Chapter 5 - Devlog 6
Hello everyone!
It's been three weeks since the last devlog, so it's time for another update on RomCom:Divergence Chapter 5's development!
Unfortunately, April's rollercoaster extended into May, but it unexpectedly ended on a high note, so I'll just focus on the positives!
What's Been Done?
- ~90 renders(?) and 8 animations
- Improved my animation techniques a bit
GIVE ME THE DEETS PWEEEEASE!!!
- +200 layered assets (static images + animated ones), 2 full renders
- Made my first custom animations with lots of layers (not represented in the render count)
- ...and learned a few useful things for future Chapter 5 events
Why less progress than last time?
Because I actually only worked on patch content for the last three weeks.
That kind of content requires a bit more care than regular stuff and comes with more detail.
While having two characters clipping into each other during their walk in those eternal school corridors might go unnoticed by most players...
In these scenes, having a strand of hair piercing through your sausage becomes a major issue, right?
In these scenes, having a strand of hair piercing through your sausage becomes a major issue, right?
Well, I got "less" done this time because I was experimenting with new animation techniques.
What about animations?
Well, it started with me not being able to find the default animation I was looking for...
Usually, I would try to make something work from a close enough one, tweak some body parts, and adjust camera angles to hide the ugly stuff...
Or worst case, just give up on the animation and make renders instead.
...Ah, or finally learn to use Koikatsu Timeline, but I'm too dumb for that!
Or worst case, just give up on the animation and make renders instead.
...Ah, or finally learn to use Koikatsu Timeline, but I'm too dumb for that!
So I thought: what if I did the same as Chapter 4's "pseudo animations," but added more frames?
I won't bore you with too many details, but after a few failed attempts, I finally reached a result I consider good enough for now:
- Animated parts where the good stuff happens
- Animated eyes for the girl, so she can blink and look around without making a 20MB .webm
- Parts of the render that can be swapped without disturbing the other animated elements
- Synchronized sound effects with the animation
All that for less than 4MB!
Was making all this necessary?
I probably spent way more time on trial and error than I should have.
So no. I could have made do with regular renders, or even changed the planned pose.
So no. I could have made do with regular renders, or even changed the planned pose.
But I learned a few things along the way, and it cleared a lot of hurdles for future events I have planned.
Like, even just separating the character's face from the body lets me use different expressions on characters, and still save lots of space.
...Though I still have absolutely no idea how to count all that in the render count!
Pics
Today's pic is... Katsumi!
Princess-carrying our fragile MC through a pretty difficult event!
...
Yeah... I know, she was already in the last preview.
Princess-carrying our fragile MC through a pretty difficult event!
...
Yeah... I know, she was already in the last preview.
And no, sadly there won't be a second one this time around...
Progress is slow, and I'm still knee-deep in spoiler territory.
...So I don't have enough material I can safely show!
Progress is slow, and I'm still knee-deep in spoiler territory.
...So I don't have enough material I can safely show!
Sorry!
What's next
Coming up next is another small challenge for me.
Without spoiling too much, I've planned something like a whole event with a "dollhouse POV".
I hope it'll be simple enough to finish quickly.
I hope it'll be simple enough to finish quickly.
Well, I'm sure I didn't explain that properly, but I won't clarify it!
...I'm just worried about how Koikatsu will **** up my plans this time.
ETA?!!!
And...
Unsurprisingly, there won't be a release in June.
Unsurprisingly, there won't be a release in June.
Let me cut to the chase: a July release would also require more than a few miracles.
I should have one (maybe two) weeks of rest sometime between June and July, so I'll try to make up for as much lost time as possible then.
But again, no promises.
And That's All for Today!
It's getting pretty hot here, and I'm getting all sweaty making characters get even sweatier.
And while my GPU is filling the air with that wonderful burning smell, I can't help but wonder...
And while my GPU is filling the air with that wonderful burning smell, I can't help but wonder...
Which of these sweaty characters will become the sweatiest of them all?
Thank you...
...for following and supporting RomCom:Divergence, and to everyone playing along!
For Tier 3 supporters: Takeshi's Cultured Preview will come next week on June 6. Most of what I have right now might be a bit... "too much", so I'll probably have to tone it down first.
For everyone else: I'll see you again in three weeks, on June 20, for the next devlog.
For everyone else: I'll see you again in three weeks, on June 20, for the next devlog.
Thank you for your time.
-Haptales
P.S. Join the Scene Scribbles and carve your name into RCD's story: Here
P.S.S. Join the discord here: https://discord.gg/PRFGVqjWXV
P.S.S.S. Imagine going blind right in the middle of doing your taxes.
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