Hmm, some of those item icons look familiar.

Updated the license file on github and also first page to include you and other spriters.
Thanks again for your awesome spriting work.

I've just released the next demo update (= 1.4) over on Itch.io.
Link: https://hornofbalance.itch.io/horn-of-balance-pre-ks-demo/devlog/614590/06-demo-14-released
Hope you enjoy it.

Release highlights:
* Better shield:
    - You can now move while shielding
    - Shields don't just block projectiles, but also guard against (most) enemies
* Extra starting equipment:
    - The stone sprite - Whatever will it do, I wonder
    - The fire sprite - Linden is about to get all fired up
* Added a few extra shortcuts to cut down on backtracking
* Tweaked a few puzzles and rooms to better guide new players
* Made the sub-boss slightly harder
* Made it visually more obvious when you collect small keys
* Fixed the collisions between your sword's smear effect and banners


Progress report:

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v0.27.96 (25 september 2023)
* Completed and implemented cave wall/floor tiles
* Tweaked outside NPC texts slightly
* Experimented with new flower visuals

v0.27.97 (26 september 2023)
* Finished adding new flower visuals and animations
* Implemented a few more new overworld tiles
* Slightly tweaked overworld bridges style
* Replaced a few more cave tiles

v0.27.98 (27 september 2023)
* Implemented new visuals overworld tall grass
* Added more variant overworld bushes
* Fixed a few issues with digging near tall grass and water
* Fixed issue with collecting some dug up items instantly
* Replaced a few more cave tiles
* Finished cave visuals from breakable floors

v0.27.99 (28 september 2023)
* Experimented with sequences to work towards my own take on the medallion effects

v0.27.100 (29 september 2023)
* Added extra colorswapped cave tileset

I'm aiming for PC, Switch and Switch 2.
The switch releases will be dependant on a successful Kickstarter campaign though.

XBox and Playstation are much harder to publish on as a solodev (from what I've seen during my earlier research) so there are no concrete plans as of yet.

Ah. Switch 2 will be interesting. Still no official announcement or release window.
Anyway, I'll keep an eye out!

I'm aiming for PC, Switch and Switch 2.
The switch releases will be dependant on a successful Kickstarter campaign though.

XBox and Playstation are much harder to publish on as a solodev (from what I've seen during my earlier research) so there are no concrete plans as of yet.

I'm only just now thinking to ask, is this going to be available on any consoles? Or just PC?

Here's a little sneak peak of the progress made over the weekend regarding caves.
Kohari actually made the original tiles; I'm only just tweaking the colors and detailing while I began trying them out in some of the existing rooms. The coloring is a little darker than I had originally intended, but then again: they are intended for underground areas so the contrast with the overworld might be to it's benefit.

Also, now that SAGE 2023 has concluded, a very brief look back:
The streamers favoured action games for the most part. That was expected for an event originally all about Sonic gameplay, so any and all attention was welcome. Overall I´m pretty happy with how the event turned out though: The streamers that did play the game provided valuable new insights. I made a few more connections. And most importantly, we've jumped from 52 to 66 Kickstarter followers

All in all it's been a good week with some nice progress.

Progress report:

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v0.27.92 (21 september 2023)
* Updated all hero frames for extra shader option
* Experimented with fencing tiles and animated grass/flowers

v0.27.93 (22 september 2023)
* Experimented with new cave wall/floor visuals

v0.27.94 (23 september 2023)
* Experimented further with new cave wall/floor visuals
* Made a start with the new cave tileset
* Started replacing the first few cave tiles
* Implemented a few more replacement overworld tiles
* Experimented with house indoor/floor wall tiles

v0.27.95 (24 september 2023)
* Fixed issue of conflicting NPC's appearing together
* Added grass animations
* Experimented with new flower visuals
* Made progress tweaking the new cave wall/floor tiles

Progress report:

Code: [Select]

v0.27.89 (15 september 2023)
* Tweaked and implemented a few more overworld tiles
* Made a start replacing the world signposts with a new type of object for more functionality

v0.27.90 (16 september 2023)
* Finished replacing signpost tiles with new (destructable) objects
* Finally found a way around some invalid gamemaker coding warnings
* Added small extra scene for demo 2.0
* Added extra frame to one of the villains
* Implemented another few overworld tiles

v0.27.91 (17 september 2023)
* Implemented another few overworld tiles
* Added / updated more NPC dialogue for demo 2.0
* Added small extra scene for demo 2.0

Progress report:

Code: [Select]

v0.27.83 (1 september 2023)
* Improved visuals dug ground
* Finished implementing new desert boss sprites
* Implemented new NPC visuals
* Implemented new visuals for stone piles (and updated properties to be more appropriate)
* Implemented a few more new overworld tiles
* Did some experimentation with tall grass terrain sprites

v0.27.84 (2 september 2023)
* Implemented various new (visuals for) containers
* Tweaked shack sprite shadows
* Now able to hookshot onto cut trees stumps

v0.27.85 (3 september 2023)
* Implemented new doorway visuals into the demo dungeon
* Edited and implemented a few more overworld tiles

v0.27.86 (8 september 2023)
* Fixed typo in the intro sequence
* Made demo dungeon central room pushable statue slightly more obvious
* Added shield strafing
* Added a few extra shortcuts to the demo dungeon to lessen the amount of backtracking
* Made demo subboss fight slightly harder
* Switched around a few demo dungeon objects to better signal safe routes

v0.27.87 (9 september 2023)
* Tweaked character animation when using the shield
* Fixed collissions between sword smear effects and banners
* Made it more obvious when you pick up small keys
* Introducing hitswitches earlier in the demo dungeon
* Made demo dungeon entrance puzzle slightly more obvious
* Experimented with collisions between the shield and enemies

v0.27.88 (10 september 2023)
* The shield will now block (some!) enemies
* Added a few special properties to the better shield
* Fixed sound effect when blocking with the metal shield
* Expanded the roster of enemy defense stats for all enemies
* Tweaked character visuals after using the earth/fire elementals
* Changed up starting equipment nests

No home improvement this weekend. It's back to regular development again.  (The most important home stuff is done so the rest is postponed till next month)

Anyway, it's been a pretty fruitful weekend, with the focus on the latest batch of new art assets that came in. Includes some excellent new visuals for the desert boss. Can't show it off yet because I'm saving it for the trailer. I really loved the earlier sprites, but sadly those were a designed around an alltp enemy, so they had to go. The concept is still the same though and a lot of care was put into preserving the theme across the dungeon. If you look carefully you will see the lifecycle progression between the small and larger sandworms. In the length, number of teeth and in the tail which develops further and further. I like adding in stuff like that, because it adds just that little bit of extra believability to the world.

Oh, and while we were at it: we also added even more teeth to the boss. Oh yes! Bosses can never have enough teeth!

Progress report:

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v0.27.80 (25 augustus 2023)
* Worked with spriter on new artwork
* Implemented several new overworld tiles

v0.27.81 (26 augustus 2023)
* Worked with spriter on new artwork
* Made progress slightly adjusting desert boss code for new visuals

v0.27.82 (27 augustus 2023)
* Worked with spriter on new artwork
* Made progress implementing new desert boss sprites
* Added several extra NPC frames

This weekends progress:
- Patched 2nd floor outside window frames
- Painted bedroom ceiling
- Work a little bit on the game

I'll be back with proper game development progress next weekend, hopefully.

Progress log:

Code: [Select]

v0.27.78 (12-13 augustus 2023)
* Put out a new spritework commission package
* Prepared SAGE 2023 booth (with demo 1.3)
* Spend nearly a day doing the rounds on the internet to update the all information about this game

v0.27.79 (18-20 augustus 2023)
* Tweaked and implemented tiles elevated ground
* Tweaked and implemented tiles for background grass
* Tweaked and implemented tiles for animated idle water (deep & shallow)
* Enlarged tile commission package a little