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Dev Journal: Looking Back on the First Year of Development
🕑 Added 2023-12-05 03:56:27 +0000 UTCOne year ago, I made the decision to sit down and begin seriously developing Vessel Tactics with the intention of fully releasing it one day. Since we're coming up on the anniversary of that fateful day, I thought it would be fun to look back on the last year and go over the origins of VT here. This is probably going to be a long post, so apologies in advance lol.
One late night, in January of 2022, I was browsing Twitter when I came upon an artist called TeeradonSs. They were creating art in a genre I'd never come across, mixing vore together with gacha games and all that logically follows. Seeing that, something just clicked in my brain, and I was instantly flooded with ideas for a game inspired by that mixture. I more or less entered a fugue state and started writing the game's design doc right then and there, unable to even sleep because more and more ideas kept entering my head. In the end, I had almost a full game planned out with most of the mechanics that would eventually be in VT.
The original version in that design doc was quite a bit different from VT, though. Most notably, the (male only) commander was going to be a playable unit, who could halt allies digestion by being feeding himself to them and who would recover his predator's EN by a small amount each turn. If he shared a stomach with any other units, they would begin having sex with him and recover EN in the predator's stead. "Male" monster girls would be present in the game, too, and they would also be able to 'steal' the commander's energy or have their own energy stolen by other units they were sharing a stomach with.
That may sound like a great feature, and it's one I'm still thinking about, but most of them are definitely better off on the cutting room floor. Some of them are... pretty bizarre, too. For example, more monstrous enemies, such as slugs or lizardmen, would serve as normal mobs while monster girls would only serve as elite enemies or boss fights. The finger food vessels were originally going to be small, robotic 'bulin' types that were completely incapable of vore instead of the Brunch Squad. Vessels didn't share memories whatsoever, so when they were digested they were absolutely gone, just like a normal human would be. Perhaps oddest of all, vessels were originally going to gestate to full size inside of special "mother" vessels, and would need to develop for a period of a few hours real-time every time you pulled them.
As the next year passed, I continued to refine my ideas for VT while also working on other concepts, such as the beat 'em up game I posted about earlier. That continued all the way up until December. At that point, I had quit my job and was getting ready to transfer to a four-year college to get my BS. I really, really did not want to do that, and yet I felt that my only other option was to go back to working retail. And so, I picked the third and possibly dumbest option: using my savings from dropping out of college to develop my own horny porno game part-time instead.
I spent the next month building up a prototype, and contacted the artist that had inspired me in the first place, TeeradonSs, at the start of the new year. The fact that Don actually agreed to work with me after seeing the scuffed mock-up I sent him is something I'm beyond grateful for, there's no way this game would have gotten off the ground without his help. He's contributed a lot more than art, too, he's the one that pushed for weight gain to be added when I thought it would be too much work and the chibis the game has right now were entirely his idea, among many other things. As always, thank you so much, Don!
The game continued to take shape over the next few months, and, finally, I felt like it had reached a point where I was comfortable with showing to more people and released the demo. To be honest, I think that time period may have been the most anxious I've felt in my entire life. I don't think I would have believed starting out just how nerve-wracking showing off something you'd put so much work into for the first time could be. Fortunately, once I worked up the courage to actually see what people were saying, I was overjoyed by how positive the reception was and that really served to bolster my faith in the game.
I started this Patreon a little bit after that, and, motivated by the feedback I was getting, got straight to work on development. Along the way, VT also got a new artist in Planepbull. I'm incredibly thankful for him volunteering to help with the game and contributing Chateau's design, as well as how nice he's been to work with. I think everyone reading this can agree that the weight gain he draws is seriously on another level, too. Thank you so much for all of your help, Plane, I'm looking forward to working together with you more in the future!
It's been about 7 1/2 months since the demo was released, and the game's come a good way since then. To be honest, I was hoping to be a bit further along at this point, but I guess that's just how game development goes. While I've made a few small projects before, this is my first time making an actual video game and there's so much that I've learned since I started, and so much that I still need to learn. My biggest surprise, though, has been just how fun this is. Not just fulfilling, but FUN. Getting to make your own game like this is an experience I don't think I'd trade for the world, and if it's something you're interested in yourself I would absolutely recommend biting the bullet and giving it a shot, too.
It hasn't all been fun, though. My biggest struggle with VT has been to find a way to take pride in my work when it's, well... a vore game. A game based around a niche fetish so bizarre that it's more often than not treated like the punchline to a joke. A labor of love that I can't even mention to my friends or family because of how embarrassing it is. I've honestly lost my passion for VT more than once because I let my intrusive thoughts convince me that I was doing something to be ashamed of. That all that time and energy would be better spent on a game that could reach a wider audience, and one which wouldn't turn me into a social outcast in the process.
That's not what I'm here for, though. As much as I'm not supposed to, I love this weird shit. I know from own personal experience how rough it can be to be a vore fan sometimes, but fuck it, we're in for the long haul. This is the kind of stuff that makes me happy, and I want to make something that can really affect other people's lives in this community for the better, even if it is just a silly vore game. Maybe that's a bit sappy, but it's true, and it's something I let myself forget far too often.
Anyway, I think this post has gone on long enough now, thank you for reading this far! It's taken a lot longer than I intended, but the full release of v0.04 with all the bug fixes, new skills, and new map should hopefully be coming out sometime next week! After that, I'll be moving onto v0.1 which will introduce save mechanics and gacha, as well as other lobby functions like the shop. Thank you all so much for all of your support and patience, I couldn't do this without you!
Comments
RODOLFO XD
Sorry if you don't understand Google translator Spanish to English. It's late to this post but this is the best game I could have found exploring on itch.io if it is a slightly strange fetish that one is not too proud to tell a life partner about but to talk about it there is the entire community of VT that supports you in every way. I hope that this project can continue and be completed in the best way. Thank you for your effort. And I hope that in the future more languages can be added π
Kyle
Brah niche porn or not u got skills with developing this game, its an actual game not a just a cheap porno. And as for feeling ashamed just remember everyone has a weird fetish they dont want the world to know about. If they mock or judge you turn to your fans for support because well be there for you. If we didnt we wouldnt support you on here but we do, and the more your game grows the more people will join, (more money for you too lol). I have never coded in my life so i can only guess at the struggles but thank you truly for your time and effort, i hope my monthly donation helps and in the future i plan on increasing it to help you.
Escanor
hey sorry for the mistakes because I'm French and I use Google translate, but I wanted to share my opinion on VT. VT The best porn game I've played, and the game is so good that it's the first time I got money for a porn game. I'm also a little ashamed of having an addiction to vore, I can't tell anyone but here I can say it, I love vore. Otherwise it's been 3/4 days since I've known the game and I find it incredible, so good that I've already spent tens of hours on this incredible game. I thank you for this incredible game and I hope that you will continue to improve it and develop these games.
Fulier Sonwm
Emotion freedom and dream are always our ego of basic.If we bury they,our life may be shadowing.In China,a lot of children don't know what they want.At lease you know.Now what you meet is a trifle that lockdown your way for being a real Indie game writer.Do what you want.We always stand by you and understand you.Either way,I love the game, include your new games (It make me recall Echidna War)
Doingitright0071
Dude, this is probably one of, if not the, best vore games I've ever played. The fetish definitely gets made fun of a lot, but people like me are so thankful to have something this detailed, something we can really interact with and enjoy on a level that no vore game I've ever seen has done. Even if you can only feel or express this pride with us and others of the community, please have pride regardless. You're work is amazing, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us next. Also, just because I like showing a stuffed girl some love, will there be an update where we can rub our Secretary's belly when she's eaten? Either way, love the game, love all the effort you've put in, and I wish you the best as time goes on
Grugthaths
even though all your fans are a username instead of a face or a hand to shake I dont think that diminishes the impact of what you are accomplishing any less. there are countless unsung heroes who have managed to turn their "joke" fetish into a vision and then into a small esoteric legacy . On Steam you can deck out your profile with content based around "Changed" (Furry Transformation) and "Tribal Hunter"(Inflation Furry semi-vore) along with other oddities of similar artistic pursuits. the REAL joke here is that these endeavors ironically will have more of a impact on people than your "average" Joe who scoffs or laughs at them ever will much akin to Mr. Krabs laughing at Spongebob for his Pretty Patties suggestion ignorant of its potential or hell, look at RuPaul. like Alan Watts once said it " doesnt matter what you are interested in, someone else will ALWAYS be interested in it too and thus the important thing is to do what you desire" So I think you should let your freak flag fly like the "Bronies" of yesteryear watch in amazement at how many likemindeds gather in your wake.
Olsu
Dude, I feel what you mean with feeling like it's a part of you that you can't talk about with most people. Feeling like it's just a joke to people for something to make fun of. But at the end of the day you still have the makings of a really good game too. When all is said and done it doesn't matter if there's vore or not if the game is still good and sexy like you set it out to be.
PAVAGA
From an objective standpoint, it probably would have been a more financially secure choice to abandon the game and make something a bit more streamline. However, I and about a thousand other people are glad you didn't. This game is great, and i can't believe i missed it all this time until I decided to clic on that random discord link in my Xth vore discord server. I'm glad I did, though, since it made me discover my 2nd favorite vore game, who's a close contender for 1st place. I'm currently studying computer engineering with a speciatly in Game Development. I'm hoping one day I can be accepted in your team to help work on this project of yours. Always remember: No work is better than the one done with love and passion. So while abandoning the game would've been the "safe" option, it probably wouldn't have given you nearly the same amount of fulfillment that this game has. Keep your head tall, Cyrk. You've done something you can really be proud of.
Lord Daret
I tend to be a quiet person when it comes to these communities, but I say that the effort put into this project is worthy of high praise and it shows in the attention itβs getting. I saw your post on Eka back during its first version and acted as a gateway to the rest of the vore game community funny enough. Maybe you canβt talk about it amongst family, but take pride a thousand people are currently enjoying your game. It shows your love for the idea is not alone.
Kumasol
Hey man, as an aspiring creator. Your work makes me look forward yo the time I am able to make something of my own, and while it is true that it is not something that is easily shared, you should take pride that this proyect of yours has taken shape as it has with it's own small community and all. Here's hoping that everything goes better in the future.
Lord Daret
Three cheers for this comment.
Shaman 414
In all honesty I never thought I would ever play or like a game like this but the work you have done has gotten to me don't be ashamed good work is still good work, it shows that you took time to do this and that takes skill it's not something anyone can do. So be proud of your work, have a happy new year and merry Christmas.
