First and foremost, I’d like to apologize for the abnormally long absence, but let me explain! While trying to write the stories, I found out I’m not the strong writer I used to be in high school. As a matter of fact, I had no idea how to write for a game at all! So, I figured it’d be better for my health to forego pizza this week and use that $20 on some brain food instead! I’m currently reading “The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design” by Flint Dille. This book really helps me with developing the characters and understanding my own game world. It touches on making a design document as well, so I recommend for any aspiring game developer!
After trying some of the exercises in the book, I was able to finalize a lot of details about my characters and particular aspects of their individual stories. This of course lead to changes in level maps as well as small changes to some character sprites, but such changes come with the territory when dealing with video game development!
Aside from reading, I’ve been practicing my spritework and animating. I want to make an extended demo where 2 war angels are unlockable. You met one of them in my last update, and now you’ll meet the other:
This angel was an anomaly ever since she was a cherub. She activated before receiving her halo and did something no other cherub has ever done: cried. Unclaimed and believed to be the result of a glitch in the software that creates the cherubs, she was slated to be scrapped. However, the nephilim technician overseeing the batch couldn’t bring himself to dispose of her...
This little cutie is Archangel Gabrielle. Despite being really small, she has a big personality that shines like gold! Having high marks and incredible agility boosted her up to the “archangel” rank. However, her small size is a blessing and a curse. She’s the fastest War Angel in the roster, but has the lowest base HP. Gabrielle was definitely the most fun to animate because of her large shiny gun and big bouncy hair. There is so much more I want to share about her, but I’m afraid it’ll spoil the story! I’ll assure you of this: she’s loads of fun to play!
Since I come from an art background, I’m developing this project with an emphasis on making it look spectacular! Of course this adds to my overall workload, but I just know it’s all going to be worth it in the end! I’ve also gone back and replaced a few placeholder assets with “true” ones. I’m trying to channel a lot of what I saw in those really old Disney or Tex Avery cartoons where the background uses more muted tones so the foreground stands out more. I want this project to be my “Lion’s Roar” and establish who I am as a game designer, so I’m really going to give this everything I’ve got. This is going to be my middle-finger to those that told me I couldn’t!
I’ve recently had a burst in motivation and creativity so I have been really busy trying to get these ideas out. I have so many exciting gameplay ideas that I can’t wait for you guys to experience. I’m hoping to have the new demo available by summertime, so while you may see less of me here, it’ll be because I’ll be putting in more work in the “studio”.
