Ale Abbey - In Hops we Trust Windows game

This week felt like a fast forward, like 5 extra full days of development that just blazed past us...

With the entire team focused on preparing a build for - hmmm - "closed internal consumption," we also dedicated a lot of our time to normal development with most of our energy spent on aesthetics; running some tests on the interior look of the monastery, further beautifying some parts of its exterior, and - of course - working extensively on the monastery's new Laboratory room!

On with the news!


-- Extra work on the Laboratory

The Laboratory is slowly turning into the team's favorite room. The work put into it feels like a concentrated effort with everyone pitching in, but Raimo's creations usually leave everyone unable to find any room for improvement after his original takes are shared. Just look at these hops climbing around the room!!

We've even linked to a larger version for your viewing pleasure, so don't be shy, click it!

It looks amazing so far, but the Laboratory is not quite done yet. We have to perfect its dedicated furniture and equipment, test it in different light conditions, and much more. Something to look forward to, right? ;)


-- Exterior fixes

Changes that nobody asked for, assets that already looked perfect, "if it's not broken, don't fix it"... we've all been there. But sometimes it feels like some changes only make sense after they've been implemented. And we got quite a few this week, coming from none other than our lead Emiliano, who seems to have made finding small meaningful changes his secret superpower.

Development-related stress aside, Emiliano started his week looking for things to fix, and he got a handful on the monastery's exterior! His first target was the walls which already looked great dividing rooms and other building compartments.

With but a small change (seen below), Emiliano managed to give these walls a lot more complexity and perceived "volume." The side view of the monastery now looked a lot more realistic, substantial, and - quite frankly - more charming.

What follows in the next screenshot, this time from the side view of a room (Brewery), is a showcase of all the minor changes that Emiliano scored this week: the new wall, roof supports where the roof connects with the wall, and grass that is now visible on the outside perimeter of the monastery's floor to make it blend better with the amazing nature surrounding it!

-- Interior quick tests

In a much smaller experiment, which is both more straightforward but also very necessary, some of the team's time this week was spent on testing quite a few pieces of furniture and equipment in a number of interiors.

This is as necessary a step as any, understanding an item's fitness to the environment, especially when it comes to assets that are not room-specific and can be placed anywhere in the monastery. From posters in different rooms to a lonely small painting, lost somewhere in the monastery's Cellars, anything for the sake of fitness and finding ways to improve...

Testing this number of assets, against so many different compositions and backgrounds will take a while.


-- Hops as a houseplant

We couldn't give you screenshots of hops climbing on the monastery's wall, looking so beautiful, and just leave you at that, could we?

To not get your hops up (... get it?!?), it is a very demanding plant. It's quite difficult to provide everything it needs and it might not even end up climbing as high or majestically as its beer-brewing counterparts. Having said that, you could still keep hops as a houseplant in a pot and party for the best. In the worst-case scenario, it could end up looking more like a bush, but it would still be a gorgeous plant to have around!

But what does it need from you?

• Light: Hops plants need plenty of sunlight, preferably at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Place them near a south-facing window where they can receive ample sunlight (Yannis, who left Greece to live in the Netherlands, is reevaluating his life choices...)
• Temperature: They prefer cooler temperatures, ideally between 50-60°F (10-15°C). Avoid placing them in excessively warm environments.
• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Ensure proper drainage to prevent root rot. Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry.
• Support: Hops plants are climbers and require support as they grow. Provide a trellis, stake, or other support structure for them to climb on.
• Soil: Plant hops in well-draining soil with good organic content. A mix of garden soil and compost or potting mix works well.
• Pruning: Regularly prune hops to control their size and shape. Trim back any dead or yellowing leaves and encourage new growth.
• Fertilization: Fertilize hops plants regularly during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer formulated for flowering plants.

So... try it out, send us some pictures, and we might even name an in-game brewer after you! Keep in mind that if you do succeed in keeping your hops happy, you might end up having a 9 meter-tall plant in your living room :D

Enjoy your weekend responsibly, and join us next week for some more Ale Abbey news!

-- Hammer & Ravens

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