Hello everyone!!! I'm going to try out monthly updates for VIOLA. Please tell me if there's anything else you'd like to know for the next update!

(Pictured: a few icons, all lined up. One is a picture of Johnny, Sammy, Hancock, Melody, and another character. There is another row that has a red dress, a police uniform, and a shirt and skirt combo. The final row has alcohol and food.)

The stats!

For those of you that just want to see how close the second demo is to finishing, here it is!

Programming: 65%

Art: 60%

Writing: 50%

Music: 0%

About the programming:

Using the feedback from the first demo, I'm changing out how the interrogation with Melody works. I won't tell you too much, but I think it offers a lot more interaction for the player! The general system is more or less finished, however the implementation still needs to be added, along with the proper art assets. In other news, the inventory (or evidence screen) is going to be partially revamped, with added items for you to look at and play with. In all honesty, I don't even know if most of you even knew there was a evidence screen in the first place!

About the art:

With the recommendation of DaPeti, I'll be changing out the pixel backgrounds with a style more similar to the character designs. The general scenes will stay the same of course, just look much different and hopefully a bit better! Other than that, new assets are being made all the time for new buttons, new animations, new icons etc. However, most of the art is being focused on future cases and such.

About the writing:

The writing will stay mostly the same. The only changes that have to be done will be to accommodate for the new interrogation system, which hopefully shouldn't change the original story too much nor bog down the pacing. Thankfully, this is the simpliest change, yet it's the one I have to do last!

Where's the music!?

The first demo had no music whatsoever! I don't think I'm in the wrong when I say a visual novel without music isn't very good. Therefore, the next demo will have music for sure. I'm not experienced with making music, but I am planning on asking for help here on NG fairly soon. Music, sound effects, the whole shebang! If you're interested in helping, go ahead and please message me! Make sure you've played the demo just to get a feel for what would sound good for the game.

How soon will the second demo come out?

I'll try to work on the game as much as possible, but since college will be starting back up again for me soon, I don't think I'll be able to work on it as much as I'd like to. I won't beholden myself to a schedule, but I'll say maybe sometime early next year. It mainly depends on how hard my college work is. It could come way earlier, it could come way later, I'll keep you posted!

And finally...

Thank you for reading! I know this was a long one, so later updates will probably be a bit more to the point. Just out of curiosity, which character is your favorite, Johnny, Sammy, or Hancock? I'd love to know!