Dev Log January: Prototype Update! Follyoaks makes an appearance!

Before further ado, let's get into all the new features and changes for this update to the prototype. You can play the prototype over on Itch at this link: https://unsigneddoublecollective.itch.io/fossil-quest

Follyoaks

Explore the town of Follyoaks, a town that has seen better days but is packed full of character. We've added two characters to meet and get to know: Bryle and Mabel. We've also moved the shop from the museum to town. Let us know how this change feels? We are testing it out because in the full game all the shops will be there. Steam post image

This town is a small slice of the town you'll have to explore in the full game. The full game will have:

• Many more characters to get to know, each with their own identities, storylines and resolutions. (this is optional though, you do not *have* to get to know everyone if that is not your thing)

• Events!

• Many more shops.

• And more!

Dinosaur Posing

We've added some groovy new poses you can select for your dinosaur exhibits. Add some more variety and character to your museum. Steam post image

New Excavation Layouts

We've added some more excavation layouts to the Karoo region to spice things up a bit! Try them out and let us know what you think?

For the full game, we've planned a major MAJOR overhaul on how excavations work. Exciting stuff!

Other Changes

We've also added a bunch of fixes and improvements, including, but not limited to:

• Visitor speed controls. Zoom zoom!

• Updated visitor visuals (so they don't all look the same!)

• Fixed the visitor report UI (finally! sorry about that)

• Bones are now hidden in dig sites

• A number of small bug fixes.

This is the final update to the prototype

This is our final update to this prototype project on itch. From now on Romy and I (Lasse) will be full steam ahead on the final game. We're sorry we can't keep updating this project there, we just don't have enough time and resources to work on both projects concurrently. The next demo release will hopefully be in the third quarter of 2026 right here on Steam.

We can say, definitively, that the full game will have a lot more to offer:

• Many more locations to explore.

• A fully fleshed out town.

• More characters to build relationships with.

• A research system.

• More excavation mechanics. More variety in the mechanics.

• Bone maintenance.

• A richer visitor phase experience.

• More mini-games.

• Many more dinosaurs, fossils, lucky finds.

• More museum customization

If you have any requests or ideas for the full game we are all ears and love to get feedback!

So as a final request, we ask you to give us a wishlist here on steam if you are interested in the project. You'll then be notified when we launch our next demo and the full game. You can also follow us on discord or bluesky for updates. Or just drop us an email to say hi: lasse@unsigneddouble.com

It's been incredibly fun and rewarding working on the prototype and getting all this incredible feedback. To date our prototype has had over 150 000 plays which has absolutely blown us away. Thank you so much to all of you. Each and every one of you are awesome! We could not do this without your support.

Romy & Lasse