Hope you’re having a great day! Wavi here, bringing you our first update of the year! (I’d say it’s an honour, but I have to write all the devlogs anyway, so hm hahaha)

Holidays are over for us at TotES Studio and we’re all rested and a little fatter, ready to start 2022 at full speed! (✧◡✧)

As I mentioned in the last devlog, 2022 will (hopefully! I’m positive and confident!) see the release of Her Choice – Act 1, which sits at around 150k words, or 40% of the final game. The end of Act 1 marks the end of the weeklong holiday, and, with it, the end of the plot’s common events. So even though the branches have unique plotlines from the very beginning, Act 2 is where they really stray off, each in their own direction.

To be honest, the fact that there are actually 2 Acts should have been a surprise lol. One of the advantages of visual novels over books is that the amount of plot left is in no way obvious (if at 200 pages in, we are having a showdown with the villain, but we are only halfway through the book, it’s safe to assume things are not going to end well for the heroes). But after careful consideration, and seeing what our production times are like, we decided that we didn’t want you to have to wait a year or more to get the next part.

More game for everyone, yeah!

°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

Let’s take a quick look at where we are right now, shall we?

☐ Script

The overarching story is complete. Zanas and Hano’s routes have been plotted, though some scenes might need reworking. Kanzen’s route is halfway there. (To anyone curious as to why I didn’t start with most-popular-character Kanzen, I mentioned this before, but originally the branching happened at what now is the end of Act 1. Since I swapped Kanzen in just before we started work on the demo, he was literally absent for the majority of the common events. I’m still in the process of weaving his plotline back in with those of the other boys). 

☐ Sprites

A number of our players have expressed a preference towards having the protagonist’s side sprite, so we will be adding her back in (with the option to turn the side image off, if you prefer).

Act 1 will see the introduction of 4 new support characters (for a couple of others, we’ll have to consider if their roles warrant a sprite). We’ll be revealing them over the next few weeks, so stay tuned! (≧◡≦) ♡

All I can say for now is that finally 2 beautiful girls will be joining the cast!

(Jk, here’s a sneak peek)

☐ Backgrounds

Do visual novels usually have these many backgrounds? I wonder to myself everyday … while recklessly adding another dozen locations to the script (it’s all work I’m piling on my own plate, so we’re good).

In Act 1 we will finally get our promised tour of the set! And we’ll go on a lot of dates around Wingate. We might even get a little peek into the boy’s rooms (･ω<)

☐ CGs

While the developer in me is a firm believer that we only need as many CGs as the story calls for, I’m also a player at heart. Foolishly (and shamelessly) giggling and squealing at CGs does play a big part in my enjoyment of visual novels, after all hahaha.

On the other hand, CGs are the most time-consuming of all our work. Moon is doing everything singlehandedly, from CGs to sprites to promo and gift art. So just as for the demo, a lot of CGs will be simmering on the back burner, to be added only if we are left with the time to spare.

☐ Music and SFX

Our talented composer Hiroki Eto will continue working on the soundtrack for Act 1 too. I’m blessed (￣▽￣)

☐ GUI 

The biggest change you will see in Act 1 will be a completely new Notes system. A revamp of the bachelors’ files is already in the works. Following feedback we received from the demo players, the protagonist’s screen will also be completely remade, and will feature a full character list where you can easily keep track of your relationships with them.

☐ Other features

There was so much we removed from the demo, in order to ease our workload, but it’s all coming back in Act 1. Highlights from our “in the works” folder are the social media interface; optional events in the lounge and café; ability to interact with the backgrounds to collect and use items from your inventory. And of course, the Memory Room, from which you can access and replay all your favourite scenes.

We will reveal the features little by little, if we’ve piqued your curiosity don’t forget to follow us, so you don’t miss our next updates! 

I don't have a special picture to go with this update, so have some Hano and Zan instead

See you all next week!
- Wavi -