October 8: New Beta Branch Build

I've released a new build on the beta branch just in case you want to check it out. I don't want to put it on the main branch yet because there's a sale going on and I don't want to wreck any new players' saves.

The new build doesn't have any groundbreaking features or anything like that. Mostly it's cosmetic changes.

I had spent some time improving the tileset graphics a while ago and I improved the water graphics (except for the beach / ocean water). The tileset and water look a lot better IMO so I wanted to get this change out.

Also I played around with some of the UI graphics so things will look a bit different there as well.

I deleted the endless mines because it has become clear that I can't handle that amount of scope increase. The performance was bad (thanks to Unity and dynamic lighting apparently) and there isn't a point to having it in the game right now since it doesn't go anywhere.

I changed some of the character portraits just for fun. Ideally I'd pay someone for some legit art so eventually they'll change again if I keep working on the game.

That said, I'm not sure how to progress with the game. The numbers are woefully bad and I've kind of lost the motivation to pursue it much more. My other game (Game of Grass) was a massive success in comparison. I just wanted to release another game on Steam so I would have another point of reference compared to MoS. It took about 8 months to make - a short amount of time especially compared to MoS and it did far better. That kind of opened my eyes. The type of game you make is just everything. MoS is just missing "the magic" I guess. It pains me to say it but it's just another farming sim. People have already played it.

There's kind of an allure to making an RPG but I think it's a bit of a trap for a solo developer. I'm not sure how to make this game stand out without dedicating my entire life to it (and even then probably failing). Maybe it's time to work on new things...or take everything I've learned and make a totally new RPG! Heh, just kidding...sorta. I don't know what I'll do.

I used to have this belief that it doesn't matter how I feel about game development - just keep grinding and I'll get there. But now I've learned that it actually does matter how I feel. If I can find work that makes me feel good I can be far more productive and not miserable. The development of MoS is such a grind. I stuck with it for a long time and maybe it's time to acknoledge that I didn't quite get there. I'm not even sure where I was trying to go.

I literally just started this project after being inspired by Stardew. Like so many other indie game developers I was inspired that one person could create such a cool game! I wanted to make something just like it! So without much thought I started. I'm not even sure where I was going with it. Maybe that was the problem. Because I didn't have a clear vision the game turned into a grind with no clear goal in sight.

All that said, I'm still thinking about ways I can finish this game. Maybe getting rid of the town and just making it a lonely farming game where you mail everybody...I don't know, just any way to actually finish would probably be good. But I really don't know. I'm getting old and I don't know if I have it in me anymore. I think I'll just work on what I want to work on from now on. Life is short, just enjoy it =).

That's all for now. Take care everybody.