More Playing with Images

Look at me playing with Vue and Animated Gifs.

Characters from Manga Clip Art

Playing with Vue Pioneer!

Having announced that I am going to work on Kitten Crusade, I immediately start playing around with a new game.
And what goes better with a new game than new software!
I just found the free version of Vue 11:Pioneer http://www.cornucopia3d.com/products/vue/vue_11_pioneer/ and after a slow start I am making some pretty spiffy things:

And then the first thing I do with my lovely renders is to put them through a filter to make them look more painterly.

I like the 3D renders, but the painted ones blend better with the other art assets I have.

The sprites are courtesy of ComiPo!

Susan

I am announcing this out loud

I am going to take part in the "One Game a Month" Challenge.  Details here: http://onegameamonth.com/

For my purposes, I am going to define "releasing a game" as
- a rough version of a game created from scratch
- a polished version of a previously released game
- a complete path in a partially completed game

My calendar of games:

January
Kitten Crusade
New GUI designed by Graph
Tighten up the story
Add some more plots

February
Villain of Villeins 
Turn Based Web game involving poor peasant farmers and tax collectors

March
NaNoRenO
A new game from scratch
Something Fairytale-ish

April
Ludum Dare
48 hour Challenge

May
Christian HO game
A hidden object game with Christian theme based on 24 hour comic I drew

June
Camp Renard
Finish coding for Dale's path
Add James' path

July:
???

August
Ludum Dare
48 Hour Challenge

September:
???

October:
???

November:
???

December:
Ludum Dare
48 Hour Challenge

Stuff I could work on:

You Don't Need to be Alone: Rewrite story completely, fix GUI, rename it to something sensible
The House that Bled Paint: Edit the story, fix the logic, split story in two
All Are Invited: Lots of editing, fix JavaScript bugs, finish the story
CRS Escape IF version:  Making a parser text version for no other reason except I can
Tiny World: Multi User version, framing story, new card types
Dot-to-Dot: I have a game mechanic, just need a game to go with it
Make a Game with Me: Make a game and blog all the steps I took to make it; encouraging other people to join in.  I might do this during NaNoRenO

Or any of my other games I've worked on.

My hope is that by concentrating on one game a month, I might actually make progress rather than be distracted/depressed by all my other unfinished games.

Susan

New Toys to Play with

I just bought myself ComiPo! (http://www.comipo.com/en/index.html)  This is AWESOME!  I wouldn't use it for a finished visual novel, but it is a treasure trove of poses and expressions that I could use as a reference -- all in 3D! 

The background was made with SweetHome 3D (http://www.sweethome3d.com/index.jsp) It is actually one of the example homes.

Ludum Dare 24 Finished

I have completed my 4th Ludum Dare entry: http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-24/?action=preview&uid=5150

Of them, I think it is my weakest.  I think I was trying to bite off more than I can chew. ;)  The game heavily depended on story, and my story writing skills are bad,  I think I need a week to make a good story.  By the end of it I was getting into my characters and getting the flow of the writing, but I had to stop and finish other things like music and sound effects.

The game has the potential to be a fun little game. Maybe someone will volunteer to help polish it.

Until then, it goes on the pile of cool games I should polish sometime.

Timelapse going up later.

Susan

The horns of a trilemma

I am taking a writing course (Which I am going to use to write a visual novel.)

One exercise is to create three "Sentences" - the "Sentence" being like an elevator pitch for the novel.

Here are mine:

• An eager, helpful teen is given the power to change the world with the help of a magic love journal.
• A military cadet recovering from a head injury investigates a series mysterious attacks on campus while being plagued with strange dreams.
• A shy reclusive teen must overcome her own fears and anxieties to find her runaway friend.

Which one should I develop into a visual novel?

Free Backgrounds for VNs

I think I made it possible for people to see the pictures I took while walking around Fredericton.

https://plus.google.com/photos/110664133592217318923/albums/5775569445214684401?authkey=CJSmy86GjrS4mQE

There are 48 images including some cool ones in the graveyard.

You are all welcome to use the pictures however you see fit.

Susan