Hello my friends – New Update Format

Welcome to the new update format. Hope it’s an improvement over the old way.

I tried to create a system that would make it quick and easy for people to just scan down and see how I am doing with the parts of the visual novel (VN). Then if somebody wants more detail, they can read the sections they are interested in.

I had the urge to write more detail to “get the ball rolling”, so I expect this update to be longer than future ones.

The past week was working on the writing, and the coding. Nothing really with the art.

Story – Further along, still needs more

I have divided the VN into a core story, events, and threads. A thread is how I refer to multiple connected events.

I have two of these “threads” finished. The problem with writing the threads is that it covers more than one update. The benefit is that I am that much further on the next update, or more. But as the story progresses, I will have to update them to fit whatever is in the story.

When I start writing a thread, the storyline for that thread is clear in my head, so I keep writing while it is fresh, even if it’s for the next update(s).

But the benefit is that I am now ahead on the future storyline.

I have a portion of the core story written for the next update.

Code (i.e., Ren’Py) - Still building the core

This is part of the big slowdown for me. Making sure the code is both functional, and without errors. Getting this working as well as possible at the beginning is very important. Some things are hard to undo. Fixing a mistake in the future could cause problems, especially for saves.

Once done, the coding should become a minimal part of the game. Mostly updating certain stats and data, and moving the story into Ren’Py, and rewriting as I go along.

Already a portion of the script as been moved into the game.

Art – Not much done… this week

This will always be the most work. But unfortunately, very little of the art has been worked on the past week. Some was done the previous, but this week the focus was on writing and coding.

I’m in the middle of taking another look at the characters. There were a few comments, specifically about how Ginger looked. But if I was going to take another look at her, I was going to look at them all… Well except Mr. Howell. I think he might look the best out of them all.

After I had originally finished designing the characters, it was kind of a break actually building the Visual Novel. (VN) Giving my mind a break from it helps to give a fresher look when I come back. But I also come back with a lot more experience adjusting the characters.

But I am still limiting myself with how long I would spend on each character, and then still compare the new to the old to see if there actually was an improvement. If not, I keep the old.

This unfortunately will slow things down, (apparently a theme,) and will be the only time I ever do this since the further along I get, the harder all of this becomes. Plus, there has to be an end date when I say things are as good as they are going to get.

I always need to balance my urge to put out the perfect visual novel, with my skills, the time I have available, and what I can afford.

Final Thoughts:

Hopefully this is a better format. I plan on reducing what I am writing here even further.

Also, next week will be a little light on work since it is that time of year when the turkey genocides occur.

Luckily our family has been spared being part of this horror since we only eat the turkeys that have been accidentally run over. Amazingly we have had a lot of bad luck since my family has accidentally run over a turkey every year for a couple decades now.

I don’t understand it because I have seen turkeys on the road before, and they have been really hard to hit. No matter how much I swerving I do.

As always, enjoy life.