Version 0.020 Released

This marks the second version release of Gatekeeper.  Version 0.020 had the number shift over one digit from the previous release (0.001).  The furthest number on the right was meant for hotfixes, I just put it in the wrong place.

This version contains more dialogue scenes and I have properly started naming important items and locations rather than using codenames in the script.  One of the biggest changes this version was the scrapping of the old crafting table for my newly designed one.  Below is the new crafting table with a much more streamlined interface.  This crafting table is fully integrated into the plot as well, so it's no longer just slapped in just because.

From a story perspective, the next version (0.030) will be the MC exploring his new environment for the next week of game time.  This will test the mechanics of the game more than me having to write scenes with dialogue.  Which brings me to a major decision.  Although they aren't in the released version of the game, I have both farming and building mechanics already built.  They involved a screen where the user dragged items from the edges into the center play area to perform tasks.  I wanted to keep the scope simple for a visual novel, but in the end I don't feel they were fun enough to put into the game.  So I decided to scrap them for a new idea.  Maybe it was the 10 year anniversary of Stardew Valley that did it, but I think I might try a very scaled down version of the farm map for this mechanic instead.

I'm very aware of feature creep, but there has to be some investment into a mechanic for the players to enjoy.  It can't be too braindead simple.  I'd never considered pixel art before AI (I've tried for years, I was never good enough at it), but I might be able to make a very simple version of a 2d interface similar to Stardew Valley style.  When the player fully explores an area of land in the game, it will unlock a patch of soil where they can farm, build, and do some of the crafting features that were recently removed from the new crafting table.  If I keep it simple and treat it as a minigame, I might be able to combine 3 game features into 1, which will make this upgrade potentially worth it.  This will require a lot of design and research though.

So version 0.030 is going to be longer than a one week release time unlike this version was.  I've gotta prototype and test if this is even viable, if not I still got to replace the current system because if I personally don't find a game mechanic fun I just don't want it in the game.