Dark Nights
DLC development
Dear fans,
It's been 1 year since the DLC got fully funded. The project turned more ambitious than I expected. This is the last time I work on Dark Nights content, so I want to wrap it up nicely. This is a long post about the current progress, art previews, character redraws, and more!
The script progress stages:
Chain: 50% proofreading
Roya: 50% proofreading
Secret: 30% writing
Extra stories: 10% writing
I finished writing Chain & Roya's storylines. Combined, it's about 155k words. Once the DLC is finished, the word count will likely increase to around 200k. The main game, with 4 routes + extra stories, was around 270k words. This means, the DLC is longer per route and has more choices.
I read all the reviews here of the main game. The common critique is that the heroine makes bad decisions. I want to improve my writing by adding more inner monologues and menu choices. While the DLC storylines follow a similar plotline, I wrote an entirely new prologue with more menu choices. The order of meeting characters and their location are different too. You don't have to play the main game to enjoy the DLC. However, I added details that make it fun for returning players.
The interface gets an update. I went for a minimalistic style with a focus on art. Many requested the main character's face in the bottom corner. You can toggle it on and off. Other functions are the same.
In the DLC you'll explore different places. The screenshot below is from Roya's office. I like old-fashioned interiors. Some backgrounds get animated because I want to blow life into this world!
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New sky backgrounds
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Redraw of the whole cast with mystery characters
Zeikun | Junoru | MC (Miyoko) | Sachiro | Kurato
Roya | Chain | Ikuya | Lioji | Kaichi
Hanaru | Dezem | Jace | Blace | Mr Shinen
Kaichi | Rasumi
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CG PREVIEWS
Current CG art progress 5/36. The final number may turn out more because I plan to add sketches and simpler scenes.
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Animated trailer
I'm working on an animated trailer for the DLC. These are some sneak peeks! It's been years since I animated anything. Although, I'm having fun picking up this skill again! I want to create more dynamic compositions next.
In my last announcement, I planned the release around 31st October to celebrate Dark Night's 4th anniversary. However, my schedule got quite packed in the second half of the year. It impacted my health and I injured my arm from overworking. I'm doing much better now, although the workload will be high this year.
Anyway, this wraps up the current progress. Thank you for your patience and continuous support!
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Comments
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you are the best storyteller !!!!!i will support you on steam !!
Ok so i havent left a review of you game because i ABSOLUTELY CANNOT STAND........how much i LOVE this damg game lol. Words cant describe but i will eventually do a review because i love it to dam much. I self inserted myself because me and the mc feel similar as in alot of crazy mishaps have happend in my life with certain guy friends that you would think i have my own well getting off topic lol. I also perfer a umbrella as a weapon of choice thank you😌😉 but going forward, I do however have some concerns regarding future elements.........
So i haven't fully 100% the game but i did complete everyone storyline/route (Chains death hurt me right in the feels you monster for killing him off🥺😡😤😭😞) but when the big update happens, 1) Will the WHOLE story be changed? Like different arts and all? Or will the old art (love how cute it is) still be there? If it changes it's no big deal but i would like to know so im ready lol. 2)Will my saves be reset? Personally im completely fine with starting over as i have made very clear i absolutely LOVE this game. But asking incase i can just transfer save files. 3) I actually play this game using joiplay on mobile so wanted to know will that still be possible? 4)Will there be ways to download old versions of the game?
That seems like alot but just wait until my review lol. Thanks for creating a game that i ABSOLUTELY FREAKING LOVE 😆😁🥰☺️😝
Thank you for dropping a comment! I would love to read your in-depth review. It's been so many years since the game's release and it makes me delighted that people still check out my work. On the other hand, I feel embarrassed about some elements of the game. There are many things I want to improve on- which will be highlighted in the DLC. Regarding your questions:
1) The whole story will NOT be changed. Both Roya and Chain's route follow the same plotline. You will view the story from their perspective and discover details never shown before. I did rewrite the prologue, but just changed minor details and order of events. The LIs from the main game will appear again and they have side roles. I changed the art, but the characters have the same personality and background story.
2) The DLC is going to be a new game file. I realized it's very complicated to program old and new elements in the same script. To make things easier, see this as a separate game. You have to start over because everything is new. The prologue alone has 5 choice menus.
3) I plan to add the DLC on Steam so people with Steam Deck can play it. Regarding a mobile app, I'm not sure yet. I have to figure out how to add it to the app store and import the files to joiplay. It takes time and I would appreciate any guides on how to do it. This whole project is run by 1 man, so please bear with me.
4) The old (main) game is forever available to download for free. I won't remove it from any platform. You can enjoy the old stories and art to your heart's desire! Upon many requests, I will add a patch with the new sprite art. In settings you can switch back and forth between old & new sprites. Old CGs won't be updated, so it may look a bit disconnected.
Thank you for the support!
Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah i can't wait and I'm also so damg excited😝☺️
Im re-downloading the second i see it even though i still have it download. I will give you your review when dlc is out so that way i have it all done😁😈
Is there a way to get the music? Love the music as well. 76/10😝😝
You can buy the music pack on itch or steam. The itch version has bonus tracks not used in game.
I look forward to your review in the future!
downright AWESOME. just wow. i'm glad you're managing to pursue this passion of yours and aren't afraid to let us know how demanding this is of you.
to be honest i think your blandly handsome new portraits give the visual novel a more typical, basic look which might have put me off but i'm in AWE at the dedication and talent that must have gone into all those drawings and now even animations, not to mention the writing. in fact, it looks so highly produced that it doesn't look indie any more. it's hard to believe it's just one person behind it all.
i'm drawn to obscure games so i'm glad i found dark nights in its rawer state which gave off less of a commercial vibe, so i decided to check it out, however i'm a guy so probably not your target audience.
btw i can proofread for you for free. i'm noticing an occasional poor choice of words. for example i'm playing right now and kaichi tells miyoko that cursed people willingly give up their lives because "they can't stand demons bothering them". "bothering" implies mild annoyance. it would be more suited to say "they can't face being tormented by the demons", or "they can't tackle the haunting, dreadful ever-present awareness that a demon might assail them at any moment".
this is occasional and not a big deal but since you're proofreading anyway, if you think i can save you some time do let me know.
Thank you for leaving your thoughts in such detail. The community gave me the chance to work on the DLC, so I'm going all out on it. The redraws are based on the character's past designs and my envisions. I try to draw out their charms while sticking true to their character. I appreciate any critique because I want to keep improving my work.
I work with a few proofreaders, but we may have missed some word choices. I agree that "bothering" sounds too mild in that context. Right now, I've got plenty of help with proofreading, but if you're interested to help in other ways, feel free to join my discord server: https://discord.gg/46EBzR47
if it's advice that i just gave you then throw it in the trash because you're obviously doing great as it is. shouldn't have wasted your time with casual chatter, which is what it was and what i'm still doing right now so thank you for the discord invitation and good luck with your amazing work.
I’m really excited for this! I played this game with Zeikun’s route about a year back, so it’s really great to see you working on this. The updated art is amazing, I love the redraws. Will definitely be replaying once the DLC comes out.
Really nice work! Looking forward to the DLC release.
Looking forward to this! I recently did a replay of the entire game just to refresh myself and I will probably replay it again just before release :)
i'm so beyond excited, this is one of, if not my favorite visual novel i've ever played. the new visuals look BEYOND incredible, not that i wasn't already in love with the visuals, but i love the new visuals even more, thank you for the update!
OMG SO EXCITED FOR THE DLC!!!
I'm really hyped for this! Dark nights is one of my favourite visual novels! The art style was already good but now is sooo cool