Haldane

Progress report [v0.16]

Hey everyone,

Just a short progress report. Work on update v0.16 is well underway. It will feature some exciting scenes.

I've focused on the story and have already implemented several key scenes. About half of the art and animations are done, along with one of the two missions. A couple of new maps and tracks have also been made.

I've created a new "social media feed" mechanic that fits naturally into the story's progression alongside Link content. It is unlocked as this upd...

Update v0.15 [Exclusive Access]

Hey everyone,

Sorry for the delay and silence. I got buried in mechanics and bug fixes. Every change led to more adjustments, and what I thought would take days stretched into weeks. I should have posted sooner, but I kept thinking the update was almost done.

Since the timing took longer than I predicted, billing will be paused for October.

Most of the work went into systems and fixes, so content is about the usual size, but the engine and systems have had their biggest upgr...

Progress report (v0.15)

Secret Dawn update v0.15 is coming along well.

Mechanically, I've made improvements to many systems, such as Link and Live Save (i.e. mid-cutscene saving). These are rewarding to work on since they're built from scratch, but that also means fixing or improving them can be a little more challenging. The Link updates were straightforward UI improvements. Live Save took more work, but it was worth it to fix saving during choices, and have visuals, events, and everything el...

Secret Dawn v0.14 [Exclusive Release]

Hey everyone,

Hope you're having a good summer. The next Secret Dawn update is here.

It's delayed, and I wish I could say that's because I was relaxing in the sun. Rather, it's due to content production issues caused by a heat wave, combined with a very untimely cold on my end. On the positive side, that allowed me to implement some mechanical improvements I'd been meaning to make, and to plan out more changes. I'll go into detail in the next progress report, since you're not here...

Progress report: v0.14

Hey everyone,

We're just over two weeks into development on Secret Dawn v0.14, so it's time for a report. Things are starting to click into place, and it's exciting to finally reach this part of the story.

I'm always looking for ways to improve various aspects of the game. As mentioned in the changelog for v0.13, the 3d lighting setup got improved. I'm very happy with the results, and new visuals are turning out great. Unfortunately, though, it's also making rendering processes mo...

Secret Dawn v0.13.2 [Exclusive Release]

Hey lovely people,

Here's update v0.13! It's a big one in terms of visuals and narrative stakes. It contains a bit of a tone shift that brings the story closer to the prologue, if that makes sense.

Sorry for the delay and thanks for your patience. Luckily, it seems there will be fewer obstacles from now on, especially once summer's past us.

A reminder: There are a few branching choices, and you can do things at your own pace, but following the directive is usually the safest...

Progress report (0.13)

Hey everyone,

It's been a little over two weeks, and progress is well underway on Secret Dawn update v0.13. As usual, I'll share a bit about what's been done so far while avoiding any story spoilers, particularly now that things are really heating up.

I've made a few new maps that are looking and playing well. One of them becomes accessible a bit earlier in the game and remains available from that point forward. It will help fill in gaps in the daytime, e...

Secret Dawn v0.11.1 [Public Release]

Hey good people,

Here's version 0.11.1 for public access! Update 0.12 is already out and available for members, and work on 0.13 is well underway. I'll be posting a progress report soon. Super-Fans will also get bonus visuals from 0.12 later this month.

Download links (Secret Dawn v0.11.1):

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2025-05-13 09:20:59 +0000 UTC View Post

Secret Dawn [v0.12.1] Exclusive Release

Hey everyone,

Hope you're well. Here's the latest update for Secret Dawn!

This update includes some important story developments I'm excited about, though I can't say much without spoiling. There are a lot of new visuals, music, and other additions. A lot of work also went into the systems under the hood to improve storytelling. One visible change to mechanics is the addition of sprinting (limited duration, activated with the F key).

Find the changelog below for more details...

Progress report (v0.12)

Hey everyone,

Hope you're doing well! A couple of weeks have passed since the last update, and Secret Dawn v0.12 is coming along smoothly.

Some (only slightly spoilerish) notes on the story: After mysterious events in the last update, we're back in more familiar territory this time around. But things are going to take some very interesting turns. Jon and Eva's teamwork will be tested like never before. Eva's in for an awkward surprise, and everyone w...

Secret Dawn [v0.11.1] Exclusive Release

Hey good people,

Here's the new update!

This one focuses more on the story than on missions, and there's probably more content on Jon's side of things this time around. Hope you enjoy! As always, even though I've playtested and squashed any bugs I found, keep in mind the game is still a work in progress.

The premade save files are updated, with the higher # being more recent, like usual. The last two now have some side content already completed. I didn't have time to remake ...

Progress report (v0.11)

Hey everyone,

Hope you're doing well. Progress on Secret Dawn v0.11 is coming along nicely, and it's shaping up to be a strong update.

Some (only slightly spoilerish) notes on the story: The last update ended on a cliffhanger, and we'll be picking up right where it left off. But that's not all. I've recorded more animations for this update than any previous one, alongside many high-quality renders. These will be spread across multiple characters and ...

Secret Dawn v0.9.1 [Public Release]

Hey good people,

Here's version v0.9.1 for public access! This was uploaded last month for members, who have gotten v0.10 already. Initial progress on the next update, v0.11, is going well, and I'm very happy with the direction it's headed. By the way, I'll also be uploading more extra/behind the scenes visuals for the Super-Fan tier before the next progress update.

Download links (v0.9.1):

2025-02-24 15:49:38 +0000 UTC View Post

Secret Dawn v0.10 [Exclusive Release]

Hey good people,

This update is a couple days late, so I want to start by apologizing for that. I caught a bit of a cold, which threw off my timing, but things are back on track now.

Story-wise, this is the most impactful update in a while, marking a major turning point. As I mentioned in the progress update, that doesn't mean it's rushing things in terms of explicitness. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but this was the right stopping point given the update schedule, and it set...

Progress report (v0.10)

Hey everyone,

It's been a couple of weeks since v0.9, so it's time for a development update. Things are moving fast, and progress has been solid. A lot of issues have been fixed, long-awaited mechanics implemented, and the story is gaining momentum.

On the mechanical side, most noticeably, the new Memories window has been overhauled, as has the Gear selection window. You'll also see some big new gameplay elements in action. On the visual side, I've refined Eva's 3D model to better...

Secret Dawn v0.8.1 [Public Release]

Hey everyone,

Hope you're doing well! It's been about a month since v0.8 was made available for exclusive access, and now it's time for the public release.

As you know, Secret Dawn is in active development, with both the story and mechanics evolving with each update. Already, v0.9.1 is available for members. This update not only continues from where v0.8.1 leaves off but also brings changes to the mechanics, mission improvements, bugfixes, and more.

By ...

Secret Dawn v0.9.1 [Exclusive Release]

Hey everyone,

It's time for the new update, version 0.9! This one includes more visuals (images and animations) than any previous update. It's heavier on Eva's PoV than Jon's, but that seems to remain a necessary choice for now, and will balance out later in the story.

The extensive visuals means the filesize is growing (about 3.5 gb at the moment). A lot of this is also due to portrait/bust images, as several sets have been added. I have ways of reducing the size which will ensur...

Progress report

Happy New Year, everyone!

Over the holidays, I've focused heavily on renders and animations, and I'd estimate I'm around 70% done in that area. Update v0.9 will be big in terms of visuals, both for quantity and quality. The teaser image I've included may not be the flashiest, but everything else is a bit too spoilery!

I've also written most of the planned scenes, and already implemented about 40% of them, which has been fun, as there is plenty of good stuff coming. Indeed, this up...

Secret Dawn v0.7.1 [Public Release]

Hey there,

It's time for the public release of the seventh update to Secret Dawn. For members, v0.8.1 is already out, and I also just released a giftbag with some renders and animations along with a small progress report about the next update (v0.9), which is off to a promising start.

Regardless, no need to beat around the bush, here's update v0.7.1!

Download links (Secret Dawn v0.7.1):

2024-12-21 14:25:44 +0000 UTC View Post

Christmas special: A few gifts

Hey everyone,

Now that Christmas is right around the corner, I thought I'd collect a few renders and animations and release them for you to enjoy. This giftbag is mostly a random selection of scenes already in game, along with a couple WIPs that may or may not be encountered in the near future. As such, the quality varies somewhat. If you see something unfamiliar, it's probably because it actually isn't in the game (yet?).

Also, while I'm here, I can share that development is goin...

Secret Dawn v0.8.1 [Exclusive Release]

Hey, good people!

Hope you're enjoying the Christmas/Holiday season so far! The new update is here.

This one's a bit more linear compared to the last update, but I've freshened up the mission mechanics to keep things engaging. There's plenty of key narrative content here, along with substantial updates to the maps and mechanics. Narratively, we're in a bit of a 'calm before the storm' phase, but Jon's perspective has been overdue for some attention, so this update helps balance th...

Progress Report

Hey, good people!

Hope you're all doing well. A couple of weeks have passed since the last update, so it's time for a short progress report about 0.8. Things are shaping up nicely overall.

I've been hard at work fixing bugs and overhauling mechanics where needed. For example, I finally got fed up with the shop menu (a default RMMZ scene meant for generic RPG selling/buying) and decided to replace it with a new design. Using the store should now feel more intuitive, and the customi...

Secret Dawn v0.7.1 (Exclusive Release)

Hey great people,

The new update is here! It's a personal favorite of mine, though I realize I keep saying that. The story deepens and branches out, giving you freedom to explore more and decide the order in which you do things. This one includes more renders and animations than any previous update, spread out across various contexts, as the corruption/cheating themes slowly but surely come to the forefront.

While each update focuses on new content, the goal is always to improve t...

Secret Dawn v0.6 (Public Release)

Hey good people,

A month has passed since update v0.6 was released exclusively to members, so it’s now being made freely available for everyone.

The next update, v0.7, is already finished and will be released for members' exclusive access once the upload is complete. It features a lot more story, more hot scenes than any previous update, and even some cool new mechanics. If you’re interested in getting early access, consider subscribing.<...

Progress report: The gift of giving

Hey, good people!

Hope you're well. Time for a progress report after two weeks of development. As usual, I'll stay clear of any major spoiler territory.

I'm aiming for a big update, story wise, and things are coming along well. Roughly half of the main arc has been written and tested, now remains the other half.

I've spent a good deal of time improving the look and feel of a couple different maps, as they're about to gain a more important role in the story. I can also "spoil...

Secret Dawn [0.6] update (exclusive release)

Hey everyone,

I hoped to release within a month, but it ended up taking a few extra days. Producing an update (with bug fixing, playtesting, etc.) seems to consistently take me about five weeks of hard work.

There are now pre-made saves included, along with a README explaining each save. The experimental "start-from-update" option will likely be phased out, as it's proving more of a hassle than it's worth. For those wanting to jump straight into the new content, I recommend loadin...

Progress report

Heya all!

After 2 weeks of work, here's a progress report on the update v0.6. I'll keep it free of any major narrative spoilers.

In general, working on the game feels good these days, since I've already tuned most mechanics/background stuff, making it easier to add quality content to the game. You might not know this, but even though the game engine is based on RMMZ, it's modified quite heavily, which took time to set up initially but has made everything more flexible.

...

Secret Dawn [0.5.1] update (exclusive release)

Hey,

Hope you're doing well! Sorry for not posting earlier. I realize it's better if progress reports are more regular, so expect one in about two weeks. But, right now, I come bearing gifts. Version 0.5, to be precise.

I've added a "start from update" option, so you don't have to play from the train scene onwards but can begin from the start of the previous update or this current one. Note that the option is still kind of experimental. There's a vague possibility of encountering ...

Secret Dawn [0.4] update (exclusive release)

Heya good folks,

Here's update 0.4! As I mentioned a few days ago, this one includes some important progress. Another day of missions and some long-awaited events.

By the way, when playtesting I got stuck trying to get a perfect score on the last stage of Jon's last mission. If anyone manages to get 100%, or anywhere close, I'd be interested to hear it. It should theoretically be possible, but it takes a better gamer than I...

Without further ado, here are the ...

Coming soon (tm): v0.4

Heya, just a little devlog here, letting you know that update v0.4 is right around the corner. The progress has been good and there's just one scene I want to finish before it's ready for release. It's got a lot of content, especially if you consider both Jon and Eva's perspectives. There's more progression to the story and (IMHO) the mission mechanics this time around are less clunky than in the previous update. I hope you'll like it; I've certainly put a lot of work into it. Members can exp...