[Update V1.2] Player feedback & more

I'm back with another OurLife update and I'll get to what's new in a second, but first, I'd like to thank everyone who shared their thoughts. I've heard your feedback and hopefully this update will elevate your experience to new levels.

A prefaced thank you

As a result of the input received upon launch, I used to last few weeks to focus solely on deepening core gameplay mechanics, fixing outstanding issues and bugs, and introducing a few new smaller (high-impact) features. That being said, the speed at which updates are released will probably slow in the coming weeks. One part because I'll be transitioning back into the corporate world — this was always the plan, what was unplanned was the release of this game — and, two part, because I'll have a lot less downtime on my hands.

This has been in the works since the last update and, fortunately, someone just so happened to suggest it around the same till I dropped the poll which worked out great for me because it got more traction. That being said, I had only actually been working on a few of these paths and it quickly dawned on me that there would be an expectance of equal depth. This meant I had to get creative with how each of these pathways operated, which minigames and content would be available, and how it impacts other systems. But I did it (with some help from you incredible souls and your suggestions).

Anyway, enough of that, and back to the update logs!

Lesson in session

Teaching is now available as an active career, where players can pick one of the following paths: nursery, primary, secondary, and university. Each track not only has its own minigames and systems, but there are also sub-tracks and promotions you can achieve, as well as different types of schools to teach at.

Features include everything from setting seating plans and marking worksheets to developing real bonds with your students — or alternatively, rivalries that could turn dark— and meeting parental demands and needs as well.

Write someone else's story...

Whether you're a freelancer, screenplay writer, novelist or fanfic enthusiast, there are four separate career paths that writers can now embark on. Decide whether you want to publish independently and build your own audience or pursue any of the three other traditional tracks, or, if you're up for it, why not do it all at the risk of burning out?

... or explore the cosmos

Featuring space agencies across continents, you can now train as an astronaut, embark on missions, and embrace everything that comes with it. With a variety of new space-themed minigames and simulations, each astronaut's career will be shaped by the actions they take, or, in some cases, the actions they don't. Do you believe there's life out there? And if you do, will you commit to finding it? What if costs you familial bonds? Will you continue?

NPC depth

In an attempt to make NPCs feel a little more realistic, I’ve introduced two new tabs that will allow you to see not only those who have died but also any other people you have come in contact with over the years.

This means you’ll be able to actually interact with your carers, guardians, teachers, classmates, and colleagues as if they were any other NPC, and it’ll be properly reflected across systems.

NPCs now also benefit from the Avatar frameworks, as it — currently displays their initial in a skin-coloured circle but — will eventually display a rendering of the character for better immersion.

NPC compatibility

All NPCs within your life now have their own personalities and traits, meaning they not only evolve as the years go on but if there's a lack of compatibility between you; social interactions are more likely to result in negative reactions. So if you're friends, it's probably that friend you can only see once a year without burning out! Or, you're that friend.

Event upgrades

In addition to having worked on implementing new events and reinforcing conditions and gating, I also shared the beta version of a community mod tool that will allow you to create your own event sets and submit them for inclusion.

This actually means some of the content you'll see in-game include some submissions from our very on playerbase! And finally on the events front, pop-ups are now a little more visually cohesive, ensuring it matches the rest of the game.

Gameplay Settings

A few people were complaining that it was too easy to build up skills whereas others wanted it to be easier. Because I want to ensure everyone can play how they want to play, I have introduced a few gameplay settings that will allow you to adjust a few different things: from relationship decay and stat gain to the speed at which skills level.

More countries

In addition to the countries shipped at launch, I've also added Sudan, Kenya, Pakistan, Ukraine, New Zealand, Portugal, Finland, Philippines, Norway, Poland, Belgium, Thailand, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Hungary, Singapore, Indonesia, Iraq, and Syria.

Small sounds

As someone who always mutes — I know it’s bad but I get sensory overload so please don’t come after me lol — any game I play, I find it quite difficult to know which sound effects to include. That being said, I’ve added a few basic SFX that will hopefully make the game feel a little less flat.

If you hate them, please let me know, and equally, if you have any suggestions on types of sound effects you want to see, please also let me know!

Bug fixes and QoL updates

There was a lot done to optimise and improve OurLife, but for the life of me, I actually can't remember all of them. So this section is just going to say 'I fixxa de bugs,' and I'll promise, or rather try — because coding is a hyperfixation that's quickly crushed by unenjoyable admin to keep a more detailed dev-log from now on.

And I know what you're thinking: "Wavey, isn't this admin?" No, it's not and that's because apparently I love the way words sound in my head when I'm typing. Does it not make anyone else feel like they're in one of those 00's movies?

Avatars

(for the next update with placeholder frameworks complete!)

No, not the airbending type and not the blue ones either. I've actually been working very closely with an artist I commissioned to create character visualisations for OurLife. I'm excited for you to play around with the customisations and hopefully this small addition makes your characters a bit less abstract — which, along with all of the other changes, I feel it will — but also a lot more personable.

Anyway, ramble over. Enjoy the update and let me know if y'all broke anything because it definitely wasn't me (and if it was, as it most likely is, I'm sorry, I promise I'll fix it)!

Thank you again my fellow O-Lifers and I'll see you at the next update (or hotfix if it's needed),

WaveyGaming Productions