Stranded Hearts

The_Autistic_Gamer6 years ago

Hi Chiara!

I know it looks like it, but it's just moving slowly for various reasons. Now very close to having an updated demo with 10+ new scenes, an edited intro, upgraded timer, and new/updated backgrounds. I am working hard to finish off the scenes. It's my 2018 goal to finish the game this year, so I really hope I can achieve that!

Thanks so much for asking!

So, is this game dead? Because I really want to see what comes next.

Dreamgate6 years ago (1 edit)

Nope not dead! Just for various reasons moving slowly. Now very close to having an updated demo with 10+ new scenes, an edited intro, upgraded timer, and new/updated backgrounds.

The final game will now have a story-only mode, which may or may not make it into the demo too. But then again if I keep trying to add more features to the demo it won't ever get done!

Thanks so much for your patience! Glad to hear you want to know what happens next!

Hi hi! How are you?! How is the development going? How Are Things?! XD

https://www.patreon.com/posts/16934380

Hi Supersensible! Things are going well, thanks! Hoping to get an updated demo ready (so much has changed) which will include the first 2 weeks of gameplay (out of 8). I just posted an update on patreon about Timed Choices, if you're curious. :)

XSupersensibleX6 years ago(+1)

Thanks for getting back to me! :D I would probably panic and push all the buttons XD

wzackw6 years ago

Really cool, I'm looking forward to more!

But we found "the perfect campsite" on Day 2, but afterwards the game said we still haven't found a place to live and then I died by the end. :X I know it's still in development though. ;) Nice!

Thanks for reporting this bug! I will squash it with extreme prejudice! ^_^

Kiba Snowpaw6 years ago

here is the 3 episode of this demo. I hope you all like it.

Fantastic! I have really enjoyed watching - and left a comment on your video. ^_^

MrMar6 years ago (1 edit)

well. it was great. I really like it.

girls are nice and cute. And all of them have very different personalities and stories.

I'm waiting for full version :)

and I don't think "survival-mode" is hard. Rather challanging. :) If you remember to save at least once per day in time of game (the best option is to use different slot everytime) and read description of every activity.

Aw, thanks MrMar!! Good advice about saving! The main aim I had was to keep the survival situation feeling real, and it IS hard. You can't go long without water in high temperatures. It's set up in such a way that, realistically, someone will die if you don't get water quickly enough, because that's what would happen IRL. But, from a game design perspective, it doesn't make sense to have the biggest challenge at the start and then let the game get easier. So there's still a fair amount of tweaking to do. It has to be fun to play, not just hard. :D

Glad you like the women and how different they are. Each has their own story, but I think the Kim romance route is the cutest one. Which I hope you'll like when the full version is ready! :)

Kiba Snowpaw6 years ago

here is the sec episode of this demo, I made it some time ago but never really got around to release it but here it is. I hope you all like it.

Hi Kiba!

Thanks so much for taking the time to record these two videos and voice all your thoughts. They were so insightful!

Video 1:

You make some really good points about the menu and whether certain buttons should or shouldn't show up. As you say, it doesn't make any sense to go into "Settings" from Settings. This is definitely something I will look at.
You were right that we didn't create controller support. I was just as surprised as you that it worked (sort of)! I think it's an inherent part of the engine we used, so I will have a proper look at controller support for the final game, including things like the Settings.
I will also add little explanations to some of the extra options in Settings when you hover over them, because it strikes me that unless someone has played games like this before, they might not know what they mean. I am glad you did, though! :)
Well spotted about the load game menu - it's got the wrong z-order for the border! With attention to detail like that, you make an amazing QA tester!

Video 2:

Your observations about the text moving up and down really interest me. I can't figure out what sort of setup you've got that it would get in the way. Perhaps I should add an option in the Settings to stop the text box from moving up and down, so you could keep it just at the bottom of the screen? One of the main reasons for implementing the changing of position was to increase immersion, as the text box obfuscates the faces of the backseat passengers and focuses the scene on Aina, below.
I noticed you didn't comment on the timed options - wondering what your thoughts are on those?

I would love to get your thoughts on the survival gameplay (day planner) which follows the introduction, especially since you seem to have so many great thoughts about how menus should/shouldn't work, but I can understand if you don't have time for that. :)

Thanks once again for taking the time to record these videos!

- Steamgirl

Kiba Snowpaw6 years ago (1 edit)

I don't have time now I may have a little tomorrow and some on Tuesday and Wednesday so I may look into the game again. BTW I have replied you on youtube.

And again thanks for a great reply I'm glad you took the time too watch them and took what I said to heart I have been taking a break from VNG since I played a lot of them but I may go back again and play them again.
About my setup here is a look.

Thanks so much for sharing this - it explains a lot!! And also why you would like to have controller support! Thanks again for the insights!!

Almost cried when i saw the OG xbox :'D all the memories of my childhood playing TES: Morrowind, Enclave and Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic!

Kiba Snowpaw6 years ago (1 edit)

then you should follow me on youtube or twich i will be playing more Console games. https://www.twitch.tv/thedanishfurrygamer

Has the development of this game resumed? If so how is everything coming? I have high hopes for this game :D it seems really interesting and I really hope I can get to experience this game in it's entirety soon!

I am actually taking time off work for all of January, so although my day job has needed me more these last few months that originally scheduled, things should really speed up at the beginning of the year! Thanks so much for asking! :)

tylerbamafan347 years ago

Hey! Thank you SO much for getting back to me :D I hope everything goes well! p.s. sorry for a late reply I have been really busy with all my classes and I haven't been able to make much time for myself so I haven't gotten around to replying until now :[ Also i hope you are having a wonderful day!

how long is the gameplay on this? I am very interested in this one, but i want to know how much i can pump out of this game

Hi Tyler!

Thanks for your question!

I think the demo is about 30-60 minutes, depending on how quickly you read and how quickly you can plan your day. Most people die the first time they play through, so if you were trying to get to day 5 without dying, you might need to reload and try again a few times, which adds a bit of extra play time. There are also some scenes in it that will only happen if you choose for the protagonist to do an activity at the same time as Kim or George, so if you were trying to get all the scenes, so getting all of that content also requires trial and error.

The final game will probably be about 3-8 hours of gameplay, again depending on play style and whether you want to get all endings, etc. It's really hard to estimate, actually, as I haven't timed people who play it for the first time (yet). It's based on roughly 60k words of VN scenes, plus the (challenging) survival aspect. If you're only interested in the story, and are a fast reader/skin reader, it might only take 2 hours to play through on VN-only mode.

TL;DR: 30-60 minutes for the demo, 3-8 hours for the full game with survival, or 2-4 hours for the full game in VN-only mode.

Chua7 years ago

It took me a while to download but it was all worth it! I only survived a few days though im not that good hahahha well overall this is a nice game! great job! looking forward for updates on this!

Thanks Chua! I think when the final version comes out, there will be a VN-only mode and maybe even an easy mode. A lot of people have said it was too hard to survive, so you're not the only one!!

ohmpohm7 years ago

nice

Thanks! ^_^

ohmpohm6 years ago(-1)

why is "female protagonist" counted as a feature? no one cares actually

Good question. It's probably redundant since lesbians are by definition female. I'll update the feature list when the updated demo comes available. 😊

Chiara7 years ago

Is this project dead? I'd like to play the demo, but I don't want to finish it and can't have the full version: I'd miss the characters too much