(This post is copied, and slightly tweaked, from my [url=https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=61901.msg1465673#msg1465673]devlog[/url] over on the TIGForums.)
[u][i][b]UPDATE DAY![/b][/i][/u]
It's nearly done! There have been huge chunks of time where I haven't even touched this game at all, but I am incredibly happy and proud to say that the game is [i]actually[/i] nearing completion.
There's still most of the visual design to go, as well as sound and potentially music, and some bits of writing.
But the most important part is that [i]all of the level design is complete[/i]. To be honest, most of it has been complete for at least a couple of years now, and there have just been various small tweaks and adjustments, rearranging the order of things, etc. That said, here's a screenshot of a level that was added very recently:
[img]https://i.ibb.co/nPZMKZG/level.png[/img]
The only other entirely new level is the final level of the game, which I'm quite happy with, but I won't be sharing any screenshots of that or any of the levels in the fourth area!
There's a small chance I might get one or two more ideas for levels that can fit within the game as it is now, but I'm not going to be adding on any entirely new mechanics or areas, despite having all kinds of ideas (which I'll possibly save for a sequel/follow-up, which is a scary thought...) A few times in my [url=https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=61901.msg1465673#msg1465673]devlog[/url] I've mentioned the fifth area, which I tried to make work, but in the end it just felt incredibly contrived and almost totally illegible, so I just scrapped it. There are now 32 levels, spread across four areas. I don't really have a solid idea of how long the game is, and puzzle game playtime often varies drastically based on the player anyway, but I am content with everything that's in the game now. It feels like I haven't left anything really important out, nor have I tried to crowbar in "cool ideas" just for the sake of it.
It's insane to think that I started working on this a little over 7 years ago. I have many mixed feelings, but mostly I just want to finish and release the game. I appreciate everyone who has expressed interest and excitement about the game.
[b]In progress[/b]
At the moment, I'm working with an artist on the visual design for the dog. The previous visuals didn't end up fitting what I had in my mind (the dog doesn't really look much like a dachshund, to begin with). I'll share images of that (in my devlog, linked above) when it's further along. Then after that will come the entire environment, which will also need to be designed mostly from the ground up - but thankfully the game is a rather simple one visually!