🎉 MindWare v0.1.6 Supporters-Only Beta 1 (Links + Password)

As explained in a previous post, I'm in the process of reducing the scope of MindWare so that my development goals are actually realistically achievable and in line with what I enjoy working on. 

I've removed the difficulty settings because multiple difficulty options make it more time-consuming for me to balance and playtest the game. Instead, there will be just one difficulty, and all minigames will be easily skippable.

Similarly, the Quick Start button is now gone because I now know how to avoid breaking older saves, so it doesn't make much sense anymore for me to spend a lot of time on making it possible for players to start from a specific point in the story (it is surprisingly time-consuming to implement correctly). 

The decision to remove the morality mechanic has everything to do with how my brain works. It's easy for me to visualize that a certain option should/shouldn't be available to players as a result of their previous decision(s), but it's almost impossible for me to visualize a complex web of interconnected choices affecting an abstract "morality score." Having to rely on spreadsheets to track and calculate these interactions sucks the joy out of the creative process for me. And since I intended to use the morality score mostly for the main story anyway, I can just invisibly determine it based on important choices as and when needed.  

The sexuality stats were supposed to be used for various fetishes, but I need to do some more thinking to decide if I really want to go in that direction, so I've hidden them for now. 

In the next update, I would like to finish the transformation quest. After that, I really need to take some time to properly play the game from start to finish to figure out what works and what doesn't. This playthrough will help me identify pacing issues and plan upcoming content. 

Download link: https://pixeldrain.com/u/ecHbzfaB

Changelog:

• Removed difficulty settings.

• Removed the Quick Start button.

• Reimplmeneted minigame skip button.

• The option to enable minigame skip buttons moved to the Settings menu.

• Removed morality mechanic.

• Removed some sexuality stats.

• Fixed a bug that caused the scroll to top button to be created endlessly.

• The first bruteforce minigame is now easier.

• Added 10 showercam feeds.

• Added version number below game subtitle.

• Added the first Rent Compliance Specialist visit.

• Hive Properties debt now leads to the installation of the SUCKER machine.

• Fixed a bug that made it possible to skip the BrainFry introduction.

• The coding minigame now earns you more money.

• Added a visible BrainFry work counter to the BrainFry passage.

• Synapse Steady VX installation clock replaced by a video to fix a rare bug.

• Added unpaid rent notification to the home passage.

• Fixed a bug that caused the psychiatrist to say "hello again" on your first visit.

• Fixed the Extra Options menu. It no longer deletes player name-related variables.

• The Settings menu now correctly sets player name variables.

The password to unlock the Extra Options menu is still "ghostintheshell".