Everafter Falls - [AG] riv otter
Hey Farmers,

It has been a busy few weeks. Snow has started melting around here with spring around the corner. I heard that you may have had to set your clocks forward on Sunday for Daylight Savings. That seems like a strange thing to have, we’ve never had to set our clocks forwards in Everafter Falls. Once the clock is set we just leave it.

I had so much fun talking with Ou, the developer of Everafter Falls at SquareHusky about what he has been working on in the new year.

Latest News Announcements

Physical editions
Some exciting news - Akupara Games have secured plans for the release of physical copies in Asian markets, and I believe there are also plans for a limited run for physical release for western markets too.

Xbox and Playstation
In addition to the Switch and PC releases, Akupara Games and I have decided to move forward with releasing the game for both Playstation and Xbox. Akupara’s team have been working hard on the Switch port and have also started work on these additional consoles in order to ensure it is completed in a timely manner.

Release Date
We have finally settled on the release date which will be later this year. The additional console versions have pushed back the release date another couple of months. We are planning a simultaneous launch across all platforms. I do apologize for yet again, to any backers disappointed by this further delay.

The additional time does allow me the time I need to work on some additional content for the game, namely, the Cooking System and Hersha’s Bakery. As mentioned previously, this was intended as a post patch update, but it will make it into release.

Everafter Falls will be launching this summer on all Steam platforms, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Xbox and Playstation 4 and 5!

What’s new
Alternative NPC schedules


All NPC’s now have alternative schedules every 5th day, which can be considered a weekend. No shops are closed though as they are all self-checkout anyhow, and I know nobody likes having to wait a whole day to access their favorite store. The alternative schedules also give a bit more insight into who the townsfolk like to hang out with and makes them a little more life-like.

Localization


The localization team at AllCorrect have done an amazing job with translations so far and while we’re still working on ironing out all the bugs, it is really cool to see the game actually working in another language!

Localization was rather challenging for me, and much more difficult and time consuming than I imagined before this stage. Some advice I would give to those planning to localize their game, is to make sure to have a system in place that can pull in all the strings you need from a separate CSV (or similar format that can be edited in a spreadsheet). This needs to be done from the get-go, the earlier you can address this, the less work and issues you will encounter later on. It took a fair amount of time for me to sift through all the code and find out where I’ve lazily hard-coded in strings, so doing it right from the start is highly recommended. It’s also a really good learning experience for those new to game development because it is a fairly self-contained system with a straightforward goal of intermediate difficulty. If you can tackle this, you’ll feel like you can tackle anything!

Restocking Prize Cabinets


The Prize Cabinet system where you can exchange Keys earned from spending gold now restock at the start of each year. They do so only if they are empty, and for each time they get restocked, the number of Keys required to unlock them increases by one. There are a couple of new items created just for these cabinets which you cannot craft or find elsewhere in game, so keep a lookout for those!

Your Pigeon Friend and the Replica Treehouse



At some point in the game, you’ll be able to recruit a pigeon friend who will follow you around and occasionally dig up worms (and caterpillars). For those who want a break from the myriad of creatures following you, you can complete a Replica Treehouse project. Using this item, you can leave your Pixie and Pigeon friends here to hang about while you do more important things like going fishing.

Some cool things achieved in game by beta testers
RecitedPlay’s first giant lotus!


EpicSilence has found the impossible-to-find Red Fishing Mod!


Modding Support
In the latest versions, files that control values and content for various aspects of the game, which include things like item costs, crafting recipes, crop details, monster stats, equipment, quests and more - have been made easily editable in the games install directory. I hope to make the game easily accessible for modders, and plan on exposing even more values when I get some time.

This has also allowed me to more easily fine tune numbers to balance the game, a lot of progress has been made here with help and feedback from testers so another shoutout to them :)

Looking ahead


A work-in-progress preview of the interior of Hersha’s bakery, which is being worked on and will be making it into release at launch. Her shop will also sell various appliances and recipe books you will need to stock your kitchen with in order to cook. The additional content will also include a couple of new quests, and a cutscene. These will be keeping me very busy while Akpupara work on the ports for all the consoles.

Some funny bugs that have cropped up during testing.
Frog stretching its limbs


Chairs are for standing on too


Naked fruiting mulberry trees
National Park Girls: Love Our Parks Edition - Crystal Game Works
Hey everyone, Syon here!

It's absolutely insane to think about it, but it's officially been five years since the first episode of National Park Girls launched. As cliche as it is to say, it feels like both a lifetime ago and not very long ago at all. Either way, I'm so glad we got Episode 5 out before reaching this milestone. That would've been embarrassing.

To celebrate this occasion, I'm stoked to reveal that we've got a couple announcements for ya!
The first of these announcements is small, but important. Steam achievements are finally fixed across the board, the credits in Episode 5 display now, and the art gallery has been updated with lovely new art. Including work from Élan's very own Adirosa.

It won't be the last update, though. Because we'll soon be doing a massive overhaul of National Park Girls. This includes:
  • Redone backgrounds.
  • Completely new UI.
  • Increased accessibility options.
  • Improvement to sprite direction (specifically so that everyone is facing each other when speaking, like in Episode 5.
  • Additional proofreading and slight quality of life adjustments to the script.
  • An additional key visual from Satchely.

The goal of these updates is to make NPG a smoother, more consistent visual novel, and to align it with the quality our audience has come to expect from Studio Élan games. Please look forward to it.
We still aren't done, though. Because all these updates will be included in National Park Girls: Love Our Parks Edition!



Very soon, all five episodes of National Park Girls will be delisted from digital platforms and replaced with one release that includes every episode. This has been something we've wanted to do for quite a long time, and I can think of no better opportunity than now. We're still figuring out details such as what price this edition will be retailing at, so stay tuned. While I love NPG's episodic structure, it has often deterred people from enjoying the series. With this update, I hope more people will get to experience Eve's story.

And finally, it will be National Park Girls: Love Our Parks Edition that we will be offering up as a physical release! Over the last several years, Studio Élan and Bellhouse titles have received physical editions, and National Park Girls will soon accompany them. Expect to be able to purchase the physicals at conventions we booth at and the Studio Élan webstore. More details will be revealed at a later date.

In addition to all these announcements, we are pleased to let you know that we'll be offering a batch of brand new NPG keychains featuring the various Park Girls, drawn by our friends Ringo and Myuto! Expect those on the webstore and at conventions as well.



Once again, thank you for continuing to play and enjoy National Park Girls. My life would look quite different without these nature gremlins. I hope they've brought as much to your life as they have to mine.

- Syon

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Ninja Roquinexu - Jesse Kellor
Greetings, folks!



The free version of SKELETHRONE is now available on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2139870/Skelethrone_The_Prey/

The Prey is a one-hour (depending on your skills) prequel to the main game, which includes a small part of the plot and explain how our protagonist came to be so "skeletal".



The Prey includes Steam achievements (even several hidden ones).

Come celebrate the launch with us by watching the brand-new GamePlay Trailer!



What is going to happen after The Prey has been launched?

Our plan is to release Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona on Steam, Nintendo Switch and Xbox!
We will announce the exact date very soon!
So, please, add the full version of the game to your wishlist!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2139840/Skelethrone_The_Chronicles_of_Ericona/

We are very grateful for everyone who is joining us on this journey today!
Cheers,
Valkyrie Initiative, 70`Strike

Don't forget to jump into discussion on official Discord and share your feedback with the developer!
Old World - Matt (Hooded Horse)
Hello! From now until March 21st, you can save 30% on Old World, and get great deals on all other games published by Hooded Horse during the Steam Spring Sale. Come check the game out!



Mar 14, 2024
Tribe Dash - Stone Age Time Management - Victoria S.
Experience the life of a tribal leader this Spring Sale! Enjoy 50% off as you hunt, collect resources, trade, and scare off wild animals.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2516370/Tribe_Dash__Beginners_Pack/
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - SOASonali


GET UP TO 25% OFF
Experience an epic emotional drama with one-of-a-kind RPG battles in Japan and Hawaii. Get 20% off the Standard Edition of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth or 25% off the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions as part of the SEGA Spring Sale now until March 21.

DON'T MISS OUT
See why IGN describes Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth as "sprawling, enthralling, and packed with dynamic brawling," now Steam Deck verified.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2072450/Like_a_Dragon_Infinite_Wealth/



Keep an eye on our social channels for more Like a Dragon content!

-The Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Team

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Magic Forest - Jesse Kellor
Greetings, folks!



The free version of SKELETHRONE is now available on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2139870/Skelethrone_The_Prey/

The Prey is a one-hour (depending on your skills) prequel to the main game, which includes a small part of the plot and explain how our protagonist came to be so "skeletal".



The Prey includes Steam achievements (even several hidden ones).

Come celebrate the launch with us by watching the brand-new GamePlay Trailer!



What is going to happen after The Prey has been launched?

Our plan is to release Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona on Steam, Nintendo Switch and Xbox!
We will announce the exact date very soon!
So, please, add the full version of the game to your wishlist!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2139840/Skelethrone_The_Chronicles_of_Ericona/

We are very grateful for everyone who is joining us on this journey today!
Cheers,
Valkyrie Initiative, 70`Strike

Don't forget to jump into discussion on official Discord and share your feedback with the developer!
Mar 14, 2024
Storage Hustle - Mr.Whiskered
  • Walking animation is now optional. You can change it on settings.
  • Improved Optimization
  • The game runs better on different resolutions now.
  • Fixed a bug where you sell items from outside the walls.
  • Fixed the "resetting the settings on restart" problem.
  • Increased the item detect area of the house.
Mar 14, 2024
Bean Beasts - ____lame____
Hello Playtesters!

I need you to take on the first World Boss to make sure it's fun and beatable! The game is almost demo-ready in the lead up to the London Games Festival!


I have also added a cut scene to the game which sets the tone of the adventure!


This will play automatically the first time you boot up the game, or can be watched when you select the Tutorial from the Map. Players who already have save data will have to watch via the Tutorial.

Other Updates
  • Big Tutorial Update - the tutorial is now on it's own separate level (no longer 1-1) and is much more concise - breaking down a few elements some players struggled with to improve the learning experience.

  • Endless Mode has been updated. Fewer Choppas and a smaller playing area makes it easier to focus on the multiple lanes. Leaderboards will be coming soon!

  • First Summon added to the game - unlocked after the World Boss.

  • Thank you message removed, replaced by a one-time message that also plays the game's trailer (will be updated with a more appropriate video once I have one).

  • Beating 1-5 unlocks an extra trap slot and 3x upgrade options for Traps!

  • Weather Effects added, will build upon this in further updates.

  • Bean Beasts cost is displayed differently, hopefully making it clearer to players.

  • Many boring bug fixes and minor QOL adjustments made.

With the extra trap slot, extra upgrades, smaller map and summon in your inventory it's now possible to get much further on Endless Mode - my new record is 43!

Cheers!

Anxious Noob.
Josh.
Square n Fair - Jesse Kellor
Greetings, folks!



The free version of SKELETHRONE is now available on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2139870/Skelethrone_The_Prey/

The Prey is a one-hour (depending on your skills) prequel to the main game, which includes a small part of the plot and explain how our protagonist came to be so "skeletal".



The Prey includes Steam achievements (even several hidden ones).

Come celebrate the launch with us by watching the brand-new GamePlay Trailer!



What is going to happen after The Prey has been launched?

Our plan is to release Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona on Steam, Nintendo Switch and Xbox!
We will announce the exact date very soon!
So, please, add the full version of the game to your wishlist!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2139840/Skelethrone_The_Chronicles_of_Ericona/

We are very grateful for everyone who is joining us on this journey today!
Cheers,
Valkyrie Initiative, 70`Strike

Don't forget to jump into discussion on official Discord and share your feedback with the developer!
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