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

I've Been Busy

Certifications

So I noticed I have not posted here in a while.  I am sorry for my long absence.  I used to update often on this blog, every week.  I have been busy studying for Information Technology certifications such as Network+, Security+, and Windows 7.   School and work and I'm sure everyone gets the idea.

 Indie Game Companies & Better Drawing

I recently joined another indie game company about two months ago after the previous indie game company disbanded.  This company requires me to draw scenery instead of the character concept sketches I have grown used to doing over the years.  I have discovered that drawing scenery is not one of my strengths and I maybe kicked off the team due not meeting the manager's requirements.

Like the previous company, I've been promised to get paid when the company releases its game.  This means more working for free on somebody else's work, I'm struggling to care about, with a huge chance of not getting any money any time soon.  On the other hand, I have forced myself to look at references for trees, acorns, etc in order to draw scenery.  This means better artwork for my visual novels.  If the company decides not to take me in the end, then I have more free time to work on projects I am passionate about.

More Focused Now

Speaking of passionate projects I finished writing a 50,000 word novel last month for National Novel Writing Month.  There was tons of time spending nights alone and on the computer and it took a lot for me to turn down friends who wanted me to hang out or  I forced myself to stay for two hours at parties and leave.  Through doing this challenge, I realize what I must do in order to get this visual novel done.

This post brought you by the website Dark Siren Games 

Networking And Finding an Audience

Nekocon

I just got back from an anime convention called Nekocon 2013 (if you want to hear about my time there, then click here). Nekocon was a place to not only have fun and talk to like-minded geeks, but also to do a lot of networking. I met with a bunch of comedians who call themselves Geek Night Comedy. These comedians ran a panel called “How to Make Your Nerd Job a Reality”.

At the end of the panel, the comedians asked for business cards. I unfortunately do not have business cards but I was able to give these people the name of this website. This is not the only time someone has asked me for a business card. After finishing Trapped's artwork, I will make a logo and some business cards for Dark Siren Games.

Visiting the artist alley at Nekocon, I managed to talk to artists in their down time (when they are not circled by fans and customers) about tips for selling my artwork at conventions and getting my name out there. Apparently artists are getting a lot more out of Tumblr than they were with Deviantart, I should start selling my artwork at local anime conventions when I'm ready, and conventions are a great way to get new fans. One artist even wrote down a good website to go to when I want to start making prints.

Figuring out my demographic

One of the best and yet sad things I learned at the con was who my demographic will be in the future. I figured I could have all the nice imaginative fantasy worlds, three dimensional characters, and intriguing stories all I want. But since my stories have a huge chunk on romance and/or relationships (be it girlxboy, boyxboy, and girlxgirl) my main demographic will always be female. At least that is the vibe I got when I was listening to guys talk about the anime they were watching or when I was talking to guys about the recent anime I have seen (which the majority happened to be targeted at the female audience).

I've only met a few male anime fans (my boyfriend being one of them) who enjoy a few shoujo anime and even some boy's love while I have met a ton of females who are into every kind of anime imaginable. Maybe females are a lot more daring when it comes to watching a variety of anime while males tend to stick to what they KNOW they would like? Now I am just pondering.

With a clear target demographic in mind now, finishing Trapped and writing stories has become a lot easier now.

Next to Last Sprite

So I am finally getting close to having that long sigh of relief.  I am on the next to last sprite for Trapped.  Just like the last sprite,  this character is only shown on one person's path and this time that is Bryan's path.

I am looking into a tutorial by Genzoman I found in Imaginefx's 100th issue.   The tutorial is an in depth tutorial on digital painting anime in Photoshop.  I love  Imaginefx but a majority of the tutorials are not in depth and assume that every reader has a vast knowledge of whatever software the artist is using in the tutorials.  I believe not all of the art in Trapped is going to look the same by the time I'm done with finishing this visual novel.  

Dark Siren Games