Well, folks, here’s some news! This update is turning out to be much bigger and more complex than we initially expected. But I’m ready to share the current progress in the form of statistics: from fully completed segments to those still in progress.

🐾 New Cat Helper:
██████████ 100%

🎵 New music tracks:
██████████ 100%

✨ Unique upgrades for all Helpers:
█████████_ 85%

🔊 Sound effects:
███████___ 70%

🌍 New location progress:
█████_____ 50%

🦇 New boss:
█████_____ 50%

🐀 New enemies:
█████_____ 50%

🌐 Descriptions and translations:
█_________ 10%

🎨 New artwork for the Steam update:
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The most challenging part (unique upgrades for all Helpers) is almost done. This will speed up work on the remaining categories. However, even after everything is ready, we’ll need to conduct final testing to catch as many bugs as possible.

Previously, I mentioned that the update would release in November, but now I don’t want to make any promises until everything is at least ready for testing. Sorry for the delay, but I don’t want to release a rushed product just to meet a deadline. 🙏

Now for the good news! Let me introduce the new Cat Helper Cat Miner (the name might still change). Its primary ability is placing mines on the battlefield that patiently wait for their prey. For example, everyone’s favorite Spear Mouse. And what happens when the mouse steps on the mine? I think you’ve already guessed… 💥

Thank you for your patience and support! We’re working hard to make this update truly awesome. 🐾

Information about the new upgrade for ALL Helper Cats in Cat Bait!

Now, each Helper Cat will have, in addition to the current attack type, three more options! When you first select a Cat, it will have the standard attack (the same as now). However, you won't be able to upgrade all the Cat's enhancements anymore. Out of three enhancements, you can choose only two: one to upgrade to the maximum (third) level, and the second — only to one level. After that, you will be able to choose a unique enhancement (which I call "super-enhancement" in the code). This choice will depend on which standard enhancement you upgraded to the maximum level.

Example with the Archer Cat. Let's say you decided to upgrade Damage as the main enhancement. After Damage is upgraded to the maximum level, and the second enhancement, for example, Attack Speed, to one level, on the next stage, you will be able to choose a unique enhancement. In our case, it would be "Ballista" and "Archer Cat+".

"Archer Cat+" is essentially an upgrade of the basic ability. You get an extra level for the second enhancement (e.g., Attack Speed) and add a third first-level enhancement — Number of Arrows.

Now about the "Ballista." This skill completely changes the attack mechanic: instead of arrows falling from above, a giant arrow flies at enemies in a line, dealing significant damage. All previous upgrades still apply. For example, if you chose Attack Speed, the intervals between Ballista shots will be shorter. If you chose Number of Arrows, there will be two arrows.

What about the other two upgrades for the Archer Cat? These are "Splitting" (through Attack Speed) and "Arrow Rain" (through Number of Arrows).

"Splitting" adds an extra effect: after the arrow lands, small projectiles scatter in different directions, dealing damage.
"Arrow Rain" completely changes the attack mechanic: an area slowly moves in the direction of the last Cat Bait position, and arrows begin falling in this area, dealing damage.

You can see all of this in more detail in the video (first the normal arrows are shown, followed by Arrow Rain, Splitting, and finally Ballista).

Now, each Helper Cat essentially has four different attack mechanics: the standard one and three unique ones, depending on the upgrade path. This significantly expands the possibilities for gameplay variety (and this is not counting the new Cats that will be added!). All of this greatly impacts replayability, build diversity, and overall fun.

Now for the bad news. Unfortunately, we physically can't release the update in October. We've already done a lot of work, but we won't be able to finish everything in time. The delay is not only because of me but also the artists, as there is a lot of work to do (the composer is amazing — he's already finished the tracks for the new location!). Right now, new animations for each unique enhancement are being drawn, as well as new enemies and a new boss. But I think in November (closer to the end of the month), we'll be able to delight you with the update! Yes, it's much bigger than we initially planned, but we've listened to your feedback and want to make the game even more unique and interesting.

A huge thank you to everyone who bought the game! Thanks to you, we can keep working. Thanks to you, I was able to buy a new computer for our composer because his old one was completely outdated. Now he's even more energized to create amazing tracks for you!

And, of course, from me personally, as the lead developer — thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me. I'm happy that our game has found a place in so many hearts, especially considering that this is my first big project.

Due to a bug, the Linux build was unavailable for some. It is now available for download.

Early Access release trailer:
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Don't forget you can write about the game, share your creativity, suggest improvements and notify us of bugs in our Discord:
https://discord.gg/mayniprod.

I actually feel pretty strongly about it, and hope the game is at least a little bit fun for you 😱

Due to the delay in checking the page in Steam, we had to slightly postpone the release of the game.
Cat Bait will go on sale on 27.08.2024 at 19:00 Kiev time (! This is already 100% certain, so get ready!)

Main Change:
- Difficulty levels added: "Easy" and "Normal." Normal is the original difficulty level, while Easy includes many changes to make the game more accessible!

Other Changes:
- The hitbox of the Cat Bait head area has been slightly reduced.
- The "Fast Paws" upgrade has been changed. It can now only be taken once but provides a +12%
movement speed boost immediately. The chance of this upgrade appearing in the selection has been reduced.
- Mage Mice have been nerfed. They now take longer to create a fireball, and if you kill them before it appears, the fireball will not spawn.
- Shaman Cat has been buffed. The starting damage is increased to 12, and its effect on size has been improved. Each upgrade now adds +40% to size.
- Bodybuilder Cat has been buffed. Now its anvils can't fall in the same spot (where the Bait Cat is located), as a minimum radius around the cat has been added where anvils cannot drop.
- Archer Cat has been changed. Its Multi-Shot can now hit a single enemy with all arrows if there are no others in the area. The base damage and fire rate have been slightly reduced.
- The cost of Health Increase in Meta Enhancements has been changed. It now follows an arithmetic progression instead of a geometric one, reducing the total required sum for all levels by more than 50 times.
- The base cost of Damage Increase in Meta Enhancements has been reduced.