[h1]O Tlatoani![/h1] What a year it’s been, hasn’t it? We decided to summarise the most important stuff that has been done with Aztecs: The Last Sun for the last 12 months. We also will share some plans regarding the future. We’ll also show heaps of cool artwork and a special message straight from the development team. Let’s get started! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38759521/5bb83c74a57447fd520d482bcfbb5658b1b9e09e.png[/img] [h2]2023 Milestones & Art[/h2] While we had started working on the game before 2023 (and had done quite a lot), we still had plenty of things to consider regarding what the game would [i]exactly [/i]become. So, the first major decision regarded the art style. It seems that [b]combining historical sources with a less realistic style is the way to go[/b]. Tenochtitlan is placed on a lake and it’s quite marshy there - however, going with muted browns, and greens wouldn’t make for a pleasant viewing experience. This is not a simulator, after all! Then, we prototyped some of the [b]crucial systems that will rule the game[/b]. The Blood Meter, hunger, homelessness and others. City-building games are filled to the brim with these and we decided to have them included in ATLS. They will bring more depth to the gameplay, while also having the player manage more things at once, effectively increasing the challenge. These things, combined with a lot of other stuff and the previous work, resulted in a [b]demo released during the Steam Next Fest in June 2023[/b]. It was a happy time for the players and us. The reception was positive and we got tons of valuable feedback. It confirmed some of our expectations and we adjusted our workflow to counter the issues encountered. There were also some ideas, many of them interesting and insightful and we expect to have a part of them incorporated into the game. Modifying the workflow, despite being a pretty boring topic, was one of the biggest achievements. It made the development quicker and more effective, and it’s great - we’ll be able to deliver the game as quickly as possible to the market while keeping the quality very high. We’ve also made tons of awesome art and assets. Have a look at some of them! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38759521/f9d332dbb3d26519ece31442866a0c44688c598c.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38759521/a06683ce45bdeeea18278462560fe8e4dcfffc0f.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38759521/5a252736727c399e8818ec6d385fa08b3bd2a517.png[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38759521/64c18b81a9da6c5fd47eb89411b19a437416f3ce.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38759521/347ff29a9b9a20a0b5a4bb8d9020782b75010210.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38759521/c3a5ccaa8b170ce359f88394137b69a8f6fa1dff.png[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38759521/5bb83c74a57447fd520d482bcfbb5658b1b9e09e.png[/img] [h2]The Future[/h2] So, what are the plans for the next year? The short answer is a lot of work. A more detailed one includes stuff like: [list] [*] working on [b]the UI[/b], [*] [b]enhancing the day and night cycle[/b], as they are going to have a massive impact on the gameplay, [*] optimising [b]production chains and logistics[/b] within the game, [*] expanding the[b] aspect of interaction with gods and other supernatural phenomena[/b], [*] tons of other stuff, both [b]big and small tasks[/b]… [/list] [b]All of this will result in releasing the game in early access[/b]. We’re not going to share a more precise release date, but we hope that we all, both you and we, will be able to play the game, work on new features and polish it. It’s going to be a blast for you and a ton of work for us and we hope everybody’s looking forward to this! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38759521/5bb83c74a57447fd520d482bcfbb5658b1b9e09e.png[/img] [h2]Message Straight From The Developers[/h2] We want to finish this devlog with a message to you straight from the dev team: Firstly, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who supported us during the Steam Next Fest. These 2 weeks gave us a massive boost in terms of player engagement, business capabilities and motivation. The success we achieved convinced us that all of you are waiting for Aztecs: The Last Sun. We vow that we’ll do everything in our power to make the game as good as it gets. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/38759521/5bb83c74a57447fd520d482bcfbb5658b1b9e09e.png[/img] That’s all for this entry. See you next year! :)