Hey everyone and thank you for joining us once again to another Something's Brewing, our weekly devlog for our upcoming monastery brewery tycoon, Ale Abbey!
This one was yet another week of the team working on multiple fronts and it was so worth it in the end. We ended up having something very new for you, the first SFX to make it in Ale Abbey, something somewhat new, the Custodians' room, and something that we definitely had to re-new, we got to work on revamping more of the icons for the main menu.
Lets get into the nitty-gritty!
-- Icons makeover done right
Continuing our work on certain UI elements and UI in general from last week, we produced some extra in-game icons. They fit the overall aesthetic, do pop thanks to their contrast and colors, and we have reached the point where maybe only minor changes will follow and only to make sure there are no issues with readability and recognizability.
Not the same assets (you will notice the finished ones are room-related whereas the earlier ones are operations-related), but if you want to compare, this is how icons look like when we "envision" them:
We like to play this game in the studio, making a few rounds with the icons literally playing "guess what's that!?" and try to turn it into a "would you look at that now!" :p
-- The Custodian's room
We have been talking about the Custodian role and their activities for some time now and we even hinted at a room that might be necessary for keeping tabs of their activities and selecting the monks and nuns for the part. Well... the Custodians' room itself is complete!
A sturdy room with wooden beams, darker stone, and fewer frills; one that brings out a more serious character and is dedicated to keeping the monastery in working order!
Two things still to complete now. One is to finish all of its room-specific furniture, which we have done for all rooms so far. The other is an extra piece of supportive furniture that is related to the Custodians and can be placed in any room, the Maintenance Locker. When a room has a Maintenance Locker installed, Custodians will be able to care for it. We're working on the latter's aesthetics and mechanics as you read this ;)
-- Sound effects sneaking in!
More like coming with a bang.
With the SFX production moving blazing fast, we are now in the process of finally implementing FMOD's engine to the project. This of course comes with a lot of playing around with SFX as it's being produced. We still notice some sync and volume issues, but we're happy to say that these are all quick examples of what we've done with the engine so far and definitely not an indication of what the final result will sound like. With Clint and Gianmario at the helm, there are great things coming soon!
For the time being, allow us to give a small audiovisual experience...
-- The foam that mumbles
We're not gonna talk about sound and casually avoid figuring out how to connect that with beer, right? And we're not just talking the pop from cracking a cold one either. We're going foam accoustics. Yes, we went there...
If you were blindfolded, could you understand what's going on with the beer in your hand just by listening to its fizzy whispers?
- Carbonation Levels: The intensity and pitch of the sound made by the foam could give you clues about the beer's carbonation. Higher carbonation levels create more bubbles, which in turn produce a louder, more effervescent sound. In contrast, lower carbonation results in a quieter pouring sound.
- Bubble Size: The size of the bubbles can influence the frequency of the sound. Smaller bubbles typically produce a higher-pitched fizzing sound, while larger bubbles may result in a lower-pitched crackling or popping noise. Bubble size is influenced by factors like the type of beer, the proteins present, and how it has been brewed or conditioned.
- Beer Style: Certain beer styles, particularly those with great variations in foam retention, viscosity, and ingredients, can produce some genuinely distinct sounds. A stout or porter, which typically has a denser and creamier head, might produce a softer, more subdued sound compared to a highly carbonated lager (think a super light, super carbonated homebrew), which would have a crisper fizz!
- Foam Stability: If you have time to wait for something like that, how quickly the sound of the foam dissipates could indicate the foam's stability. A beer with a stable head might maintain a gentle fizzing sound for a longer period, while one with a less stable head may go silent quickly as the foam collapses.
Mouth watering just by the sound of it? You bet!
With this, we'll let you enjoy your weekend responsibly, but remember to join us next week for some more Ale Abbey news!
-- Hammer & Ravens
Wishlist (and tell your friends!)
Craving for more Ale Abbey? Maybe looking to chat with the team and our community? Follow:
Ale Abbey on
Our studio, Hammer & Ravens, on Discord or:
4
4 out of ...?