Using the cellphone hokey will no longer bring up the cellphone interface
  
• Updated some achievement unlocking for Pablo's quest to make it easier to get
  
• Calling authors on the phone will now reactivate their quest triggers if possible
  
• Fixed quest triggering with the authors for all unusual party acquisitions
  
• Edited some typos in the finale
  
• Added some new variants to the finale
  
• Pablo is now required for the player to give out lunches
  
• New option for players using controllers who want to type their titles still (see menu)
  
• Confirmed global permanence for the options, instead of per save file
  
• Fixed gym membership acquired through Stalker Media
  
• Updated Stalker Media with Character Mode content
  
• Updated several NPC interactions with Character Mode content
  
• Updated several object interactions with Character Mode content
  

As stated earlier, it's a great time to replay the game if you've only given it the once through, and we'll continue updating with new content in the near future. Don't forget to check our Discord and Twitch streams to see all the latest, and leave your feedback on what we should add next.

Wow, this one took way longer than expected. That's the way it goes sometimes, apparently. For a single piece of content, the new fan (Aaron) turned out to require a significant amount of extra testing (Thanks Ash) because of it's many extra choices and endings.

It's one of those situations where we had this specific apex moment we wanted to reach, but the lead-to and fallout both required a sizable amount of variance to follow the "real choice" logic that SAM typically demands. Would have felt dishonest cutting the options short or pasting them into eachother, so it came down to just writing a ton of extra script and adding appropriate variability mechanics based on your character's stats. Anyway, it's a cool scene, and we hope you enjoy it.

Going forward, we hope to add more content like it if people are interested in it. It's a little less like some of the world-features, and a lot more story-focused. Though it's relatively isolated, it speaks to where the player is in terms of the main arc, at the point it happens. Let us know what you think of it.

[h2]New Fan: Aaron[/h2]
In the latter days of your New Creole stop, players who explore the city may encounter a new NPC named Aaron. This character is a little disgruntled, a little opinionated, and a little aggressive about the new book that you're working on. He comes from a place of earnest passion, but things can quickly take a turn for the worse if he isn't satisfied by your answers during the confrontation. There are a lot of different ways that this encounter can end, but it's a fairly isolated incident. Be cautious, things can get ugly.

Spoilers: Fit players, and those who learned boxing in ASM will have an advantage here.

[h2]Missing Puzzle Pieces[/h2]
Not a terribly deep feature, but the authors on board the bus will now sometimes work on a puzzle that will complete itself over the course of the tour. There's a minor thread about a missing piece that needs the player's help, but it's a pretty dumb piece of content all-considered. More importantly it sets up a bit of framework that'll help expand future activities for authors sitting in the table-seats.

[h3]Here what else is in the update:[/h3]

• Added a flashlight to the player's inventory
  
• Expanded win and lose dialogue with the authors playing AirPuck with ~50 new lines
  
• Added additional dialogue for spouse playing AirPuck, and fixed their portrait display
  
• When playing AirPuck in gym clothes or swimsuit, players will no longer appear in normal clothes
  
• Edited a typo explaining that you need to "throw babies out of the window" in Fire Escape
  
• Reduced duplication time of fire in Fire Escape game to make things a little easier for everyone
  
• Changed the art for newly-spawned fires to help indicate direction of the spread better
  
• Improved art for the Sequoia movie theater exterior to better highlight the entrance doors
  
• Removed the Box Mover arcade game from Con-Mart
  
• Players can no longer masturbate in public, or in front of the other authors at will
  
• Added sexy comments from your spouse, if you masturbate in front of them
  
• Spouse may now incite sex if you masturbate in front of them
  
• Made transfer into Stalker media immediate after the authors leave you
  
• Players may now get painkillers and prescriptions (WIP) after visiting hospital
  
• Edited a typo in the Meaningful Mother sequence
  
• Fixed a gamefreeze when dealing with the drunk driver NPC at 2ELF
  
• Viper / Darkeff will no longer give players a reservation to Pancha's Plancha (your spouse will)
  
• Updated the Haunted Mansion and Alexa's misadventure with more Character Mode content
  
• Updated the visit to Casey's apartyment with more Character Mode content
  
• Added manual control to the game's initial philosophy shout
  
• Players will now have the option to write when the typewriter suggests not to
  
• Writing in jail will no longer be impeded by loneliness
  
• Fixed some muddied save data sets in some endings where player went to jail
• During the finale, characters will now never disappear after suicide

As a small parting aside, the stats are telling us that a lot of you have missed the free Party Dogs DLC that we released, so... go download it. This thing's free, and it's fun! Cool dogs are the best.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1292640

We've got more cool stuff cooking, but we'll spare you the details for now.
Until then, we'll catch you on Twitch, on Discord, or on Twitter.

[h2]- VD[/h2]

This week we felt like working on some more opportunities to hang out with the other authors, as it's one of the elements about the game that's most fun for most players. A new commentary system has been developed that's going to make it even easier to add little sit-down conversations with your fellow scribes, and (apart from the breadth of writing) they can be implemented with relative ease. In coming updates this is likely to manifest as opportunities to chat over coffee, or other similar situations.

We also resolved a common request to summon authors to you via phone call. The feature has been tested fairly thoroughly on the public beta over the past week, but it is a game-wide change and so it's possible there may still be some situations where authors can be inappropriately accessed. If you run into any weird, just let us know. We've got a clever setup for quick fixes on this particular feature.

[h2]Arcade Upgrades[/h2]
Golden City Arcade in Portsmith has had a minor remodel, and some new features added. Players can now take manual control of the air hockey table, and can challenge the other authors to a game. Authors have variable skill, and commentary on the game. There's a new seating area that players can chill at, and bringing another author with you will trigger a conversation about their ideas on video games.

[h2]Phone a Friend[/h2]
Calling your fellow authors while out and about will now sometimes trigger the option to invite them to join you, wherever you are. This will let you have more freedom, as you won't need to walk back to the bus to switch active party members. Your current party member will always return to the bus if you switch, but this should allow you

[h3]Here's what else is in the update:[/h3]

• Trying to call an Unter car from 2ELF now concludes properly.
  
• When calling authors before the finale, it'll no longer suggest that they're on the bus.
  
• Updated the "Same Old Song" achievement in Gator Bay to pop for all possible cases
  
• Added better explanation for how to use the gun range, and added numbers to the gun bays
  
• Cleared an improper portrait of the spouse appearing inappropriately in Pancha's Plancha
  
• Guaranteed that the Sisyphus achievement will pop after 1000 levels completed
  
• Replaced a duplicate dialogue line for Alexa in the Haunted Mansion
  
• Updated some door triggers for the author's toasting at the Quarry Bar in Slab Town
  
• Changed inventory graphics for clothing / towels to help clarify them at first glance a little better
  
• Revamped the laundry cycle system (again) to better guarantee the system cycles properly
  
• Casey will no longer misgender their child when the player calls
  
• Your spouse will no longer misgender their parent while playing Never Have I Ever
  
• Added better conditional checks for save scumm accusations in the finale
  
• Spouse will no longer ask to read the Stalker Media article if they're with you when you read it
  
• Prison portraits will now appropriately show in relevant save files game data
  
• Being in jail will no longer turn all your save file game data to prison portraits
  
• Cancelling out of handing the librarian a book will no longer recall the last book accessed
  
• Hung Chan will no longer try to invite himself to hang out at the alien museum
  
• Detective Ricky will now call the player one day later
  
• Detective Ricky will no longer call the player while they're in jail
  
• Improved the dialogue of folks exercising on the machines, and prevented them from misgendering
  
• Prevented players from attempting to re-enter Pancha's Plancha after they've been through once
  
• Wives will no longer suggest that their husbands get pregnant
  
• Updated some art for a bunch of food items
  
• Various additions to character mode dialogues
  
• Various typo and dialogue updates
  

Going forward this week we'll hopefully finish the jigsaw puzzle activity / quest that was started on our last development stream, as well as some progress on a few new lengthy NPC side-quests that we've been working on. As of now there's plans to inject a new character with extensive interactions into New Creole, and unlock one of the buildings in Sequoia. These additions should help get the early-mid game feel a little more full, before folks get to Gator Bay (which is absolutely packed with content).

Progress on Character Mode has continued, as all new and retouched content has been made to work with the feature. Though, it's still going to take a very long time to get it operational across the entirety of the game. It's a very daunting task for a single writer.

Lastly, we expanded out presence on Twitch this week with a new schedule, and also enabled a bunch of fun new features. This means that in addition to the development streams airing on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 PM EST, you can now watch The Devs battle in Dog Gone Golfing every Monday at 7:00 PM.

You can also tune in to a casual industry chat with various guests Thursdays at 7:00 PM EST. Our most recent was with Shaun Hatton and Keith Thompson of LASER DESTROYER TEAM who produced both of the soundtracks for Sometimes Always Monsters and Always Sometimes Monsters. You can catch the VOD of it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90xJpo96Yn0

Hope you guys enjoy the new content. Feel free to stop in the Community Discord to make a request and we'll catch you on the next one!

[h3]- VD[/h3]

So, we're running a sale on both Sometimes Always Monsters and Always Sometimes Monsters for the next few days. This promotion is part of an effort to help the conclusion of the INDIE MEGABOOTH organization which is shutting down due to the situation surrounding COVID-19.

The folks at the IMB have been incredibly supportive of Vagabond Dog over the years, and helped us get the exposure we did during our first showcase events. We've been grateful to be part of the community ever since, and are hoping that this sale will help ease the transition for the organization as gaming events worldwide cease operation. Check out the massive sale, help one of the pillars of the indie game community, and grab some cool indie games in the process. There's tons of fantastic titles on discount.

As part of the promotion we'll continue doing daily streams for both Always Sometimes Monsters and Sometimes Always Monsters, returning to Steam Broadcast (instead of Twitch) until this weekend. They've been very productive for us, and have resulted in the new content you'll find in this update.

Lastly, we want to thank all of you who've been leaving (or updating) reviews lately. We see the positive reaction to the changes we've been making to the game, and appreciate your response to it. It's really energizing our work, and feels like a confirmation we're continuing in the right direction. Thank you!

[h2]New Content[/h2]
[h3]Romantic Dinner Date[/h3]
While in Gator Bay, players can now go on a romantic dinner date with their spouse to the restaurant known as Pancha's Plancha. While there, they'll be able to have an in-depth conversation about the spouse's career prospects, discuss their plans for after the tour, and engage in a little bit of "public fun" (assuming you don't get caught). The dinner reservation is gained on the morning of the last day in Gator Bay, and can be enjoyed in that evening before you go to the book reading.

[h3]Character Mode (WIP)[/h3]
One of the biggest bits of feedback we've seen repeated in reviews and posts about the game is a desire for the protagonist to speak more, show portrait, and engage with the conversations beyond their choices; as they did in Always Sometimes Monsters. The current design was chosen because of some old feedback we got regarding the excessive exposition and misinterpretation of choice options in ASM. Although we are personally happy with the current dialogue system, we recognize that people have different tastes, and we want folks to have the experience they desire.

Thus, we've implemented a new option in the menu for variance in dialogue modes. Now you can choose between the current (Immersive) mode and a new work-in-progress (Character) mode. This new mode will let players have the more pronounced protagonist they desire, with shown portraits, verbalization of their choices, and some extra reactions/responses in dialogues.

Please be aware that although we are adding this feature to the options now, the content for it will take a very long time to fully develop and implement across the entirety of the game. Currently only a very small number of scenes have this functionality, but we will continue slowly working on revisions to existing content, as well as build new content with the feature in mind. Though, we encourage players to try out the mode with the newest scene (Pancha's Plancha) to get a taste of how it should play.

[h3]Here's what else is in the update:[/h3]

• Improved graphics / seating in the back room of the arcade
  
• Players will have fewer hungry notifications before going to bed
  
• Eating piles of hamburgers with other authors will no longer make you hungry before bed
  
• Wrote a missing blurb for the spouse interacting with Yasi's book posters
  
• Fixed a game freeze during the "Sam Cuts Sam" ending
  
• You can now use the keyboard to name your character during the C&C game
  
• Cleared a sticky portrait after declining to play video games at home once interacting with the TV
  
• Cricket sounds should no longer persist in the house
  
• Reduced the level cap for Sisyphus arcade game, making the achievement 10x easier to get
  
• Collisions during the dance class can no longer freeze the game, if dancers get stuck in corners
  
• Improved accuracy of the reflection's positioning in reloads in The Church of Reflection
  
• Renamed the delete key on some keyboards from "ESC" to "DEL"
  
• Repaired some incorrect triggers surrounding the closure of Hermes is Missing in New Creole
  
• Made Casey have appropriate dialogues when laying on the couch during secondary visits
  
• Theater films now have credits sequences that affect speed of re-watching
  
• Fixed some portrait issues with a homeless guy that Hassan pays off for information
  
• Prevented players from ghosting on to the roof of the Bricklayer Society building
  
• Re-lit a scene that went black after playing C&C with Sheena
  
• Sitting with authors on double-chairs will no longer trigger temp conversations
  
• The librarian now considers Mein Kampf a racist book
  
• Made it more obvious how to conclude interaction with the mirror at The Church of Reflection
  
• Added a controller-friendly quit system to Sisyphus
  
• Added variant hotkey explanations for controller users during SwagFest introduction
  
• Treadmill now has unique comments based on player outfit (or lack thereof)
  
• Added easier exits to the treadmill for controller-players
  
• Players can now throw rotten fruit and spoiled food in the trash, instead of just the compost bin
  
• Fixed a stoplight in Sequoia that was still allowing players to get killed by stationary vehicles
  
• Allowed meatballs to be selected as an extra ingredient in the cooking system
  
• Improved follower move routes during the self-defense class in Sequoia
  
• Limited how many chickadees the hermit will take if you try to give him more than 10 at once
  
• Allowed players to clean their own garbage after eating at Bullet Burger
  
• Authors, spouse, and drivers now comment if player runs into a stationary vehicle or get hit by car
  
• Fixed some issue with the washing machine at home
  
• Added new music to play after you finish watching a movie at the theater
  
• Fixed a variety of musical deadzones where music required manual player control
  
• Improved the tutorial for Fire Escape: Orphan Inferno
  
• Added character selection options to Fire Escape: Orphan Inferno
  
• Forced new music to play once finished with Fire Escape: Orphan Inferno
  
• Fixed shower / cooking end of laundry cycles to complete whole cycles (not just turn it off)
  
• Removed a duplicate line from Sheena's post C&C game conversation
  
• Moved achievement trigger for feeding the mechanic to after you feed him (not during his request)
  
• Added more convenient exits to the gym showers for players using controllers
  
• Fixed an issue where tiny background people could phase through the break room environment
  
• Changed the spelling of rizotto to risotto
  
• Updated the mechanic's list of hunger desires to include a new variety of items in New Creole
  
• Made the mechanic accept the delicious french toast you made him
  
• Alexa / Sheena vignette now has variant dialogue if you have an all-girls author group
  
• Removed invitation for spouse to play "Never Have I Ever" if they aren't on the bus
  
• Added a vending machine in the gym change rooms that sells soap, shampoo, and conditioner
  
• Wrote additional variance lines for the bouncer at 2ELF
  
• Rewrote part of Trisha / Sheena vignette to better dialogue flow and retain character accuracy
  
• Removed duplicate portraits from cultists
  
• Changed the text from "Quick$tarter" to "Beef Heaven" for the Unter option in Sequoia
  
• Improved variance of text for Xander and Ted if player kills Malva during the C&C game
  
• Blocked players from re-accessing the fan's email once they leave Portsmith or finish that event
  
• Removed some duplicate event triggers for DeMarcus at the Gun Range
  
• Stopped phone calls from prison (until new ones are written)
  
• Wrote unique reactions for all authors and spouse when you return from prison
  
• Added a clear notification that you're supposed to call an Unter car to go to Shelly's party
  
• Fixed a couple issues that made it very difficult for Big Deal to buy concert tickets
  
• Edited a bunch of typos, improved a bunch of dialogue
  

We hope you enjoy the new content, fixes, and updates. Don't forget to leave us a review on Steam if you haven't yet, as we monitor the feedback there and it helps us a lot. There's also plenty of room left in our Discord Community if you're looking for a place to talk about the game, ask questions, or just waste time.

Saturday and Sunday at 1PM EST, we'll be returning to Twitch for more Development Streams. Join the chat, talk with The Devs, and influence what gets built in the next update: stream.vagabonddog.com

[h2]- VD[/h2]

We had a really interesting weekend with LudoNarraCon and our first experiences doing development livestreams. It was really invigorating to have a bunch of you watch our process making new content, and join the chat to leave extra suggestions. We'd never considered having such a collaborative development experience, but it's been a lot of fun.

In addition to getting to talk with all of you and show off our ridiculous workflow, we actually got a lot of things finished. This update, more than others, has a lot of new content to enjoy. Check it all out:

[h3]New Content:[/h3]
Seafood Vendors
Two new detailed NPCs are ready to sell you some fresh seafood, and can be found in New Creole and Gator Bay. They both deliver regional specialties, and offer players the opportunity to haggle prices on their daily catch. Just be sure to get to them in the morning, as stock dwindles over the day and costs go up before they completely run out in the evening. Bring a friend with you to the buy and get a pinch of insight into how they feel about crustaceans.

New Store (Beef Heaven)
Where the old QuickStarter shop once stood in Sequoia, now hosts a new butchery called Beef Heaven. In there you can pick up some steaks for grilling, or meatballs for spaghetti. There's also veal and ground product, along with an exclusive new barbecue sauce. There's also a lot of little interactives, some new interactions with the authors, and some deep lore about Sequoia's farming industries. Plus, a subtle little nightmare for certain save importers.

Burgers w/ Friends Includes new achievement
Tired of eating food on the bus? Tired of eating alone? Grab your spouse, or one of the authors and head to Bullet Burger for a serious chow session. After buying your burgers, grab a seat with them and eat until the two of you can't stomach any more. Light conversations revealing more about the author's opinions of one another will come to light, and you'll be able to stake a claim about your friendships as well. Note that this is a one-time venture per friend, as few can stomach multiple monstrous burger chow sessions.

Never Have I Ever... Includes new achievement
Being stuck on a bus without much to do can lead to some pretty desperate plots for entertainment. Now, on evenings while rolling between cities, the authors have a chance of sparking up a game of "Never Have I Ever". During the game, the authors, the player, and their spouse will stand around, revealing truths about themselves while getting plastered. It's a good way of getting to know each other a little better, and to pass the time while you travel between towns.

[h3]Here's what else is in the update:[/h3]

• Fixed a handful of little errors in various rare finale sequences
  
• Fixed an error where player would walk to the wrong author to talk during event setups
  
• Made the compass clear properly when players are rescued from the desert
  
• Removed chickadees from inventory when you abandon them
  
• Hermes will now ask to speak to you (to get his phone back) before you return to bus
  
• Added some happier music to some of the happier finale credits
  
• Taking one plate to wash from the home table now takes all of them
  
• Water sound effect in bathroom ends if you don't turn off faucet
  
• Players now have to poop less
  
• Edited a couple typos
  

Considering the benefit of the stream and the joy it's brought us, we're making plans to do more of them.

Starting on Saturday and Sunday at 1PM EST, we'll being broadcasting more development and gameplay previews at twitch.tv/vagabonddog. Follow the channel, and come join us while we're live.

Read more details for our plans right here.