Saves still aren’t plugged in 
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I didn’t have time to fix it yesterday, I’ve reinstated the save system now.
I might not be able to super quickly fix other small bugs as I’m in a state of dissecting the Classical Thunderdome to try to rebalance it/make sure it’s winnable. This was by far the thing I was dreading doing the most for DWMU but it’s basically the last task I’m currently aware of before the run-up to publication submission
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This damned thing is a diagram I’ve been making to try and figure out exactly all the ways the player can get through the classical thunderdome section.
The pain… is building.
It is my fault for not tightening it up back when I wrote it, or documenting the design intention in 2020… but hey… at least I was back writing the game. And it’s gonna get done, one way or another.
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Chapter 1: Glitching Into Absurdity
In a world where pixels meld with reality and video game memories rule the mind, a hapless protagonist awakens in a malfunctioning virtual reality, their memories wiped clean. Armed only with puns, pop culture references, and a snarky attitude, they set off on a journey to unravel the twisted levels of satirical video game pastiches and find a way back to the real world.
Chapter 2: The Delusional Gamer’s Alliance
Joined by an eccentric cast of characters including a delusional gamer who’s convinced they’re the chosen one, an emo vampire yearning for a different image, a poetic extraterrestrial trying to make sense of it all, and a princess in shining armor with a penchant for adventure, our protagonist forms an unlikely alliance to navigate the bizarre virtual realms.
Chapter 3: A Gamified Quest for Reality
With each level presenting a hilarious mashup of classic video game tropes, the group must solve puzzles, defeat boss monsters with witty banter, and navigate dating sim scenarios gone awry. As they progress, they uncover fragments of their own personalities that the real world had obscured.
Chapter 4: The Quirks We Embrace
As the lines between satire and introspection blur, the characters come to terms with their own quirks. The delusional gamer learns that reality isn’t always an epic quest, the emo vampire discovers that being true to oneself is more liberating than conforming to stereotypes, and the poetic alien realizes that even the most mundane experiences hold beauty.
Chapter 5: Love and Pixels
Amidst the chaos, an unexpected romance blossoms between the protagonist and the dashing princess. But in a world that parodies dating sims, their journey toward love is anything but conventional. Through hilarious mishaps and heartwarming moments, they learn that real connections aren’t scripted.
Chapter 6: Breaking the Code
The group uncovers the truth behind their entrapment – a disgruntled game developer’s attempt to create the ultimate video game experience by blurring the lines between virtual and reality. Armed with newfound self-awareness and camaraderie, they confront the developer in a showdown that turns video game logic on its head.
Chapter 7: Pixels Reclaimed
In a climactic battle that fuses reality and satire, the characters reclaim control of their own destinies. The virtual worlds unravel, revealing the fragile facade that trapped them. As they return to the real world, they bring back not just memories of their gaming pasts, but a deeper understanding of their own identities.
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From the recesses of my brain, I remember being pretty obsessed with Hitchhiker’s Guide as a kid and seeing this music video. It definitely makes me think of the contrast between Len and Asterius. I know there’s a point where you can tell Len 'you’re like sexy Marvin the Paranoid Android, but just how true that actually was and how much of an influence on DWMU it ended up being, I wasn’t really conscious of until much later aha.
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All right, Don’t Wake Me Up enjoyers.
I’ve spent much of this weekend working on the game.
I’m pleased to announce that the Classical Thunderdome section has been slightly debugged. It is now completely winnable. It is not really that consequential for the rest of the game, but it was too difficult and messy before. Most of the time now if you are not getting absolutely destroyed, you will have a good chance.
If anyone is interested in exactly what you can do to win the section, I have made a not that handy diagram. That is probably more confusing than just playing it.
Here is a high resolution image that you can download:
Here it is in google drawings:
Otherwise, I played the entire game today, and the thunderdome section several times. I didn’t encounter any issues, and I had a good time. All the new fixes have been uploaded to the Dashingdon link. I don’t have any ambitions on the list for this game before publishing it - I think it’s pretty much ready, once all the assets are in place. If anyone has any further thoughts, please let me know!
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For those who have finished the game… does this as a possible in-game splash screen for when you’d load up the app seem too much of a spoiler…? Or does it work with the general DWMU aesthetic
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I think it does seem like a spoiler. When a specific character is portrayed at the beginning of game, it makes me wonder if they have a relevant role in the story. But my opinion might be biased because I know how it ends 
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I’m definitely going to portray Len as I don’t really have any other assets or capacity to make something different. I was talking specifically about the concept of portraying Len over the text of the screen the player sees when they are faced with the possibility of deactivating Asterius to give their emotional processor to Len.
It’s a seminal moment in the game and I like having it be the background CRT effect text for the splash screen. But if it makes it seem obvious that The characters are artificial intelligences I should maybe not go that way… But honestly I like it.
Also this is my own artwork and… I’m not an artist. I’d like honest feedback of if it’s up to it at all.
love the chapter where Mc & frends gets trapped in a space ship, it reminds me of amongus game xd haha, This is my fav game now in dis forum
From an objective, and incidental point of view, I don’t think that image counts as a spoiler much at all. A lot of what makes a spoiler what it is is context. That’s not something that you’d really have depending on what the description for DWMU ends up being on a store page. You can say a lot, and not have given away much of anything if you twist your words just right. In that way, the image itself would probably be viewed as an artisic choice based on the setting more than some “big reveal that spoils everything!” and that’s because no one going into the story for the first time would even realize what they’re looking at.
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I… Hope you still say that when the game is over… But thank you!
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This is the most early 2010s, nerdy gamer type “I bought every WoW Expansion on release, preorder too” with an empty coke can on their desk storyline.
And god I absolutely adore it, well done
It is… A period piece
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Wait hold on I just finished the game (poignant game, btw) and this is super off topic BUT YOU WROTE FOR THE DARK URGE???
I couldn’t possibly say… Perhaps not just that 
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screams oh my god its done! I loved this forever. Also are you sure you didn’t right for bg3 astarion? 
The first time i knew astarion from bg3 i thought of len immediately. 
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Well… a long time after Don’t Wake Me Up.
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Well without knowing what all you did write for, it’s an excellent game, and I haven’t had this much fun with a video game in a very long time. Congrats on an outstanding launch, for both this and BG3.
… I’m also reading that you pitched the bear scene and if you did, then wow you are a brave person but also you’ve successfully cemented your place in history.
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