MV - Immortal Sins[Disc 1][0.42.6-stable.20250817]

Hello again! Time for an update! 

Overhauls Part 2: 

Overhauls continue as the Disc 1 update is getting close, but there are a few issues to iron out (with what I can do). One big issue is with the party system. In the game, you have the option to switch party members on the fly during combat. Unfortunately, due to issues caused by the newer battle engine, the UI on the party system is a bit broken. I am re-working some under the hood stuff so it works like this: 

1. If the player has some phoenix feathers, give the option to either revive them or switch them out from the party. 

2.If not, open the party menu and allow the player to switch out the party members who died. 

It is a little messy, but hopefully I get it working right (or fix up the UI somehow). 

On the possitive side, I have done some graphical updates on some areas, perticularly in areas like this: 

 

I have another overhaul done, but I’m keeping it secret for now… 

Northbridge gets Sync! (OneDrive only for now) 

I have mentioned it on the last post, and this was in my list for a long time. I am working on adding the option to sync your save files between computers using your cloud storage. Currently, it supports OneDrive, but I’ll add more services later on (Dropbox is next up). 

I haven’t done much on this, since I had trouble setting up the authentication system, but I’ve almost figured it out. Here’s a preview: 

 

Synchronisation works a lot different than the backup system. Sync keeps both folders in sync (both files have the same info) while the backup system keeps multiple copies of the save files, in case something happens. I don’t know when it will be available. It may be available after the next major update. 

(A minor side-note, I am also doing some improvements on the backup system, to avoid unnecessary writes). 

That is all for now. See you in the next post.

Time for an update!


Architectural Upgrades:


On an older post, I mentioned that I was re-working the engine’s design so it works with Windows NT’s architecture (every user on the same computer have their own settings and save files). The latest versions take advantage of this on the saves and some of the settings, which also allowed some form of cross compatibility between the Standalone version (the version with the installer) and the Gamejolt client. I have done some under the hood changes to allow more settings to be stored outside of the game’s files. One of them, is the Full screen settings. Why? Because in the current versions it saves them in the game’s .ini file. In the upcoming version, this will allow better customisation for every user in the same computer. Plus your settings are the same whenever you downloaded the game from any official mirror (includes itch.io).


A second upgrade was to transfer both the save files and the settings on one folder for easier management. Next versions will use the Saved Games folder (which was introduced on Windows Vista). Now, if you want to continue where you left off from the demo, I will release a tool, which will move the save files to the new location, at the same time when the game update with save transfer tool is available. Unfortunately, the settings cannot be transferred due to technical issues.


Northbridge Improvements:


There is a new function: Snapshot mode for the Auto Backup.


The snapshot mode is an experimental mode which allows more frequent backups (if you save a lot). How it works is simple: the Northbridge Engine monitors the save folder, so when you save, it automatically creates a backup. It does need some tweaking, but it might be useful.


Into the final stretch:


I only have to do a few more things to do before I release the Disc 1 update. It certainly took longer that I expected. Over the last months, the engine and the game have improved, gaining new features, sorted out problems and it got nicer graphics. It was certainly an interesting piece of software engineering for me and (for most of you, me included) it was an interesting game at least. I had setbacks, but as long as I see that you enjoy it, I keep pushing. Thank you all for your patience and feedback. I hope that the next major update keeps this or improves it for the better (and you enjoy it of course). When it will be released? If everything goes well, then the spring release I said on an older post is confirmed.


Unfortunately two of the features I planned may not make it in the next update (mouse support due to technical issues and the eManual due to licensing issues with the authoring tool.) I’ll try to bring them, but I make no promises.


I still have to deal for the second part. But it might take less time to bring it in (I hope that it does).


That is all for now. See you on the next post.

Time for another update! There isn’t anything ground breaking but there are two notable things coming in.


New versioning:


If you visit the Gamejolt mirror of the game, you’ll notice that there’s a new version. I haven’t issued an update yet, I just revised the versioning a bit.


The current version used a simple format: Major.Minor.Year.Date(mmdd) . This is pretty simple, but sometimes it can be confusing, since I sometimes release patches to the game. So, to conform with Semantic Versioning and make it easier to separate the patches from updates, I’ve done a revision on the versioning. The newer format is like this: Major.Minor.Update.Date(yyddd), for installer and launcher, and Major.Minor.Update-BuildDate for the game and the Gamejolt Client. So for example the latest update (0.10.2015.1220) is translated to 0.10.4-201512220 on the new versioning. On the launcher, if I released an update today, it would show its version as 1.10.0.16104 (built on the 104th day of 2016). This is only for convenience, so don’t worry. It is already rolled out to the Gamejolt mirror, but neither the game nor the launcher and the installer have been updated to reflect it yet. They will on the next game update.


Side Missions:


When the Disc 1 update hits the mirrors, I will add a few hunting side-missions. Hunting missions are essentially, well, hunting. When you visit the guilds, you will receive a side mission to hunt down a certain creature to receive gold, experience and hunter coins. What do you do with hunter coins? You can upgrade your hunter license, to handle even harder missions and get some extras, such as discounts of healing items, additional weapons and others. Currently, there aren’t many of them, but subsequent updates will add more. There is another type of side missions, but I’ll talk about them later on.


That is all for now. See you on the next post.

Welcome back! Time for a small progress report.


There hasn’t been much to say, since I’m preparing the game for a massive update, but I did some under the hood changes to improve the game a little more.


Reduction of unnecessary parts:


Older versions of the demo kept the entire Runtime Package with the game’s files to ensure that it works. However, since the graphics are shaping up to their final versions, RTP files soon end up being redundant. Alongside replacing audio files with the custom ones, I’ve also removed unnecessary graphics, to save up space.


Transferring saves:


You may have noticed an entry for the Save Transfer Tool. Well, this was ready before the release and I decided to release it earlier than planned to reserve a spot. You can still transfer the saves (and the settings if you want), but you may want to hold off until a later update coming soon (it will either be Version D0.12 or the Disc 1 Update) to make sure that everything is in place to transfer.


That is all for now. See you on the next post.

Time for another progress report.


 


UI refinements:


 


As I continue to renovate the game (in preparation for the Disc 1 Update) I’ve done some refinements on the UI, with new icons and re-adjusting some of the vocabulary and the windows. Here’s a small peek:








 


Internal Changes:


 


Along with that, I’ve also done some re-works on anything under the hood. For the side-missions, I’ve done re-works on the issuing and checking in completed missions so it is easier to add more missions as easy as possible. So, when a new update adds new side-missions, I can just edit a few lines of code and we are done. There is a need for some things so I can add bounty mission (which may be added after the Disc 1 Update). At first, there won’t be a lot of them, but an expansion might be released (or when the Release Candidate Update is available).


 


That is all for now. I wanted to release the update today, but due to delays for the new artwork and technical difficulties with the battle system I had to delay it to summer.


 


Anyways, see you on the next post.

-Vastly improved Northbridge Launcher, with a new UI, robust backup system and a new diagnostics tool.


-Internal changes to the game engine to improve performance and take better advantage of the Windows NT architecture.


-Updated the Soundtrack in some areas, along with new sounds.


-Graphical Updates.


-Updated the Battle System with better fine tuning of the balance and graphical overhaul.


-Loads of bugfixes.


-Support for Xbox 360 and XInput controllers.


-And more to come.

Gamepad Improvements:


There has been a major improvement on the gamepad support. First, you can use both the d-pad and the left analog stick to move (pick the one that suits you best), in addition to selections in menus. I need to iron out a few more bugs before I can say that it’s ready.


The Side Missions:


With the Disc 1 Update, I’ll include a few side missions for testing purposes. It will work like this:


-Visit a guild. They will issue both hunter and bounty missions.


-Receive the mission.


-Complete it.


-Report back to the guild.


For now, only a few hunting missions will be availiable at the start, but I’ll add more through updates (maybe an expansion too?). What do you get when you complete them? For now, nothing much. But a later update will add the option to upgrade your lisences (you’ll need them to take on harder side missions) to receive discounts on the item, weapon and armor shops. You may even access the Corsairs’ shop for powerful weaponry (Muahahaha!).


Nothbridge Improvements:


There are two notable improvements:


-The diagnostics module has a new and improved check for saving. Previously, it created and deleted a test file to see if it was possible to save. This had two issues: 1. It wasted write cycles on SSDs and 2. it wasn’t easy to catch what was wrong in saving. The new check is more passive. It checks for both free space and for read & write permissions. This is much better to catch the exact issue and it’s more friendly to SSDs. The second improvement the usage of a font that’s easier to read and matching with the font used on the game. The launcher will now use Segoe UI (found on Windows 7 and up) since it’s pretty close to the style of the Roboto font. Here’s a preview: