#TTATEH

[manonamora-if]

The Trials and Tribulations of Edward Harcourt is back!

What to expect with this update:

Play a game of chess with Edward and recount your (mis-)adventure in the last chapter (and... maybe more?).

Encounter something strange...

Do some more investigating, which might bring more questions than answers.

Prepare to visit the depths of the manor?

PLAY CHAPTER 4 NOW !

Full Devlog - Game Intro Post - Review on IFDB - Rate on itch

[New]

Added Chapter 4 (about 12k-ish new total words)

Added a map of Chapter 3's maze in game

Created 2 more levels for the maze to take into account the availability of the map

[Fix]

fixed some formatting issue with the links (the numbering appears again when the setting is toggled)

fixed the formatting of some multi-option pages

fixed a few bugs where the wrong variation was shown (codex and minor sentence addition)

corrected a few grammar issues

updated the code of the Save settings (should not change anything for the player)

[if-confessions]

I've recently outlined my old IF idea and I noticed while writing outlines that the MC starts to become more "animated" in a sense. I was originally trying to make the narration more neutral but I noticed that the narration and the MC themselves started to have more personality than expected. Which is interesting since and now, I'm trying to experiment with this format. So if I'm successful, it might take a more interesting direction even if it comes at the cost of the MC's customisation

👏

Yay for experimentation and interesting stuff! I hope you are having all the fun with it!

And this is an interesting discussion (sorry for sidetracking your ask): customisation vs set character. Is one better than the other or when is one fitting more than the other? Should you strive for balance or go full in one direction?

During the EctoComp, I got a review for TTATEH about this topic. At the start of the Prologue, you can customise your MC moderately. This was for that reviewer a point of contention, as they'd much prefer to play a set character (from hair to toes) with its own identity and personality. At the same time, I received in my inbox some requests add more physical customisation for the MC.

While this example cannot be considered a good sample for statistics, there are trends in the IF community for preferences when it comes to customisation. The Tumblr/CoG crowd tends to want as much customisation as possible. The Forum seems to prefer set characters.

Customisation allows for more player input and allows them to feel more immersed in a story (as like an insert). You give the player more control over their characters too. But it can make for more bland/muted/neutral characters (and you'd need to track more variables). On the other hand, set characters allows for less player input on the characters (might make them less immersed). But you can end up having more vivid/animated/with more personality and you'd have less variation to track.

I think it's a lot a matter a preference (reading/writing), but trying out both types is fun!

[manonamora-if]

The Trials and Tribulations of Edward Harcourt is coming back May 6th 2023, with Chapter 4!

[manonamora-if]

The Trials and Tribulations of Edward Harcourt is back with its Third Chapter!

Picking up from your afternoon down exploring the village, Chapter 3 continues your adventure with Edwards Harcourt in Gairbuie!

In this chapter, you will be able to [REDACTED], discover and go through a [REDACTED], and maybe have some [REDACTED].

The mystery has only begun... Ready to investigate it more?

Change-log:

[Add] Chapter 3, including a new mechanic and journal entries, making the total word count reach 53k.

[Settings] Font change for the Journal (2 cursive options, serif, sans, open dyslexic).

[UI] Fiddling with the title page and some background CSS rules.

Recommended to play with a Gothic Atmospheric Playlist in the background (like this one). Rating is still recommended to be 16+, check the Trigger Warnings before playing.

PLAY THE DEMO | RATE ON ITCH | REVIEW ON IFBD | TAGS

[manonamora-if]

The Trials and Tribulations of Edward Harcourt is coming back on January 14th 2023. Get your savefile(s) ready...

INTRO POST | PLAY | RATE | REVIEW

[manonamora-if]

Another late weekly devlog... but this time I didn't forget, YAY! Also taking this space to announce I will be more or less offline for the next two weeks at least. I may pop up here and there, maybe dropping some stuff unannounced...

Anyway, let's recap what's been done this past week(s):

This is super recent - aka just now - and completely done last minute, but I've added another template to the Template Assets page! The Title Page Template, with 7 different ways of making a simple title/menu/landing page for SugarCube Projects (both with the BaseUI and Custom). Download it here!

Also complete, published and downloadable, is the SugarCube Guide! Loads of words, loads of code, updated explanations and fixed examples. And now you can use it offline! Get it there!

Also, I should have access to a Mac laptop in a few days (for a week), so I'll try to see how to make the Tweego Folder useable for Mac computers!

Also, also, I'll be adding all these to GitHub soon (promise) so to track issues report in the repos...

Anyways, if you've tried any of those assets, consider leaving a little comment or a rating :) Or send me the link to your project!

MelS completed all edits for Chapter 5 and sent it back to me. I'm doing one last sweep at the document for missed comments and grammar before I'll start coding.

In the meantime, he's back writing for Chapter 6.

It's been busy town here lately, so not much more progress on anything else. I've mainly been playing games in my down time (see @manonamora-if-reviews, I'm trying to finish the Comp 2 months late!) or trying to hack at projects, or organising secret stuff.

Loads of stuff happening in the close future:

The ShuffleComp entries will start trickling in in the next few weeks. Voting will start just after the New Year!

The SeedComp Round 2 has started! If you are looking for an idea to make a game, almost 100 seeds were submitted this season. Deadline to create a game based on those seeds is end of February!

Made a short game this year (>30min play)? Want people to talk about it? Check out the IF Short Game Showcase! They accept up to 3 entries!

Also recently started, the annual Partim 500. It's like the @neo-twiny-jam but in French and with a theme!

The Second Round of the XYZZY Awards will be happening very soon.

Other fun stuff happening soon:

The Queer Vampire Game Jam starting in January

The Zack Jam starting in January

The Text Adventure Literacy Jam 2024 (parser IF) starting in March

The SpringThing also in March (you need to submit an intent before March!)

Other jams happening with the @neointeractives (TBA)!!

I think that's about it for now :)

I'm going back to pressing business :/

[manonamora-if]

Weekly check in. Some little stuff, some bigger stuff.

Current word count: 23.323 (Ch.5), >8k (Ch.6)

And we're finally back on track with Harcourt, babyyyy. After a month of eh from both me (with the editing) and MelS (writing the next chapter), we both managed to break through our respective blocks.

As of a few days ago, I sent back the edited Chapter 5 to MelS, so he could answer my comments and check the changes. I finally got to read the missing bits (and they are creepy and yucky)... Can't wait to code all of that when it is ready. We definitely need another round of MelS editing the text and me checking it, before I can add that to the file.

Until I get the file back, I'll focus on other projects.

Like...

Yerup... I ended up finishing it. A little binksi with more vibes than story. Click if you dare :P

Making a binksi (or a bitsy/bipsi) had been something on my bucket list for a while now (almost a year actually), and I finally got to make one for realsies!

Honestly, the hardest part in all of this... was making the tiles/sprites in 8x8 pixels ;-; Anyway, the code is freely available on itch and my GitHub.

Fixed some accessibility issues yesterday:

textbox not getting in focus properly

links/buttons not changing state when in focus but not hovered

added image descriptions to pictures in French/English

Also added the logos of Twine and SugarCube when the game loads. Those are clickable too.

I have worked a tad more on the UI/missing elements. But not as much as I should have.

Next week, the final update should be out.

This is what I'll be fixing this month. Officially reopened the code files, stared at it, and cried. It's so bad. It's such a mess...

Not looking forward to it, but it needs fixing! (I've asked the Forum for help too in the commands...)

ALSO, I've decided there will be a hyperlink version of this game. Instead of the commands, click on words. It will be in the same file, and you get to choose at the start.

I’ve finished reviewing the EctoComp entries (except the Spanish-only ones because I suck at Spanish...) and have started reviewing the Bare-Bones Jam entry. An updated version of the reviews have been queues on the IFDB and @manonamora-if-reviews. I will probably go back to the IFComp entries after that (probably after the voting deadline... I've done 40 already...).

-_-

I've made a completely new intro post with all of the place I'm at (if you'd rather not be on Tumblr). It was a long time coming, and now I have clear channels of where I'm posting about stuff. Just need to be consistent...

I've also started migrating old dev logs and posts to my blog, especially the longer ones where I have a lot to say. Since the search function and archive on Tumblr is eh, I get to keep the important ones (not all of them are) in a more organised place. They are still on Tumblr, btw. It's not gone, just copied. It's been nice to revisit old dev logs, and see how far I've come (it's been a long way). It's pretty humbling (especially the typos, omg... I fixed so many of those).

-_-

The IFComp and EctoComp, are always looking for players/voters. If you want to play a few short-ish games, take advantage of that! There is only a few days left for the IFComp and a few weeks for the EctoComp.

The @seedcomp-if is always looking for inspiration (text, images, code, etc…) in this current first round. If you have half-baked ideas or anything, really, come submit something!

Over @neointeractives, ShuffleComp! is looking for playlists and participats :)

-_-

And that's it I think...

[manonamora-if]

Once more, editing is afoot!

[ID: a screenshot of the top left corner of a LibreOffice Writer window. The file opened is called EOH_-_Ch5_2.docx /end]

[manonamora-if]

October Check-In

September passed wayyyy too fast again, and almost all my efforts went into completing the DOL-OS remaster. And finishing strong by catching the FLU :D /s

You know the drill... long post ahead:

Recap of last month's progress

Recap of last week's stuff

Other IF stuff done or in the works

Other IF events

Plan for October

- _ -

September progress

The plan for last month was to:

continue to play and review games ✅ (just a few tho...)

finish the DOL-OS remaster ✅✅✅ just in time! also needed one more week from the planned date to finish it properly

continue a WIP or fix another semi-completed game: 😐 (see this week's progress)

add another block to the SugarCube Guide: ❌ (was planning to, but the illness)

- _ -

Last Week's progress

I pulled myself to the finish line by the hair at the end buuuut...

DOL-OS - THE REMASTERED VERSION IS NOW OUT!

It's now beautiful, bug free (i hope), with new content, and translated into English! First completed in a month, remastered almost within a month too!

If you liked it, consider leaving a little rating? or a comment?

Even if you don't care to play it, at least open the game once to check out the loading page :P

Also I have:

redone the intro post (if you could share it around, that'd be lovely)

wrote the extensive dev log

updated the Projects Status page

added the OG Comp Version of the source code on my GitHub

uploaded the OG Comp Version on the IFArchive (processing)

Unless there are raised bugs, this game is also going into the SHELF!

As mentioned in last Sunday's check in, I've gotten the new draft from MelS. It's over 20k words...

So I'm back to editing the file, going through the text and leaving comments. I was about 1/4 through before the illness arrived.

And MelS is continuing making progress on the final chapter in the meantime.

We've also been discussing the future release(s) and potential need for rewrite of the first chapters. MelS style had changed a bit, and he is worried the first chapters are too drastically different from the later ones. We might even get a few beta readers before the final release...

In my plan for September, I mentioned La Petite Mort to be probably the next remaster project I tackle on, with a potential translation release for the EctoComp.

I checked with the rules: translations are considered new works. 🥳 So we are looking at an EctoComp deadline, which is in a month.

So this week, I've gone through the code and:

mapped out the new map of the game (which will include more rooms)

listed the characters/NPC (a few new ones)

listed the different mechanics to (re-)code (esp the inventory)

listed the endings available (currently about 7, 2 are early endings)

listed the beats and actions for each room (more animal petting!)

The plan is to, in order:

Correct the current French writing

Add the new content (in French - about double what there is rn)

Re-code the game (+ accessibility settings)

Upload the French Remaster

Translate the Game into English

Add the translation inside the code

Submit to the EctoComp (depending on how long this takes, maybe I can achieve the La Petite Mort category again :P)

I'll also need to:

update the itch page of the game (right now it's too bland)

update the intro post of the game

Unsure yet:

add sound effect and background music...

Most importantly, the game is rated PG and will stay PG. It has some horror-y element, but more of the Hocus Pocus/Terry Pratchett kind than say... Saw or any Halloween slasher.

I will be taking down the itch page of the game closer to the reupload to check everything is in order.

With the IFComp starting soon, expect review over at @manonamora-if-reviews. Last year I managed about 30 before I tapped out (and I had submitted something). Let's see how I do this year!

I would like to try to knock a InkJam + Bare-Boned Jam + EctoComp (mini) entry at the end of October, since the theme of the Ink Jam is revealed at the start of the jam (23rd). One stone, two three birds and all that. And maybe revisit a short story I wrote when I was younger as a base... 🤔

- _ -

IF Events!!

October is filled with IF events, so this will be quite a list:

the voting period of the IFComp starts on October 1st until mid November. I think there are expecting over 50 games? I recommend waiting one-two days before voting, as there are often 1st day bug fixes (speaking from experience).

the Bare-Bones Jam organised by @neointeractives starts on October 1st and runs until the end of the month! It is unranked.

the EctoComp, the spooky IF ranked jam, starts on October 1st and ends on the 28th. There are two categories, and you can also submit in French or Spanish!

the InkJam is a 3-day ranked jam at the end of October, with a theme!

You'll be able to vote for the Spooktober entries in a few hours.

SeedComp! has started again, see @seedcomp-if (we've updated/cleared up some rules)

- _ -

The PLAN tm for October

Play and review more IF games: this one is kinda done before it started because of the IFComp. Also, someone submitted a few games. And there are a bunch on my To Play list both on the IFDB, itch, and the MOIKI Social Club.

finish the La Petite Mort remaster: I think I should be ok? The original LPM was done in 4h (in chunks over a week or so). I plan to essentially double the content, and fix coding issue. I don't really have to worry about the UI at all with this one.

either continue a WIP or fix another semi-completed game: that will be a check mark if MelS and I can make some good progress on the editing.

maybe try to add another block to the SugarCube Guide? I still have a list I could check down... Same with a template. It will heavily depend on the time I have.

(and maybe do an extra French entry for the EctoComp)

Taking the list of August...

To-Do not require much of new stuff:

translate Escape Goncharov! into French. ✅

fix the bugs in EDOC + overall the French version to match

fix the bugs of TRNT + find a way to add the missing pieces (mayyyybe translate into French?)

fix the formatting of DOL-OS + translate into English ✅

update LPM with the missing content + translate into English ✅ (ongoing)

The rest of the To-Do pile:

Finish The Rye in the Dark City (and maybe translate?)

Finish P-Rix - Space Trucker (and try to translate)

Finish Exquisite Cadaver (translation unlikely, current gameplay too complex to port for French)

Add a chapter to CRWL + fix/reopen the blog

Re-working TTTT to its originally planned state (lol, not likety)

Re-working SPS Iron Hammer (samesies)

Coding TTATEH (MelS dependent - shooting for end of year)

Emptying my inboxes

(I am pretty sure the focus for the rest of the year will be to finish the first list. With the addition of a few more small jam entries.)

And that about covers it!

[manonamora-if]

just wanted to say i absolutely love TTTEH and i was so so so excited when i saw your monthly update on itch that you're finishing up chapter 6 and the endings. this game has a CHOKEHOLD on me, when i think of like best horror IFs i think of TTTEH. the writing? beautiful. the gameplay? fantastic and genuinely so anxiety inducing. the horror? terrifying. you and MelS have done an amazing job, i would wait eons if needed for another chapter. i hope you have a great day <3

Woah, anon! <3 Thank you! It means a whole lot to us!! MelS gushed about the message when I sent it to him!

We're (well, he is) working hard on it! We're hoping to have it complete by next Halloween, if all goes well! When MelS is done with the edits of this Chapter (more words have been and will be added), I think we need two/three more back and forth before I can code it~~

MelS has already an idea for the next project we might work on... ;)

Have a great day too!!

[manonamora-if]

And it's already Sunday... Can't believe it went this fast.

Less than I thought I would, honestly, but that's ok:

finally added the whole updated booting sequence (so so happy about that one)

fixed the << typed >> macro (with an animation setting, because speed 0 doesn't work and I'm afraid of messing with TME's code further...)

coded the base of the final beat (now I need to add the language), with an automatic scrolling - and reformatted the question list

reformatted the code (lots of passage merging) in other parts

added a magnifier to help looking at details of some images

started a hint section

started writing the added content

I technically didn't start writing the added content until I was done with the coding, but my wrists needed a break from messing around with the CSS and the copy paste. The added content will include:

more questions for the final beat (done -> to code)

more documents to scan through

more joke screens to explore and interact with (ongoing)

more background information to find (???)

I've had that nagging feeling of wanting to procrastinate more and more, because I am getting closer and closer to the finish line. If I don't push through, I'm never going to finish this remaster... So I'm trying to make it a release by either the 17th or the 24th.

I'm also going to take DOL-OS down starting Monday for testing purposes. And update the game page. It will comeback online for the release!

MelS managed to knock down about 85% of the variation missing from the first draft. One block, the one needing the most variation, and the most complex one to track, is essentially left. And the final puzzle of that chapter. Chipping away at it...

I finished reviewing the Goncharov Jam IF entries over at @manonamora-if-reviews, as well as the 4th Moiki comp (French games) that ended last week. I'm taking a few days to focus on DOL-OS, and I'll come back to reviewing more games! The IFComp is right around the corner too :P

I've also re-made my Project Status post because the old one was so out of date it was still listing TTTT as not even made. I've included all releases, their status and Planned TO-DOs, and a few ideas I've been brewing...

[manonamora-if]

Wow it's Sunday already...

It's been a week since Chapter 4 has been added! Since then, a few bugs have been squished and some continuity error with the chess game fixed (maybe we should learn chess, lol).

Thank you to everyone who has played the update, and rated the game. And an extra thank to the handful of you sent us some lovely messages about the game this week! It made MelS's week!

Speaking of MelS, he is slowly chipping away at the new chapter. This one might end up being larger than Chapter 4 (and maybe 3 too....).

My secret Adventuron Project is out!

Since it was for a French jam, the game is only currently in French. I am currently translating it (also fixing some coding issue and adding a proper tutorial) and will be releasing the translation short before the end of the month.

I will also make a proper intro post for it!

Also a post about my experiences trying a different program!

Some other things that happened this week:

did a not sober AMA -> #grape juice hits hard asks

the SpringThing voting ended last night, results TBD but we got sent out Personalised Ribbons! ~ Since we could choose which one to have on the website, all of mine will be there when the results come out (was an easy decision because no decision lol) ~ Had some mini closing remark for now. Bigger post TBP

Not me stuff:

The Anti-Romance jam started today!!!

The Neo Twiny Jam has a separate tumblr: @neo-twiny-jam

There's a Relief Bundle on itch for the Earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria earlier this year.

[manonamora-if]

Another week, another progress update. Also it's the end of July already... wow, time passes way to fast.

First edits are done! The file is back in MelS court. It will probably take a bit of time, since MelS received some unexpected workload a few days ago ;-;

The new template is out! After teasing it for weeks and pulling even more of my hair out to make it work, it's really out!! Get yours today!!!!

Also, I've updated the SugarCube guide (finally): cleaning it up, fixing some issues here and there... And mapped out some of the missing information/what I would want to tackle next (including a theme with the colours of the SG documentation :P )

The Chonky Chicken prompt I made back in January, which inspired the Mission: Anti-Romance one, is not available in English! I tried to keep as much of the pun/humour, but you know... translations.

A few more hours before @if-confessions's ask box closes.

[manonamora-if]

May Check-In

Another week down! And it's also May :)

Chapter 4 of the Harcourt is finally out! All fresh from the presses, got out yesterday. Quite a bit of goodies in there!!

Progress about the project:

MelS has mapped out Chapter 5 (a.k.a the last update before the final release). Expect some more spooky stuff, and puzzles (guess that [REDACTED] will come in handy), and looooore!

In the next few months, MelS might get a bit more free time to continue drafting and writing the final chapters. So (crossing fingers) the next update might get here sooner rather than later.

I'm going to have to whip out my dungeon map again.............

Anyways, go play Chapter 4 :D

I mentioned last week than I was messing around with Adventuron for a French jam. It is still going well, but it wasn't ready for this week (I took longer to code TTATEH than I expected). It will have to be done by Friday, since it is the Jam's deadline.

It will be in French for the release, and in English within a week or two (the code won't need to change, just the text :P). The premise is a bit simple and stupid, but it's pretty nice to try out a different program. And for a parser one, it's pretty accessible for easy puzzles.

I had a title... but it doesn't work anymore. I should try to find a pun with eggs...

Aside from that, I haven't really been working on any other projects. I've mainly been playing the games of the SpringThing and reading their reviews (I'm eagerly waiting for mathbrush's review, but they won't be online until the event is done because he is the organiser).

Since the voting for the SpringThing ends next Friday, don't forget to case you vote before then. If you don't know who to vote for, dedicate a personalised ribbon to your game(s) of choice!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Anti-Romance Jam is starting very soon! If you want to celebrate a summer of anti-romance, come join us.... No need to be a game dev to participate, we accept all mediums :) Jinx dared me to submit a UI, I think I might...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@interact-if is looking for an Event Coordinator. If you would like to give back to the community and help us promote diversity in the IF scene, consider applying! (or share the call post!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another big jam coming is the Neo Twiny Jam, a short IF jam on itch, where the only rule is to not write more then 500 words! The original jam had over 200 entries... wouldn't it be super cool if we managed to get that many entries this time around?

Anyway, I'll be collecting entries over on @neo-twiny-jam. I'll either post the link to the entries or reblog the creator's Tumblr post about it. For posteriety.

Anyway, if you are interested or thing someone would be interested, share the post!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last bit, @if-confessions has gotten a lot more activity this past weeks. I got quite a bit of new asks coming in. Check the #confession time tag (I've queued some older confessions in between). A lot more author confessions than reader ones...

[manonamora-if]

FINALLY. FINAL PAGE WAS REACHED.

Comments are done. Edits are sent. I ended up removing 9k words (repetition of text, not because it was bad, it's pretty good). The doc is back in MelS inbox. .

From what I could see, we are missing:

some variation in descriptions in the exploration part

a bit of the investigation piece (description stuff, we have the general lines)

the final room/puzzle

Those 9k cut words will be back from looking at this list alone. I think we might reach a 30k word chapter with this one???

Now that I'm done with this, I'm going back to my template.

[manonamora-if]

Weekly check in :)

Was really productive this week, so pretty happy about that! Though most of it was put into something secret :P

My second entry to the @neo-twiny-jam (and the Nouvim300, bc that's the theme...) is out! You can play it here or share the post :)

MelS is making really good progress. He's done with the first third of the investigation part, chipping away at the second third, now. iirc the last third should be the smallest. Crossing fingers to get the whole draft by the end of the month so we can start the editing process.

There will definitely be more to see in this chapters than the previous one... that is if you know where to look ;)

Neo Twiny Jam!

Soooo happy to see we are getting close to a hundred submissions for this jam. With less than a week left, I think it is attainable. Maybe I'll do one small entry (and be at 3/3)....

If you have an idea and can write 500 words, consider submitting something! It's for a good cause!! Check @neo-twiny-jam for more info :) If you have played the small entries, consider leaving a comment or rating them! I've been playing them all and reviewing them at @manonamora-if-reviews.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Text Adventure Literacy Jam!

One week left to vote for the entries. There are 9 entries total (includes An Eggcellent Preparation), and are supposed to be for beginners in mind. If you want to try some parsers, consider leaving a vote :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Intro Comp!

Want some feedback on an unpublished demo and an extra incentive to finish the project (there is a cash prize…), check out the IntroComp! The deadline to submit an intent is at the end of this month!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Orifice Jam!

The Jam has officially started! Come hang out in the discord!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Secret Project

The word count has more than doubled on the secret project. We might be looking at a pre-release by the end of next week! I have a few more pages to include, and then organising the links between those.

The goal is to have this downloadable when it is complete....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am now in the top 50 reviewers on the IFBD :P (thank you Neo Twiny Jam!) Write 75+ reviews to pass me :P