Hey all!
It’s been two months since the release of the first update for the “The Starlit Oasis,” and I thought I would post a quick progress update. To help explain that, here’s a brief summary of my workflow: first I write an outline for the new chapter, then I create a shopping list from that outline to make sure that I have all of the 3d assets necessary. If I am missing anything, I search online for the components that I need, and if I can’t get them, I edit the outline accordingly. Once I am able to get all the parts, I convert the outline to a script (I format mine like a screenplay). From there, the most time-consuming part begins as I slowly convert that script into all of the 3d renders. Once the renders are done, I use Ren’Py to add the renders to the game along with the dialogue. Once that is finished, I do a bit of proofreading, both for text issues and image errors. Once that part of the game is ready, I go back and add music and achievements. After all the new content is added to the game, I package it, upload it to Steam, and test the installation on one of my alt accounts. If everything works, I post a release date and wait till the day comes to ship the next patch!
Now that you have an idea of how I do things, here’s where I am in the process of making the next update. I have finished the outline, shopping, and script. At this point, I am about three-quarters of the way through the render creation process. After that, adding the dialogue, renders, and music in Ren’Py usually takes less than a week.
If everything goes well, I’m hoping to have the next up ready by February 17, which is actually right on schedule with the 3-month update interval timeline! (Though this chapter has definitely eaten away at the deadline cushion I built in for myself)
Thanks for reading and being patient with this newbie developer,
- Posh Tentacle