Indie game storeFree gamesFun gamesHorror games
Game developmentAssetsComics
SalesBundles
Jobs
Tags

How's everyone feeling?

A topic by anpuCamilla created Mar 13, 2023 Views: 676 Replies: 23
Viewing posts 1 to 12

It's hard to believe that we're almost at the halfway point of the jam. The time just flies away, doesn't it?

Frankly, I'm nervous. This is just for fun and all, so I'll still work on my VN I'm making for this even if things fall through,  but I've tried to join a few jams now only to run out of time each time. I'm hoping to break that curse this time.


But how's everyone doing with their projects? Personally, I'm on ~the last third of my script? The first pass, at least. I've learned a technique for writing that works for me is to just keep writing until I get the end, not caring about if what I'm writing is "bad" or even fully developed or fleshed out; I put my focus on getting to the end of the script before I can even have a chance to overthink things (Sometimes I'll purposely leave things underdeveloped or half-baked to avoid writers' block and just write in comments to remind me me how I want to do things differently on my second draft pass, lol). 

I get caught up in the details too often, leaving many of my projects unfinished as a result. It helps to remember that finishing and learning from your project is infinitely more important than it being perfect (Having fun too, of course). Nothings perfect and all that, so it just matters the most that you had a good time and managed to reach the finish line.


I don't have much in the way of art assets yet, and I still don't really know what I'm going to do with sfx/music (given I'm still pretty new with music making and I'm purposely going for a 90's PC VN aesthetic which aesthetically limits the free assets I can use), but I'm still excited. The failed attempts at jams have helped me better figure out a sense of scope with projects like these, so I'm trying to prioritize the script (since, y'know, visual novels are predominantly text lol) so I can figure out how many art assets I can make/what else to prioritize before the deadline proper.

Well, I have most of the scenario done except the endings. Having assets available here is useful. I'm a beginner in VN so I don't know if it will be good. But I do intend to finish, even if only a day or two before deadline.

Very nice! I'm also quite near my story's ending as well-- I'm going with a kinetic novel to save the amount of story I need to write.  (And yeah, having resources on itch is a godsend, since I'm still super new to making music x_x) Best of luck with you, I believe in you!!

I'm gonna be completely honest I've barely started T_T but I'm determined! There's still time....riiiight?

About 2 weeks. 

I've been there, don't worry (I'm definitely not putting off writing the final parts of my script as we speak ^^;). There's definitely still time-- two weeks is still pretty long! Absolute worst case, you can always use this as a jump start for working on a visual novel-- you're allowed to put out a demo for the jam if you're not confident you'll finish.  You can do it! I believe in you!

I doubt that I'm going to finish my VN in time, but I'm trying my best to at least get a short demo out.

Yeah, I get that. It's always hard to figure out pacing when you're in a jam like this ^^;  But I'm glad you're putting in the work! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

I've finally released my game, but it will still receive updates, as the artists and Spanish translator who volunteered are still working.

Nice! Love to see it.

I'm a little nervous myself, this is gonna be my first game (Aside from a bitsy one!) and visual novel so I'm hoping to be able to complete it on time.
It's been really challenging to get everything done in a timely manner since I'm doing this solo but hopefully, I can get a demo out for the jam! There's been a lot of things I've been trying to keep up with and everything, but if anything I'm also really excited to play  other people's games too :D

I'm in much a similar boat-- I've got other projects in progress, but this is shaping to be my first completed one, so I'm also nervous!! Working solo is very stressful but also nice in a way since you learn so much about each process and you have full creative control over everything, which is nice but also terrifying at points? Very excited to see what you come up with, though!

Hmm... I'm taking advantage of being a housewife, so I've made the script already. And I'm making my own backgrounds and music.

But I'll have to admit: my digital drawings look like a kid scribbled them! 馃槀

Also I've noticed that people who have submitted their visual novels are VERY defensive when it comes to some negative feedback about their games.

As for me, I want people to be brutally honest, so I can grow and make my next game better...

Especially when it's about English language. I have to translate my story, so I'd love to know if there are any mistakes.

Congrats on getting this far! I'm glad you're in the mindset to learn and improve-- I try to be in that mindset myself, but I tend to also get very nervous when it comes to receiving criticism. Looking forward to what you come out with, though!

Likewise:)

Well, best of luck to you all:)

I'm stuck trying to figure out how we go an ending. 

I tend to try and write out a general outline of my plots in summary/synopsis style so I can have a loose roadmap for how I want the story to progress before I begin writing (though sometimes that ends up changing as I write just because of feeling things out).

When it comes to writing the script itself, I just focus on scratch writing until I get to the end and then work on editing and revising afterwards, once everything's done. Focusing on getting to the end rather than making sure everything is actually good-- editing comes later.


You said you had multiple endings in mind for your story. Is your problem trying to figure out how to get to the endings? Or trying to figure what those endings are? Visual novels don't need to have multiple endings-- my personal project has multiple but the project I'm working on for this doesn't. 

If it's the former problem you have, then it might work to try and think from a simple "cause and effect" mindset. If you have particular endings in mind, it can simply just be "what choice can the player make at what moment to diverge the route?" Endings don't need to have a complicated set up of multiple flags to be set, sometimes it can just be something as simple as a single decision that causes a "butterfly effect" scenario.

It's mostly coding.

Slowly getting the character sprites done. About 2.5/6 completed, I started on the 15th as I spent the first part of the month doing script and engine work. The script is 90% done, mostly in engine but just needs some pacing refinement and whatnot (as I've just pasted it straight out of Scrivener).

Backgrounds are a bit of a struggle and music....don't ask. Lmao. I'm thinking of doing it myself but we'll see how I go for time! 

I'm having fun though. I've been doing a lot of art practice recently and it's really coming across which is nice! 

Very nice stuff! Very excited to see how it turns out!

(And yeah, I struggle with backgrounds and music as well, haha. I'm doing a second pass on my script before I start the inevitable with having to do backgrounds and music, wish me luck xwx;;)

I'm actually pretty ok. Trying to balance school work and the game is a bit of a hassle, but I'm about halfway done with sprites and the script lol. Everything else is taken care of, but I've been studying for an exam at the same time so I am GRINDING to get all this shit done jajajaja

Best of luck with both your game and your exam! I can't imagine having to do both at the same time, haha. I believe in you, though! You can do it!

Yeah, good luck:)