Cruel Serenade: GutterTrash
Chapter 3 Update: Work Continues
Hey all, time for another progress update.
As previously warned, this one's going to be fairly boring. I don't want to spoil any more of the art, and most of what I'll be doing the next few months isn't very visually interesting anyway. Though it took longer than I wanted, art assets are well and truly done now, and I've spent this month finally getting into the GAME part of the game. Everything that isn't a scene pic or an asset: maps, lighting, writing, all the little bits of scripting, fight mechanics and so on.
My plan currently is to have this section finished up in about four months, then move on to the scene pics and writing to finish things off. Currently, I'm nearly finished with the new stuff for Haven (for initial release) which may not sound like much, but there's considerably more going on there in Chapter 3 than there was in GT. I was hoping to have some maps to show off for this update, but most of the work I've been doing so far either hasn't been in mapping, or has been basic connective stuff rather than anything interesting. I should clarify as well: Currently, release HAS slipped from its original date. The goal for now is an end of December release for supporters, and end of January for everyone else.
I do plan to share at least a few of the new maps for the next update. Possibly some more details on the new fight mechanics once I've got those nailed down in their final form and I'm happy with them. I've lost/will lose about a week to extended family as I do every spring, doing some pretty brutal brush clearing, and the parallels aren't lost on me: a long, grinding, often unglamarous process, but every bit you do STAYS done, and eventually you finish, and look out over it all, and nothing beats that feeling. Especially when you get to see others enjoy it as well.
Thank you all for your continued support, feel free to ask if you have questions, and I'll see you in another three months.
Get Cruel Serenade: GutterTrash
Cruel Serenade: GutterTrash
| Status | Released |
| Author | bitshiftgames |
| Genre | Role Playing |
| Tags | 2D, Adult, Furry, Gay, hypnosis, NSFW |
More posts
- Chapter 3 update: New "Friends"Jan 29, 2025
- A Spooooky Update on Chapter 3Oct 31, 2024
- Cruel Serenade: GutterTrash Now Available in Chinese!Oct 16, 2024
- 「Cruel Serenade - GutterTrash」日本語版発売中 - Cruel Serenade - Gutte...Aug 26, 2024
- Cruel Serenade: Gutter Trash 1.0.5 is up!Aug 26, 2024
- Plans for Chapter 3Aug 09, 2024
- Just a quick noteAug 03, 2024
- Cruel Serenade: Gutter Trash 1.0.4 is up!Jul 24, 2024
- Guys, guys...Jul 23, 2024
Comments
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i played all other game bitshiftgames i love it all can't wait for this only sad part when is over wise the game longer it sad when awsome game alredy over keep up good work mate
Thanks!
i cant wait😭
Ayo actually small suggestion if your willing to humor me. I came back to the game after a long period of time and realized I pretty much forgot everything that was going on during that playthrough. The suggestion is maybe just adding a quest book or something to allow the player to see what they are supposed to be doing if they happen to forget what they are supposed to be doing. Still very much enjoy what you are creating and hope all the best for you.
Also sorry if i wasn't supposed to post this here.
No, all good, this works. I've considered something like that at times, but I don't think the game is QUITE complicated enough to justify it yet. If all else fails you can just start over, ideally from a save you have after all the intro stuff. It doesn't take that long to play through, especially if you use the cheat item, or cheat your save, which is entirely fair if you're just skimming or trying to "get back" to a previous point.
honestly fair
soup
Looking forward to enjoying the latest fruits of your labors! Curious to see how you expand and iterate on the foundation laid by the past couple chapters! When the time comes, my credit card is ready~ >:3c
Ha, thanks, appreciate it.
awsome can't wait see all new awsome stuff and later on when you done work on as well keep up good work mate
Thanks!
You know I never actually watched HunterxHunter, one of those ones I kept hearing about but never got around to back in the day. But why would you bring up THAT anime I wonder :D? No, actually the jacket was patterned off Yu Yu Hakuso, another anime I never got around to watching but was aware of, even though, looking at it, the Hunter jacket does look a bit closer. But that generic green kinda school uniform-ish jacket with a high collar was all over anime of that era I feel like.
And thanks. First game was definitely rough in a lot of ways, but I think it hit some basics fairly well, and I was pretty happy with how GT expanded on that. Now I'm just trying to hit a good stride and keep things interesting with this next one.
Ah, fair, wasn't aware.
The game in general is just imitation. There were a whole spate of horny japanese RPGMaker games, and it stuck with me that it would be fun to try to do at some point. It's not a complicated piece of software to learn, so it's fairly easy to get in and just start making stuff.
I'll be rooting for you!
Your work is always amazing!
Thanks!
As OpenFireplace said.... loving the supportive and wholesome atmosphere here :)
I strongly suspect you have something to do with it.
So best wishes from the UK. Take your time to get the next instalment right. Don't get me wrong... I want it now XD... but I appreciate the effort and stress of artistic creation. And the abundant amounts of both that life tends to require and provide as well.
Take care of you and yours and have a good one.
Aw, you guys are sweet. Thanks, definitely helps.
I love leaving the toxic pits of internet I reside in, to open up a a porn game's comment section to find the most supportive and wholesome people xD
Can't help to do the same!
Hope you're doing well lad!
Good luck with the spring clearing stuff!
Yeah I really don't like getting images spoilered, but tbh I think most people really enjoy getting the sneak peaks so don't count this a vote agaisn't it. I try to scroll by with my eyes somewhat closed to put my palm over the screen. But as I type this I realize there must be an easier way...
Very excited for the maps! I really want to know how Haven is. It's the most ambiguously described to me in the computer's log. But in the last devlog the way you put it as victorian really ticked something me. Do you do any special art/editing for the map's spritework?
Yeah it's nice isn't it? Odd but nice. I call it the weirdness filter: If you're odd and niche enough, the bots and concern trolls and other scum don't bother with you, because they either don't know you exist, or you aren't worth preying on.
But on another level it's just common sense: You attract how you act. If you're decent to people and aren't constantly trying to start shit, you mostly get people that are decent back. I've been surprised just how true this is: I was braced for much worse when I started out doing this, but people have been very kind, enthusiastic and patient. Not to mention all the help I've got with various things FOR FREE from people like you. Very much appreciated.
I am...very tired right now. This other work is obliterating me atm. But I'll get over and through it before too long.
Oh, I should clarify then: Haven is the place you hang out at the beginning, the little community. You start out each game there (minus the first one). There are technically multiple Havens, every little community in the ruined city is called that. But this is Mezz's particular little Haven that he lives in and protects. So the area's the same, but there are some new bits now. Once we actually leave and get started on the adventure, the main area we'll spend time in will be the one with the victorian flair, at least a good part of it.
And yeah, tilework is becoming increasingly...interesting as I go along here. I've think I've got what I need, but unfortunately the reality of that stuff is that you end up having to merge and rework a number of different sources into something that's useful most of the time. I bought a whole tileset just so I could get some playing-card sprites :P. So there's a lot of tweaking, and making sure things work together visually, whereas in the first two games I could MOSTLY just use full sets as-is. But we're getting there.
Take your time, man. Rushing a process like game-making is asking for trouble, for the game and for you. Judging from the other comments, none of us mind waiting a bit longer for a product that is the best it can be, especially if it saves you undue stress.
Appreciated. Definitely won't rush, just having a healthy sense of urgency. I know most people are happy to stick it out a little longer if they need to, they (rightly) don't have the deadline expectations of me they would of a development team with millions of dollars kicking around. But at the end of the day, this is still a kind of promise from me to all of you, every game is. Even setting aside the financial side, even setting aside potential frustration, it's terrible when you're looking forward to something and it just doesn't happen.
I kickstarted this drift racing game many years back, cool art style, simple but fun game, got a ton of support, seemed like a slamdunk. Never happened. They made merch; I have stickers, a digital soundtrack, all that. But no GAME. They made the demo and then just...fell apart. I don't think it was a deliberate scam either, they just couldn't handle project management. I'm not perfect, my games aren't perfect (god aren't they), but at the very least I want to avoid putting anyone through that. I make game, you play game. And hopefully not too long from now.
bit, please don't rush yourself, we're not gonna jump you for not releasing it less than a year after the previous game, give yourself some well deserved rest and focus on making an in depth game rather than trying to rush through it
On the one hand, thank you, and I'm glad people (most people at least) aren't mad. On the other hand, standards matter. GT was completed for initial release in about 13-14 months. IF I'm able to keep to the current schedule, 3 will take SEVENTEEN, which is the opposite of the direction I want to be going in. I think the trade off is that the art and game in general will have a little more polish at launch, but I'm still very conscious of this stuff. It's almost a truism that the longer a project takes, the lower the chances are that it will ever be finished, which is why it's so important to close that circle promptly. I have seen so SO many games, comics, etc just left to rot in the field because they went on too long. I'm committed, above all else, to not let that happen to these, and so far I've managed to finish twice. I think that might actually be the hardest part of a project like this, something that most people don't realize. It isn't any one part, it's just pacing and sticking it out. It's a marathon, and you have to see it through to the end. But it is very, very satisfying when you do.
it just feels like you're trying to speed through development to pump out the next game asap, which will make you burnt out faster
in my opinion, give yourself like a 3-5 day break from development and focus on other stuff like work, family, friends, etc. i've been in slumps many times and i find that when i'm starting to wind down and get burnt out, a few days of break leads to better production and less burn out
Oh I do have some consideration for that, largely because I have other things I have to get to here and there; as I've said elsewhere recently, I'm currently burning the better part of two weeks on hard physical labor doing yardwork for family for example. Admittedly it's only kind of a "break" to sub out one kind of work for another, but it does serve as a mental reset to some degree (and in this case the air, sun and exercise don't hurt either). And I do take a little space here and there, I kind of have to, because the creative process just won't flow unless the subconscious is happy. But for all the many issues I have, I've never really had a problem with burnout or creative block. Sometimes things are miserable and difficult, and sometimes they're fun and easy, but the difference is generally just random, it's not a case of clear diminishing returns as I push more and more.
Also, to put it bluntly, I don't work anywhere near hard enough to be hitting burnout anyway. I'm not out here putting in 60 hour weeks, as much as I wish I could sometimes. Other stuff is the limiting factor on how much work I can put in long before burnout kicks in.
BUT, I appreciate the sentiment. I'm glad people care, and are kind enough to recognize I'm a human. I know, even if I somehow took twice as long to finish the next game, people wouldn't just abandon it. But time does matter. Freshness does matter with these things. And on a personal level, there are a lot of things in my own life that are RIGHT on the cusp, that need this game out so they can finally tilt over the edge in a good way. So my drive is as much selfish as it is trying to make something great for everyone.
But we'll get there. I have a lot of unpleasant things in my life, but making these games is not one of them. It is an unbelievable gift that it's actually viable for me to spend my time like this, that I've finally found some dumb nonsense I enjoy that is somehow also enjoyed by lots of other people, to the extent that they're willing to pay me to make more. I try to never take that for granted.
Also that's a really cute av, holy shit.
1. lmao ty, that's why i chose it
2. i know burnout seems like something that feels like you gotta be doing something over and over for multiple hours on end, but in my personal experience, when i 3d model, even if i only do 6 hours a week, i get slammed by burnout and it seems to come out of nowhere, and i've had many friends who have had similar if not identical experiences
3. i would sub to your subscriberstar but my money is tight as shit so the best i can do is buying your games in the future
either way, keep up the good work! just don't work yourself too hard :p
Bitshift, I think we'd all prefer a healthy you moving slowly than an unhealthy/overly anxious you moving rapidly.
You're one person, it's understandable. At the end of the day, I'll wait for as long as needed and I hope you're doing well
On the one hand, the sentiment is appreciated, and I'm grateful to have so many people willing to wait a long-ass time for something I make. On the other hand, timeliness matters, both from a professional angle and a practical one. People get bored with time, they forget, they move on. Not out of maliciousness, that's just the way things work. I've already got one comment on this very post saying he thought the game was dead, and that's with me sticking to my regular 3 month update schedule! So it's important not to take too long with these things.
Beyond that, people are directly paying me, via SubscribeStar, to work on the game, so I have a responsibility to those people, at the very least, to not waste time. None of this should be taken to mean that I'm dying or working myself to the bone or anything however. I think I've got a fairly decent pace so far for most of this, though it does vary a little (such is the nature of serious work). I'm just reporting on the state of things currently, and how I see progress going forward. I AM frustrated I can't work harder than I do, but that's a complicated issue. Decent progress is being made, and I'm happy with that for now.
Hope you getting nice rest young man!! XD
but seriously take good care of food, water and sleep. Hope you are alright, glad to know a bit more about chapter 3, very excited ^-^
Oh I've got the basics covered, no worries. And it's good to get out and get some fresh air and sun every once in a while.
Please take good care of your health. I will always be here to support you!
Oh hey, thanks Eiga! You too, hope things are good with you.
Oh, hello again! Always a great time to see an update from you. This grinding feeling can sometimes feel overwhelming and stressful, but you're doing an amazing job!
I'm quite curious about what your plans are for the new mechanic, so far you've brought up very creative concepts!
Hey Dino! And appreciate it. The good news is that the actual programming and writing has never been as tricky to coax out of myself as the art, so it should flow fairly well. But there is a lot of it. Just gotta keep hacking away.
wow i thout this game was abandon im so happy to see its still in the works cant w8 to see what the next playable update brings
Oh definitely not. Still going strong, and keeping people up to date matters a lot to me. There just isn't a lot to say on a weekly basis. But this is my usual update schedule, 3-4 months.
Keep up!!
I CANNOT wait! This is gonna be great, and keep up the good work, and take breaks if you have to as well :3
Yay! Happy to hear this is still being worked on!