Legend of Queen Opala: Origin - Week 52 / 2025

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Unlike last week, this time I only bring you good news!

I thought it was only an expression, but I got to experience a real christmas miracle this year.
Because on the 25th after I woke up, I turned on my dead computer like normal due to just muscle memory since that's what I've been doing every day for the past decade...and it actually started up!
Needless to say, that entire day was spent on backing up every file I had, bookmarks, fonts, you name it, so everything I thought was lost could be restored, and somehow the computer has been booting up each time now since then, although I treat every session as if it is the last.
And I've been working overtime every day to try and catch up.

I've finished everything except placing treasure chests, illustrations and updating the art gallery.
Sadly the setback won't allow me to add new areas accessable by the sea since there isn't time, yet you will be still able to sail and revisit locations like the Illythium Trading Ship, The Drowned Castle, Tseneria Isle and of course the story based port.
I'll try my hardest to get the beta out tomorrow!

Happy New Year everyone, I'll see you next week in 2026!

Legend of Queen Opala: Origin - Week 51 / 2025

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UPDATE 1 - Think I've narrowed down the "not responding" issue to being the license.
May have to purchase the program a second time to work around it since my old serial is probably gone and I can't find a way to input it anyhoo.

UPDATE 2 - Got the game files working again so I'll be able to continue work now!
It'll take some time to get used to the new keyboard though, and I'll need to find a way to get Photoshop installed again so I can edit/create assets once more.

Got some good news and some really bad ones...

Let's start with the bad, my computer died today and took so much with it.
Thankfully I always back up my work every time I finish, so not a second has been lost.
However, a ton of assets were not as lucky, along with stat tracking I was keeping.
My old computer was so ancient, in fact, it ran on Windows 7 and the one I'm using now is Windows 11 Home, which might as well be in alien language because barely any features are still there and/or doesn't work like it used to.
I'm also unable to access RPG Maker XP due to the program "not responding", so I'll have to try and figure that out before I can get back on track and continue working.
It's just been a bad day for me and I'm feeling pretty depressed.

I'll update this post once I've cracked whatever is preventing me from opening RMXP.
Run program as an Administrator? Firewall exceptions? Don't know how to do any of that on this OS!

But hey, still didn't miss out on the Tuesday update...always something! :3

Legend of Queen Opala: Origin - Week 50 / 2025

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Some good progress has been made this week too!
All the appropriate emoticon expressions and sprites placement for the new story content are done with the only thing remaining is making said sprites move, which I've already done for half of it.
An additional cutscene was also made and the Magna Gerulus have gone through a major overhaul to make the interior more luxurious, even adding another deck below.

By next week, everything related to the story bits for the beta should be fully finished and I'll hopefully be balls-deep into completing the locations one after the other by adding the usual suspects such as loot, enemies etc.

That's it for today, see you next Tuesday!

Legend of Queen Opala: Origin - Week 49 / 2025

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For once, it seems I made an incorrect statement last week...and it's positive I was wrong!

Because I mentioned you won't be able to finish the third Iron Spire in the upcoming beta, but I had such a surprisingly productive and smooth week this time that I managed to include all the required cutscenes to wrap up the final tower and leave it at a good ending point for future story content.

The downside is that next Tuesday's update will be a boring one, as now I'll need to focus entirely on polishing up these cutscenes to include proper emoticon displays, sprite movements, etc.
Only once that is done, I'll devote the remaining time until release on finishing up the optional locations available by ship and see how many of them I can get done before the beta hits.
Which should be between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

And thus, I'm heading back to work!

Legend of Queen Opala: Origin - Week 48 / 2025

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And we've already entered December, the month of the jolly home invader...

This week hasn't been much different from the last in term of production.
I've playtested all the new locations to ensure there aren't some odd graphical issues or clippings, fixed a few minor bugs in earlier content and extended one of the new cutscenes in the upcoming beta to have a better flow to the narrative.
I think I'm only going to focus on one more, maybe two, cutscenes before the next beta is released since I also have to consider how many locations should be available from the start across the ocean when you get your ship and properly add them.

It might be important to note you won't be able to finish the third Iron Spire in this beta.
But you will be able to reach it, and of course, the inclusion of the vast open sea letting you revisit places like Tseneria Isle and The Drowning Castle...maybe even Festival Island, although that is a big maybe since that is one place that require cutscenes on its own.

That'll be it for today, see you next week!

Legend of Queen Opala: Origin - Week 47 / 2025

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No Nut November (NNN) is almost over, the curse also known as Farah Fasting Fall (FFF).

Either way, a ton of work has been done over the week!
Trying to avoid spoilers makes it difficult to lay out the details, but multiple locations have been implemented and linked together in the region of the map that's available after obtaining the ship.
I should have about what I need to progress the story further without any additional content so I can hopefully get some more cutscenes done before the next beta arrives in December.
And I think the game is about to hit the milestone of having 900 individual maps, too!

With that, it's back to work for me and I'll report in next Tuesday!

Legend of Queen Opala: Origin - Week 46 / 2025

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One of the main new locations to proceed the story is almost there!
While I still want to keep it vague to avoid spoilers, I can at least say it's a transitional area between regions and currently have all the basics maps and changes to the overworld done.
So further details are needed, then of course there are enemy placements, loot, etc. along with any optional areas, but hopefully all additional assets I needed to create should be finished.

That's all I have for now, though! See you next week for another update!