nottravisgames
patreon
Of Pride and Prejudice...
🕑 Added 2019-06-30 11:33:19 +0000 UTCTL;DR
- Chapter is out for final bug testing
- June patronage to be refunded
- Release date confirmed for 6 July
- Animations removed from chapter
Long version!
Hi Hi,
So what's all this then?
Well the bullet points above sum it up rather nicely but if you're still reading then I guess you want a more detailed explanation? :)
Oh and, sorry I've been a bit quiet. Work started ramping up something frightful of late following my return and, of course, I've been trying to get the chapter out at the same time. Speaking of the chapter...
The chapter is finished (totes) and is under final play and bug testing. Due to the size of the chapter I very much doubt she'll finish it today (possibly but unlikely) so I may as well bite the bullet and hand the cash back. You know my feelings on that particular subject.
So that gives me a week to tidy up anything she finds and then we're golden. I've said before this is a -big- chapter. Very. So it will also allow me to see if I can compress it down a bit more than it's current size (3Gb plus at the mo - I told you it was bigger than One and Two combined...). I confess I went to town a tad in adding and expanding material in June (for example Sarah's book is 40 odd pages of smuttiness alone - which is bigger than some of the rendered comics they sell on renderotica, so make of that what you will...) but it's all the better for it.
So, how come I waaaay missed my deadline then? Well part of it was wanting to improve the renders and art that I already had done in March. I think I've probably re-rendered about 60 - 70 per cent of what was originally done, which has taken some time but, again, it looks a lot better for it so there's that.
But really I had most of that done over a week ago and I almost pressed the release button last Saturday - but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Because of animations.
No, not the old chestnut of size that we had in March. I received some excellent advice and tips from a variety of quarters when I hit this block before getting ill so that dragon has been slain. I'm talking more of non-constructive criticism.
Allow me to digress slightly.
So, constructive criticism I love. I'll happily take any of that, sprinkle it on my cornflakes and consider it all part of a dev's balanced diet. Constructive criticism, even if I don't agree with the point being made, is a valuable health and sense check. It provides a dev with feedback, ideas and solutions; it raises points they not have even considered and is a totes good thing.
Turning now to non-constructive criticism, well by and large it just washes off me. If someone feels my writing or plotting isn't very good well I think that says more about their tastes than my abilities. For I know that actually in both of these elements I'm top tier in this genre. Perhaps not the best, but certainly up there. False modesty is no friend when it comes to critics.
On art, if someone had an issue with my renders, well I can see their point. I'm not bad. Better than average perhaps but nowhere near some of the other developers who can turn out some truely stunning work (although I do like to think mine have a certain unique charm at times). I know I can do better renders myself (and oft have) but with my potato rig I have to balance output vs quality. So what takes a dev with a rig that would make NASA envious, say, twenty minutes would take me four hours plus - which is just unfeasible for me given the number of renders I need/use per scene so I simply have to compromise. Although where possible I push the boat out a little. Sarah's VR game this Chapter is a nice example of the renders I'd love to turn out equally across each release. But, alas, I don't have the type of rig that would permit it. So, I'll settle for the best I can do and give ground gracefully to the NASA rig devs whilst telling the render hamster they're doing a jolly good job and shrug my shoulders at those who wish to denigrate my artwork.
And now we come to the point of this ramble - or the Shark of doubt as my playtesting friend calls it.
So following a bash at animations in Chapter Two, back in March I did another. Bigger, longer, more frames etc. And...it was OK. Again, not great perhaps but better than some I've seen and added a nice bit of variety I thought. Then of course we had the whole size reduction problem and to add to the fun, I fell ill. So far, so known.
On my return to civilisation and well-being I started popping in to other places (you guys know where I mean) to catch up, pick up the shave and generally let people know I was still alive. Which is where I saw a walkthrough had been done.
It's obviously taken the chap a lot of time. Colour coded with switches labelled etc. A fine piece of work, if one ignores the suppositions he/she makes with regards to future content which are just incorrect (would I really drop forced gay content on you? Me? I mean...c'mon). Anyhoo. No doubt with the work done being so comprehensive it carries some weight with people. And I'm telling you all this why?
Because it also has the critique that I "shouldn't bother" with animations in it. That's why. Plain as brass. Just that.
For some reason, this really got under my skin. Perhaps because it's so widely distributed or that the rest of it is so professional? Perhaps because of the sheer bloody time and effort it takes for me and my set up to even try animations? Who knows. But look, I know I don't have the rig to make the same sort of ani's as NASA devs can. But I gave it a go, creating handcrafted frame by frame poses as opposed to buying one off the shelf - and Trisha's was more of the same. I dare say, I would have got over this with a little grumble if a few days later I hadn't had a DM from some chap who had seen I was back, who liked the idea of the game, had read the reviews but had read the walkthrough (Why? Why do that before even playing the game?) and since the animations were so bad wondered if he could skip them?
My pride was well and truly stung - and being only human decided that I would bloody show what I could do. So, a big chunk of the past two weeks has also been spent adding yet -more- frames etc etc to the scene in question. (I'd lost my sense of perspective here as you may tell...) Every time I thought I was finished with it tho, I just had the Shark of doubt come snapping around for another bite with "shouldn't bother" ringing in my mind. (this was even with the squishy sound effects which, although I may not have the equipment to make superfast renders, I certainly have the equipment to make those...*wiggles eyebrows*).
It was, finally, pretty good. Large, but good. It took me hours to compose and tens of hours to render (probably well over a hundred, if not closer to two, if I count all the time in March).
And I was utterly miserable about it too. Because despite all that time and effort, I knew - just knew, it would get pulled apart (whether it would or not, is besides the point) and so where usually I'm super-excited about releasing a chapter - this time I was dreading it. Which given what's in this chapter is absurd. Now don't get me wrong. People are free to like or dislike whatever they like. I don't, for example, like the walkthrough. In fact I'd go so far and say I wish he/she hadn't bothered making it... ;P
My playtesting friend took me to task in the end. I got a verbal bitchslapping of some intensity as she talked some sense into me.
She reminded me that this is meant to be fun; that I'm meant to enjoy it and bring enjoyment to those who like my work - and shouldn't be wasting hours trying to prove a point especially when it was making me a miserable gloomy cow. She also made the rather quotable point that in trying to match NASA devs on animations's was like me trying to make a Roll-Royce with a Ford Escort and a gift voucher from Halfords*.
So I've pulled the animation entirely, tweaked the scene accordingly etc. I won't be doing animations again for this game at all - I had to promise that amongst other things best left unsaid.
Do I feel foolish? A little. Certainly foolish in ending up delaying the release, losing the cash and pissing you fine fellows off all to prove a point.
I'll concede I failed on animations. What else can I say. But... I don't regret trying oddly enough despite the wasted time.
We only ever achieve anything by trying after all.**
Now you may feel that this was a venture doomed to failure and so was pretty stupid of me to even try of course. It's a not unreasonable viewpoint. But twelve months ago I had no idea on how to code or render and the concept of making a truely complex game of this size with no existing skills whatsoever sounds an awful lot more foolish in comparision, no?
Anyhoo. There we are. As always you guys haven't (or won't) end up paying for nothing and it'll come out next weekend for certain.
As to the animation, I'm not sure what to do with it. I'm minded to probs stick it up here as a separate post (although without the sound effects! It was one thing me secretly knowing that you were listening to me - quite another now the cat is out of the bag of course).
Messages and comments I'll deal with next weekend post the release and I'll issue the refunds for June at the same time.
On the plus side of course, and there is a plus - there always is if you look hard enough, in not going down the animation route it does allow me more render time generally. So, either bigger or better Chapters. We'll see how carried away I get on writing each one, I suppose?
As always, stay lucky.
*not sure what your local equivalent would be. A Honda Civic and a gift voucher from Walmart perhaps? Anyhoo, you get the idea I'm sure.
** and I did get a rather fun couple of sessions making the sound effects of course - and that most certainly wasn't time wasted!
Comments
Mike the3DGuy
I don't mind the lateness. I expect it, considering the complexity of 3D graphics, the processing power and time required for renders, and add onto that the need to write the game code and test it. It's not an easy job at all. But it's not communicating that is the problem. Just drop a line. A quick apology, a brief explanation, and a new tentative delivery date if possible.
Justjorge
So um, this weekend?
Mike the3DGuy
5 days late and not even so much as a check-in? Kind of amazing, actually.
Huitieme
Notty, are you okay? Are you okay, Notty? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzAGAA6t2FY
“You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.” (Pride and Prejudice)
Miss Bumhole
Top 10 Anime Reoccurring Betrayals
Ragata
Wow, congrats to being late on another update!
Mike the3DGuy
Well, delays happen. But can we get an update please?
Justjorge
Well the delay came again.....
Mike the3DGuy
Oh god I can't wait. Just became a patron. I normally hate sci fi games but this one has me riveted. Don't even get me started on CHRIS (best character without a doubt). Now it seems I subscribed on exactly the right day...
Justjorge
Oh shit it be the 6th :)
Frosty1979
Hey, I like her renders too! ;) Graphics are always secondary to me though.
Huitieme
Nicely said, but concerning the walkthrough, I can't say I don't understand how some new players would feel overwhelmed by the abundance of choices and consequences the game offers. Of course, I'd like to tell them to just "play the game and enjoy the heck of it, you nigmenog!". I think the main issue with the walkthrough was that it was trying to dissect every single choice with points values and assumptions of the future chapters. That's not the way this game should be played, we can all agree on that. A better walkthrough, if needed, would be more akin to something like general indications, not unlike what we do on a certain forum: "You wanna get freaky with X? Try asking Y about Z". To me, this is the best way because we can all discuss about the character's motivations and forget all about affection points and cold, lifeless, automatic choices.
noted
That was a long read i had to put my old man glasses on, but thank you for being honest. You're being a bit hard on yourself though imo most of us understand and will support you without a chapter every month, just keeping in touch is enough. Please don't worry so much and just have fun making your game *sniff*
Notty, I've said it before, but I'll say it again: don't let the asshats ruin your fun. YOU are the boss here, you make the game you want to see and let the all us plebs decide for ourselves if we're interested in the same things you are. Watch out for those sharks, though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9QTSyLwd4w In re: the walkthrough - I haven't seen it (must've skimmed over it in the thread) but it doesn't need one. Some games do, but not H5. That said, can I offer a suggestion for an "official" walkthrough? That being: 1. Play the game 2. Read everything, CAREFULLY. Pay attention, because choices matter. 3. Make your choices and take your lumps. 4. Repeat as many times as needed.
Quinfax
Talk about going balls deep, huh, Well at least we learned something about ourselves. Keep on trucking. Excelsior P.S. No paragraph from me. =)
To clarify a bit, Notty, I don't think it was foolish of you to try. In fact, it's very admirable that you're trying to push the boundaries of what you (and the hamster) can do instead of staying in the comfort zone. Still, your friend is absolutely right. It's most important that you enjoy making the game. :)
NanasBananas
Hmm, I might be guessing or projecting a bit here, but I think I might understand why that comment could have cut a little deeper than most. It might be because there are people who read the walkthrough with the game, so it seems like the walkthrough becomes part of their experience of the game, and then it feels like that negativity isn't as external, it's part of the player's experience, like it's part of the game for them... At least, imagining myself in your situation I think that's what would cut me the deepest, don't know if it's the same for you... If it is though, don't worry too much about it, whether it's said in a walkthrough or in a forum it doesn't matter, it's still just one opinion of one person. I know you already know this, and that "don't worry" is always easier said than done, but I just want to assure you that as a player I always differentiate between the original creation I'm playing and any fan-made add-ons I might indulge in, so while I didn't see this particular walkthrough, if I had read any criticism in it I would just take it as what it is - a single person's opinion, unaffiliated with the game itself. It would carry no more weight for me as a player than if it was said by any random person on a forum thread, so it shouldn't carry any more weight than that for you as the developer. The walkthrough and your game are separate entities, even if there are some people who download them together. Your game is your own, and non-impartial walkthroughs be damned! Well, I don't know if my last two paragraphs are helpful to you at all or not, but I'll hope for the best. :p Seems to me like you should listen more to your friend, she sounds wise beyond her years... *strokes beard thoughtfully and nods...* Making something in order to see your vision turn into reality is always more fun that making something in order to prove a point. And your joy makes for a better game, not to mention it makes us following you more joyful to see you excited and happy about your game rather than gloomy... As for the game not having animations, I'm personally okay with that. I'm pretty much with Ma Ko on this, they seem to rarely be worth the effort put into making them. Unless the animations are exceptionally utilized (which they rarely are), they don't really offer all that much excitement to me, less than say, a few renders and a couple good lines of dialogue. Can't comment directly on how they were used in Heavy Five though, since I haven't yet played the second chapter. (It just seemed weird to pirate it when I'm a patron, but I'm a low tier patron, so I was waiting for chapter 3 to come out so I can play chapter 2....) I did however get an idea of what to do with the refunded money. Since I'm still waiting for chapter 2 to become public, I think I'll use the refund to temporarily bump myself into a higher tier once 3 comes out, and then play chapters 2 and 3 back to back! Woohoo, bi-chapteral city, here I come! Can't wait for July 6th! Oh and also, you already know we love you Notty, so stay strong! Experiments are fine and necessary, and failed or successful you can learn from them and move on! Don't let silly walkthroughs get to you! And don't let the Shark of doubt hold onto your leg for too long, either do it yourself or get someone you trust to bop that bastard on its nose like it deserves! Follow your dreams! Exercise regularly! Eat heartily, sleep heavily, and keep the smut coming! I'm running out of things to shout, so I'll cut away for now! Bye!
Sulring Durgul
Totally agree with all the comments above (well, perhaps not Frosty's, I love your renders ^^). You are a great storyteller, and your humor never fails to crack me up... Animations or no animations, "Heavy Five" is a fine work.
On animations, my stance has always been that they are too costly and time consuming to make for what they do. Furthemore, they don't really work for me as my imagination can always "animate" things better than any animations I've seen. It would probably take something like mocap technology to make them really appealing to me. I'd take ten unique renders over 5 second loop any day. Personally, I probably wouldn't do animations unless I had a dedicated rig just for that purpose or, even better, an employee to go along with it. I welcome your decision, Notty. I think it's best to forego the animations until you join the NASA. :)
Huitieme
Couldn't have said it better than GhostPhil. I found the animations in the second chapter to be absolutely NOT subpar to any other game, in fact, I thought that the Annie opening her mouth one did have quite the charm. That being said, if making longer animations does make you a gloomy animal of bovine sensitivity anxious about derogatory comments lashed out by other types of animal (let's go with the famous "Ungrateful Pea Cock", pun intended), then it might be best not to bother, indeed. Lotsa great games don't have animations, lotsa bad ones do have them. What characterise a great game (book/movie/etc.) is not the number of renders put into the old barneymugging animation, newp. What constitues a great game is first and foremost the amount of love you put into your own work. And I get the feeling that we don't have to worry about that, judging by your sound effect dedication :3 TL;DR Keep up the good work, don't listen to the naysayers
Frosty1979
I would be okay with just a text game. Just saying. ;)
GhostPhil
I want to say that I apprechiate every second of work you put into this game. You have done an amazing job and I am sure the next chapter will top this easily! And as you know, my point is to not refund my pledge 😛 I can totally understand your point that you took such a "critisism" personal. I mean critique is good and all, but sometimes it is just too much. And it also depends a lot who did the critique and how the critique is spoken. I mean the fact that you are even posing all the single frames is more than most of the 90% of games with animations are doing. I just hope you don't take it too personal. You are awsone Notty, so do the things how YOU like it 😉
