August + September Progress Recap
Progress recap #1: A summary and discussion of the progress made in August and September!
Progress Timeline
See the full timeline, or skip to "Achievement Summary".
Game Design Document
This game marks the first project to use a game design document, a comprehensive, ever-living blueprint of a game’s concepts, such as mechanics, narrative, art style, etc. It is very helpful for tracking your ideas and eventually turning them into an actual product. Before production on TFaPT began, my notes for my previous projects were fairly barebones. Sure, I recorded story descriptions, character information, genres, themes, and worldbuilding details, but nothing beyond those. Ultimately, constructing a proper GDD has given me a firmer grasp of TFaPT’s vision, which is a wonderful feeling ^^
TFaPT’s current GDD is divided into the following sections and subsections:
- I: Game Overview
- A. Working Title
- B. Concept
- C. Logline
- D. Characters
- E. Worldbuilding & Setting
- F. Genres
- G. Rating & Content Warnings
- H. Core Mechanics/Gameplay Loop
- I. Target Audience
- J. Game Controls
- K. Miscellaneous Information
- II: Story Details & Structure
- A. Themes
- B. Inspirations
- III: Plot
- IV: Development
- A. Art Style & Visuals
- B. Assets
- C. Technical Requirements
- D. Audio
- V: Additional Game Mechanics
Story Outlining
The biggest focus of the two months was outlining the game’s first short story (as stated in my previous post, TFaPT is segmented into multiple out-of-order short stories). Story 1: Discovering Pleasure (name pending) introduces the main character, AV, a corruptive shapeshifting anomaly drawn to humanity in its quest to escape an eternity of monotony. It centres around AV studying humans, learning to imitate their looks and behaviour, and eventually seeking them out for sexual satisfaction. Spoiler alert: AV ends up doing some…questionable things o.O
Right now, the outline is a whopping 5251 words long, which lowkey scares me XD. Imagine how long the full script will be O.O Never have I been this fixated on writing XD. Story 1 is turning out to be the longest story I’ve ever written so far. With more stories to come, this game will be the longest I’ve ever created, with an estimated word count of over 20,000 words and a runtime of nearly an hour!
Depending on the final length and how many stories I want to write, Story 1 could end up being the web-based demo!
To conclude this section with a treat, here are my favourite scenes!
The next day. After the couple leave for work, AV sneaks inside and explores the apartment. It finds and comments on items like plates and utensils, devices, and decorations, and even tries to use some of them.
But what interests AV most are tiny flat copies (pictures) of the couple, showing them at gatherings with other humans (weddings, birthday parties). Is this how humans find companionship? There are also pictures of the couple on their own outings (honeymoons). They seem...very interested in each other. But why? Then AV remembers that there are more pictures in the bedroom, so it goes to check them out.
In the bedroom, the anomaly finds more pictures of the couple alone together. However, in some, the couple look different. They look…younger. They must have been together for a long time.
After a while, AV grows bored and returns to its perch outside by the living room window.
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AV turns into Sera, but thinks that would draw attention. It looks outside through the restroom window and takes the shape of the first human it sees—a young woman. The anomaly does its best to walk normally out and sits right behind the couple, careful not to make eye contact. They don't pay attention to it.
As the anomaly listens in on their conversation, a human in uniform approaches it and asks if it would like to order. AV is taken off guard and momentarily stares at the waitress. It then remembers how the couple took their orders and copies the man's words. The waitress gives AV an odd look, then walks away. The anomaly spends the next few moments listening to the couple talk while concentrating on physically keeping itself together. Unbeknownst to AV, its eyes were quickly changing colour.
Another waitress walks by while staring at AV. Someone else does the same, then another and another and another. The anomaly grows concerned. Why are they looking at me like that? Its question is answered when a man in uniform goes up to it and, with worry in his voice, points out its hair changing colour and length.
Panicked, AV bolts from its chair and rushes into the restroom, stumbling as it did. Staring at the mirror confirms the waiter's words, so AV runs into a stall, ignoring another woman who asks if it was okay. AV sits on the toilet and tries to recover, while also chiding itself for reacting so strongly. It resolves to master shapeshifting and manage the discomfort that comes with it. But now, its immediate concern is how the humans will react when it steps out.
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AV walks back to its seat as calmly as possible, but that doesn't stop people from glaring and the waiter from asking if it's alright. AV quickly affirms and sits down to listen as the couple eat and converse.
Some time later, AV's order arrives, and it simply stares at the food. Eating is pointless. I can't even taste anything. Nevertheless, the anomaly "eats" the food to keep up appearances. Meanwhile, the couple are talking about their families, specifically Hugh choosing to be with his wife instead of his "nieces and nephews."
A long while later, the couple pays for their food and leaves for the cinema. AV also begins to leave but is stopped by the waitress, who tells the anomaly to pay for its order. AV blanks for a moment, wondering what to do. I don’t have what she wants, and I don’t know how to give it. With that conclusion, AV bolts out of the building. The waitress chases after it, but doesn’t go beyond the door. The anomaly ducks into a dark alleyway and returns to its true form.
It suddenly remembers the couple, but realises that they are gone and there is no way to follow them. AV knows the name of the cinema they are going to, but not where it is or how to get there.
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Two days later. Sera is typing away at her keyboard while talking on the phone at the same time. This is one of the days when she works from home. Beneath the occupied couch, AV carefully listens as Sera lists her “ideal” candidates, describing their physical features, background, and experience. The anomaly notes that the mentioned women were described as thin but very “curvaceous” and having ample bosoms, plump lips and pretty eyes. These must be features humans find most appealing.
AV peeks out as far as it can unnoticed and watches the woman use her device. She types names into the laptop and obtains a collection of links as results. She then clicks a few and reads out the displayed text into the phone while writing notes. Fascinating… An idea suddenly hits AV. Typing in the names of these women shows information about them.
Just then, Sera ends the call and mentions needing the bathroom. After she leaves, AV emerges from its hiding place and stares at the screen. On it was an image gallery of a thinly clad blonde woman in various poses. AV scrolls through until it hears footsteps approaching. Alarmed, the anomaly quickly closes the browser and ducks back under the couch.
Sera reaches the couch and returns to work. AV decides to look up more models at night when the humans are asleep.
Production Roadmap
Along with a game design document, I also created a production roadmap to make myself more productive. I made it in Libre Calc using conditional formatting rules and data validation. I gave myself lenient deadlines because:
- Deadlines make me stressed, no matter how long they are; and
- College classes begin less than a week from now, so I will definitely have less free time.
Please bear with me >.>
Achievement Summary
- Created a game design document
- Drew some character and UI concepts
- Halfway done with Story 1 (Current word count: 5251)
- Found inspiring media (will elaborate in a future post!)
- Set up a production timeline
- Created a marketing plan
Conclusion & Future Plans
My plans for October and beyond are:
- Complete the outline for Story 1 and write its script before October ends (hopefully).
- Despite not being in an art mood, make concept art of the humans AV meets, the environment and game UI.
- Play and study more games and visual novels in my genre.
- Consume similar movies and books to gather inspiration.
That's all, folks! Leave a comment to tell me what you think of my game! Do you have any ideas or suggestions? What do you think of the outlined scenes; which one's your favourite? Let me know!
You can also read the same post on my blog. Have a good one <3