When Stars Collide
When Stars Collide - Episode One Release
Hi everyone! This release was supposed to be a little later than it is coming but a couple of Real Life events have pushed it up by about a week and a half.
Episode 1 of When Stars Collide is officially released. 🥳🥳🥳
DO NOT LOAD OLD SAVES.
I cannot stress this enough.
Old saves will break. Even if they show up. Even if you can technically load them without initially crashing the game, the saves are broken. They will eventually crash the game. There is too much new content that did not exist in the prototype for those saves to function.
*Everything is different*
Please be sure that the correct version (1.4.3) is loading for you. You can find this info in the lower right corner of the main menu. Some people reported that launching the game would launch the snapshot even if they had the update (this seems to be some sort of weird Itch quirk. )
The new title screen looks like this:
If this is not what your title screen looks like, you are not in the correct version of the game.
What's new?
Everything. Tons of features and additions.
New backgrounds. Flowcharts, new glossary, music room, achievements, recap screen, etc, etc, etc.
About 50,000 words of new content (combined with the previous prologue and chapter one)
If you want a full breakdown of the new content, you can click below. A lot of it is stuff that has been mentioned in updates here before.
Total Word count of Episode One: 83,000 words (not including the bonus scenes)
What isn't in the game right now is any content for future chapters. Future variables, future chapters, flowcharts, future CGs, etc. None of that is in the game files. 👀 Just so you know. LoL
When is the next episode coming?
Not for a few months. Please remember, though, the next episode is fully written and edited. I am already working on coding it and doing the art.
But it's a lot.
My aim is to release a new episode every 3-4 months. But I don't know yet what the schedule will look like. This gap between Episode 1 and Episode 2 is what will show me how long to expect to take to get each episode ready without killing my art hand.
Just like before, the episode will go through a process of Patreon Beta → Patreon Early Access → Public release.
The next episode will go through a longer period of early access than this one did though. This one ended up being a bit shorter due to various reasons.
Quick Devlog/Check in
Since this release is coming right around when I'd normally be getting ready to do my monthly update here, I'm going to include a quick update here. It is pretty short - just to give you an idea of what I'm working on.
Since my last check in, I've been slowly starting to work on the next episode.
I coded the BG changes, the music cues and SFX. And I also started coding in sprite expressions. I've completed several CGs and received some new BG art.
Upcoming Month
I will be focusing on getting sprite expressions done and then probably the flowchart. I can release a Beta before the CGs are totally done but I really need the expressions and flowcharts set up so they can be tested.
So CGs are kind of my slightly lower priority thing, though I am breaking up the intense monotony of sprite expressions with CG work. So I'm basically working on everything at once.
Comments
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So, to start: This is an amazing start! I’ve already blown through what we have for Daas and I’m in love <3
With that said, I’ve run into an issue where alt+tab ing over to another window and coming back, or changing from full screen to windowed and back with alt+enter causes it to behave stop rendering the screen and I have to force close the game and come back.
It’s not game breaking, and I’m picking up on a second pass through the Noel route, but I figured I’d let you know.
In any case, keep up the good work and I’m excited to read more of the story!
Thank you for letting me know.
Unfortunately issues with these kinds of hot keys are nearly going to boil down to Renpy itself and your machine. There's nothing in my code that I can change that is going to affect that.
For instance, I alt+tab in and out windows frequently when testing and never run into issues, but do sometimes hit a bit lag when using alt+enter to go between display modes. This happens not just for this game but all games I play (though it seems more likely to happen when going from full screen to windowed rather than the other way around).
If you're running into issues using hot keys, I recommend toggling the window in settings instead and see if your PC is able to handle that a little better.
~Steamberry
Kinda figured it’d be something like that and the real issue was my poor potato of a computer not handling it well. Nevertheless, I figured I’d mention it in case it was something known or more interesting. Thanks for replying, and I’ll do some stuff on my end to see if maybe I’ve got bad video drivers or something.
In any case, keep up the great work!
(Seeing post late)
*Audible Gasp*
The time has come. *Clears throat* I must complete the routine.
*Inhales*
*Screams into the void while the update installs*
*gives you honey lemon tea because this ritual seems hard on the throat* 👀👀
Why thank you. I have a cold actually, so this is lovely.
I'm having trouble with the mac download. After clicking download the window pops up to choose what folder to download the file to, but there's an error message that it can't find a compatible file to download.
I believe someone else had a similar issue where their machine was telling them it couldn't find the file.
Their advice is to uninstall and remove the demo if that is installed as well as try to download directly from the website and not the itch app.
Beyond that, I am not sure what advice to give. Unfortunately download issues are a little outside my wheelhouse if the game build itself is working because I can't say for sure what is happening between your computer, Itch, and the game build itself.
Going through the website worked, thank you for the suggestion!
No problem. Sorry for the trouble. Itch seems to be really picky about how it's downloaded this time around. I'm not sure why. 😭😭
sorry if this was asked or mentioned before but will this game stay free?
Hello! So for the record, I don't typically refer to the game as 'free' since it is being monetised through Patreon where patrons get additional content (art, lore, etc), early access, a game guide, etc.
I don't intend to change this pay structure and the base game will remain available without payment here on Itch, so there will not be a hard paywall on the game.
Ahhh, I see. Thanks for the information. :) I was curious because otherwise I would have waited for the full game to be released before playing.
It's all good! I've mentioned it before but honestly, it's scattered across various devlogs so it's always fine to ask again. LoL!
(´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)
Ahhh, congrats on the release!! I can't wait to play!!
Thank you! (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)
I am playing it and it is amazing!!! thanks!!!
Thank you so much. (☆▽☆)
The new save system? Where I can save each route under their names? Love it. I can't tell you how many times I lost my routes because they were jumbled up in other saves. I also love the backgrounds, that garden?? Damn, I want it.
Yeees! The save system was a stroke of genius. Ha ha. I love it for testing too. I know that's such a dev thing to say but it's so useful. Rofl.
And yes, Kav shows up in Chapter 3! Buuuut. I did want people to get to meet him so he does have a bonus scene that unlocks at the same time Noel's unlocks. So you can get a brief glimpse of the space hobo. But he won't appear in the story until the next Episode.
I'm so excited to play this! your games never fail to impress me!
Thank you. 🥺
I love the new UI so much, and tbh I missed my boy Yren! you always have the most adorable guys in your VNs<3
Thanks! Originally I didn't think the new UI would make that much of a difference but it really changed the vibe, I think.
I'm glad you like Yren. He turned out so fun to write. He's such a sweetheart.
def changed the vibe! the whole things feels way more whimsical and lit up in a way, and the flowchart? genius! it was such a good choice to add that in. kudos for the hard work, it really paid off!
I love loved the update!! Super excited to get to know everyone better and to learn where the story is going!
Yay!! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. ╰(*°▽°*)╯
Thank you for all you do!!! you're my favorite VN creator and I'm so in awe of your work, can't wait to play this one! 💖
I second this!! steamberry studio are one of the best out there
I'm replaying and oh man, these backgrounds are gorgeous!! Super excited to see what's new!
Yeah, the new BGs definitely gave the game a nice look and feel. The ship looks quite slick now.
You have no idea how excited I am to play this. Thanks for all the hard work!!!
I hope you enjoy it. 🥺🥺
I did! Played all available routes thus far. As usual you killed it!
eeeeeee i havent played yet but im so excited?!?!? ahhh???!!
╰(*°▽°*)╯ Huzzah!
OMFG IT WAS SO GOOD! 10/10 I love them all so much and the story and the art and the and the T^T its everything i was waiting for!
Yay! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it. The first episode is really just setting up the scenario and introducing the characters. But subsequent episodes will start introducing more story and plot stuff so I'm looking forward to getting the next one out to people. 🥰🥰
LET'S GOOOOOOOOO CONGRATS
Thank youuuuuu. (～￣▽￣)～
*is supposed to be going to bed*
*is not going to bed*
GO TO BED GET SOME WELL DESERVED REST!!!
Released while I was asleep?! Damn you, Time zones! I have catching up to do
Time zones are sneaky. 😭😭 Curse our round planet!
(╬▔皿▔)╯
Interesting. Is the mention of Espers confirmation that this takes place in the same universe as Gilded Shadows? Or is it just your preferred term for psychic abilities?
Esper is really just kind of a preferred word. Psychic has too many weird associations so I only use it in a more tongue-in-cheek kind of way. And any time I try to come up with a unique word for Espers, it typically just feels too quirky and unrealistic for the setting when a word like "Esper" is convenient and right there.
That's why I tend to default to it in any settings with people who have some kind of psychokinetic ability. It's just simple, to the point, and sounds good.
All my settings are somewhat connected by thin lore similarities but the time lines for WSC and GS don't align well enough for these to really be in the same universe. I think I was originally considering if they would be but there were just inconsistencies that wouldn't really work out.
It's always a nice surprise when I see Steamberry show up in my Feed. Can't wait to see what new stuff you have for us!
Always lurking and waiting for my chance to burst into your feed like the kool-aid man. ╰(*°▽°*)╯
