Again, complete focus on Inaria development has precluded posting. Beta 3 will be released later today, and depending on what I get into it I may actually rename it Release Candidate 1.

What I’m really concerned about is the level of quality of the content of the game. I’m making another pass over all the maps to do things like fix areas where you can see “off the map” because I expanded the view area, make the geometry more interesting and use the new triggers I’ve created to do interesting stuff.

But we have a hard date now. And when I say hard, I mean set in frickin’ STONE. Inaria WILL go on sale Friday, April 15th.

Oh, lord, I’ve so much to do. Wish me luck.

Slight change of plans (again) – Inaria is going to get a public beta starting this Saturday and running for one week. Everyone who reads this blog is invited to participate! If you want to try it out, please email me at anthony.salter@gmail.com with the subject “Inaria Beta Test”. On Saturday I’ll send you directions for downloading the game and submitting bugs. Feel free to also make any other suggestions you wish.

So yes, I’m missing my date, but for a good reason, and if you’re reading this you’re going to get to play the game anyway so…why you complainin’?

Also, is there anyone out there who could cut together a short (1:00 – 1:30) trailer of this game for me? I’ve tried but a) I don’t have the tools (I’m not willing to pirate After Effects) and b) I don’t have the skill. A price can be negotiated.

Oddly enough, I haven’t been talking on this blog much because I’ve been doing so much. I’ve gotten an amazing amount of stuff done on Inaria. Let’s take a look in three handy lists.

What’s Out:

Party-based combat. Inaria is now officially a single-character game.
Arenas: All combat will now take place on the main map.

What’s In:

“Special” terrain squares (poison fields, locked doors, teleporters, etc)
Tooltips. One of the most common concerns I hear from the CRPG Addict is that he just doesn’t have enough feedback on what’s happening to his character.
Random loot. Yes, I’m putting in random loot. After I started putting in special items named after my contributors it felt natural to have random loot. Don’t think I’ll get around to set bonuses, but hey, you never know.
The size of the screen has been boosted from 512×384 to 640×480 to fit the larger map view as well as the new lists of abilities.
The RPG system has been fixed; all stats are now valuable (though some will be more valuable than others depending on the type of character you want to use).
A new editor is in the works that will allow me to use the new terrain squares quickly and efficiently.

Screenshots to follow. I’ll also be trying to figure out enough of Avidemux to cut together a trailer.

OH GOD WHY AM I DOING THIS WHAT MADE ME THINK I COULD GET THIS OUT IN TIME THIS GAME IS SO BUGGY AND I’M ADDING TOO MUCH AND THE DEADLINE IS LOOMING AND THE GAME IS WAY OVERENGINEERED AND UNDERDESIGNED OR UNDERENGINEERED AND OVERDESIGNED I HAVEN’T DECIDED YET AND BASIC FEATURES DON’T WORK AND THE SPECIAL ABILITIES AREN’T IN AND WAAAAAAHHHHH!

Inaria now has $140 of funding on 8-Bit Funding! I never expected that much!

Putting Inaria on 8-Bit Funding was absolutely the best thing I could have done for the project. It really motivates me to know that so many people are willing to donate just to see the project finished. I expect to get a lot done this weekend. Plus…anyone know of a good chiptune composer? I might actually be able to pay one now!

Inaria now has a funding target of $500 on 8-Bit Funding. Should I make this goal, I’ll use the money to get better artwork and some music for the game. Help out if you can, and if you donate $5 or more you’ll get a free copy when the game ships on March 6!