Monday, April 24, 2017

Return to "Normalcy"

I actually have been starting to get a lot more done as I fall into a schedule and change up a few things. In addition, the Pupper is much easier to manage, and I found out that streaming RPG maker through Steam to the laptop downstairs works perfectly. Fun fact: Steam will also stream desktop audio, so I had Vent running on the machine I was streaming from which meant I could hear HKS and Wibod talking in the background. I couldn't actually message or talk to them unless someone else sent me a message through hangouts, which prompted my desktop to appear. So yeah, Steam can stream your desktop too...sort of.

I've made a lot of major strides in figuring out RPG maker, which have included customizing preset scripts for what I want. I've been provided scripts that Mesk and HKS found, and have been switching them up a bit to change window sizes and add features. I fixed a major text-based issue for one of the interface screens just by adjusting appropriate numbers, but I still need to figure out how to make the party system work the way I want it to.

I've been working a lot on asset building and I discovered something rather distressing last night: I cannot, for the LIFE of me, make a god damned coffee cup. Everything I attempt looks like someone vomited pixels. I can make a complex copier machine, a stapler, top hats, animals...but I can't get the stupid coffee cups to work the way I want. I was SO CLOSE the one time, but they ended up being way too small (another issue I've had is making things with the right proportions). I honestly think the demonic furniture will be easier to create than a stupid coffee cup...

Anyway, all I have left to do in the Office is script a few more events, finish one of the Intern quests, decide if I want quest XP in addition to battle XP and make my custom assets and tiles. Most of what's there are placeholders. In the boss advance area I need to add dialogue in the Executive Bathroom, finish the Admin, configure a pre-battle and then make my boss battle/events. If I can get this tutorial/demo area complete, I think I'll have a lot of the tools and knowledge to complete the rest of the areas with relative ease. The problems will arise with a) keeping dialogue and gameplay interesting, b) Producing all the assets required for what's in my head, and c) doing some custom scripting.

I mentioned in my previous post that this will be a private project. Over the past year Shauna has been encouraging me to get a Patreon, so if that ever happens and IF this game looks like more than a pipe dream, I may advertise to the general public. Of course that would mean I would need to exchange a lot of assets like music for custom content (which...I have no idea how that would work) or look into licensing. Some assets I've already purchased through Steam, so I'm safe in that regard. I just need to remember which is which. So far, the extent of my plans are private audience and an Extra Life donation incentive.

SPEAKING OF WHICH.

Kathleen is really ramping up the campaign this year and we're looking into getting a lot of cool prizes for the event. I have comic con next weekend, so I'll be looking for fun stuff to give away during Extra Life this year (still in November we're just...really eager).

You can donate here: https://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=249862&referrer=bfAphFbPfSched

Anyway, I have dev videos if you want to see me suffer on my public drive. Otherwise, I MAY release screenshots to the interested, but I don't want to incite any false hope.

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