GAME PROGRESS REPORT - MARCH (Squeal little piggy special) (Patreon)

Hey folks,

It's time for a new game progress report.

Disclaimer: I'm posting these to be transparent on game development and show progress done. However, it goes without saying that some of the stuff you see here may be considered to be spoilers. Although I do my best to keep the big narrative points out (and believe me, there is a lot I would like to show, but that I'm leaving out for you to find and experience in game),

This month's saw the release of a new patch for 3072 AD, so there is no need to cover what you can play right now. The patch is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/tier-iii-unlock-100917228


Along with the work to get the 3072 AD patch ready, some notable progress was made on Squeal little piggy, my Femdom/Femboy protag game.

So this progress report will focus on it this time.

With that said, here is the report:

- UPGRADING from 1600x900 to full 2k resolution -

This is something I tried to do when I fist began 3072 AD but it wasn't possible at the time.

With the recent NGS file updates, it is now possible to bump the resolution of the games I make to a much higher resolution.

This means that the game will look more crips overall, but more importantly, you'll get to enjoy my art in them in a much higher resolution.

Sadly, I can't apply this bump in resolution for other game projects like 3072 AD or No escape reality. Updating all the game assets to fit this resolution would take MONTHS or work (practically remaking the game). It's just not worth it at this point, I would have to put the entire game on hold for months.

The 1600X900 rez doesn't look that bad when the game is actually running. (Especially on a regular HD monitor.). So while there is a difference, it's not a huge deal. I think 3072 AD will be fine at it's current resolution. And I plan on continuing on to not slow down the progress of the actual content.

That said, with Squeal being a rather "fresh" project at this point in time, there was still the opportunity to make that jump with it. So I made that jump.

It took me a few days to update all the game's assets to fit this new resolution. But honestly, it was worth it.

2K is the best compromise, I think, when it comes to performance, and also the rescaling of the maps in RPG Maker, etc... 4K seems a bit overkill.

You can check that link for a convenient slider of the "before and after" effect:
https://imgsli.com/MjUxMjM2

Or you can just look at this "split image".

- MORE UI updates and contextual/conditional dialog options -

With the bump to 2K, I did some more UI polishing for the phone feature and created dialog icons that change and appear based on context and conditions. (Shout-out to Scriptor who helped find a solution to achieve this.)

As I explained in the past, there are two main aspects to every "dating" partner in this game.

1) the affinity/affection level of the protag with the character (Indicated by a heart shaped meter in the phone app)

2) Tributing / Financial dominance. Indicated by dynamically changing tribute/drain amounts, which change depending on the characters changing level of "greed".

The general idea being, the "Affinity" with a character, the more dialog options that were "locked" before become available.

For a certain interaction that may move your relationship forward with the character, you may need a 1/2/3/4/5/6 minimal level of affection with said character (indicated by a heart icon and a number).

This is one of the main objectives of the game. You can increase your affinity through important story choices at certain times. And increasing your affection for all 3 characters is not going to be possible or very difficult.

(Note: the screenshots below have been edited with Photoshop to add the phone interface on the left side. In actuality, the phone wouldn't pop-up like that in the middle of a dialog. I'm just putting it there for you as reference for a side-by-side comparison.)



In this scenario, the second "greeting option" which required an affinity of 2 with Saito is locked because the protag only has an affinity of 1 with. Indicated on the phone app.

However, once the protag passes over level 2 of affinity with Saito, the second greeting option unlocks. Potentially moving the relationship forward.

Paying tribute also increases your affection level for said character, obviously.

And it's very effective. (It's not the only way, just performing the right actions and decisions can increase your affinity, but tributing is still VERY effective. Even required, to some extent, to really achieve last high levels of affection).

But doing so will increase the character's "level of greed". Which, in term, will make her more difficult to please with financial means and may in fact have dire consequences for the protag.

If the protagonist feels even MORE inclined to spoil the goddess, he may go the extra mile and ask her to "drain him". Which is essentially a much higher level of tribute, also affected by her "greed level." (Also note that a wallet drain is just that. The minimal amount to ask for one is doesn't mean she won't take everything the protag as on him at that time. So if you have more than the minimal amount required for a drain, she will take it all. Unlike regular tributes, that are just a fixed amount. So it might be best to do this when the available funds are just above the minimal amount for a drain. If that's what you want to do.)

Doing a drain will increase affinity with said character even more, but it will also increase the greed a lot. So be careful.

Anyways, the tributing system is also contextual and dynamic, with "lockable" dialog depending on whether you have enough to either do a regular tribute or a full wallet drain.

The idea is to mix actions, decisions, and a little bit of tributing to increase your affection. You can of course, to full "Finboy" or not at all, but this might have consequences.



If you don't have enough cash, you can tribute. You'll need to come back when you have earned enough.

Earning and paying regular tributes is a good way to keep the protag on her good side. With moderate consequences.

But if you REALLY want to go full FINBOY, you might want to try to go the extra mile and aim for full drains! But these will have consequences.

- Conclusion -

It's been a good couple of months with the progress on 3072 AD and Squeal.

Next month I will make new assets for 3072 AD for the second and final trials of Barb which will lead to her game-over scene.

Work will still continue on "Squeal", as I continue to get things ready for it's very first playable patch.

I will keep you all informed, as usual, as progress is made.

Thanks for your support.

Until next time!