Private WIP Build 20.1 Preview

Pulling together the first WIP build to be available to the researchers currently pledging at the WIP or higher tier on Patreon (all of this will be coming to the Chapter 6 Private Build eventually).  It will include:

Dinoian TF:  The Dinoians are a race of scaly, sentient beasts of burden, engineered to carry people and supplies across The Underworld’s vast desert biome.  You can find the TF items in the debug room if you want to try the saurian life.  Putting any one of them on will allow it to self-replicate over your body, destroying any other clothing in the way.  The Dinoian bindings are primarily simple black leather straps and a saddle which don’t leave anything to the imagination — expect to be fully exposed in public.  Due to it replicating faster than you can uncurse it, there’s currently no way to get them all off once you put one on — trapping you forever.

No eggs… yet!  But expect female dinoians in future to have a chance of laying eggs multiple times if a mating session is fruitful.

UI Scaling:  The monthly feature vote was tied, so I chose ‘Improved text scaling for android devices’, which somehow feature creeped into ‘redo the UI.’  The new layout is DPI-aware, and is much better for mobile devices and high-DPI PC screens.  The extra width on the buttons is easier for fingers, and gives a bit more readable button text space on PC too.  Also, when you start the game, the character stats are no longer shown until you’re in gameplay.  The map and self description panels size themselves intelligently, and at low res, the self description panel becomes a separate button.

Android Phone UI

PC UI (web resolution)

Tablet UI

There is one bug where on starting the game the map is half rendered until the next screen refresh (it fixes itself as soon as you move).  Will fix this before the final Chapter 6 release.

Multiple Map + Large Map Support:  In north Haven is a passageway into the desert.  It’s entirely empty at this point, but the new desert area demonstrates map switching and how large maps can get now.

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The release plan is to have the build be available to WIP backers within the first seven days or so of June.  Once $20+ backers are successfully charged on June 1, I’ll update permissions for them and upload the WIP build to the intranet.

Not expecting much progress next weekend as I’ll be hanging out at Furlandia (swing by if you’re in Portland!).

May Feature Vote

I just posted the first vote over on Patreon.  The primary focus of current development is on chapter six content, but I’ll try to get one extra feature done.  What should it be?

  • Shop where you can sell loot.
  • Improved text scaling for android devices.
  • Succubus class or status or item: Gain HP via sex, but not via health items or rest.
  • Click on minimap for larger map.
  • Rework intro so you can choose your reaction (affects initial acceptance rate).

If you’re a patron, vote before May 15.  (And since there’s only two patrons, you two have good odds on getting to choose the next feature ;))

Android

I’ve got android builds building again, but in the process of updating the build scripts, I realized I’ve only ever been building for ARM devices.

x86 Android devices are rare, and are supposed to support ARM emulation — but if you have an x86 android device that doesn’t run the game, let me know and I’ll start making x86 android builds.

Patreon is Live

The Patreon page is now live, and you can link your Patreon and SkyCorp Global accounts via the Researcher Intranet.

Patreon supports PayPal transactions, so if you only had a PayPal account, you can now buy the game.  It’s the same price as via the existing BMT method, and functions the same:  purchasing once will unlock private builds forever.  Other than payment methods, the main difference between the two options is that since Patreon doesn’t actually bill until the 1st of the month, it’s not an instant unlock.  Granting private build access for Patreon users is currently a manual process, but I’ll endeavor to do this within the first week of purchases being successfully charged.

There’s also some more traditional monthly Patreon rewards to thank users who want to support the game on an ongoing basis.  Since the preview page, I added some suggestions as rewards and the unstable build reward option got changed to a WIP build option.  (I didn’t really feel comfortable with a fully automated build pipeline yet).  I’m hopeful the WIP builds give me some additional forward momentum to have some new content out each month — although most users will prefer to wait for the full chapter releases in the private builds, as it’s more fun to experience a full chapter at a time instead of in pieces.

I’m expecting May’s WIP build to be the Dinoian TF items.  I also need to set aside some time to get Android builds building again, as it looks like they account for about 25% of r20 downloads from the intranet — a much higher percentage than I ever thought.

On a personal sidenote, I recently attended a furry con for the first time.  I had a great time, and even got to meet some others in the TF community.  So inspiring to see others share passion for the genre!

Chapter 6 Status Report

Internal company memorandum re: next private build of research materials.

Chapter six is coming along slowly but surely.  This chapter is all about one of our most useful specimens, the Dinoians.  It would be nearly impossible to travel the vast desert wastelands without the use of our scaly, saurian mounts.  Any researcher traveling to the underground R&D facility has undoubtedly ridden one.

Researchers should be particularly careful when handling any Dinoian bindings.  Although SkyCorp Global is generally able to engineer the environment of their extended workforce so as to prevent them from shifting in form once assigned to a particular location, Dinoians naturally have to cover large tracts of land during their duties.  To ensure they stay in their intended form, their bindings are specially designed to be almost impossible to remove.  The special collars, cuffs, bands, and saddle will self-replicate across the subject as needed.

Occasionally, a subject forgets their employment agreement and attempts an unauthorized transformation.  Even if they manage to remove one binding, the other bindings will automatically replace it within moments.  This safety precaution helps prevent riders from getting stranded in the vast desert wasteland.  However, more than one careless researcher has found themselves with new duties after improperly handling the bindings.

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Vis-à-vis status of chapter six: most of the introductory scenes are written.  In terms of size, this chapter is on track to be huge.  Just the introductory scenes are almost as many words as some previous entire chapters.  The desert area has so many rooms, the map system has to be updated to efficiently render such a quantity.  So it will still be a while yet until chapter 6 is playable, but it will be worth the wait.

If you were watching blog comments, you may have noticed I changed the name of these guys from ‘Lizlands’ to ‘Dinoians.’  May change them again as I feel out the best name for them.

To researcher Hido’s inquiry about Patreon (as well as a couple others who have written in about PayPal support via Patreon), I have a work in progress preview page set up here.  The exact rewards are still TBD, but the primary one is Private Builds, which is the same one-time cost as it is at BMT.  Also brainstorming potential recurring rewards, including automatic unstable dev builds.  However, since pre-release dev builds are by their nature broken, incomplete, and otherwise not of playable quality, I may scratch that idea entirely (if they were actually ready for release, I’d just post it as a private build).  There’s some more details on how those builds would work on the preview page.  Leave a comment if you have other reward ideas (or are an existing backer who is vehemently against the idea of a Patreon for this project — it’s still only an idea at this phase).

r20 – Public Build

r20 is released in both public and private versions.  Since r19, the changes are:

  • Bug fixes for Cloud Save – This should fix the issue where downloading the SWF caused save/load to stop working
  • Autologin feature (for private builds) – It can be annoying to have to login every time you play the game to save/load, so now private builds do this automatically.  Each downloaded SWF is now customized for the logged in user so login credentials don’t have to be typed in again after download.  Currently APK does not support this, but it may be supported in future.

If you haven’t played since the last public build, the major new public feature are:

  • Custom Name Entry
    Research subjects can now enter their own names instead of using default assigned ones.  Both masculine and feminine versions will be prompted for.  If the subject’s sex changes, then they will start to refer to themselves using the alternate name upon reaching 100% acceptance.
  • Save/Load
    The Underworld uses cloud saves so you don’t have to worry about losing your savegame due to Flash cookies going missing.  You can resume play between browser clears, incognito mode toggles and even across devices.The save system is new and highly experimental.  Save files saved on one version may not necessarily be compatible with all future releases.  If you have trouble loading a save file which was both saved and attempted to be loaded on the latest released version, then please leave the save file as-is and report it as a bug.  Include: 1) your account name, 2) the save file number, and 3) the build number.
  • Mobile/APK support
    On the splash screen, there is now a button you can press to enter a new mode which makes the game much easier to play on phone / tablet / touch devices.  It modifies the UI layout by increasing the size and distance between the buttons and resizing various other UI components.  Text windows can also now be scrolled by swiping them up/down.  Button hover states are removed in this mode since touchscreens will often keep the cursor at the last touched location.For players on Android, an APK build has been created that you can install directly as an app.  This web page has some tips on how to install APKs.  The game will try to detect if its on a touchscreen or not, but if it fails, just toggle between Desktop Mode and Mobile Mode by using the new button on the start up page.

It’s been a while since there was a content build, so r21 will be new content sexytimes.

r19 – Save/Load Added

r19 adds support for saving game progress.  The Underworld uses cloud saves so you don’t have to worry about losing your savegame due to Flash cookies going missing.  You can resume play between browser clears, incognito mode toggles and even across devices.

The save system is new and highly experimental.  Save files saved on one version may not necessarily be compatible with all future releases.  If you have trouble loading a save file which was both saved and attempted to be loaded on the latest released version, then please leave the save file as-is and report it as a bug.  Include: 1) your account name, 2) the save file number, and 3) the build number.

This feature will be available to public build players with the release of the next public build, which is planned to be r20.

Research staff can download r19 from the private employee intranet as either SWF (Flash) or APK (Android).

r18 – Monster Mods, Male Spider, and Custom Name Entry

Monster Mods (Private build feature)

Researchers now have access to a new debug tool that allows them to create their own enemies.  Use the Debug Monster Control Panel to input Monster Code.  A new monster will then be created in the adjoining room.  Monster Code can be generated without programming knowledge using the SCLab utility.  Researchers are encouraged to post their monsters to the wiki.

New Enemy: Male Spider

A new enemy has been discovered: the Male Spider.  He traps unwary victims in his web and transforms them into female spiders.

The male spider is a tough opponent.  A level 3 player with full health & empty lust can usually take him on, but any status effects (eggs, heat, etc) will tip the balance in his favor. It’s very difficult to get out of his web, so arrive fully prepared unless you want to become his mate!

He weighs in at approximately 1900 words and is implemented using the new Monster Mods system (copy his Monster Code from the wiki and paste it into the control panel’s input screen).

Custom Name Entry

Research subjects can now enter their own names instead of using default assigned ones.  Both masculine and feminine versions will be prompted for.  If the subject’s sex changes, then they will start to refer to themselves using the alternate name upon reaching 100% acceptance.

Research staff can download r18 from the private employee intranet as either SWF (Flash) or APK (Android).

Update: r18.02 released – There were a few bugs with monsters not attacking players in r18.  Please use the newly released r18.02 instead.

r17 – Female Spider Transformation

Attention researchers, a new species has been discovered!

A new cursed pendant in the debug room has the power to transform test subjects into anthro black widow spiders.  After exposure, test subjects will no longer be able to stand upright, but will instead be forced to crawl on spider legs and will grow a huge, bulbous opisthosoma-butt.

Spiders are a strong species.  Thanks to their razor sharp appendages, they are capable of performing combat strikes with 20% increased damage.  This damage comes at a cost.  Due to their short stature and octopedal motion, the female’s breasts will swing below them as they move.  Large breasts will rub against the ground, driving arousal whenever they move.  Extremely large breasts will occasionally prevent movement entirely.

Lust will have to be carefully managed, as the black widow’s opisthosoma-butt is so large that she will be unable to reach her own vagina to let off steam.  Instead, the black widow will have to find a partner… but she must choose carefully.

When spiders engage in sex with a male partner, they stand a significant chance of becoming pregnant with a huge clutch of eggs.  When pregnant, the spider’s belly will fill with eggs and become massive.  The belly hangs under the spider, and at large sizes will impede the spider’s egress from predators and leave it vulnerable to attack.  After a short incubation period, the female is forced to lay eggs.  Regardless of her wishes, this cycle repeats several times until her supply of fertilized eggs is eventually exhausted.  Finally her work is complete and she can return to normal proportions… at least until she is mated again.

Currently there are no males in the open world accessible dungeons, but researchers can use the debug hub to teleport to willing males in the dragon temple.

Research staff can download r17 from the private employee intranet as either SWF (Flash) or APK (Android).