Hello everyone!

The Nameless: Slay Dragon is now participating Steam Next Fest. You are welcome to play the demo and give us your feedback! Thank you very much!

In the meantime, another devblog:
I believe that the secret to developing a good game lies in identifying the essential pleasures it provides.
As an RPG enthusiast, I've asked myself: what is the core joy of RPGs?
Here are the answers I've come up with:

1. Gaining unique life experiences through the story

In my view, RPGs can be likened to a living being where the art and sound are the skin, the gameplay is the bones and flesh, and the story is the soul. Why should we care about the story of a game? Because it provides life-like experiences without the stakes: you can go on adventures without truly leaving your loved ones, fight battles without physical danger, and forge deep bonds without actual social interaction. Although these experiences aren't real, they enrich us with unforgettable memories. Like I mentioned earlier, the story is the soul of an RPG.

2. Receiving constant feedback

The largest difference between games and the real world lies in the fact that games consistently offer instant and positive feedback, which is seldom the case in reality. In RPGs, positive feedback is manifested through character development, acquiring experience and abilities, and improving skills and knowledge. Not all feedback has to be positive—as the frustration from challenging levels can attest. Such feedback offers motivation and the courage to defeat hardships, followed by the sense of accomplishment that comes with victory.

3. Having the power to control something

We don't get to choose our looks or origins in the real world, but in a game, you can decide the fate of the world or even the universe. If you play by the rules, your moves will yield the outcomes you intend. The world of gaming grants you a form of omnipotence, allowing you to reshape the fate of its universe time and again, until it aligns with your vision. This is why we always expect a high degree of freedom to make choices in RPGs.

4. The process of self-discovery

RPG stands for role-playing game; playing a role isn't about becoming that entity, but exploring our potential—who we can become, what we hope to see, the choices we might make, and the life we want to lead. A good RPG may not always provide answers, but it will always pose questions.

All these essential pleasures stem from a single word: fantasy. To fulfill these fantasies, humans have dedicated countless hours, building sophisticated and wondrous worlds, which in turn has shaped our society and civilization.

From a game design perspective, making a good RPG involves:

1. Telling a memorable story
2. Balancing positive feedback with game complexity and challenges
3. Providing extensive freedom and customization options
4. Detailing a rich world and character relationships that players can relate to
5. Completing and releasing the game

Applying these criteria to 'The Nameless: Slay Dragon', I'd say I've achieved 1 and 2. As for player freedom, my current budget doesn't allow for character customization or an extensive range of dialogue options. However, with over 20 classes and several endings, I'd say the level of freedom is just about acceptable.

As for the fourth point, the construction of the game's universe is fairly solid, and I'm currently writing the side stories of characters, hoping for good results.

Lastly, my wish is for the game to be brought to completion successfully!