Well that sure was a lot of work last month! Hope you enjoyed the new File and updates to Methods! Since then I've been working on Hangout Three. Time for another devlog!

Here's what I've been working on:

• Wrote two hangouts
  
• Implemented rough versions

It's been a bit slow because I got sick, and I'm working away from home. However, I'm feeling better now. I am also starting to think about the mystery for File 04. 😉

Until next time!

— LockedOn

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/2063530/Methods_The_Canada_Files/

View the backlog of devlogs here on my website[www.lockedongames.com]!

Support the game's development on Patreon[www.patreon.com]!

For Chinese translation:

• Casefile — wrong font fixed
  
• CGs in Chapter 9 and Chapter 15 updated with Chinese translations

Fixed spacing issue in text history screen

Fixed File 02 remaining locked
Score will now properly reset when replaying File 03

Fixed blurring in Viu's method in File 03
Fixed back button in dummy interrogations in File 03

Fixed glitch with auto-fill answer in Chapter 12
Chapter 12 achievement should be unlockable now
Bio titles in Chinese fixed

Note: This update may break old saves as it contains improvements to previous Files!

In this update...


In the most intriguing mystery yet, Team Tads heads to Iqaluit to investigate a brutal murder in a museum, created by Team Nailbiter. It's the first match-up between Larika and Joane... who will win!?

Please note that the price of the game will increase after this week.


There is a new gameplay mechanic, "Support", which is very similar to "Theory", however this time you are supporting your teammate's argument with evidence instead of disproving it! There were previously Theory puzzles in File 02 which were solved by supporting statements instead of disproving them, which was inconsistent and therefore confusing — those have now been replaced with Support puzzles.


The old casefile tried to cram everything in one screen, and large sections of it were just empty space for most of the mystery. The new casefile is sleeker and tidier, with separate tabs for the case summary, bios of suspects and victims, evidence, and autopsy information.

You can now click the arrows in the corner of the photo of the crime scene to cycle between various images of the mystery as you discover them.

There's also now a little bio about each suspect and victim to refresh your memory about them, and you can click the dummy icon on their profile picture to see what they look like as dummies, making it easier to identify them.


If you're one of the players who likes to unlock the outfits, maybe you've gotten annoyed that in order to unlock those outfits, you may have ended up with certain characters hating you or liking you, and had to replay the Hangout a third time to get them back to where you wanted.

Now once you've unlocked a character's two routes in a Hangout, you can click the "Smile" or "Frown" icons to quickly switch the character to liking you or hating you!

You can also now click the shirt icon to open the Outfits menu and try on their unlocked outfit!

Smaller Improvements!

• CG Gallery added
  
• Interrogation/Theorize layout and text size updated to reduce the need for scrolling on evidence descriptions
  
• Tads' hair is no longer cut off at the top when he is transitioning between standing/sitting poses
  
• Scoring System readjusted

Enjoy File 03, and I hope you look forward to the release of Hangout Three... ;)

Best,

— LockedOn & Erabit

The beta is wrapping up, and we now have a definite release date!

Wow, it feels great to fill in the graph! Here's what I worked on since the last devlog.

Released the File 03 Beta for Patreon and Afdian members!

• Added support puzzles to File 02
  
• Adjusted the scoring system
  
• Viu now gives you a map in File 03
  
• Published File 03's soundtrack

I'm so glad that I can finally release File 03 — it will be out on Steam and itch.io in Early Access on April 22nd!

Methods: The Illusion Murders will be released as a free standalone game at the same time, so that more people can discover it!

And the Methods 4 Year Anniversary will be on April 25th!

Lots of exciting things happening this month!!

Until next time!

— LockedOn.

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/2063530/Methods_The_Canada_Files/

View the backlog of devlogs here on my website[www.lockedongames.com]!

Support the game's development on Patreon[www.patreon.com]!

File 03 is aaaalmost finished!

Here's what I've done since the last devlog!

• Finished all CGs
  
• Finished all titlecards
  
• Completed half the music tracks needed
  
• Finished and implemented all backgrounds
  
• Added a new menu

I'm aiming to complete all the music by the end of the month or very early April, and I feel confident that I can launch the File 03 beta for Patreon/Afdian members within the first two weeks of April. There are more CGs in File 03 than the other ones, so it took a bit of time to work up the motivation to complete them. However, happily I can report that they are done, and finally all the backgrounds are in the game as well.

I do have a whole list of revisions to the mystery to make, which isn't really represented here on the chart. I think I can probably get those done within a week. The Chinese translation is in progress already, and I'm predicting we will be able to release File 03 in the later half of April. Thank you for your patience!

April will be a big month for Methods — we are releasing chapters 21-40 of the game on mobile named "Methods 2: Secrets and Death", as well as adding a Japanese translation to the first mobile game, The Illusion Murders will be released for free as a standalone game, and there is the Methods 4th Anniversary update as well.

Until next time!

— LockedOn.

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/2063530/Methods_The_Canada_Files/

View the backlog of devlogs here on my website[www.lockedongames.com]!

Support the game's development on Patreon[www.patreon.com]!