Hanako Games

Current Status - 2019

#1 by hanako - Jan 16 2019

Well, these two things should be obvious, but:

1) The forum was throwing PHP errors so I had to update it. Everything is blue right now. I may eventually manage to make it purple again later.

2) We are running a kickstarter for Magical Diary: Wolf Hall.


Currently I am messing around creating new hair and eye colors because of the stretch goal, and because I can't do meaningful writing right now with so much in the air waiting to see what side romances go in etc.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#2 by KitCat - Jan 18 2019

KS seen slower... but... it still much more what i waiting it be can be just now... maybe even total ?...

Re: Current Status - 2019

#3 by Bloody Vikings - Jan 27 2019

KS projects typically get a boost in the last 40 hours as the reminder alarms go off for procrastinators.

That said, spreading the word in places that might be interested is never a bad idea.
(I've mentioned it in a few. Will do a reminder at the 48 hour mark...)

Re: Current Status - 2019

#4 by KitCat - Feb 1 2019

But it has good start... (KS i mean... )

Re: Current Status - 2019

#5 by hanako - Mar 7 2019

Currently waiting for Kickstarter to finish processing pledges so we know for certain who's in and who's out. Until then I can't start mailing out game keys.

Already starting a new production batch with one of the artists - I need to get in touch with another and confirm she's on board for the New Stuff.

Initial design ideas for the two new teachers have been submitted, no art for them yet though so you won't meet them for a little while still. Both of them will bring in some interesting new parts of the world outside Iris Academy.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#6 by KitCat - Mar 11 2019

Thanks... to info...

Re: Current Status - 2019

#7 by hanako - Mar 13 2019

Adding new poses and expressions to a lot of the second-rank characters (the people with main routes, naturally, had more poses and such to start with than other chars did)

Sprites made for the new teachers, haven't written scenes for them yet, so they probably still won't be in the first test release.

Same for the new poses/expressions, really - they probably won't be in yet as I'll need to sit down and go over everything to see how the new bits should work.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#8 by KitCat - Mar 13 2019

Progress... gooooooood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Current Status - 2019

#9 by hanako - Mar 16 2019

Links to the first Wolf Hall test builds have been sent out to Kickstarter backers. Naturally, there are bugs.

I'll be sending out announcements eventually for people who missed the KS and want to support the game during testing, but not tonight.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#10 by Bloody Vikings - Mar 16 2019

I got my key. Just haven't downloaded it yet.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#11 by hanako - Mar 21 2019

Currently writing scenes to add our first New Teacher to Wolf Hall.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#12 by Oki - Mar 21 2019

Exciting! Are they teachers we will actually be taught by or just introduced? Sorry if I missed that in the kickstarter.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#13 by hanako - Mar 21 2019

As far as freshmen are concerned, they are a gym teacher and a librarian (so there will be some new scenes in those locations). They might also teach some classes for upper years, but they won't replace Potsdam and Grabiner in the freshman classes.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#14 by KitCat - Mar 27 2019

Thanks at info.
Good luck to game!

Re: Current Status - 2019

#15 by hanako - Apr 2 2019

Because Patreon is planning changes to their site that will make it more difficult/expensive to create them in the future, I felt like I needed to set up a listing now just to get a foot in the door. I am not, currently, creating any fancy new content or stories just for Patreon - I don't have time, I'm far too busy with Wolf Hall! What I am using it for is to upload sketches/concepts/unused artwork and design documents from previous games. I've got a lot of that sort of thing lying around after all these years. Some of them have been previously shown on the forums, some haven't, and it's convenient to have them available archived fullsize in one place.

Please do not feel pressured to sign up! This is just extras.

However, if you're curious, it's here: https://www.patreon.com/hanakogames

Re: Current Status - 2019

#16 by hanako - Apr 3 2019

Talking to background artists about getting some exciting new MD locations.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#17 by KitCat - Apr 5 2019

Thanks to info...

Re: Current Status - 2019

#18 by saejin1983 - Apr 10 2019

I just want to say how excited I am to be playing Wolf Hall...My life has been total crap the last 2 years and this has been a nice bright spot for me. Thanks Hanako

Re: Current Status - 2019

#19 by hanako - May 29 2019

Been a little busy, but there's a new patch in internal testing at the moment (getting some bugs out before I send it to the users) so with luck there will be new content out soon.

Also just had to ban some spambots who were posting BUY NEW CARS NOW in the guestbook. You'd think if they went to the trouble of figuring out the whole scehem of where they have to post, they'd realise that a random obvious spam post won't work...

Re: Current Status - 2019

#20 by hanako - Jun 11 2019

Currently still a few scenes away from being able to start implementation on the next patch drop, so it'll probably be a little while yet. This is a much more substantial update than the last one.

Also, been posting art to the Patreon every week or so. Some of it is things that have been shown here, but I've managed to dig up a lot of sketches that have never been seen, including things I didn't even know I had. Today's post was a batch of Date Warp CG sketches.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#21 by hanako - Jun 20 2019

I'm currently a little ill and have been playing games rather than writing new scenes. BUT we finally got a player-testable version of the latest Wolf Hall update out. It's a bigger update and includes a new dungeon to play in.

Also if you haven't heard we have a sale going on itch at the moment:
https://itch.io/s/18361/hanako-games-summer-sale-offer

(And if you HAVEN"T heard, then one thing you can use the patreon for is the 'following' option that will send you news updates free, which can be easier than following me on twitter/tumblr)

Re: Current Status - 2019

#22 by hanako - Jun 26 2019

Steam summer sale info:

https://hanakogames.tumblr.com/post/185860722372/the-steam-summer-sale-is-on-until-july-9-2019

Re: Current Status - 2019

#23 by hanako - Jun 30 2019

Topped up the itch steam key collection since many had been claimed during the sale, there should be a safe buffer again.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#24 by hanako - Jul 6 2019

New patch currently in internal testing, which includes working on the first CG that includes the protagonist, so we had to test that the hair colors and such were coming through. Should be player-available in the next couple of days.

There will probably be a lag between patches after that, as Spiky is taking a summer vacation. I will still be writing, so there should be a decent lump ready to go afterwards.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#25 by manfromba - Jul 6 2019

hanako:

New patch currently in internal testing, which includes working on the first CG that includes the protagonist, so we had to test that the hair colors and such were coming through. Should be player-available in the next couple of days.

There will probably be a lag between patches after that, as Spiky is taking a summer vacation. I will still be writing, so there should be a decent lump ready to go afterwards.

How long does it take for patches to move from internal testing to release?

Re: Current Status - 2019

#26 by hanako - Jul 6 2019

That depends on how buggy they are!

Generally I send Spiky a batch of new text to implement, it gets turned into code and sent back to me, I play it through, look for obvious problems, report back with things that need to be fixed urgently, new version gets sent to me, rinse and repeat until I get a version that isn't obviously crashing anywhere. When I get a version that covers everything we've decided to release and looks like it runs, THEN I can send it to other people.

The first attempt usually has some missing sprites or other big problems that need to be tweaked, that's why there's usually a jump in numbers between patches, because several versions in-between were sent only to me.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#27 by hanako - Jul 19 2019

I was vaguely working with Winter Wolves about porting one of my games to Android... but it looks like google just suspended his account for the sin of repeatedly showing cleavage!

So... that may not happen.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#28 by hanako - Aug 4 2019

If they're cracking down on sexy stuff then making my own account to post England Exchange to mobile may not be a good idea anyway, since it's got all those saucy underwear CGs.

Currently wrapping up the week of Valentine's Day for the next Wolf Hall patch, there was a lot to cover for that week.

I've also got a little bonus art made that will be posted in the next KS update (and probably on tumblr/etc as well)

Re: Current Status - 2019

#29 by manfromba - Aug 4 2019

When are the new updates planned for release?

Re: Current Status - 2019

#30 by hanako - Aug 4 2019

When the patch is done, probably.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#31 by hanako - Sep 8 2019

Since I'm having to do regular status posts for patreon and kickstarter I don't have so much to say here atm. Still writing. Received the notebooks and stickers, now trying to get address info from the people who ordered them so I can mail them out.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#32 by hanako - Sep 18 2019

I'm in talks with someone about something that's super-exciting to me and will mean very little to anyone else at this point. And the talks may fall through anyway.

I'm sure this was a helpful comment.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#33 by Bloody Vikings - Sep 18 2019

I mean, we could start wildly speculating in here...

Re: Current Status - 2019

#34 by hanako - Sep 26 2019

Current actual writing date on Wolf Hall: March 19. It's a VERY BUSY DAY.
No, I still don't know when Spiky will actually have time to get another patch out, there's been a lot going on this month. Trust me, the wordcount continues climbing!

As for the possibly-exciting thing: person replied to me once and not since. So maybe nothing! Who knows.

Re: Current Status - 2019

#35 by hanako - Oct 1 2019

regular patreon post with wordcount updates: https://www.patreon.com/posts/30395413

Re: Current Status - 2019

#36 by hanako - Dec 15 2019

Today I was adjusting some texts for the Wolf Hall FINAL EXAM.

Which means writing-wise I only have the May Day Ball to go before finishing pass 1 on the script. (Some things still have to be added on pass 2)

Re: Current Status - 2019

#37 by crystalsilverwood - Dec 16 2019

wow, sounds like Wolf hall is really coming along!

Re: Current Status - 2019

#38 by hanako - Jan 19 2020

it's not technically 2019 anymore BUT i am about to be away from my usual computer for a couple of weeks so I may not be responding to things in a timely fashion. I'll get a new thread in here eventually!