Ale Abbey - In Hops we Trust Windows game

Another week comes to pass, another Something's Brewing is ready for your perusal.

Following these last week's work on our little surprise, we are still getting ever closer, but with lots of work to be done still. All we are asking is a little bit of patience, and we are willing to give you some extra bits for it today. Apart from that the team has been experimenting with some reworks targeting Ale Abbey's Markets, while - at the same time - Emiliano and Raimo tested a few ideas for Ale Abbey's in-game cursor!

Let's do this!


-- Cursors!

To the surprise of pretty much everyone in the team, we FINALLY started working on Ale Abbey's in-game cursor. The first ideas that came through, were many and covered quite a bit of artistic ground. Regardless to say, it had to be a hand!

Of course the decision would have to be based on the cursor's position, looks, colors, outlines (if any), and thankfully not getting sued for being too similar to those from other very famous IPs :p

So far we have been having quite the positive vibes for this hand cursor that does not come with a glove, is slightly askew, and allows for a hint of robe/habbit sleeve. The active/"clicking" animation also seems to register pretty well, and its outline works for the time being. Pretty close to being completed, we should be able to finalize it soon enough.


-- Work on the Markets

And before anyone thinks otherwise, this is not where we stopped. Still massaging the internal feedback we gathered after the team spent a good time playing the latest - internal - build, we turned our attention to the Markets' UI that is about to receive quite a significant rework.

This rework is necessary for two reasons: a) the UI was still pretty rudimentary to begin with as it was only used for testing, and b) as the following mockup reveals, we are thinking of adding a new mechanic to Ale Abbey... surrounding villages with their own markets (that might even evolve as you play).

The Markets UI rework might actually bite into more of the team's time as it seems that dealing with the Markets in Ale Abbey might present the players with a significant learning curve. Ensuring early on that the information the UI presents is easily digestable will allow us to focus on more pressing matters like polishing Ale Abbey's general economy and balancing.

-- More assets for...?

And as we also mentioned in the beginning of this post, a little something to keep longing for more, a little animated scene of sorts, about things waiting to happen! Allegedly...

Taken from Raimo's workstation of course, while he still toils away for the sake of your future amazement. Yes, it's going good. Yes, there's more. No, you'll have to wait! ;)


-- The average consumption of beer in the late Middle Ages

Overall pretty hard to ascertain, we thought we'd give you a few hints to help you with dealing with the markets surrounding your monastery in Ale Abbey!

In the late Middle Ages, and looking into Bavarian villages in speficif (one of the three biomes you'll find in Ale Abbey), beer consumption was not just a recreational activity but also a fundamental part of daily life due to the limitations of potable water sources. Although one would have a hard time finding any precise data on average consumption, historical records and estimates provide some insights.

During this period, beer was commonly consumed by individuals of all ages, including children, as it was considered safer to drink than water due to the brewing process, which involved boiling. Beer was often brewed locally, and consumption levels could vary significantly due to social customs, economic status, and religious practices.

Estimates suggest that the average consumption of beer per person per day could range from one to three liters. However, it's essential to note that consumption levels could fluctuate based on seasonal variations. If that number looks high, remember that beer served as a significant source of nutrition and calories, especially for peasants and laborers.

But since we're long past that time...

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

-- Hammer & Ravens

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