We all know it. You know what it’s about. It’s happening in front of our eyes and we can feel the tremors, the heat and the sun being blocked. Black clouds rise above the horizon and the air feels dense. Unpleasant sounds are being heard and the desperate screams of children as they flee their homeland.
Somehow, we carry on, but without a flinch or hesitation that in each of us we remain strong, determined, willing.
Yes, you know of which I speak.
The sound of thunder and war comes to the world once again, but with how much time left we have to enjoy the comforts of home before it hits ground, is unpredictable.
To add poison to a fresh wound, Shadowlight will not be the video game we wanted to make. It will instead be a quick effort. Most of the features we wanted to bring to this game will not be accomplished. There isn’t enough time.
What has been put into the game will remain, such as the Meditation Sessions, and the idea of crystal crafting and crystals. The idea of exploring a vast world, completing puzzles and progressing a story, on the other hand, will be simplified significantly.
This will likely become an interactive story, much like how Age of Atlantis (our previous announcement) was going to be, but with the added Meditation Sessions. As the primary gameplay mechanics, we hope the story will be enjoyable enough to keep you playing.
This decision is not being made lightly. With everyone with a ticking bomb in the backs of their subconscious, we do not expect our video game to receive a crowdfund at this point.
We apologise in advance for anyone who was excited to see an ever-expanding story, with detailed top-down semi-realistic graphics and a game designed to make you think. But, upon reflection, we think this decision is the only feasible way to accomplish this game in a short space of time.
The story behind the game has, in fact, had significant progress. It is just the case of converting the dialogue from the perspective of seeing visuals into the perspective of pure text with almost no visuals.
Meditation Sessions will exist in their ever-expanding form with more crystals to come. Collecting crystals or minerals will no longer be a feature, but you will instead acquire raw resources from Meditations, dependent on progress, difficulty level chosen and the type of meditation session.
Due to these changes, our Monthly Update, due on 5th March, will discuss these in further detail as well as briefly explain the reasons behind it. Our weekly programming sessions will continue to exist, and they will no longer be hidden behind a Patreon paywall.
Additionally, the final game will be free. It seems unfair to suggest that after reducing down on all these planned features that the final game should be a pay-for product. We think, based on world events and a desire to simply make a name for ourselves, that the best thing for Shadowlight and future endeavours (if they even become a thing) will be to make them free, open source and payment optional.
Of course, if you believe in free and you still wish to help support us, we will keep our Patreon page open for people who are interested and wish to help development or simply as a kind gesture.
We hope you understand this decision and progress on our new website and Shadowlight will continue with all these commitments in mind.