Version 1.0.8.0 Update Log

Hello, this is Cait.

Here is the update log for "Hydrangea" version 1.0.8.0.

【Major Updates】

1. Updated the main story for Tatsuki Midoriya Route (Days 6-8) along with some side stories involving the "Home" location and family members. Added approximately 42K words of new text.

2.  Added an extra nighttime Cooking Gameplay feature at the "Home" location! (Yes, cooking!) However, unlocking it requires progressing through Grandma's story first. Currently, only three recipes are implemented. Linkage with other recipes, materials, money, stamina, and shopping will be added in future updates.

3.  Phone System: Implemented parts of the Phone Interface (currently supports checking time, battery, date, and viewing recipes). Other functions will be gradually perfected in subsequent updates.

【Minor Updates】

1.Translation & Localization: The translation issues from the previous version are basically solved! About 95% of the text is now covered, including info pop-ups, character profiles, and save/load screens.

    I also re-polished the existing script to better distinguish character voices and tones:

    *   Tatsuki is now addressed as "Tatsu-nii".

    *   Juuichi's speech is more concise and brief.

    *   Shin occasionally uses sophisticated vocabulary or French phrases.

2.Accessibility: Added an Accessibility Settings button in the interface. This provides standard Ren'Py features like text replacement, font size/line spacing scaling, high contrast text mode, and TTS (Text-to-Speech) functions (I unified the UI style to match the game).

 PS:I also added an "Auto Text Pause" switch (default: ON) to enhance immersion. However, enabling this in English might cause some option translations to be lost. Please toggle this at your own discretion.

3.UI Adjustments: Reset and adjusted parts of the UI; perhaps it's more intuitive than before (maybe?). Also added a permanent in-game time and battery display in the top right corner, though for now, it's mostly for aesthetic purposes.

4.Save Compatibility: Due to the addition of new features, old save files may be incompatible or cause errors. Therefore, at the start of the game, I have added a button that allows you to choose between "Start from Beginning" or "Start from New Content."

【Misc. Updates】

1.  Save/Load Screen: Added dynamic feedback that displays the image of the character with the highest affection (though currently, it's definitely only Chenshu).

2.  Inventory: Optimized the inventory structure. Items are now automatically sorted into five categories: "Consumable," "Food," "Possessions," "Important Items" and "Material."

3.  Quick Menu: The in-game quick menu now supports folding/collapsing and has a special display mode under NVL mode.

4.  Mobile Controls: Refactored the mobile "Back" and "Open Menu" buttons, and changed the right-side slide bar to a "click-to-open/close" mechanic to improve visibility and ease of use.

5.  Assets: Added extra background art assets and music assets; adjusted some system sound effects and volume levels.

6.  Thanks to donations from my generous supporters/homies, I whipped up an interactive Credits list you can poke at. Thank you, you are the best players!

However, it seems itch.io doesn't always show me donor names. If you've donated and would like to be included in the Credits, please tell me or leave a comment with your name!

【Bug Fixes】

1.  Fixed Bugs 2-7 reported in the logs from the 1.0.5.0 Demo version.

【Known Issues】

1.  Enabling "Auto Text Pause" may cause translation failures for some option buttons or prompt text. (I'm not sure how to fix this yet; English players are advised to turn this off for now).

2.  In some cases, the message pop-up in the top left might get stuck and not disappear automatically. Previously it vanished over time, but now it's changed to manual click-to-close to avoid accidental touches.

3.  The game's numerical balance and character affection system are still in the tuning phase. Some content might not be perfectly reasonable yet. Expect adjustments in future versions.

P.S. Why did this update take so long?

1.  I spent a lot of time rewriting the base code and designing new content (gameplay, UI, interactions). The code framework feels mostly finished now. For the Chenshu route specifically, there shouldn't be new complex features added (perhaps?), so I'll try to increase the update speed.

2.  There was a delay due to the Chinese Spring Festival holiday (lol). Also, I whipped up a short game to participate in the first Simplified Chinese Game Jam. Interested friends can check it out and leave your honest reviews.

3.  I fell into the Password rabbit hole (It's so sad, I love it so much, it's so gross, I want it... Grizz, what potion did you feed me... don't let this Password go...). I even ran off to make fan content for Dave/Tyson... If you haven't played Password, I highly recommend checking it out.

Finally, a small request for feedback:

Would you mind if I added food from other countries to the cooking gameplay? Do you have any favorite dishes you'd like to introduce?

I can't guarantee I'll implement them all, but I think learning about food from other countries and cultures is interesting—of course, if you could provide pictures of the food, that would be even better!