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Author Topic: Horn of Balance  (Read 521816 times)

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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1620 on: October 29, 2023, 08:45:46 pm »
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And here's you regularly weekend progress update:

- The big thing for this weekend has been the results from the latest pixelart commission. I'm still in the progress of implementing all the new objects and tiles, but expect to see more new content soon.
- Aside from that, I've started the progress of further tweaking and implementing the mountains from last time. As you can see in the screenshot I've switched over to a darker pallet in order to make other objects stand out more. I'm still in the progress of trying it out in the different daytimes and worlds, but I'm pretty happy with the results so far. It also nicely allows for transitions into the darker top soil, that I was already using in other areas. So that's another challenge dealt with like this. (Although I might still use the earlier colorpallet in one of the other locations eventually)

Oh, and finally:
I've been looking over my development schedule again. The mountain tiles really held things up, but now that they are done:
I'm expecting demo 2.0 to be completed and released early to mid december! XD
So look forward to that!

PS:
A few health related issues have come up recently (and I will be missing a week of work in november), but that's been factored in already.

Progress report:
Code: [Select]
v0.27.109 (27 oktober 2023)
* Tweaked mountain tileset and started implementing in full overworld
* Started pixelart commission review process

v0.27.110 (28 oktober 2023)
* Reviewed, tweaked and started implementation latest pixelart package

v0.27.111 (29 oktober 2023)
* Completed review new pixelart package
* Implemented several new overworld and cave tiles
* Fixed error regarding returning to holes hidden underneath tall grass
* Tweaked overworld tiling
* Made it tiles underneath cut grass undiggable
* Implemented various new overgrown garden archways
* Implemented new visuals bomb pickups
* Recalculated business case slightly
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1621 on: November 05, 2023, 10:02:35 pm »
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Sick at the moment, so I'm skipping the description for the weekend.

Progress report:
Code: [Select]
v0.27.112 (3 november 2023)
* Added and implemented extra tiles to the mountain tileset for the sides of angled hills
* Made more progress implementing the mountain tileset further in the entire overworld
* Fixed depth issue shadows large trees
* Reworked overworld starting room a bit more
* Expanded base room transition sequences for easier usage
* Tweaked rose archway slightly
* Fixed doorway when entering later mansion out of order
* Implemented a few more overworld tiles

v0.27.113 (4 november 2023)
* Implemented north and south mine entrances
* Implemented new cave entrances
* Implemented new mountain tileset into one of the later dungeons
* Expanded mountain tileset with additional tiles
* Fixed depth issue when exiting a later dungeon
* Made more progress implementing the new overworld mountain tileset across the full game
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1622 on: November 27, 2023, 11:38:38 am »
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I have a few points of good news:
- The last remaining pixelart for the new demo is now done and implemented
- One of the two remaining music tracks is now done. The other one is being worked on and should (fingers crossed) be done by the 30th.
- Private playtesting is ongoing and can switch to public playtesting next weekend IF the last track is done by then.
- I've finished the storyboard for the game's trailer. Note that it'll be a little while before I can show the finished version publicly (because I want to include more areas compared to the demo), but it will be my next main goal past the demo.

Progress report:
Code: [Select]
v0.27.114 (10 november 2023)
* Expanded mountain tileset with deep water border animated tiles
* Made more progress implementing mountain tileset across the game

v0.27.115 (11 november 2023)
* Finished implementing mountain tileset across the next demo's explorable space
* Tweaked overworld tiling + masking
* Implemented visuals for a series of new containers and pushable objects
* Expanded container respawn requirements
* Expanded code to allow pushing/pulling of objects directly above enemies or containers (= on floor above)

v0.27.116 (12 november 2023)
* Implemented new cave wall lights
* Added new visuals for cave doorways, exits and inner stairs

v0.27.117 (17 november 2023)
* Tweaked menu text to better explain what the smoke pallets do
* Added new visuals for cave stairs within rooms
* Tweaked speed on regular staircases

v0.27.118 (18 november 2023)
* Added new visuals for cave conditional and locked doors
* Made progress spriting the new waterfall tiles

v0.27.119 (19 november 2023)
* Switched over to the demo 2 playable area and dealt with the various bugs and checkboxes resulting from the first playtest sessions

v0.27.120 (20 november 2023)
* Added (hidden) shortcut to make Linden wave to the camera (=ctrl+5)
* Continued tweaking demo 2 based on player feedback
* Made demo dungeon enemies slightly stronger
* Decreased starting health
* Added ability to recomplete demo dungeon multiple times on the same savefile
* Tweaked visuals special pressure plates
* Added new visuals for on-off blocks

v0.27.121 (21 november 2023)
* Put together a very early mockup trailer
* Adjusted some dialogue to better fit the new demo
* Fixed error when turning enemies to stone

v0.27.122 (22 november 2023)
* Spend time reviewing the new music tracks
* Fixed issues when screen transitioning while diving
* Tweaked more NPC dialogue
* Added ability to hookshot towards big trees
* Trees have now become action objects
* Fixed visuals NPC scene in water dungeon
* Fixed issue with one of the “medallion” character actions
* Made the hammer feel more powerful

v0.27.123 (23 november 2023)
* Added more dungeon map boss icons – for fun. Only applies for later dungeons.
* Fixed dungeon map boss animation when on the floor below the boss
* Finished new visuals for waterfalls

v0.27.124 (24 november 2023)
* Implemented new visuals for waterfalls

v0.27.125 (25 november 2023)
* Added various new cave flavour objects
* Updated the Itch page in anticipation of the next demo
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1623 on: November 30, 2023, 01:36:57 pm »
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And here it finally is:
Demo 2.0 is out on the main Itch page:  XD
 https://hornofbalance.itch.io/horn-of-balance-pre-ks-demo  (see version 0 28 xxx)

*So what's new?*
- A compact intro area to play through before getting to the demo dungeon
- More world building and characters to meet
- Energetic new music from a new composer
    (Who I may also have redo the earlier dungeon music, so feedback on the new style is welcome!)
- More Murray!!
- A new item: the shovel
- More bugfixes and stability updates
- And of course all the incremental improvements added between demo 1.0 and 1.5

Hope you enjoy! And feel free to leave me your thoughts if you've had a chance to play it.


Oh, and as a little cliffhanger:
More progress has also been made on some locations outside of the demo area, but more on that in near future.  ;)

----

EDIT: Updated the download link/description
« Last Edit: December 01, 2023, 12:21:31 pm by Martijn dh »
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1624 on: December 03, 2023, 06:48:50 pm »
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Well, this has been the final day of my latest vacation period.  :'(
I've been in crunch mode for a little while now (=working on a trailer for the game), so if you'll excuse me I'm going to keep it short (yet again) as I jump right back in trying to squeeze as much out of these last few hours as possible.

That being said: the rough trailer draft already seemed to get people excited, so the final results look to be well worth it.
Here's a little teaser of something new that'll be included in one of the shots.  ;)

Progress report:
Code: [Select]
v0.28.002 (1 december 2023)
* Made more progress on trailer (assets)
* Replaced visuals dungeon deep water
* Tweaked and implemented some new mansion garden tiles
* Updated masking in mansion dungeon
* Implemented several new art commissions

v0.28.003 (2 december 2023)
* Made more progress on trailer (assets)
* Implemented new visuals for one more enemy type
* Implemented new visuals for several movable objects

v0.28.004 (3 december 2023)
* Made more progress on trailer (assets)
* Added new visuals for more enemies and areas
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1625 on: December 08, 2023, 08:53:38 am »
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I had to keep quiet about it before, but..
Horn of Balance demo 2.0 is now formally released to play at the surprise Christmas SAGE event.
Event link: https://www.sagexpo.org/games.html

(Which is also the reason why I only stealth launched the game on Itch earlier. Not counting the posts here of course)

There's also a bunch of other fan and indie games at the SAGE event so why not check it out.
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1626 on: December 10, 2023, 10:25:08 pm »
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Is it Sunday already?!

Man, this week has been a rough one behind the scenes. Nevertheless, I am nearly done with the trailer. Just need to cut the final re-recorded (1.5 GB worth of) footage down to the final length. After that it will be send to a pretty big Youtuber for a premier showing sometime mid December.

And then up next in my master plan for December will be:
- Commissioning more new music
- Submitting the Steam store page
- Setting up the game for multiple languages (or at least to start laying the groundwork)
- Ramping up the advertisement efforts

Progress report:
Code: [Select]
v0.28.005 (4 december 2023)
* Made more progress on trailer (assets)
* Tweaked a few more tiles

v0.28.006 (5 december 2023)
* Made more progress on trailer (assets)
* Fixed a serie of reported typos
* Fixed split second prompt on demo dungeon big stairs

v0.28.007 (6 december 2023)
* Fixed more reported typos
* Fixed starting with the pellets item

v0.28.008 (7 december 2023)
* Got taken out by dental complications from an earlier appointment
* Switched map chest colors to make more sense
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1627 on: December 16, 2023, 12:04:07 pm »
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YES!!!
The steam page for the game just went live:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2738140/Horn_of_Balance/
LET'S GO! XD

Please wishlist the game! And stay tuned for the next step: the upcoming trailer!
Lots of big developments this month.
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1628 on: December 22, 2023, 04:52:40 am »
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Wow! Unexpected, but congratulations nonetheless.
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1629 on: December 23, 2023, 09:12:38 am »
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Have faith my friend. The future is looking bright XD

Case in point:
I've just been informed that my game('s trailer) will be feature on this channel in the next 1-2 days: https://www.youtube.com/@ClemmyGames
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1630 on: December 27, 2023, 06:11:19 pm »
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It's good to be back home again! With my precious laptop adaptor in hand (which I definitely did not forget to pack a few days ago ::) ). It was quite the hearty holidays this year so I'm all relaxed now. Even got pages and pages of new ideas to try out next year. XD

Also: Clemmy featured the trailer in his video, so I can finally share the full version as well: https://youtu.be/5I3jhNeF2VU
Hope you like it!
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1631 on: January 01, 2024, 09:12:19 pm »
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Progress report:
Code: [Select]
v0.28.009 (9-15 december 2023)
* Finished trailer assets

v0.28.010 (15-17 december 2023)
* Commissioned next batch of music tracks
* Started groundwork for allowing for multiple languages
* Restructured how Boss and Area introduction text is stored

v0.28.011 (22-23 december 2023)
* Fixed chest color reference in cave hinttext
* Made more progress separating out all the game's text (for later language options)

v0.28.012 (24 december 2023)
* Fixed catching a wind elemental giving you the darkness elemental
* Using a restoring elemental when already at full mp/hp will now release it (thus allowing you to empty nests)
* Made more progress isolating game's text (for coming language option)

v0.28.013 (28 december 2023)
* Tweaked demo dungeon subboss for better stability
* Made more progress isolating game's text (for coming language option)

v0.28.014 (29 dec 2023 – 1 jan 2024)
* Made more progress isolating game's text (for coming language option)
* Overhauled journal data setup
* Overhauled text engine text input files
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1632 on: January 07, 2024, 10:47:21 pm »
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Went a bit late in order to get the extended fonts working (to be be able the full French language), so I'm keeping the update minimal again.

Progress report:
Code: [Select]
v0.28.015 (3 januari 2024)
* Made more progress isolating game's text (for coming language option)

v0.28.016 (6-7 januari 2024)
* Finished isolating game's text (for coming language option)
* Added placeholder language option to the options menu
* Expanded fonts for French language
« Last Edit: January 07, 2024, 10:49:28 pm by Martijn dh »
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1633 on: January 14, 2024, 10:38:31 pm »
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Progress report:
Code: [Select]
v0.28.017 (8 januari 2024)
* Further expanding fonts for the missing œ letter/symbol
* Implemented the first French translations that came in
* Replaced one of the ingame fonts that got messed up by some windows change
* Fixed error with a late game boss name

v0.28.018 (9-12 januari 2024)
* Applied more translations
* Fixed a few language related alignment issues
* Expanded fonts with several more special letters
* Added options to use special letters in your character's name. (Although we all know that Linden is the best hero name ever, so why would you ever want to ??!!)

v0.28.019 (13 januari 2024)
* Added a roomhint in one of the basement rooms in the demo dungeon that's on the critical path
* Improved demo intro boss stability
* Lower default and max music volume values
* Positioning in options menu now remembered between screens
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1634 on: January 21, 2024, 10:30:47 pm »
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Progress report:
Code: [Select]
v0.28.020 (15 januari 2024)
* Fixed minor coloring irregularity within demo boss fight
* Tweaked boss atk values ever so slightly
* Fixed collision issues after hitting an enemy with the atk boost if it does not kill the enemy
* Fixed a placeholder sprite showing up in the demo dungeon mountain range

v0.28.021 (18 januari 2024)
* Fixed masking issue in the cave to the big demo dungeon
* Reviewed new music demos

v0.28.022 (19 januari 2024)
* Temporarily disabled french language for the next demo
* Added extra language debug function
* Default character name is set to Linden
* Expanded screen resolution options
* Made smaller pushable statues easier to distinguish

v0.28.023 (20 januari 2024)
* Re-enabled french language in the options
* Replaced the upslash sound effect with the actual custom sound made for it. (Can't believe I forgot to actually apply it) :S
* Prepared next sound effect commission package

v0.28.024 (21 januari 2024)
* Added new visuals for floor grates
* Fixed small tiling issue in dungeon A04
* Added new visuals for magical blocks
* Created and added new (dis)appear animation for magical blocks
* Fixed small oversight between magic blocks and enemy collisions
* Made hero immune while a little into performing the 360 attack
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1635 on: January 28, 2024, 03:36:11 pm »
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Some big news this weekend:
- We have a Kickstarter start date -> March 8th! XD
Follow the project here for a notification the instance it starts. Which will help get one of the cheaper early bird copies ;).
- Also demo 2.1 has been released over on Itch!
- And the Steam review process has been initiated, so expect the demo on Steam soon as well!

More details can be read over in this Itch blog post:
https://hornofbalance.itch.io/horn-of-balance-pre-ks-demo/devlog/668213/10-demo-update-and-kickstarter-launch-date
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1636 on: February 12, 2024, 12:21:37 pm »
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Hey everybody,

I was so caught up in things that I completely forgot to do actual updates. Long story short (as I'm on my break from work right now):
- A demo has now also been released on Steam! It was a bit more complicated than expected at first, but it's yet another milestone reached. XD
- Already updated the demo based on the Steam stats: the early areas have been made slightly simpler (= more hints and smoother curve). The average Steam playtime has been going up, so that's good!
- There's still new dungeon music coming in. 8)
- A new batch of sound effects has also been commissioned, covering about 1/3 of all the remaining sounds needed for the full game. So that's actually big step being made on that front.
- And also put out the next pixel art commission package. So there's progress on all fronts of development at the moment.

Progress report:
Code: [Select]
v0.28.025 (22 januari 2024)
* Adjusted sound effects when using the cane item without magic or at an invalid location
* Fixed funny glitch resulting a dual 360 sword atk when the enemy blocks the hit during certain frames
* Fixed not being able to create magic blocks on some bridges

v0.28.026 (26 januari 2024)
* Tinkered around a lot looking to replace a few more old sound effects; replaced one more sound effect
* Reviewed latest music track

v0.28.027 (29 januari 2024)
* Made new demo version for sound effect commission testing

v0.28.028 (30 januari 2024)
* Added boss name to initialse encounting of the demo boss
* Fixed max amount of secret(chests) on the credits screen to be 4 instead of 3

v0.28.029 (3 februari 2024)
* Added sound effect to adjusting sound effect volume

v0.28.030 (5-7 februari 2024)
* Reviewed new music and sound effects
* Fixed a placeholder mountain tile accidently visible again
* Implemented various new sound effects

v0.28.031 (8 februari 2024)
* Reviewed more new sound effects
* Delete button no longer acts as default cancel button
* Several more keyboard buttons (including the numlock area) are now valid for key rebinding
* Made intro boss do less damage
* Added extra text and visual hints to weakpoint intro boss
* Added more hints to the early demo obstacles (= mostly making sure players don't just receive text based hints)
* Tweaked NPC dialogue hinttext
* Rotated starting equipable elementals
* Added extra sound effect to rusted buttons
* Added hinttext to intro boss fight

======================
Released demo 2.2
======================

v0.28.032 (9-10 februari 2024)
* Put out new pixel art commission package
* Tiled another new room
* Reviewed more French translations

v0.28.033 (11 februari 2024)
* Reviewed more French translations
* Reviewed new music demo
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1637 on: February 12, 2024, 06:43:24 pm »
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How much does it cost you to do a project like this just about?
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1638 on: February 12, 2024, 07:39:29 pm »
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How much time and money did I spend on this game do you mean?
Oof. Uuhm.. Welll... That's kinda a painful question. Hahahaha!

Its pretty massive with about 18 years of time spend all in all. Just this last year was already at least 8 or 900 hours spent in total on my end, if not over a thousand. Although I have really raised my efforts a lot for the demo/trailer/Kickstarter deadlines. I also had missed income due to taking extra time off from work. The sprites, sound effects, music, fees and misc expenses just last year have also been several thousand euros. Which is honestly very low. You can easily spend several times that amount for the same work depending if you're unlucky with partners and rework. (Also the reason why I'm doing a Kickstarter to be able to complete the game).

If you're interested cause you want to make games yourself then I highly HIGHLY recommend picking a different genre. Zelda-likes are some of the more complex options out there. At least coding wise. Smaller puzzle and/or action game are way more viable and less risky. Tactics and strategy games are also better options cause there's a bigger market for them on Steam.
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Re: Horn of Balance
« Reply #1639 on: February 13, 2024, 06:33:25 pm »
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Yikes. Well, something to keep in mind if I ever do make something.
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