Clash: Robot Detective - Odds & Ends

The third Hype Update is here on a fantastically chilly Christmas Eve. So a merry happy to all of you out there, I hope you are staying warm! Here's a picture from the sequel of Clash wearing a scarf to encourage your warmness.

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(btw, consider this the official Steam announcement that Clash 2 is coming soon, but let's focus on the Clash 1 port for now).

Two updates ago, I talked about the main campaign and what makes it special. Last update, I talked about the bonus episode / trivia scene and what makes it special. This update, let's talk nitty gritty.

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The sprite editing process was very obnoxious. I believe I mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: I cannot draw. My art style stalled out at first grade. I could develop a style, but that would take time and/or money for art classes; I don't have either. Also can't afford artists. So I had to find a way around my inability to draw; hence, the weird collage visuals. That actually worked out quite nice, its a very distinct look and it has grown on me.

So when I decided to "remaster" the game, I went back and touched up the sprites. As seen on the image above, the sprites originally had a bunch of pixels around them due to me choosing to erase all unneeded bits myself instead of doing something easier. Sad part is, the change can barely be noticed; when I went back and tested it, there was little to no visible difference. Probably could have saved time and not even done it, no one would have been wiser.

But I know they're fixed up, and that's the important part. :-)

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I also fixed up dialogue bits and added more achievements. Editing dialogue - that's something that should have been done a long time ago. Revising is the key to success and I should do it more. That's about all I have to say about editing dialogue.

Achievements are fun. They should sync up to Steam, as well (and if they don't, do let me know; I can't actually test them until after the game releases). I did not add an in-game pop-up for whenever an achievement is collected; if there was an in-game pop-up alongside the Steam pop-up, I thought that would get annoying. And the Achievement screen is a list because I like lists, they are nice and organized. It may not be how other visual novels handle their Achievements screens, but it is how I handle mine.

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I hope that is the main takeaway from this update: that I'm doing this not because I'm trying to make some focus-tested perfect VN, but because this is the game I wanted to make the way I wanted to make it. And I certainly hope that you - the Steam gamer reading this! - are sufficiently convinced that you want to play the game I made the way I wanted to make it. Even if these posts have been weird and awkward. I'm still learning.

That's the end of the three pre-release hype updates! I'll have one more next week just for the heck of it. Then that will be the last time you hear from me before the game launches on January 2nd, 2023!

So I will see you here next week, same Clash time! Same Clash channel!

Please tell me that reference has not been lost to time.