It kinda weird that the renders are created first and then the writing is based on renders provided. It would be more effective to write up the story first and then do the renders based on the writing.
Just to clear the process up for everyone.
1.) ICSTOR and/or the new 3D artists will create a character model and some sample files for how they will look.
2.) ICSTOR designs a story outline, completes the renders, and then sends a brief paragraph of the story outline to me.
Alternatively, ICSTOR may decide to let me design the character's plot, as was the case with Delilah. I would then draft a plot and sent it to them for approval.
3.) ICSTOR and the 3D artists would then produce and send me the renders. If it is an ICSTOR-created character then I get a few sentences of plot for the scenes and fully flesh out the characters with proper dialogue. If it is my own plot that I submitted to ICSTOR, then I only need the renders sent across to me.
4.) After writing the scene, I send a Google Doc back to ICSTOR. While I am writing this, ICSTOR usually prepares the animations. The Google Doc allows editing to be done by multiple people in real time and also allows for comments/changes to be left and tracked which is useful, given that the team spans multiple countries.
5.) The programmer will then take my writing, the rendered images, and the animations and program them into the game. This stage is magic. Nobody quite knows how they do it.
It's a little more complex than that, and I've recently added in some project management stuff since November, but it gives you a basic overview of how things operate.
I'll also typically write, then rewrite a character's scene based on what happens. For example, I might reach the end of a character's renders and notice that if I swapped images 87, 88, and 89, then I can change a character's mood and influence the ending of a particular story. With that information in mind I can go back and redraft earlier parts of the text to reflect the upcoming conclusion.
