The most important announcement I'd like to make is that Amadeus now has an anime-ass opening that will play after the prologue.

Final version may be tweaked, but please enjoy the current version:

I think this does a better job of communicating everything I'm excited about coming in the new demo, to be followed shortly by the full game release, than talking about it in prose. Most notably the Witch's new design!

This opening will be implemented in the new demo build.

Want to know when you'll be able to play it? Here is the timeline:

MAGWest, September 27-29 ~ New Gameplay Demo

What: short, new gameplay demo
Where: MAGWest only... or ask me nicely (Discord server, Tumblr blog)
When: September 27-29

This demo will be the first public showcase of all the work I've put into this game since February. All of the new mechanics - text scrolling with pauses, rich text, point-and-click improvements, a glossary menu, save & load - will be included. The demo will also feature new assets & narrative changes to reflect the direction of the full game. However, it will NOT be a replacement for the current demo, as it only features a few scenes. It will NOT be published on the Amadeus store pages. It WILL have the cinematic OP.

You can play it either in-person at MAGWest, or online by asking me nicely, after September 27.

October ~ Full New Demo

What: new demo of the full game's complete vision
Where: itch & Steam
When: October, date TBA

This will be a complete update and replacement to the currently published demo. The changes showcased in the MAGWest demo will be implemented in all scenes correlating to the current demo, so you can experience the introduction to the story in its near-final form. This demo will be published on the existing store pages. It will accurately represent how the full episode will read, sound, look, and feel. Pay careful attention to the story, as many details have changed!

You can play it on itch or Steam, where the current demo is live, in October. Date TBA in next month's devlog.

November ~ Episode One Release (tentative)

What: Episode One ~ Waltz
Where: itch & Steam
When: November (tentative), date TBA

This is it! The full episode, part one of five. While that "tentative" may not inspire confidence, I want to avoid announcing a date that I can't meet. November is the goal, and I will let you know after the full demo is complete if I am still on track for it.

You can play it on itch or Steam, but it will have a price point. The month will be confirmed after the new demo release in October.

The free demo will stay up indefinitely after release!

Final Notes

If you'd like to see some of the new visual assets I made for the opening (such as the full art for Amadeus, Solea, and the Witch), those will be posted on the Amadeus Tumblr blog in the coming weeks.

You can find that, and all other resources pertaining to the game, here: linktr.ee/amadeusgame

Thank you so much for your sustained interest. Development is in the final stretch, and it's all starting to feel very real! After working on this game for about 2 years now, I certainly understand why the conventional wisdom is to not make your first game a hugely ambitious and deeply personal project. But I'm proud to have ignored that wisdom. I'm making something that means a lot to me, and perhaps more importantly, something that I think is awesome.

I've stubbornly refused to compromise on the self-indulgent core vision of the game, and at long last, it is all coming together.

Please look forward to a pretty wild journey.