N7

セブン
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Apr 5, 2017
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I was going to work on art this week, but I continued writing and couldn't stop myself. I've been writing different scenes with many different characters. I have been focusing on making sure most events of the episode are in place, even if they aren't fully written yet.

I keep adding stuff I want to see in the episode, and I'm working with a cast of 70+ characters that need screen time - so it is a challenge when it comes to limiting ideas and scenes while also piecing together parallel storylines.

I've said in the past that I'm trying to make the episode smaller than episode 8 - because the trend so far is that each episode gets bigger and bigger. I've realized that it's too hard for me to do that for episode 9 in some areas.

Currently, the writing of episode 9 is at ~90% in size compared to episode 8. I believe nearly all events are mapped out now, give or take a handful.

I have 43 scenes, ranging from short to long, left to write, or complete writing. This is why I believe I will overshoot the episode 8 size in terms of writing.
I have barely started writing phone content, so this also remains in the writing department.

At the moment, I believe I'm unlikely to overshoot the animation count, but the render count might be close to that of episode 8. Time will tell what the size will be.

You'll likely be very happy if you wish for a content-filled episode that requires more than five playthroughs to see everything.

When it comes to art, I estimate that 80% of the environments needed for the episode are designed and have the lighting in place; this usually takes a lot of time. Similarly, I estimate that 90% of the characters needed for the episode have their costumes/wardrobe decided and prepared to be imported into the scenes. I'm confident that art production will take off fast once I return to it.

I will continue letting the flow decide what I'm working on next week.

On the animation front, PCs are chugging on. Two workstations are rendering two rather long animations, and they have been at it for 14 days each. Previewing the work they've done with these long animations, they were worth the time spent rendering.

95 animations are fully produced.

Poll news
In this week's poll, option 4 was the winning option and will be featured in episode 9 as Riona's Halloween costume.



Thanks for voting!

Have a nice weekend

Dr PinkCake
 

Pennel

Member
Jun 4, 2017
211
344
Poll news
In this week's poll, option 4 was the winning option and will be featured in episode 9 as Riona's Halloween costume.



Dr PinkCake
What were the other options? I must've missed the poll post if it was posted here.
 
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PashafromRussia

Well-Known Member
Aug 18, 2019
1,557
5,501




I was going to work on art this week, but I continued writing and couldn't stop myself. I've been writing different scenes with many different characters. I have been focusing on making sure most events of the episode are in place, even if they aren't fully written yet.

I keep adding stuff I want to see in the episode, and I'm working with a cast of 70+ characters that need screen time - so it is a challenge when it comes to limiting ideas and scenes while also piecing together parallel storylines.

I've said in the past that I'm trying to make the episode smaller than episode 8 - because the trend so far is that each episode gets bigger and bigger. I've realized that it's too hard for me to do that for episode 9 in some areas.

Currently, the writing of episode 9 is at ~90% in size compared to episode 8. I believe nearly all events are mapped out now, give or take a handful.

I have 43 scenes, ranging from short to long, left to write, or complete writing. This is why I believe I will overshoot the episode 8 size in terms of writing.
I have barely started writing phone content, so this also remains in the writing department.

At the moment, I believe I'm unlikely to overshoot the animation count, but the render count might be close to that of episode 8. Time will tell what the size will be.

You'll likely be very happy if you wish for a content-filled episode that requires more than five playthroughs to see everything.

When it comes to art, I estimate that 80% of the environments needed for the episode are designed and have the lighting in place; this usually takes a lot of time. Similarly, I estimate that 90% of the characters needed for the episode have their costumes/wardrobe decided and prepared to be imported into the scenes. I'm confident that art production will take off fast once I return to it.

I will continue letting the flow decide what I'm working on next week.

On the animation front, PCs are chugging on. Two workstations are rendering two rather long animations, and they have been at it for 14 days each. Previewing the work they've done with these long animations, they were worth the time spent rendering.

95 animations are fully produced.

Poll news
In this week's poll, option 4 was the winning option and will be featured in episode 9 as Riona's Halloween costume.



Thanks for voting!

Have a nice weekend

Dr PinkCake
A very detailed status update. Most likely episode 9 will be close to episode 8 in size. Judging by the numbers, he is almost finished with the script and the creation of the environment, and he has only programming, creating art and animation left.

I don't see a problem in size. If you remember, a third of episode 5 was occupied by the backstory of the brotherhood of diks and the episode itself was pretty empty. All the important events took place during the preps party and at Bella's house, and the episode itself unexpectedly ended as it began. I'm glad to hear from Pink that the episode will be intense.



I've said in the past that I'm trying to make the episode smaller than episode 8 - because the trend so far is that each episode gets bigger and bigger. I've realized that it's too hard for me to do that for episode 9 in some areas.
I think this probably concerns animations that have become longer and, accordingly, the rendering will be longer.
 

LizaS

Active Member
Jan 20, 2022
820
22,321
I've said in the past that I'm trying to make the episode smaller than episode 8 - because the trend so far is that each episode gets bigger and bigger. I've realized that it's too hard for me to do that for episode 9 in some areas.

Currently, the writing of episode 9 is at ~90% in size compared to episode 8. I believe nearly all events are mapped out now, give or take a handful.

I have 43 scenes, ranging from short to long, left to write, or complete writing. This is why I believe I will overshoot the episode 8 size in terms of writing.
I have barely started writing phone content, so this also remains in the writing department.

At the moment, I believe I'm unlikely to overshoot the animation count, but the render count might be close to that of episode 8. Time will tell what the size will be.

You'll likely be very happy if you wish for a content-filled episode that requires more than five playthroughs to see everything.
I don't know why DPC is trying to make the size smaller or similar to that of episode 8 when episode 9 has branching involved. For it to be great, long, and filled with content similar to what he said; "requires more than five playthroughs to see everything", wouldn't it be more "safe" and logical to not worry about the size because it might compromise the story?
If he's worrying about size a lot, I think it's better to do that on more later episodes, just so that episode 9 comes on strong and to have a solid foundation of the branches.

If not, I guess the branches are an illusion like any other choices-driven game. For example, no matter what you do in episodes 1-8, you would always end up with Maya, Josy, and Sage in her house. Bummer.
 

PashafromRussia

Well-Known Member
Aug 18, 2019
1,557
5,501
I don't know why DPC is trying to make the size smaller or similar to that of episode 8 when episode 9 has branching involved. For it to be great, long, and filled with content similar to what he said; "requires more than five playthroughs to see everything", wouldn't it be more "safe" and logical to not worry about the size because it might compromise the story?
If he's worrying about size a lot, I think it's better to do that on more later episodes, just so that episode 9 comes on strong and to have a solid foundation of the branches.

If not, I guess the branches are an illusion like any other choices-driven game. For example, no matter what you do in episodes 1-8, you would always end up with Maya, Josy, and Sage in her house. Bummer.
DPC said that there will be more scenes compared to episode 8. The size of the script will be close to episode 8, but there will be more short scenes of interactions with the chosen LI. I didn't count the number of scenes in episode 8, but the remaining 43 scenes are a lot. In episode 8, there were long scenes like a date with Bella at her house or a conversation with Sage about exams. I think the episode will feel longer anyway due to the mini-game and a lot of dialogues.
 
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mpa71

Member
Dec 18, 2017
494
7,088
:coffee: Updated BigTable™ with the recent informations.
SeeYouInAutumn!

  • 7 animations been complete that week. Leaving 19 more to finalize from his queue, could take 2 weeks.
  • DPC confirmed we will have less animations. The animation time will be interesting to check at release.
  • Previously, 800 renders were made in 28 days but it's wasn't art focused time. About 4 months to hit 4000.
  • Late September (30 weeks) release is starting to get more plausible with that raised ambition.
EP​
Renders​
Animations​
Music*
Size (GB)​
Release​
Development Time​
Ratio*
R/D
A/D
sA/D
EP1130151 (3:29)≈1.1
07 Feb 2019​
— days
—​
—​
—​
—​
EP21709 (+31%)77 (3:36) (+26)≈2.3 (+1.2)
04 May 2019​
087 (2 months, 28 days |≈12 weeks)
22.1​
19.6​
0.89
2.48
EP32289 (+34%)99 (4:42) (+22)≈4.1 (+1.8)
16 Aug 2019​
105 (3 months, 13 days |≈15 weeks)
24.5​
21.8
0.94​
2.69
EP42532 (+11%)134 (7:57) (+35)≈6.1 (+2.0)
10 Jan 2020​
148 (4 months, 26 days |≈21 weeks)
20.3
17.1
0.91
3.22​
EP52456 (-3%)157 (8:35) (+23)17 (3.4K$)≈8.0 (+1.9)
29 May 2020​
141 (4 months, 20 days |≈20 weeks)
21.1
17.4
1.11​
3.65​
EP63336 (+35%)162 (8:33) (+5)24 (4.8K$)≈11.1 (+3.1)
13 Nov 2020​
169 (5 months, 16 days |≈24 weeks)
22.8​
19.7​
0.96​
3.04​
EP73723 (+12%)250 (18:14) (+88)18 (3.6K$)≈14.5 (+3.4)
23 Apr 2021​
162 (5 months, 11 days |≈23 weeks)
29.7
23.0
1.54
6.75
EP84158 (+12%)358 (26:21) (+108)34 (6.8K$)≈19.5 (+5.0)
19 Nov 2021​
211 (6 months, 28 days |≈30 weeks)
27.2
19.7​
1.70
7.49
EPI79436 (4:36)19 (3.8K$)≈2.6 (new)
4 Mar 2022​
105 (3 months, 13 days |≈15 weeks)
10.1
7.6
0.34
2.53
EP9≈800≈95 (≈114)
in development
077 (2 months, 16 days |≈11 weeks)
1.23
Complete Table with the help of Holy Bacchus† original post — Being a DIK in development since 3 years, 3 months, 13 days (39 months / 171 weeks / 1,198 days / 28,752 hours)
* 199$ Premium Licensed Music ; Total: 22,288$ — Ratio values exclude EPI ; Ratio: (Renders/Days + SecondsAnimations/Days) [Average: 24.0 ; Last Two: 28.5 (+19%)]
Renders/Days [Average: 19.8 ; Last Two: 21.3 (+8%)] — Animations/Days [Average: 1.15 ; Last Two: 1.62 (+41%)] — SecondsAnimations/Days [Average: 4.19 ; Last Two: 7.12 (+69%)]


(y) Thumb up to well made Casiope DIK Walkthrough.
 

Casiope

Member
Nov 30, 2017
199
756
The animation varies from a sex-scene position to a camera movement during cutscenes. I understand why Dr PinkCake weighs for each ones their benefits over the amount of work they involve. Many adult visual novels do the minimum and are satisfied with static renders.

How encouraging it is to read that he evaluates his workload throughout the making; this implies that he sets goals with perhaps a maximum development time per episode, so as not to be overwhelmed in his job or anger the contributors. Without any irony or excessive flattery, I think a lot of game creators on Patreon could learn from Dr PinkCake.
 

ename144

Engaged Member
Sep 20, 2018
3,474
14,317




I was going to work on art this week, but I continued writing and couldn't stop myself. I've been writing different scenes with many different characters. I have been focusing on making sure most events of the episode are in place, even if they aren't fully written yet.

I keep adding stuff I want to see in the episode, and I'm working with a cast of 70+ characters that need screen time - so it is a challenge when it comes to limiting ideas and scenes while also piecing together parallel storylines.

I've said in the past that I'm trying to make the episode smaller than episode 8 - because the trend so far is that each episode gets bigger and bigger. I've realized that it's too hard for me to do that for episode 9 in some areas.

Currently, the writing of episode 9 is at ~90% in size compared to episode 8. I believe nearly all events are mapped out now, give or take a handful.

I have 43 scenes, ranging from short to long, left to write, or complete writing. This is why I believe I will overshoot the episode 8 size in terms of writing.
I have barely started writing phone content, so this also remains in the writing department.

At the moment, I believe I'm unlikely to overshoot the animation count, but the render count might be close to that of episode 8. Time will tell what the size will be.

You'll likely be very happy if you wish for a content-filled episode that requires more than five playthroughs to see everything.

When it comes to art, I estimate that 80% of the environments needed for the episode are designed and have the lighting in place; this usually takes a lot of time. Similarly, I estimate that 90% of the characters needed for the episode have their costumes/wardrobe decided and prepared to be imported into the scenes. I'm confident that art production will take off fast once I return to it.

I will continue letting the flow decide what I'm working on next week.

On the animation front, PCs are chugging on. Two workstations are rendering two rather long animations, and they have been at it for 14 days each. Previewing the work they've done with these long animations, they were worth the time spent rendering.

95 animations are fully produced.

Poll news
In this week's poll, option 4 was the winning option and will be featured in episode 9 as Riona's Halloween costume.



Thanks for voting!

Have a nice weekend

Dr PinkCake
I see DPC remains the undisputed master of extraneous information! Well, we do at least an animation count. DPC has apparently completed 25 animations in the last 4 weeks, an average of 6.3 animations per week. Overall, he is now averaging 8.6 animations per week since the Interlude launched. Still no word on static renders, beyond some speculation the total could be close to Episode 8. Here are the charts.
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As you can see, we're ages away from matching Episode 8's animation count at our current rate (roughly February). DPC thinks the total animation count won't match Episode 8, and he's certainly capable of improving the render rate compared to this last month. But then again that does depend on just how long and complex these new animations are, and on how much time he has to spend on other aspects of the game. On the plus side, it does sound like the non-art tasks are pretty well in hand.

Sadly, my guess is DPC is still underestimating how much content he wants to add to the game and thus we're looking at an October release: he'll only stop adding cool stuff when he realizes he's in danger of missing Halloween. There's plenty of time for the numbers to improve, but until DPC demonstrates he's capable of buckling down and cutting extraneous content for the sake of development I'm going to err on the side of pessimism when it comes to schedule.
 

dalli_x

Engaged Member
Jul 7, 2017
3,429
7,779
Is that so? Not so long ago we had a nice back and forth, about fillers because how the story does not move forward , with the unnecessary DnG, and parties , unnecessary lewd scenes with Madam.
And now, We are at the phase, that Girls who been rejected, or they rejected MC , personal life should been shown, to show as how their life is after that, with out the MC. :unsure:

Interesting 180 turn. Hey, you know what you guys won, 50 episode it is then, to make sure each character, get the proper treatment, and healthy and fine after their encounter with MC.:cool:
I want details, I want to see the set up, how they meet, I want sex scenes, I want everything. each character should be the individual hero of its own story. In Each path.

similarity is not enough, we want Same exact same approach as a Tv show. I wanna see Envy as she make breakfast for her kid, and then she goes to work and serve a client. :LOL:
ChipLecsap I understand what you are trying to tell us and half I agree. We don't need to see how and with whom the rejected LIs have sex because the story revolves around the MC.

However, the rejected LIs may still be friends with the MC, which could logically lead to sporadic meetings. Seeing these meetings would be interesting and is also shown by DPC because it is part of the development of the story.

But otherwise, the adage "Out of sight, out of mind." applies.(y)
 
Jun 8, 2021
436
3,916
I hate tattoos. Can't you avoid it in Interlude? :confused:
Do you mean Zoey getting tattooed? No, you can't avoid that iirc (only played it once). I wouldn't sweat it too much, though. From Episode 9 on, you'll be playing Tremolo again and while Zoey's exact role remains unclear, she'll probably just be another LI you can reject.
If you wanted to go down her path though and her tattoos are a big turn-off for you, then there's not much you can do I guess.
 
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ename144

Engaged Member
Sep 20, 2018
3,474
14,317
Sisters!
You can take that to the BANK!
I mean, you *can*, but you'd better be prepared for the teller to call security. ;)


I don't know why DPC is trying to make the size smaller or similar to that of episode 8 when episode 9 has branching involved. For it to be great, long, and filled with content similar to what he said; "requires more than five playthroughs to see everything", wouldn't it be more "safe" and logical to not worry about the size because it might compromise the story?
If he's worrying about size a lot, I think it's better to do that on more later episodes, just so that episode 9 comes on strong and to have a solid foundation of the branches.

If not, I guess the branches are an illusion like any other choices-driven game. For example, no matter what you do in episodes 1-8, you would always end up with Maya, Josy, and Sage in her house. Bummer.
Errr, we already know the MC is in Sage's house no matter our path. He's even shitting himself over sleeping with Jade regardless of whether he actually did so. :mad:

I'm loathe to be overly critical of DPC's lengthy development time because in general I'm always willing to trade quantity to get more quality. But I must admit I have severe doubts as to whether DPC is really adding quality right now. Prior to Episode 8 I would have been very enthusiastic about needing 5 playthroughs to see everything, as that was my preferred playstyle. But after the disastrous crossroads, I'm just not sure anymore. What good is having distinct branches if those branches come at the price of excluding the differences I really care about?

Is the Maya/Josy branch really going to focus on the MC building a relationship with both girls? Will he actually prioritize solving Maya's problems in a way that might limit the time he has to party (compared to an Others route)? Nothing DPC has done in Episode 8 (much less the Interlude) indicates that's going to happen. I think the MC will remain as aimless as he's always been, just now he'll mope about Zoey from time to time. Oh, and the camera will pan around him slightly while doing so. :rolleyes:

This is why I wish we'd skipped the damn Interlude, because I really have no idea how DPC intends to handle the next part of his story and I would much prefer to learn that than to delve deeply into Zoey's backstory. It's tough waiting half a year for content when you're enthusiastic for it, but it's much harder when you're lukewarm on it. Sadly, no such luck. :(


The animation varies from a sex-scene position to a camera movement during cutscenes. I understand why Dr PinkCake weighs for each ones their benefits over the amount of work they involve. Many adult visual novels do the minimum and are satisfied with static renders.

How encouraging it is to read that he evaluates his workload throughout the making; this implies that he sets goals with perhaps a maximum development time per episode, so as not to be overwhelmed in his job or anger the contributors. Without any irony or excessive flattery, I think a lot of game creators on Patreon could learn from Dr PinkCake.
DPC has an impressive work ethic and he definitely has skill as an artist; any aspiring developer could learn a lot from him on those fronts. But I disagree that he does a good job weighing the benefits of an animation against the time they require.

The Interlude was, IMHO, filled with extraneous animations that did nothing to add characterization or atmosphere. They were the equivalent of shoving objects at the camera in a 3D movie just to prove you could. Likewise, DPC could use a trusted editor. Take Madame for instance (please!). As much as I give her flak, I do appreciate the idea behind her; she adds something to game world. It's just that the marginal benefit she brings cannot be justified given the time he's devoted to her. She should have been sacrificed for the greater good, but she wasn't. And the more that keeps happening, the harder it will be to finally clear the decks on focus on telling the story, which means the strength to weight ratio of the episodes will continue to suffer until we hit a breaking point.

Sorry to be all negativity this morning, I'm just a bit frustrated.
 
4.80 star(s) 1,584 Votes