TL;DR: 

-Build has issues and needs to be reworked with a delay

-New tool is already very promising and we can convert existing stuff

-Pinups every week for patrons until build works (with update included in new build)

So we've been very hard at work rebuilding the game to function with the new framework. Honestly it had been going pretty well, we had been getting feedback from patrons and addressing issues as they came along. However, we discovered a pretty massive and nasty bug that has really blown up to the point where we have to completely rethink how we do things. Basically when you play the game it'll function correctly, you'll see the environments we created as well as the dialogue between the characters. However, as soon as you save the game and try loading it from the menu it doesn't actually load. Well it loads, but it completely forgets the room it had loaded into.

(we tried countless solutions but Naninovel was not remembering where players had saved despite our best efforts.)

As you can imagine this type of issue can torpedo an entire game. We've been looking through the entire documentation with Naninovel, and had the realization that based on the way Naninovel saves variables, it would be impossible to make the game work the way we want it to in its current form. This issue has been driving us insane for the past two weeks, and we basically had to go back to the drawing board and really evaluate what the issue really is. The issue is we've been trying to shove a square peg in a round hole, where the tool that we're using to build the environments (namely Naninovel) is not actually built for Point and Click adventures. The game had been stuck between two genres essentially, and we realized we need to focus on going in one specific direction with it. So the solution is: go both feet first into a proper point and click adventure.

(reworked player room, every item is interactive)

What does this mean? We have to take what we've already made, and repurpose it to work properly with a new tool called Adventure Creator. The best part of using this tool is due to the way we created our scenes, we can convert what we already have into this new way of doing things. The biggest issue is time, and unfortunately we're going to have to push back release of the current version because this issue is just too big to ignore. This new tool comes with some crazy benefits to us, namely a ready built inventory system that players can use in game. We had already planned on making one, so this was a massive benefit. Context based clicks where you can choose how you interact with objects is another massive benefit, where we can do what we were trying to do but in the correct way.

(discovered we can change the cursor, just one of the small improvements with Adventure Creator!)

Our plan is to basically skip over initial release, and just go straight into Update 1 once the build is fixed into the new tool. Because this will take time (most likely 1-2 months), we don't want patrons to feel like they aren't getting their moneys worth. We'll be keeping you guys closely posted on progress, but we have one benefit that we talked to our artist about: Pinups every week! We don't want you guys to be missing out on content, and sure we can inform you about what's happening but we thought you guys deserved much more. The next pinup will be Malenia from Elden Ring, then Lucy and also Rebecca from Cyberpunk Edgerunners. This doesn't quite make up for lack of build, but we really wanted to do something to benefit you guys. 

(environments are being improved such as the player room and Junkyard area as we try fixing the issues)

This new tool should enable some pretty great developments for us in the future, as well as make a much more interactive and fun game overall, but unfortunately this will take time no matter what. We're gonna keep you guys as informed as possible, but we really hope you enjoy the pinups and are excited for the build once it's ready. We don't have a specific ETA yet, but expect it within the next 1-2 months with First Update included.