Two things to talk about today, and it entails good news and bad news.

1. Demo ready to release, tester needed
2. My haitus


Demo ready to release, tester needed

It's been a long time, hasn't it?

This project started quite some time back. It's been remade... two times? Maybe three? I'm beginning to lose count. This project has spent more time at the drawing board than the production line, but I'm finally at a point where I can say I'm legitimately proud of @JRL's current progress.

And that's why I'm happy to announce that a demo is almost ready for release.

It's about thirty minutes long to roughly an hour, and I feel it sets the pace for what to expect in @JRL. What started as a roguelike experiment product has turned into a traditional RPG with a heavy focus on narrative development. Of course this demo won't contain all of the characters and their stories, but it will give you some background into a couple of them. The bulk of the game will be post apocalyptic, but the majority of this demo takes place pre-apocalypse. I put a lot of work into making it a solid experience, and I hope you'll enjoy it.

The story and its presentation are rather unique. I can't really put it into words, but you'll see how the story weaves together comedy and tragedy in a unique manner. You the character will experience the world through the lens of the main characters, and the mood of the world around you may change because of that, depending on the perspective of the main character you are controlling. I have no idea if I pulled this off well, or if it's simply confusing. That'll be up to you all to decide.

Expect a strange experience.

That being said, I need one person willing to test play the current demo. It's in a position where it's almost ready to release, but @JRL is a deceptively complex game. That's why I could really use a second set of eyes to give it a once-over before release.


My haitus

Now for the bad news. I'm afraid I won't be able to spend any more time on this project, outside of tweaking this demo. I'm not cancelling any of my games, and to put "haitus" on all of my projects would be unnecessary. Rather, I the developer am going on haitus.

Things changed in my personal life and I just don't have time for this hobby anymore. And that's really too bad. I love game development. I love making pixel art for it. Unfortunately, things changed and I no longer have time to commit to this hobby.

So I'll be going on an indefinite haitus. Who knows how long? I've decided to tie up a few lose ends here on RMN, and I feel @JRL is a big part of that. @JRL has become my personal flagship game, and I can't leave it as is. I have to release something for it.

After all the work I put into @JRL for you guys, I feel I've finally gotten to the point where I can release a demo. It won't be perfect. There'll be a few bugs, and some artwork I just haven't gotten around to making just yet. But I want there to be a playable demo I leave here for you guys. I want there to be something you all can enjoy, because all of you have been so faithful to this project, in your inspiration and encouragement, and you all have been earnestly awaiting a release of some sort. The most I can give right now is a demo.

@JRL is not cancelled, but think of it as being on an indefinite haitus. Will it be finished some day? I hope so, after I get my affairs in order. Perhaps I'll get a nice long vacation to put some work into @JRL. There's no telling when I'll be able to work on it again, but I can at least leave you all with something you may, or may not, enjoy.