For all two (three?) readers of my blog, please follow me here:
http://obscurasoftgames.blogspot.com/
It seems I can't change the name of my original blog address, and I'm really tired of looking at "makingmyfirstvisualnovel.com."
Sorry for the inconvenience, guys. Please join me at the new address when you have a chance.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Very Dry Developer Entry
Writing
Word count so far: 5889. Doesn't really mean much though...writing requires a lot of rewriting and reworking for me. I think I just finished Act 2...though these acts are totally arbitrary. I don't even know how many Acts I've got in entirety (5? 6?) Basically my method of writing is, 1) follow my existing outline and 2) write the main plot line and dialogue straight into the code--all the necessary ingredients for the 'good' ending--and worry about the other branches when I make a second pass.
I'm estimating once I finish the first pass, there will be at least a second and third "writing" pass, with many more passes for testing.
Music
Garageband for the iPad is INCREDIBLE! Extremely easy to use, and I've already picked several tracks for background music. I asked my husband to do the music, and he composed a pretty sweet song, but I had to tell him, "could you do another song and stay in the major chords? It sounds so indie-filmish right now."
Anyways, music should be a cinch now. I'd highly recommend Garageband if you've got an iPad. Especially if you're a music-newb like myself.
Tools
If it helps anybody, I'd like to record, briefly, all the tools I'm using to make this game:
Word count so far: 5889. Doesn't really mean much though...writing requires a lot of rewriting and reworking for me. I think I just finished Act 2...though these acts are totally arbitrary. I don't even know how many Acts I've got in entirety (5? 6?) Basically my method of writing is, 1) follow my existing outline and 2) write the main plot line and dialogue straight into the code--all the necessary ingredients for the 'good' ending--and worry about the other branches when I make a second pass.
I'm estimating once I finish the first pass, there will be at least a second and third "writing" pass, with many more passes for testing.
Music
Garageband for the iPad is INCREDIBLE! Extremely easy to use, and I've already picked several tracks for background music. I asked my husband to do the music, and he composed a pretty sweet song, but I had to tell him, "could you do another song and stay in the major chords? It sounds so indie-filmish right now."
Anyways, music should be a cinch now. I'd highly recommend Garageband if you've got an iPad. Especially if you're a music-newb like myself.
Tools
If it helps anybody, I'd like to record, briefly, all the tools I'm using to make this game:
- Ren'Py (latest version), installed on my Macbook
- iThoughtsHD on my iPad, for outlining and diagramming the main story
- Sketchbook on my iPad, to create sprites, expressions, colors, and shading
- Wacom Bamboo pen, for using with Sketchbook
- rgbstock.com and morguefile.com for backgrounds
- GIMP on my Macbook for cleaning up artwork, sprite resizing, and filtering backgrounds
- Wacom tablet (small) with Macbook to work on GIMP
- various Youtube and DeviantArt tutorials on figure drawing, shading, and coloring
- http://lemmasoft.renai.us/ for support, help, and general discussion about VNs.
- coffee
- tea
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Writing
Approx 700 words of coding/dialogue this afternoon.
Yikes, I'm pretty slow.
I wish I could write faster, but for me, there is an inverse relationship between writing speed and writing quality.
Yikes, I'm pretty slow.
I wish I could write faster, but for me, there is an inverse relationship between writing speed and writing quality.
Act Two
Trying to focus on writing, BEFORE I start redoing the art work this time.
Thinking of some other uses for the RenPy to make other sorts of games.
I really, really loved King of Dragon Pass, which I played nonstop on my ipod touch for a few months ago. Something like that could have been made on RenPy.
As much as I love working on my current game, it would be cool to eventually build a game that has a broader audience than um, Western yaoi, right?
Thinking of some other uses for the RenPy to make other sorts of games.
I really, really loved King of Dragon Pass, which I played nonstop on my ipod touch for a few months ago. Something like that could have been made on RenPy.
As much as I love working on my current game, it would be cool to eventually build a game that has a broader audience than um, Western yaoi, right?
Monday, April 9, 2012
Timeline
Well, now that I'm done with the demo, I'm thinking I better start planning how I want to release the game.
I should note how planning, hilariously, always gets me motivated. And how even more hilariously, my plans end up being turned upside down not soon after I start to execute.
The game theoretically has 5+ relationships, and each relationship has its associated story with approximately 10 plot points each. I guess I could release the game in episodes? In an ideal world, I'd like to give each relationship about 2 months of development time. Of course, the wild card is the fact that I'm learning as I go, and quite frequently I can get stuck in code or have some issue with GIMP that sets me back a few days.
This is definitely the most Don Quixote-ish thing I've ever done. I have no idea if more than a handful of people will want to play this. I have no idea if those who play it will even like it. It's an act of sheer faith and possible chemical imbalances with which I make this game.
So June 10th, then, for Chapter One? Somehow I gotta get caught up on RenPy and GIMP within that time frame...
I should note how planning, hilariously, always gets me motivated. And how even more hilariously, my plans end up being turned upside down not soon after I start to execute.
The game theoretically has 5+ relationships, and each relationship has its associated story with approximately 10 plot points each. I guess I could release the game in episodes? In an ideal world, I'd like to give each relationship about 2 months of development time. Of course, the wild card is the fact that I'm learning as I go, and quite frequently I can get stuck in code or have some issue with GIMP that sets me back a few days.
This is definitely the most Don Quixote-ish thing I've ever done. I have no idea if more than a handful of people will want to play this. I have no idea if those who play it will even like it. It's an act of sheer faith and possible chemical imbalances with which I make this game.
So June 10th, then, for Chapter One? Somehow I gotta get caught up on RenPy and GIMP within that time frame...
Slight Change in Dialogue
Latest version of demo, but not worth playing if you've already played Version One. Slight changes to dialogue, and I've started to play around with variables. (Updated due to variable-related bug).
http://www.mediafire.com/?qd0px4aj4brxf2a
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Day 27: Demo on Mediafire
Welp, done with the demo!
So much that needs to be changed/edited/etc., but god, I have taxes to do. And rooms to clean.
I feel a small sense of relief. I wonder if anybody is going to play this thing. What's funny is that I finally made a little game, but all the gamers I know personally aren't going to want to play it.
IRONY TIME.
Link to the demo.
So much that needs to be changed/edited/etc., but god, I have taxes to do. And rooms to clean.
I feel a small sense of relief. I wonder if anybody is going to play this thing. What's funny is that I finally made a little game, but all the gamers I know personally aren't going to want to play it.
IRONY TIME.
Link to the demo.
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