This is Going to Take a While

 

A few weeks ago I began working on the final scenes for Captured (formerly known as Trapped).  I'm not used to doing drawing with multiple characters and a background.  Most of my work on deviantart has just a character and no background at all.  This image above has made be think about perspective and my character designs.  I accidently left some details out on Amenti (mermaid main character).

I will try to color in those details and not not forget about them on the other special pictures.  My next issue is that I'm not sure how to put these scenes into the ren'py engine, but I will get to that part later.  Maybe I will make a thread of this on the lemma soft forum.  Maybe...

Coloring multiple characters and the background will take a while but I am putting 1 to 3 hours a day into making this visual novel now.

Changing the Name for Trapped

Hello guys!

As it has been brought to my attention that the tittle Trapped has been taken.  I have been thinking of a new name for  my visual novel right now.  I'm thinking of Fish Tank and Caught!  Anything to deal with a mermaid being stuck in a tank for long periods of time. 

Last Background Image is Done!

I think I am improving each time I get to use Photoshop.  This is the last background image for Trapped.  I will now be working on special character scenes.  I have six of them to do in total. 

Since making this game, I have learned more about Photoshop, anatomy drawing, and writing better.  There is going to be a lot of mismatched artwork.  

Of course there is a possibility that I could be adding in more background images or redoing or touching up on old images.  I will do this after drawing and finishing the special scenes.  

I need to redo the story as what is written in the ren'py engine is a rough draft.

Then...next is collecting all the tracks from both of my wonderful music artists.  One of their websites is here  Both artists have volunteered to help me with the music.  I am happy to finally have people to count on.

Lastly, I need to find another tittle for Trapped as the name was already taken by another visual novelist.

This post was already on www.darksirengames.com

Some More Additions (music)

Hello guys.  I am currently working on finishing the rest of the artwork for Trapped.  Music has always been an issue for me.  On the video where I experimenting with ren'py for the first time, I forgot to add music.  

This post is not about me asking for someone to do some music for me.  I already have two people willing to do music for me as of the beginning of November.  It really helps to have images available to show these musical artists so they can get a good idea of the story.  I'm no longer the only one working on this visual novel.  This is such a good feeling for me right now.

National Novel Writing Month

November is almost over.  On the first day of November was the start of National Novel Writing Month. National Novel Writing Month is when a person sits down and writes 50,000 words in one month.  If using Ariel font and 12 sized font, then that is roughly 118 pages.  This is a rewarding challenge that I have managed to take on in 2013 and finish.  

This year, I want to make the story I'm currently writing into my next visual novel.  The visual novel will be BxB but, for right now, I am working on the main story and not the romantic choices eyt.  Here is a summary that is a work in process:  

"Rey was rescued from a car filled with water, when he was twelve. His mother was never found. The experience left him desiring to find his mother who he knows survived the incident. She told him that he must find the seashell and kill his humanity if he wishes to become whole. Anyone has been told this on the island, have become murderous monsters upon their eighteenth year."

You can follow my Indie Author Tiffany  website in order to see my progress.  

This post was already on www.darksirengames.com a few days ago. 

Learning From Anime Conventions (Nekocon 2014)

Nekocon 2014

Last Friday was Nekocon 2014.  Like any anime convention, I had the chance to speak with people who are into the same anime and video games that I like.  The panels this year were what I needed to feel inspired and ready to continue working on Trapped, National Novel Writing Month, and my anatomy drawing practice.

 In an ironic sort of way, I visited a panel in which the panelist showed us how he made video game music and the music rules that applied to modern and old video games.  On the same day, I was contacting with a man who emailed me, saying he is interested in making music for Trapped (more on that in later posts).  The Making a Strong Female Character; More than Just a Sword panel, there was a lot of talk on making MENTALLY strong female characters.

There was some good ideas.  I always think of the character's personalities, flaws, motivation, perks before thinking about their gender.  From the panelists suggestions, even battle girl in bikini armor number 123,454,564 could be an interesting character with good writing.  It was also nice to hear that one of the panelists was adding some fanservice for females after having just fanservice for males in his work for a long time.

One thing that really stuck with me on that panel was the concept of fridging and how bad it is.  The idea makes me shudder.

 

Artist Alley

At the artist alley, I wanted to see some work that would get me inspired to pick up my tablet pen again.  In the above picture, the artist's work drew my attention rather easily.  We spoke for a bit and she told me how long she was working on her anatomy skills and how she goes about attracting people to her art table.   I would like to sell artwork in the future at conventions but, for this year, I will work on putting some of my work for auction at the next Nekocon.

You can view the artist's work here.

 

Yaoi, Yaoi, and More Yaoi

There was the History of Yaoi and Yaoi Cliches panel.  I always like going to the yaoi panels, as I get to hear different opinions on yaoi from people who love yaoi.  My boyfriend, being that amazing boyfriend that he is, often accompanies me to these panels.  At the History of Yaoi the panelist explained that game developers have used yaoi to their advantage in attracting people to play their games (example is Chris and Wesker from Resident Evil, Jin and Ragna from Blazblue, etc).

I spoke with the panelist for Yaoi Cliches and she told me to find ideas for yaoi through Tumblr.  Considering the stuff she showed during her presentation (from Tumblr) and my boyfriend's horrified face (he saw more than stuff than he could handle this time), I'll have to be brave while searching Tumblr's dark places for ideas. The best part about the panel was learning what men could and could not take during intimate times.

Till next time for Nekocon.

This post was already on www.darksirengames.com a few days ago. 

The last image

Almost Done with Background Images

I just completed another background image today.  This scene as a broken glass version.  Next is the last background image!

Working on the Next Scene

Progress so Far

Sprites done

One more background image to go

Need to draw 6 Special Scenes 

Need to proofread and or rewrite story and choices. 

I still have to think of another tittle for this visual novel.

BXB Science Fantasy Visual Novel Progress so Far 

Writing the script is really fun since location of the story is on Mars.  I sometimes stop and writing and research the red planet.  I have three offline friends who agreed to be the beta readers/testers for the game.  At first, I was not sure how to go about making this visual novel, but writing the story makes my ideas a lot more clearer. 

Unfortunately, I had a gameplay element planned for the visual novel.  As I wrote the script, that gameplay element did not make a lot of sense So...I'm looking into other gameplay options that will fit the story. 

www.darksirengames.com

10/05/2014 Almost Done With Backgrounds

I learned a bit with the smudge too here.  There are two other variations for this scene.  I now only have two more backgrounds to go, then the special scenes, check the writing and that's it.

www.darksirengames.com

Update 09/27/2014

This is going to be interesting.  I have never done a background with so much detail before. 

Update 09/20/2014

This laboratory base will have three alternate versions, depending on what path you take in the story.  This is just the rough draft version.  

www.darksirengames.com 

09/06/2014 The Laboratory Outside

There's multiple versions of this background, so I might take a while on this one.

www.darksirengames.com

Going to Busy for a Bit

Hello guys.

I just got a job dealing with Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 6 for a bit.  Yep, this is a temporary job that might end earlier then or on November 28, 2014.  Thanks to my last job, I did pretty well with time management.  I hope that this Photoshop job will help me with my own projects at home.

For some reason, I can't listen to music while I work at this job.  A job that doesn't involve me talking to anyone, so I guess listening to the sounds of other people clicking on the computer is what I am going to have to do.  Anway, I do not have many background images left for me to work on for this visual novel.  I feel like I could finish this visual novel soon. 

I also need to think of a different name for my current visual novel: Trapped. I was alerted on Twitter that there was already a visual novel with the same name.  

www.darksirengames.com

08/27/2014 Endless Blue

Underwater background.  Three more backgrounds to go?  

I'm tempted to draw something outside of Trapped, but that's how I got side tracked and forgot about this visual novel. 

Fun fact:  On the Dark Siren Games' website, I post my blog posts faster there then on Blogger. 

08/20/2014 Dolphin Sprite

This cute little guy is only seeable on one of the endings for Trapped.  I just wanted to show him.

Now I'm off to practice drawing real anatomy.  

http://darksirengames.com/08202014-dolphin-sprite/   

08/13/2014 Half Way There

I now have four more scenery images to design.  Today, I also finished another sprite.  Digital artwork, while I am not there, is getting easier to do.  I am feeling really happy right now.  Listening to the advice from a few posts back, I decided to put an underwater effect after coloring in the scene.  Using underwater references really did help a lot.

I made a deadline for this visual novel, but I refuse to tell anyone what that deadline is.  Not only do I need to finish the game by then, but I need to make business cards as well.  Last time I was at an anime convention, I was asked for business cards a few times.  I already have an idea for the mascot character, so this will be fun.

Last blog post, I might have mentioned signing up for Conceptart.org.  I did sign up but I will end up posting my realistic work on Cgartnexus.com instead.  There are a ton of useful advice on Conceptart.org, so it is worth looking at the tutorials available.  

Lastly, the more I write for Ashes and Androids, my Science Fantasy boyXboy visual novel, the more I begin to understand where I want to go with the story.  I have not done the worldbuilding in a while but simply writing the story is helping me understand the world I set the story in.

Dark Siren Games 

08/09/2014 Pic So Far

Back to working on this project.  

www.darksirengames.com

Next Scenery

This is the next scenery image that I am working on.  Very bare at the moment.

Game Development Ideas From Evo

It is always a recommended idea that game developers should play a variety of games.  I happen to have been playing fighting games since I was 8.  It has been two days since I got back from the popular fighting game competition, EVO.  I did pretty well for my first time and I have posted my pictures on my let's play Facebook page.

Panels and Advertisement

There was an indie game panel in which game developers talked about what they go through as a team or an individual.  I actually have two beta readers, and one of them knows how to work with ren'py.  Most of the time, I am working alone with my visual novel.  Hearing that one of the individual game developer was living on a low budget was a nice idea on how low of income a lot of developers make.  I am not into having one source of income and probably never will.

New York State University

Recently, I have been regretting my decision to go to ECPI University.  Seeing three examples from students who went to New York State University made me even more regretful.  The promoter told me that his students make games with in the first few days of his class.  Some of these games were going on Steam which would probably help the students pay for their school tuition or have extra spending money.  I would like to look into New York State University someday.

There was a Skullgirls and Rise of Incarnations panel.  Both panels advertised their games, like the above picture, and had a lady or guy to explain the game.   I would like to start with anime conventions' artist alleies in the future and start my way up.

There's more images from EVO on my Dark Siren Games facebook.

When I arrived home, I found that my luggage was soaked all the way through, since we had to endure some heavy rain.  I would not just put this incident on Southwest Airlines as I'm sure this has happened over other airlines.  The next time I fly out I will buy an aluminum suitcase to avoid stuff like my sketchbook or artwork, I am planing to sell, from getting soaking wet.

Progress so Far 

I have made the decision to join Conceptart.org.   I am currently figuring out how to navigate around the site, (I don't see a login or logout button) but I assume that I am logged in.  Knowing the attitude toward anime there, I am only uploading anatomy sketches.  All my stylized drawings and visual novel work will be on my tumblr or deviantart account.

Doing the background images is becoming easier to me.  I don't see the background images taking too long now.

Second Background Image is Done

It took a while sadly but I'm done with my second background image.  I learned that pressing alt while clicking with the mouse, will automatically pick a color.  The second thing I learned was that I can't merge multiple overlay files together.  I had to put these files into a group and then convert the group into a smart object.   

I'll be going out of town in a few days for EVO Championship Series.  Aside from competing in the fighting game: Injustice Gods Among Us, I'll be wondering around and sitting in the panel rooms.  Hopefully there are game development related panels this year.  With a six to eight hour plane ride to Las Vegas, I have enough time to write or draw some ideas.  

www.darksirengames.com

Update 6/25/2014

www.darksirengames.com/update-6252014

This is the most recent progress drawing:

I'm getting back to my project. I'm amazed at the progress I did with a full time job.

Rpg Maker VX Ace
RPG Maker VX Ace was on sale for two days on steam. Rpg Maker Vx Ace is a game engine used to make traditional JRPG's.  Like Ren'py there are a ton of free tutorials online.

I'll mess around with this program after Trapped is done. I would like to mess around with Adobe Flash and Rpg Maker Vx Ace in the future. One game made with Rpg Maker VX is Always Sometimes Monsters.

www.darksirengames.com/update-6252014

Second Image Progress and Practicing Shapes

So far, this is my progress on the second image for Trapped.  

I think I am getting somewhere with shading.  I'm also trying to figure out how to do texturing.  I'm sure such knowledge will come to me in time and the more that I practice.

Today I learned how to draw basic shapes.  Since I have been working in Photoshop for a while, I have not drawn doodles on paper for a long time now.   Thanks to the below video, I learned how to draw from the basic shapes.  Now I see shapes in things that I want to draw.  Scyra also has more helpful videos of those that like drawing.

www.darksirengames.com

On to the Second Image

This weekend I did a lot of work on my second background image for Trapped.  

I decided not to put much effort into the bottom of the background images like I did with the previous image.  What I like the most about doing these background images is that I'm forced to draw things I thought I would never have to draw in my life.  One of those things is scenery.  The next step is for me to start adding more detail and texture.  

Keep giving me feedback for the first image.  I'm using what was said in that post and applying it to this picture.  

Ashes BXB Development Progress

I did some concept art of the main character and explained this story to a few people face to face. So far, people are liking my ideas.  I just hope I can execute my ideas well. 

www.darksirengames.com

Trapped (GXB) PROGRESS

I finished the first background image for Trapped.    

 

Only problem is....that I'm not sure if I should add the underwater blur or not.  This game does have a a lot of underwater scenes.  Which one do you like better?  The pic on the left or the one on the right?  I do listen to comments, so don't be shy.

My work is never done, so on to the next background image.  

Ashes BXB PROGRESS

I did some more world building and some doodles for the visual novel.  Since I can't do my artwork for Trapped at work, I continued the rough draft script for Ashes.  After talking to a friend, I decided to keep the setting on Mars and feared the amount of researching I'll have to do.  The visual novel will have five pairings.  

www.darksirengames.com

More Progress Since the Last Post

More Progress for Trapped

  

From upper left to the right and to the bottom are the order of process.  Learning how to make artwork for a visual novel is a new experience for me.  It was brought to my attention that the Ren'py text boxes will be covering the bottom of my artwork.  Something that I new but did not think about all the way through.  Oh well...I'll see what I can do once this picture is fully colored.  

www.darksirengames.com

Progress So Far....

Well if you were following my tumblr account you would be able to see my progress on my first background image for Trapped.   Last year, the line art was done for the backgrounds but I decided to redraw and ink all the backgrounds.

 Here is the first background so far:

  

 Some Steps: (the final step is the upper left image)

1. The blue sketch is the rough draft for the background

2 and 3. Then I started inking the background with a black brush.

4. This is the beginning for the grayscale work.  

I'm not sure if I am going to continue working with coloring the backgrounds in grey first,  then add color later.  I might continue this coloring process all the way till I'm done with this visual novel.  

Go to Dark Siren Games?

All Traditional Work is Done for Trapped (GXB)

Trapped GXB Visual Novel

About a month ago, I said that I was redrawing the  scenes for my visual novel.  Well, I have not only done that but I have also redrawn the special scenes that are only available according to the romantic choice the reader chooses.  I was going to draw a scene for the bad ending but decided not to.  Making the bad ending seem plain, might encourage the reader to get the other endings.  

Some Rough Sketches

                

                                

The story and sprites are done.  

Ashes BXB Visual Novel 

Also.....I have been writing a rough draft for a BXB Science Fantasy visual novel.  Call this a case of ADD but writing is easier to do than drawing when I am on the go.  The visual novel will have four pairings and take place on a fictional planet.  I will post artwork for this visual novel when I am done with Trapped and am finished with Ashes' worldbuilding and rough draft; as well as some serious anatomy practicing. 

Dark Siren Games 

Lot's of Work but Barely any Updating?

Hello guys.  I haven't updated in nearly a month.  Pretty bad BUT I have been doing work of Trapped.  As I have said in the last post, all the sprites are done.  I am redoing the scenery work as I am unhappy with how the previous scenery drawings looked.  

With my current understanding of shapes, digital coloring, and working in general, I feel that redoing the scenery work will not take a long time.   I'm also drawing from references so that really does help my progress.

For the future of this blog, I will post weekly updates on to where I am on Trapped.

PROGRESS 

1. All 7 sprites are done.
2. All previous line arts of scenery has been determined useless and 8 pencil sketches of backgrounds are being worked on.
3. The story and writing has been proof read and 95% finished.
4. Five special scenes need to be redrawn and inked.  

Go to Dark Siren Games?

Last Sprite is Finished

I finally finish my very last sprite.  It took almost a year to finish these sprites.  Out of lack of knowledge of digital coloring, procrastination, and doubting myself.  

Thanks to National Novel Writing Month, I have a better since of time and setting a schedule for myself.  I feel a sense of relief but I can't relax completely at the moment.  Now to get to the scenery.  

The good news is that most of the scenery is outlined in Manga Studio at least.  

<a href="www.darksirengames.com">Dark Siren Games text</a>

I'm still trying to get the hang of monochrome to color but I'm getting close to completing him.

Dark Siren Games 

Last Possible Sprite

This post comes from Dark Siren Games 

I'm on the last sprite.  Hopefully, the last one.  This character is not that emotional so he only has another emotion sprite for me to draw.  On to the coloring.

Next to Last Sprite

This post originally came from darksirengames.com

Finally...

The next to last sprite is done.  

Doing Things Differently in 2014

The Year 2014

It is finally 2014 and I hope that everyone had a happy New Year.  As with all new years, most people decide to set a few goals or one goal for themselves.  One of my goals is getting two visual novels done this year.  Trapped IS almost finished.

Doing Things Differently

 I am going to start working on my visual novel with a friend who is also working on visual novels.  This someone has already made two visual novels and is in the process of making another visual novel.  Working with someone who already knows what they are doing is highly encouraging.  There are less chances of me making mistakes with my sprites and an even bigger chance of finishing my visual novel within two months.  

Through working at various staffing agencies last year, I came up with the idea to download a WordPress plugin that tracks time.  There are various time tracking plugins for WordPress in the plugin database.  I have already deleted one plugin that did not work for me and I just downloaded a new time tracking plugin a few minutes ago.  When I find the right one, I will mention what it is.  The purpose of setting a desired amount of hours I should devote my time to for a week, is to get me working more on my visual novel.

This post brought to you by Dark Siren Games