Announcing: The Divine Deception!
So, hey, it's Themis. It's been a minute. But I've been busy! I've been hard at work, creating a new game. 'The Divine Deception.' And now, after a long period of development, completion is slowly approaching. Slowly. So, I'm going to answer some questions that you might have on your mind.
What's The Game About?
'The Divine Deception' takes place in Panthea, a city on the brink of cracking open. An upcoming election has the public on edge. At the same time, however, there's been a rise in gang violence, a large company is going through a massive period of growth, and there's been a mysterious recent string of killings. It seems like all these events are connected, that there's something behind it all, but the what and how and why are all unclear.
Through the game, you follow 7(!) different perspectives, each with their own opinions, motivations, and abilities. Be it a private investigator, a conman, a gang member, or just someone looking to kill time online, you'll be sure to get a broad range of information. Perhaps it'll be enough to put the pieces together?
But while you may follow these perspectives, they're not... you. You're something else, talking with someone else. From above, you will gamble on the story itself as it plays out, looking to win as many chips as possible. Gain chips through cunning bets, or claim them directly through gameplay sections scattered throughout the stories. Logic, deductions, fighting, hacking - it's all on the table.
Is It Connected To The Zodiac Trial?
Is this game a direct sequel to 'The Zodiac Trial?' No, no it is not. No major characters in 'The Zodiac Trial' appear in 'The Divine Deception,' and vice versa. 'The Divine Deception' will not spoil anything major about 'The Zodiac Trial.' They are separate games.
But I'd also say it's not much of a spiritual sequel either. Now, granted, it's still a mystery/thriller VN made by the same person, it's certainly in the same ballpark. But 'The Divine Deception' isn't a death game. It's more serious, (not that 'The Zodiac Trial' was particularly light), more heavy. There's still a fair share of humor and the like, but I think you'll find it has a somewhat different vibe. Additionally, the gameplay is notably different.
I suspect there will be some people who really liked 'The Zodiac Trial' who won't like this style as much. That's okay. At the same time, I think (I hope) that there are many who appreciate this a lot more. 'The Divine Deception' is a lot more original, it leans on less tropes, it can deal with topics in more depth. It's not all that different, and what is different, I think is better. Also, the game's just more polished overall, so that's got to be a plus.
When Is It Releasing?
I am loathe to say anything definitive at this point, since there's still quite a bit I want to do, and I know more than anyone how easy it is to underestimate a work load. That said, the game is more or less complete. The writing is done, the coding is implemented, most of the assets have been created. If you put a gun to my head and told me to finish in a week, odds are I could do it.
But I want to learn at least one lesson from last time, and spend a bit more time editing and polishing and playtesting the game. Especially since there's noteably more gameplay in 'The Divine Deception,' hence a lot more opportunities for bugs. So, please bear with me, but I imagine it'll still be a bit of time before I'm ready to put the game out into the world.
That said, I feel like I have to give at least a rough estimation of when the game'll be out. So fine. If I had to put money on it, I'd say the end of November seems like a reasonable guess at a possible release date. But don't go whining to me if it takes longer than that, okay? I warned you.
I hope you'll check the game out when it is released. It's not The Zodiac Trial 2, but I'm really proud of the something else that it is. And for those reading this who purchased 'The Zodiac Trial,' sincerely, thank you. I can earnestly say were it not for your support, I would not have gone through the trouble of making another game.
If you want to stay up-to-date with the game's development, here's a link to the discord!
https://discord.gg/VdCKvbDXzK
Or, follow me on twitter!
https://twitter.com/ZodiacThemis