- Feb 1, 2020
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- Feb 14, 2020
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nope nope nope never impossible xd cassie is awesome but i like amanda too <3I corrected your typo
2021-03-24 News
Holy shit! I didn't realize it's been so long since I posted some news. In fact, I've been so busy with process improvements it's giving poor Lupita a headache...poor girl.
March has been a crazy month! Aside from the real job encroaching upon my passions, we also have been crazy with spring break (Florida's kind of a destination for that crap if you didn't know).
So Roman, what have you been up to? Well, I'm glad you asked!
Well we were doing good with the streams but kind of went on hiatus while I figured some shit out. The good news is, I figured the shit out and now we can get back on track. What was the shit you asked?
During production of the Cassie chapter we hit a point in post production where we got seriously bogged down with verifying we had all the images. Making sure they were properly named. And then tracking down lost or missing images at the 11th hour to try and get everything together for release. It was a huge pain in the ass and a huge time suck. Now that I'm on the verge of releasing playtests for Lupita, I realized I didn't want to spend hours prior to a release scanning images and cranking out last minute missed images.
By now I'm sure you know my philosophy, why do something I can program a computer to do? So I did. I spent some serious time upgrading the python script that turns my Scrivener text file into a functional Renpy script. Here's what we added...
Image Verification
A script that looks at the output file and scans for all the images required in the script. It then compares that list to all the images currently in my directory of rendered images and if any are labeled incorrectly or missing, it flags and notifies me immediately. This way we fix errors as we go and don't have to spend any time during post production tracking down or re-rendering missing images.
Content Packaging
I've always wanted to structure it so that patrons can download the latest content without downloading the whole game. Now that v2.0.0 is up and running and is stable, we can do this. However, sometimes there are bug fixes, corrections, typos, and all kinds of other stuff that gets fixed between releases. Fortunately I use git, so I can just compare two versions and see what files changed.
But that still leaves me with having to manually go in and copy those files into a separate folder that I can zip and offer up to patrons. That's when I said, fuck it! Let the computer do it!
So now I have a module that will read my git diff output file for all the files that have changed. Then it scans the game directory for those files and copies them into a new directory with an identical structure. Once done, it zips it and moves it to Mega. Once it's uploaded all I have to do is go in and create a link.
This works for standard content as well as alternate game modes, etc. So no more hunting and pecking for files. Now we can upload the entire game for those who want to download it that way or just the new content for those who want to grab a smaller download and dump it into their existing game.
Additional Image Variation:
Those who watched some of the Lupita live streams know that we ended up breaking with tradition a bit and mixing up the image variety. We had one scene in particular where it made sense to have Roger visible if you were on the red path but not the blue. At the time, the converter wasn't set up to recognize this combination. It was kind of an all or nothing. Roger is either there for both paths or he's not.
Well, I took some time and tweaked the image-making part of the module and included some new notations I can use to define more dynamic compositions. So now we can expand our storytelling capabilities even more by having a wider range of image combinations available.
This took some time to program because I didn't want to just write a notation for every possible combination because that would be too cumbersome. But I managed to develop a short hand that the converter can use to then direct its own iterations over the image and build the different combinations itself.
So for those wanting more differentiation based on paths, kinks and choices, good news. We can!
And now?
Now that all this is complete, I can get back to rendering and streaming. It was important to get this down now because I want to use and test these tools during the production of Lupita's chapter and see if we can't use them to crank out the play tests quicker.
Provided everything works, then when we are completely done with Lupita's renders we should be ready to launch final play test within hours and the update within a day or two. Unlike Cassie's chapter where we finished rendering and then spent almost two weeks putting all the final pieces into place.
It's all about hitting a faster turn around on the content.
Speaking of which, I'm in the process of putting music and final touches on the first of Lupita's playtests and should have that out before the end of the week.
If that goes smooth, then I'd like to spend Friday and Saturday doing some streams and pushing forward with the chapter.
As always, thank you for your patience while I work to build us a faster, better process!
We'll talk soon!
Salute!
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Yeah! Next thing you know, people might think you are 'aboned' too, not just the game!
- Feb 14, 2020
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So the short version is "Spring break happened"
Just means the supporters are dedicated, and not flakes who only come in when there is a new update.
Maybe in some ways, but it others, it is quite a bit above the pack.
- Dec 1, 2019
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It is a common problem, not only here but in many crowd funded art projects, that some "stars" get the hype and loads of funds (which they may well deserve) while many worthy projects keep sailing under the radar.
I've always said I'd rather than a handful of loyal, high quality patrons than a bunch of fly by night johns who only pledge long enough to get the latest release. Personally I think my patrons are the best. A HUGE number of them stuck with me during the long hiatus last summer. But that's also because I could show my work and never led them on with empty promises and bullshit.
I like to think that if this last release was such a huge disappointment to my patrons I would have lost a lot more. But no, instead I gained.
Anyone who has been around knows that I try my best to do right by my patrons. Any who says otherwise doesn't know their ass from their elbow. (Which might by why numb nuts keeps coming in here with a dildo tucked under his armpit.)
I take full responsibility for the game's lack of rapid growth. It went through production hell for a number of years as the team changed and I was learning new skill sets and streamlining things.
But I have faith in the quality of my game and I know in due time it'll see it's time in the sun. I have been relentless in continuing this project from day one and I remain dauntless even now.
Despite what others....well despite what one moron is saying, this last release was a huge success for me and I plan for it to be one of many more to come.
Salute mate!
All things said, considering your situation, you can't really say it was entirely your fault either. Some of those programs have a high learning curve if you want to make something that looks good, and you seem to be mastering them well.
More power to you, Buddy. You just keep improving, I hope I can say the same in a year.
- Jan 31, 2018
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Not going to lie but this one baffles me. The text shows up black in my version and the version I downloaded. Are you on Mac or PC? (just trying to narrow down to the specifics so that I can try and help.)
- Sep 12, 2018
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Please, unless there is a txt traceback available, do post as many details as possible in order to make things easier for those who might help you (game setup, os, mods used or not etc), otherwise it is just a waste of valuable time (here even worse as it is devs time). In this case are you using mods with your game, as those are typical symptoms id say?
He is most probably just using text-mod from the older version, hence those problems.
Appreciate the assist because I have no clue what is going on with his copy.
Fortunately that shouldn't be required going forward. I've included an opacity slider for future versions.
I'm also working on a selection of four of five colors to go next to it so players can fine tune the text box to their preferences.
