[p]Hello, fellow underwater lovers! 🌊 We're kicking off this first Dev Log with huge news – something we've been quietly working toward for months...[/p][h2]A Demo Version is coming... and it's BIG! ✨[/h2][p]We're beyond excited to reveal that a public Demo of [i]Echoes of Mora[/i] is on the way! And this isn't just a quick preview – it's a full slice of the game that offers a real feel for what's to come.[/p][p]In the Demo you'll be able to:[/p][list][*][p]Explore roughly [b]one third of the full game world[/b], including a forest and lake environment, several points of interest, and different story locations[/p][/*][*][p]Play through the [b]first Echo scenes[/b] where you'll meet the main characters[/p][/*][*][p]Experience the [b]dialogue and interaction system[/b] we've been building[/p][/*][*][p]Get a full [b]intro to the game's story[/b] and tone[/p][/*][/list][p]More info about the Demo release date and the Demo Steam Page will follow soon![/p][h3] [hr][/hr]Besides that – we're thrilled to provide you with fresh updates on our journey developing [i]Echoes of Mora[/i]! Things have been moving fast as we gear up for the Demo. Let's take a look at what we've been up to lately: [/h3][p][/p][h2]🎨 Art[/h2][p]We've been steadily improving the visuals of the world: sculpting and painting landscapes, adding erosion to make everything feel more natural, and swapping out blockout meshes for actual environment assets. That means trees, hand-placed rocks, bushes, and seaweed to make the world feel truly alive.[/p][p]Also, we officially kicked off asset production! We're currently filling the world with a mix of high-quality third-party assets and our own handmade custom meshes for individual and story-relevant elements. Here's a screenshot of a [b]Wayside Shrine[/b] that's now fully modeled and placed in-game: [/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45194533/d5627eb2b15e378ef38452513a5522e4e5d6223a.jpg"][/img][/p][h2]🛠️ Game Mechanics[/h2][p]We implemented an [b]inventory system[/b] both for the VR and PC mode – now it's possible to store several items while exploring the world. See the [b]VR inventory[/b] here: [/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45194533/0af328d881d7415fd7143d554e3535ff47a0cc9f.gif"][/img][/p][p] Our [b]interaction and player choice system[/b], which we previously used with placeholder text for testing, is now being integrated with real scenes from the actual script. That means we've started building proper in-game moments using final dialogue and voice lines. Players can [b]nod[/b], [b]shake their head[/b], or [b]point at objects[/b] to interact with Mora and respond to her questions. You can see the [b]nodding[/b] in action here: [/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45194533/07ad4fcb741009e5f4f8da95409683c98dc4765d.gif"][/img][/p][p][/p][h2]🖥️ UI[/h2][p]We gave the User Interface a shiny new look by [b]revamping the main menu, pause menu[/b], and [b]various interface elements[/b]: [/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45194533/4ff20a5166c5348c4d64da0bd3a695126932a197.png"][/img][/p][p][/p][h2]🔮 Echo Sneak Peek[/h2][p]To see how it's all starting to come together, we prepared a short sneak peek of one Echo scene. This will be one of the first places where you'll really get to know the characters and see why the story plays a big role in Echoes of Mora:[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube="fuE1Dg7GidQ;full"][/previewyoutube][h2] [/h2][h2][hr][/hr]📣 Other News & Announcements[/h2][list][*][p]We have an official [b]Community Discord[/b] for Echoes of Mora! If you want early updates, behind-the-scenes peeks, or even access to future playtests, come hang out with us. It's also the best place to ask us questions directly! Join [url="https://discord.com/invite/cSBZ9ARjc2"]here[/url] or click the Discord icon below this post.[/p][/*][*][p]This August we'll be at [b]gamescom in Cologne[/b]! We couldn't be more excited to meet players, answer questions, and see you playtest our game. So if you're there, make sure to drop by and say Hi![/p][/*][/list][p]That's it for this Dev Log. We're eager to share even more exciting updates in the weeks to come! Thanks for your support, and stay tuned for more![/p][p] - the Selkies Team 🦭 [/p][p][dynamiclink href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3129050/Echoes_of_Mora/"][/dynamiclink][/p]