Hey everyone, thanks for your patience with our patch! In this update, we’ve introduced game balances, a revamped collection system, new voiceovers and performance optimizations.
Game rebalance
Base mechanics
If the card is frozen, its frames on the reel are considered "broken" (i.e. won't count for BBQ Bill)
Performance interruption always steals 1 story point.
Leads
BBQ Bill: +1 story arc, shattered action frames on reel are not counted for his ability, performance detection for his ability is now genre based.
Insult Comic Frog: Gains 1 NP in the end of scene, and an extra NP for a successful performance.
The Godfish: +1 story arc,
Qaal: now have 2 attack and 6 HP, -1 story arc.
Characters
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Sleight-of-hand Heister: Now returns to hand on successfull attack, dodge or performance.
BIRD-E: Bounty is now 1, got Unstoppable, attacks on second frame out of 3.
Sacrificial Goat: Triggered only when killed by friendly, no other conditions.
Chillodile: Triggers if damaged in the end of scene, no other conditions.
Bureaucrat Leech: Several leeches can not steal the same NP now.
Mind Control Operative: Played on first out of two frames now.
Counterfeiter Cuttlefish: Free 6 NP from your lead on set.
Jumbo Dumbo: Attack freeze is 2, on enter freeze is 2.
Doomed Augur: Triggered only when killed by friendly.
Pengnum P.I.: 2 HP, counting only friendly.
Baby Cthulhu: 4/4, costs 2, freezes by 2.
Remote-controlled Popstar: Steals 1 NP.
Meathead Rebel: 5 HP, attack costs 2.
Eco-Friendly Bog Monster: 3/3 stats now.
Raptor Boys: Raptors are 2/1 stats now.
Pro-Profit Centurion: 4 HP.
Brainwashing Machine: 1/5 stats now.
Rocky Reef Plankton: 1/2 stats now.
Debt-Ridden Scholar: 2/1 stats now.
Inspector Incognito: 1/6 stats now.
Cousin Caiman: 3/4 stats now.
Judge Dairy: 5 HP.
Vaxxinut: 1/2 stats now.
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Crew
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Dynamator: Play costs 2 frames, ability costs 2 frames.
Obsessive Assistant: Ability costs 1 frame.
Adventure Ashington: Play costs 1 frame.
Unstable Clapper: Play costs 1 frame.
Sci-Fi Siri: Ability costs 1 frame.
Reel Runner: Ability costs 1 frame.
Monster Maker: Play costs 2 frames.
Action Axel: Ability to 2 frames.
Horror Hank: Ability to 1 frame.
[/expand]
Tropes
Couch Trap: Freeze pre-selected enemy lead backstage to no more than 3.
Trap Door: Play costs 2 frames.
Players will receive automatic compensation on their account for any nerfed cards in their collection.
Thanks to all community members involved in playtesting the changes: JetmanSkye, MageArmour, Aqwijn, Merxy, yarracteeln.
More Voiceovers
We added voiceover for tons of characters - Rex Xaah, The Godfish, Bartender Hydra, Alice Alea and many more.
The Great Collection Schism
By popular demand, we've revamped the way you view your Collection! Now, Decks and Cards are separate entities with their own screens.
New Collection Screen: Easily view your Collection on a dedicated screen.
Updated Deck Selection Screen: The decklist now exclusively serves as a decklist, with all deck actions performed at the center of the screen.
Color Indication for Missing Cards: Cards not in your Collection are now clearly indicated with color.
Improved Crafting Access: The crafting window now appears automatically when you add a card not in your Collection. More convenient ways to mass craft cards are on the way!
Performance optimization
We’re excited to announce significant performance improvements in our latest update! For the first time since our early access release, we've made major strides in optimizing the game.
Improved Memory Management: The game now uses a more predictable amount of memory.
Smoother Visuals: Experience a smoother and more polished gameplay experience.
While we’re not claiming perfection just yet, these enhancements provide a solid foundation for future optimizations. Thank you for your continued support as we work to make the game even better!
28.10: leaderboard and new languages
Leaderboard
We've added a global public ranking. If that's the only thing stopping you from showing off your new movie's screenplay to your friends, then your problem is solved.
This ranking system will be the foundation for more refined features, such as a separate "Legendary" league, seasons, and more.
Localization
We've added Spanish and Polish localization for the main parts of the game: cards, tutorial, and menu. While it still needs some fine-tuning, we'd love to hear your feedback.
Hotfix 28.9
Fix for UI-related crash (thanks, R-O-B B!).
Fix for missing translation of abilities in Portuguese translation.
Added missing glyphs in Chinese translation.
Hotfix 28.8
Bugfixes
Fixed a situation where localization led to blocking the ability to perform (thanks, Yudukiy).
Fixed cases where the game could crash during the tutorial briefing.
Fixed the position of the reel for screen aspect ratios other than 16:9 (thanks, sunspider).
Fixed cases of incorrect system locale detection (thanks, gunbus and Feep).
Fixed font artifacts in the Collection and on lead buttons (thanks, Azurah Star and MageArmour).
Returned missing description of card packs in the Store (thanks again, sunspider).
Version 28.7 Game Update
Hey.
We collected some user feedback and fixed few pretty critical, even blocking problems.
Display support
We've implemented basic support for beyond 1080p and aspect ratios outside of 16:9. Although the interface placement during the tutorial previously blocked progress, these issues have been corrected. The visuals may vary with different displays, and we plan to enhance this in future updates.
Tutorial
Feedback revealed that the tutorial was not effective for everyone, which is crucial for a game where understanding the rules is important.
We've added reminders and rebalanced the tutorial decks to improve clarity and flow. Further refinements are scheduled for the next patch.
Localization
We've laid the groundwork for adding multiple languages to the game. During this process, we encountered issues with font rendering, which may affect text quality for some, though it might not be noticeable to everyone. We now support partial translations (lore and some elements might still be in English) in:
German
Japanese
Portuguese
Simplified Chinese
French
Bugfixes
Added new sound for a lot of things: victory, defeat, pack opening, etc.
Fixed Cybocock not gaining story points when a backfire character attacked Cybochick (thanks, NatriOn for report!).
Fixed BBQ BIll without spotlight end of scene triggering before the one with spotlight
Improved layour of missions UI. We will be re-designing and improving it further so expect more updates on that in next patches.
Fixed some cryptic UI and gameplay related-crashes.
Artwork Attribution
In previous versions of the game, the names of artists and AI-generated artwork were only noted in the lore section, which led to some confusion about transparency. To clarify, we have now extended this attribution to the collection section as well. All placeholder artwork includes a visible watermark when you hover over the cards in both the collection and lore sections.
We want to assure you that AI-generated artwork is used strictly as temporary placeholders, and we are actively replacing them with original pieces created by our talented artists. For a deeper insight into our creative process, please check out our post titled 'The Art of ScreenPlay.'
Thank you all for your continued support. We look forward to sharing more updates soon.
The Art of ScreenPlay CCG: From Concept to Completion
The Art of ScreenPlay CCG: From Concept to Completion
Ever wondered how we create the quirky, humorous characters in ScreenPlay? Consider this post a behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process—yes, a movie within a movie. Get it? Alright, moving on.
The Creative Process
Our journey begins with the card mechanics. Before any illustration starts, we define these mechanics and use placeholder artwork to embody the core concept of each card. Take "Wake and Roll," for instance. The initial idea featured a bear comically propelled from bed into action, embodying the sudden call to adventure.
Illustrating the Drama
For "Wake and Roll," it was crucial that the artwork captured both the readiness for danger and the potential for failure. We envisioned an anthropomorphic bear from the world of Jaw-Z, mistakenly offending Queen Bee and facing a retaliatory swarm of bees. An alarm clock designed as a honey bee hive and the bear desperately reaching for bee spray enhance this scenario. Will he manage to grab the spray in time or succumb to the buzzing foes? This cliffhanger mirrors the card's mechanics, where a selected character can dodge an attack, counterstrike, and earn a story point.
From Sketches to Final Art
Our artist, Kevin, translates these ideas into two initial sketches, from which we select one to develop further.
After finalizing a sketch, Kevin crafts a rough color version to integrate the artwork seamlessly into the game, allowing for adjustments before the final rendering. This approach ensures that the artwork is not only effective but also resonates with the gameplay experience without rush.
Here's a look at the final polished version and its implementation in the game.
Designing the Movie Set Universe
Our process extends to other aspects of the game's world, like movie sets. Our artist, Sam Kemp, sketches out initial designs which are then blocked out in 3D for optimal lighting before the final paintover.
Sketch Stage
Blockout Stage
Final Version
Once the final version of the movie set is complete, we meticulously segment it into layers and animate various elements to infuse life into the scene. We employ shaders to animate certain components, while others utilize Spine for smooth, realistic movements.
Animated Version in game
Illustrating the Card Backs
Similarly, the back of each card receives the same meticulous treatment, tailored to the theme of the card, such as our comedic card back featuring a clown hit by a pie, brilliantly brought to life by artist Leo Fonseca.
Sketch
Flat Color
Final Version
A Note on AI Artwork
While some AI-generated artwork currently serves as placeholders, we're committed to replacing these with original creations. All placeholder art is clearly marked with a watermark in the game's collection view and noted in the lore for full transparency.
We're dedicated to ensuring the final release is free from AI-generated content, and your early support is crucial in achieving this.
Looking Forward
There’s much more going on behind the scenes, especially with VFX and animation that demand unique artistic contributions. We’ll share more about these processes in future posts.
Thank you for joining us on this artistic journey. ScreenPlay has entered early-access, and we’d love for you to spread the word and share our innovative take on the collectible card game genre with your friends!
Fix of daily missions
Daily missions are now fully functional.
We calculated how much you could farm over time without missions progress and gave all accounts 300 tickets and 30 goldies.
If you have lost any in-game items due to server issues, please contact us on Discord server or on the Steam forum so that we can restore them.
Lo and Behold! The Curtain Rises on ScreenPlay CCG!
We are thrilled to announce that ScreenPlay CCG is now live in Early Access! Jump into the director’s chair and start crafting your cinematic masterpieces today.
Celebrate with Our New Launch Trailer!
Play and Share Your Feedback!
Your experience and reviews are invaluable to us. Dive in, explore the game, and let us know your thoughts.
Support Us with Real-Money Transactions
Real-money transactions are now live! You can purchase Goldies to enhance your gameplay and support our ongoing development.
A Major Milestone
While our journey is far from over, launching in Early Access marks a significant achievement for us. We're excited to continue improving and expanding the game with your support.
Compete Online
Gather your friends, join us on the server, and compete to see who can create the best movies! May the most creative directors win.
Join Our Discord Community!
Participate in regular tournaments for unique rewards and engage with our friendly movie-making community. Use promo code READYSETACTION to receive a free welcome gift when you join!
Version 28.5: Get ready to jump into Early Access!
Exciting News, Everyone!
This is our final patch before we make the big leap to Early Access tomorrow. We're thrilled about this milestone and hope you are too. Here’s what you can expect in this last update before the big day:
"Chain" missions
Embark on thrilling multistage missions to earn more goldies and unlock new rewards!
Voiceover for tutorial
We've introduced a voiceover in the tutorial! It's not fully polished yet, but it’s there to enhance the experience for new players. Expect further improvements in upcoming patches.
New artwork
Check out the fresh artwork for these cards: Ocean D. Finley, Archimimus, Alien Abduction, Firebrand Lassie, Clumsy Cactus, and Jurassic Canon Fodder. Thanks to our awesome artists for bringing these characters to life with their illustrations.
New Movie Sets:
Explore genre-themed movie sets now available in the store:
Comedy: Dive into hilarious mix-ups at a fun fair.
Mystery: Solve a bank robbery gone wrong with secret shadows lurking.
Drama: Ramp up the telenovela tension in a wealthy family's estate.
New Card Backs:
We've added a variety of new card backs and other exciting goodies.
Bugfixes
Added non-animated version of Sly, adjusted cost of animated Sly to be in line with other animated directors.
CyboBoy and Bartender Hydra would not freeze from their planned attack, if they have been already frozen (thanks, @Dunkoro).
After mass effects characters won't get stuck under each other and move to proper position on the set right away (thanks, @kramushka and friends).
When you steal narrative points from opponent, your Sleight of hand trickster won't return back to your hand (thanks, @Majstor).
If character under Bloodbeards effect attacks and dies during an attack, it won't steal the narrative points.
Fixed Spikes visuals alignment.
Character with lethal has to deal attack damage for it to activate, Spikes and Backfire is not considered attack damage (thanks, @Dunkoro)
Making copy of the deck won't overwrite already exist copy.
When collecting large number of bounty points after AoE, they are properly spread between Lead and the free narrative points (thanks, @NatriOn).
Looking Ahead:
This release sets the stage for our early access launch tomorrow. Get ready, spread the word, and dive into the world of ScreenPlay, where creativity meets cinema. Calling all visionary directors to join us!
Lights, Camera, Action! ScreenPlay CCG Early Access Countdown Begins!
Get Ready to Roll the Film Reels - ScreenPlay CCG's Early Access is Almost Here!
Hello, everyone! We're thrilled to share that ScreenPlay CCG is just 10 days away from its Early Access release on Steam. The anticipation is palpable and we're excited to see the community's reaction to all the new features!
🎮 Seamless Transition
For those of you who have been enjoying the demo or participating in our playtests, we've got some fantastic news. All your progress is tied to your Steam account, meaning everything you've achieved will carry over to the Early Access version seamlessly. Keep building your collection without missing a beat!
🎥 New Trailer Alert!
We've just dropped a fresh trailer filled with all the latest additions to the game, crafted with a fun nod to those classic 1990s movie trailers. Check it out here and let us know what you think. Your likes and comments not only support us but also help more folks discover the game through the YouTube algorithm.
📢 Calling All Content Creators!
Are you passionate about Screenplay CCG and love creating content? We'd love to connect with you! Join our special Directors Guild program designed to support both you and your audience. It’s a fantastic way to engage with the game and get more involved in our community of virtual movie-makers.
🌐 We Speak Your Language
Localization is coming! We're working on adding multiple language supports around the Early Access launch. If there’s a specific language you’re hoping for, don't hesitate to drop a suggestion in the comments. Your feedback is invaluable.
🏆 Join Our Discord for Weekly Tournaments
Don’t miss out on the action in our Discord community where you can participate in weekly tournaments and win awesome rewards. It's a great place to meet other players and test your directorial skills in friendly competition.
As a small indie team, every bit of support from you helps us a great deal. We don't have a massive budget, but what we do have is a passionate team dedicated to creating an engaging CCG experience. Spread the word, invite friends who love card games, blog about your experiences, and tell your favorite streamer about what they’re missing!
🌟 Add Screenplay CCG to Your Wishlist
If you haven't already, please consider adding Screenplay CCG to your wishlist to stay updated on our latest developments.
Thank you all for your tremendous support. We can’t wait to see you in-game and together, let’s make some incredible movies!
