August Goals and Progress Thread

[Sharm]

I'm a very bad speller.

 

[Lantiz]

I thought it could be a typo, don't worry [:

 

[bgillisp]

@Sharm : I guess that makes sense if you find making the art fun. See, I had to buy the art for mine, so I held off until I had a few Chapters done and had gotten some feedback on the demo, though I did get a few comments of "Why is Sarah in a maid outfit?" during that stage.

@hiddenone : Unfortunately, most of them have been lost to time, as the links are dead for a high % of them. I was only able to find that one.

@NPC : Teams for games can be tough. I find it hard enough to juggle getting info to my Beta Testers, artists and musicians.

@Marquise* : Probably not. I know when I was young we used to do dumb things in computer games just because we knew we could get away with them. Here, let's see what happens if we do THIS!

@Lantiz : I played it a long time ago. It's only one level, and your goal is to just stay alive as long as you can. Eventually the ice is so small that it becomes near impossible to stay on it.

8.3 Update:
-More typo fixing.
-Fixed some cutscenes in Chapter 3 and 4. Got like two more to fix up, and a couple little things that are not yet working right, and it will be ready to send off to the testers. So hopefully late tomorrow if all goes well.
-Also did my grindrun playthrough to Chapter 5 midpoint. I managed to hit Level 30 in Chapter 4 right before fighting the final boss of that Chapter, which felt odd as I'm usually Level 26 here (and have done it at level 24, though I'd not recommend trying it at that level unless you really know what you are doing). At least I know if's possible to grind and get a few extra levels if you find the game hard, which is good to know (and on the hardest difficulty, you many need those extra levels).

 

[Candacis]

@Sharm Great to read that you are working on a game - and a sprite base. I'm super curious about that.

@hiddenone I remember that there was a contest once where all character facesets had to be random generated. From the VX Ace generator, mind you. I love random generators in general

@Lantiz I'm working on a wizards shop, too. But for me it's more about the graphics. Your description sounds interesting ^^

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Day 3:
Since I am near absent in this forum at the moment, I thought I'd use this month to explain what I'm trying to do in my free time.
I'm still working on MV graphics and this time, trying to do graphics from scratch, maybe intended to be sold, if I'm happy enough.
Do you know the feeling, when you are trucking along just fine through your project or whatever and you are moderately happy with it, but then you hit one of those days, where you look at it and just think its crap or mediocre? This one of those days. I'm trying to power through it regardless and fix some little details here and there.

Oh, what am I working on? Shops! Yeah, I had the idea, to make graphics solely concentrated on shops, because I looove mapping shops. Hope, other people love it, too. I want to make stuff for a blacksmith, a general store, a potion shop and a tailor. Those are the basics I set for myself, but I tend to want to include a ton of other things and am easily distracted. Then I'm also loving angled roofs, so those have to get in, right?
For this month, I want to work on the exterior for the general store. I hope, I can get a lot of stuff done, but right now I'm still fiddling at some roof stuff for the blacksmith and some A5 variants for an A2 tile, that, for some reason, tend to take longer than the A2 normal tile did. Yeeez.

 

[Sharm]

@bgillisp Hah, yeah. It would make sense to leave off artwork to the end then. Since I'm going to be doing most, if not all, of the art for mine myself it would actually be a bad idea to leave it to the end.

@Candacis I've missed seeing you around. I'm really looking forward to seeing your new tiles. You do good stuff! I like a well mapped shop. For some reason I always forget to add shop supplies and clutter in my tilesets. More roof options is also good, they add so much visual interest to a house. Maybe you need a second opinion on the tiles to lift your spirits about how you're doing on it. It's just so easy to get too critical of our own stuff, missing out on how good we're really doing. I know that the quality level of the stuff you've done before is high so I'm completely positive that this new stuff is amazing.

Making a game is going to be a new experience, that's for sure. I've had a few false starts before, never even getting a single town mapped out, hopefully this one will be different. I've got a lot to learn and I think it'll make me a better artist. The new sprite is for a 16x16 set so it's not an unusual size. Someday I'll be happy with my Pixel Myth sprite base and stop tweaking it and I'll make an MV sized upscale of it. Either of those would be much more interesting.

DAY 3
Unfortunately the endless migraine/sinus infection won today. This is day 11? 12? I've lost track. I could barely concentrate on anything. I managed to complete yesterday's "penance" task, so now I supposedly can use the mindmap program instead of the random jumble of text files that I normally use. I don't think I could plan out an entire game with so little organization, I'd end up coming up with solutions to problems and forgetting them or worse. I feel like I wasted my time though, it felt more like a feature list instead of a tutorial. Oh well, it's done so I can move on. I feel really frustrated with not actually completing anything, not even art, but my head just isn't functioning. I won't be able to catch up tomorrow either, I'm taking my dad to the hospital for some tests. Thankfully I can still drive with a migraine.

 

[Celianna]

@Sharm good luck with your project! Starting is always hard, and keeping yourself focused to work on it is even harder. Doesn't help if you're sick

I'm currently working on creating a trailer for my game by eventing it. It's working pretty well I have to say.

 

[hiddenone]

@bgillisp Now that's a shame. Maybe at some point we need to have a contest here to fill the void of generator-named games. Four levels above what you normally get seems a bit odd, were you doing something different or did you just get lucky with battles? Knowing that you can grind is good though.

@Candacis I remember that contest, it was amazing! Ooh, you're making shop tiles? That's awesome, more ways to make different shops distinct are always welcome.

@Celianna Saw the trailer you posted, looks great! And it's good to know that just eventing a trailer is totally viable, I probably wouldn't have thought to do it that way.

Used MV's generator to whip up the two main characters (had to do some editing to them though, since my generator is so full of random pieces and tests) and finished up one character's skills! Hopefully I can get the other character and the enemy skills done this weekend so I can tweak the formulas to make everything kinda balanced.

Spoiler

If you think you recognize the map then you've spent way too much time looking at the sample maps. To truly make this a game based on defaults and generators I've decided to limit myself to using only sample maps... I never expected to be so angry at how big those sample interior maps are.

 

[Lantiz]

@bgillisp I like how creative people get on those jams
@Candacis It's just a simple dialog actually, nothing fancy. Even the graphics I'm using are simple, don't know if you've seem it... It's retro arcade game [:

Today I made the second stage's map, it's a desert area.
I'm limited by the tiles I have so it looks really empty.
I guess this can be a good thing though, it's a desert after all...

Also fixed some minor stuff on the previous maps.

 

[Eviticous]

8.3

• The entire beginning of the game is redone and finally finished.
• I learned that if you have a large ass tile set, it can break battles and cause frame rate drops, I solved my frame rate issue I was having.
• The random encounters in the beginning of the game are far too hard and far too often, but this is better then far too easy and never. Allows me to work on balancing them.
• New Classes: Street Fighter, Folk Magician and Guitar Player.
  • Street Fighter: Is a Melee DPS based class who deals in skills like Pummel, Blitz and Uppercut to name a few. He uses gloves as his weapons.
  • Folk Magician: A healer class with low physical attack. Mostly heals but can call upon Saints to deal damage. Uses Canes.
  • Guitar Player: Think Bard. Thinking Bard Yet? Great. You get the class. Can you guess what he uses? That's right! Guitars!
• New Enemies for the beginning part: Hoodlum, Ruffian, Vandal and Hipster
  • They need to be severely balanced. They have an attack called Triple Strike. Can kill a party member.
  • Encounter rate is way to high in some cases.
• The whole story is done for the opening part and it ties into the other worlds opening cut scene perfectly.
  • My cut scenes are long, they set up the story for that section, but IMO, they are not stupidly over the top.
• My friend got to see the new opening, aside from the bugs he liked it better then the last opening I did. Lots of good stuff there.

There are things I want to do now, such as obviously fix bugs and icon bugs. Fix balancing issues and class balancing issues, create more skills for the four new enemies and remove the place holders. I am close to being able to work on the next installment

 

[Schlangan]

Already two pages since my last post, huh. Not enough energy to post replies for now, good job everyone

My update :

- Absolutely nothing on the game.
- Instead, I've been working on my extended generator, I'd like to release a new version quite soon

 

[Kes]

@Schlangan I think a lot of people will be very pleased that you chose the priorites you have. That generator looks popular.
@Eviticous yeah, having brutal battles right at the beginning of a game is certain to turn a lot of potential players off, so I'm glad to see that you're still working on balancing them.
@Candacis Shop tiles - yaaayyy! I'm still finishing off my Ace project, but I'm keeping an eye out for good MV stuff for the next one, so I;m glad to hear that you're working on something.
@Celianna I saw the trailer that you posted - looking good.
@Sharm I hope you feel better soon. What's "the mindmap program"?

My update
Didn't do much yesterday, as I was busy doing 'other things'. However, today I had a mini-breakthrough.
I suddenly thought of a straightforward way of getting myself out of a bit of a plot hole that I'd left hanging earlier on. So I stopped doing the maps I'm currently working on and sorted that out instead. A couple of small maps and a lot of complex eventing and now it's basically done. I still have to event in the dialogues which will need to happen here, but I'm relieved that the issue has been resolved.

 

[ksart]

my update

no visible progress. I started on the 3/4 view walk and immediately wanted to rip my hair out so I'm now working on animating the body Sans clothes first. Which made me groan when l thought of working on the battler but then I saw the next awesome plugin from @Yanfly (dragonbones! sqeeeeeee!)

@Sharm I'm glad you enjoy my art work! Goodluck on your project! I hope you feel better soon, migraines are the worst

To everyone else, It's great to see all your regular updates! Every time I get an alert on this topic it inspires me to try harder on my own project and be more apart of this wonderful community I may not reply to everyone but I read all of it and seeing everyone push on despite work/life/other is just so amazing! Keep pushing on and continued good luck in reaching your goals for this month and on!!

 

[bgillisp]

@Candacis : More tiles! Yippee!

@Sharm : If it makes you feel any better, my current project had a few false starts before it got going. I think that's just par for the course.

@Celianna : I saw you posted that, will have to check out how well it worked as I need to get going on a trailer for my game soon.

@hiddenone : Yes. I fought every single monster I ran into, and did 99% of all side dungeons (I skipped the two that were not complete). That is how I ended up 4 levels above my normal. See, I usually fight those that in my way, or about 50% of all monsters (which is possible as I use visual battlers except in one dungeon). But that means the average player will probably be 2 levels above mine, give or take a level, which gives me a good idea of the power curve for the game.

@Lantiz : Me too. I just wish that site still did them.

@Eviticous : Yep gotta get that beginning of the game balanced, else players will uninstall and never come back.

@Schlangan : You finished the first game though. No break?

@Kes : fixing plot holes is always good.

@ksart : Just remember, some progress is better than none. Just keep pecking away at it.

8.4 Update:
-Got Chapters 3/4 done and sent off to the tester for testing.
-Resumed my regular playthrough (the one where I'm not trying to grind), and took it up to the cutscene in Chapter 6 that I need to fix.

 

[Lantiz]

@bgillisp I think the Lundum dare is happening [:

I just finished the entire second stage along with the second dungeon, didn't test though :x
But I'll later...
I've been thinking about finish everything the best I can before I get bored and then test it with the help of some people.

What lacks:

• Third stage
• Third dungeon
• Final stage

 

[Eviticous]

@Eviticous yeah, having brutal battles right at the beginning of a game is certain to turn a lot of potential players off, so I'm glad to see that you're still working on balancing them.

@Eviticous : Yep gotta get that beginning of the game balanced, else players will uninstall and never come back.

It's not even about that. I always make the enemies super strong and lots of encounters and then I play through I tune it down. Id rather have you complain things are too hard, then say nothing when everything is way too easy, least this is what I say to my friend.

It was never the intention to release with battles that are "unwinnable." ""Hard" yes, but not unwinnable.

Hmmm, no ones posted - so i'll add to this one:

8.4

• Balanced enemies and player skills in the first part of the game.
  • Enemies are still "difficult" but they are winnable, hitting attack over and over again is not advised. You will die.
  • MP costs for skills and TP costs for skills are reduced, I used % of MP/TP (thank you yanfly)
  • More item drops, specifically ethers.
• There is a bed you can sleep in to fully heal, and the coffee shop will heal mp and hp.
• Slight event changes. Such as words and movement.
  
  • Need to find a way where holding down "accept" (enter for me) will fast forward scenes. I need that disabled ...
• XP curves increased.
• Encounter rates reduced on larger maps and increased on tiny maps.
• New Hint Added (there's only two)
  • In the first battle you are told that pressing escape in the battle menu allows you to see a status option. (Thank you yanfly) Clicking that allows you to see all the statuses, good or bad. This is a status heavy game, enemies can and do hit hard with statuses in some cases. So again, no hitting attack and thinking you can sleep your way through this. I put effort into this.

The opening part of the game is 1 hour, give or take 20 minutes.

This does not include traveling to the other world and doing that whole scene which is roughly 45 minutes or so. Game length is not important to me, I am not setting out to make a 60+ hour game, I am setting out to tell a story.

I do not hold your hand at all, there is exclamation marks above story specific parts, but instead of being like "Go north, then east and then north again" its like "I know where the college is, so lets go."

this hearkens back to the days before all these triple A games held your hand and made sure you knew every answer and every direction to go. No, you explore, you talk to people, you find your own way. This does make the game a bit harder, but again I place an exclamation mark above story specific points, and if you read carefully the characters do sort of tell you where to go next, just no hand holding.

 

[Bonkers]

The Battle UI got some major tweaking, and the rune system was added for Avatar/Death Knight classes.
I've been recommended to add two new scripts, and did so to have more control over the actors which is proving to be nice.
I can keep their personalities on que with what skill they are doing, and still have them execute an action with the intended behavior.

Captain's sheet is nearly done, he just needs his item command, and then Alma will receive her last few missing spots. 3 may be all I am willing to do for the demo, but if after the dungeons I can manage Emmet/Dalph/Ivan I will do so. Today I need to make sure I can make all the custom tiles for the maps, like the tower. The exterior while climbing the dungeon will be fun between rooms. I always loved how Lufia had done it.

 

[MobileSuitSonic]

Fiddled with the acropolis map and added more cliffs to the eastern wall of the mountain.

Also added a whopping ONE enemy to the bestiary: Gwyllgi.

Wanting more enemy graphics...

 

[bgillisp]

@Lantiz : True, but that site isn't the sponsor of that contest. Hence why I said all their contests are dead.

@Eviticous : Just be careful. Usually battles that are hard for you are impossible for the average player. The reason is, you know your battle system inside and out, and they don't.

@Bonkers : Sounds like good progress! Any ETA for the demo?

@MobileSuitSonic : Thalzon has a galzillion enemy battlers. Check those out.

8.5 Update:
-Fixed up the first cutscene at the Chapter 6 midpoint.
-Tested to about the 3/4th point of Chapter 6. Had to tone down an enemy as I accidentally gave it too much HP, and it took too long to kill. Oops.
-Noted other fixes that need to be made to the area of Silverdale, and the mines of Silverdale.

 

[Lantiz]

@bgillisp I just didn't know about the right site, I see the updates on Twitter only... anyway the jam seems alive to me.

 

[MobileSuitSonic]

@MobileSuitSonic : Thalzon has a galzillion enemy battlers. Check those out.

I did. It helped get me to the 125 mark.