Hello Internet,

I couldn't get any sleep until I took down some items off my to-do list, so here's an update on how things are going.

My Webtoon series "Butterfly Kisses" had a lot of work done thanks to a sudden bolt of inspiration (I was actually on the toilet at the time of these ideas, lol). So, by 3 PM today, I'm planning on having all the way up to episode 8 scripted out and the first arc will then be completed. That's 7 new episodes on the way. What took some time was this was originally going to be a manga. Because of fitting it onto Webtoons and their file restrictions, I had to chop each manga chapter down into smaller chapters. Getting to the main kick off point in the story would have been at Episode 30. That sounded pretty dumb to me, so I reworked it until I got to a better, more efficient and engaging way, at the big plot reveal which will happen at the end of this new 7 episode part. I'm grateful I didn't dive into creation until I had properly worked out the webtoon version of the script for this. That means more quality content for you viewers! :D

So, time to reveal a secret: I've been working on a new video game engine behind the scenes. This time, I'm not having to create the core from scratch. I've using another company's prebuilt core (which also has prebuilt saving and loading features) and adding in plugins to make the game mechanics work. So, it looks like ALJ and other games will be feasible for me to create. My vision is to have a brand with visual novel and point-and-click story rich games. Just need to keep playing around with the visuals to make sure they are immersive.

I've been working on a lot of illustrations to add to the stories. This week, I've kicked off a series of drawings with Fred. If you don't know who he is, read Pink Chase. So yes, I haven't forgotten about them. I may even revisit the stories themselves.

I also have some more behind the scenes stuff going with just improving my writing. I've even been reading this book called "The Head Game" by Phillip Mudd. I had no idea what I was getting into, but it looked interesting, and I thought it would be fun to mix Alan Alda's "If I Understood You, Would I have this look on my face?" Turns out, those two books had a lot of content that helped me flesh out the details of my characters. Such as, Alexander, being the clever alien parasite that he is, I got to define just how he communicates to others so effectively instead of just saying "he did it." Then for the Guardian Knight/Auferre, I figured out how to show how analytical she is. So a lot of progress was made thanks to these two books.

All right, that's all.
~Rox

Hello Reader!

How are you? It's been a while since I've posted a full update on the developments. Taking that one month vacation in November really set me at ease. I haven't felt relaxed in so long, it was good to finally become calm. So, let's get started with the developments.

I took this time to work on writing and other skills, like the above pixel art you see. It was great to work on the fundamentals. I feel like everything coming out down the pipeline is going to be of higher quality, and that's what you guys like. High quality work.

Also, I've created some handmade, DS game badges. These are being sold on my etsy store. Click on the images below to be taken to that product's page.

I've got the entire first arc planned, so as I finished scripting the first 5 chapters, I found there is a lot of fighting, and not enough talking. Like, not much character interaction or development. So, I'm currently working on gutting out half the fighting and adding in more talking scenes between the main group. I'll keep updating you on the progress.

I've got some work that I'm doing behind the scenes that can't be revealed yet. The reason is that it's in the experimental stage and may never really come to fruition, so no need to talk too much on it.

All right, hope you all have a good week!
~Rox

Howdy folks!

I've been an avid twitter user for a while, and I've thought the quickest way to have a conversation with all you guys is to start a twitter account. You may have noticed that I intentionally left off a contact form for this website. The truth is, I can't exactly handle too much communications, but I'm open to comments. I started this blog for people to connect if needed, but I suppose blogs are old school. Lol.

Well, feel free to @ me on twitter.com/RoxioxxStudios

This week I finished writing up with writing the entirety of Red Chase. It was my first time working with a professional editor and it was a learning experience. I could feel the EXP gain, and I'm sure I leveled up a bit on learning when to explain and not to explain.
    Now the next steps are to create the synopsis, create the website page for the series, the book cover, and then some illustrations for the interior short story. This will be available as an ebook for sure.
     Red Chase follows the story of a succubus trying to defeat the leader of the humans so that it can live peacefully. Therefore, its willing to mind control and destroy anyone that opposes its right to live. The knights that defend the land are its enemies. It assumes they are coming out to kill it.

Pink Chase is the second story I'm writing, though chronologically, it is first in the series. I've been writing it for my online writing class. This has also been a source of a lot of EXP for in me getting better at writing. By the end of next week, I'll have a solid draft ready for an editor.
     It focuses on the theme of corrupting a good-hearted, earnest hero to the seductive, dark side.

Finally, the last of the short stories I'm currently working on is Lavender Chase. I've sent the first scene out for a quick look by an editor to look at.
     This story focuses on the theme of utter dominance at the cost of being a monster.

I have to say that taking the time to practice of writing better stories, and just improving that skill, it'll pay off a lot in the long run. A visual novel is highly text friendly, and not being able to write that awesome dialogue is a shot to the foot.
    I know it has been a long time since I've mentioned "A Long Journey" but when it does come out, it'll be a much higher quality.

TTYL,

~Rox

"To the young people, in particular, I hope you will hear this. I've spent my entire adult life fighting for what I believe in. I've had successes and I've had setbacks -- sometimes really painful ones.

"Many of you are at the beginning of your professional, public and political careers. You will have successes and setbacks, too. This loss hurts. But please never stop believing that fighting for what's right is worth it. It is. It is worth it." 

- Hillary Clinton
First Woman to be Elected by a Major Political Party in the US
First Woman to have won the Popular Vote (Largest Majority) in a US Presidential Election

Though I haven't been talking much, I've been working pretty hard on remaking the main characters. Today, I'm starting a series of showing off the daily progress. Let's start with Warrick.

As for where I was two years before when I promised my grand vision (artwork, choices, story, gameplay)… I’d say… I’m about 50% there. After all the experience and practice I’ve gotten through writing so much, I feel like I’m miles from where I was before. I don’t think the first stories I wrote were very engaging at all. I’m still working on it, but for all you who have been with me since Day 1, it’s night and day. Episode 4 is going to be even better written.

But writing a visual novel is just half the story. What I never factored in was the effective placement of cutscenes and character movement/emotion. That really is the other 50% that makes Visual novels so enjoyable. I never knew that when I started, but since practicing, I’ve gotten some of the understanding of it…. Need to work on it a bit more…


Programming is the skill I’ve really grown the most in. Hopefully this version will have better performance than the others and more solid saving/loading (a feature that I have historically struggled with).

Art is WAY behind where I wanted to be. I haven’t even been able to draw in the art style that I really want to, and it drives me up a wall (I'm referring to the "Canterrella" or "RG Veda" manga art style). I’ve put in 100 hours at least trying to get art style right, but all I am is a little faster, but not much better. I think that’s the biggest thing that’s been holding me back… I just need to really practice and take more time with cutscenes. One day, I’ll get to the point where my artwork will look good and be fast, and episodes will come out much quicker… but I don’t think that’ll happen too soon.

I chose the second option, and it destroyed my social life. I need some time to piece it back together and learn to re balance my life. Work is killing me too (even if this says college).

Plus, I want to make a simple card game. I've already had the idea done, I just need to finish the artwork. It'll have characters from this series, but I just need time to create it.

Then, I want to get some Dorian-Gray artwork done too. That story is not dead. Just takes some time to get the right anime-feeling to it. Hahaha.

Anyways, time for me to pass out. Peace

~Rox
Game Dev

It's my Birthday, so I'm totally going to post an update.

Development of A Long Journey, Episode 4 is going by swimmingly. Hopefully, the programming majority will be wrapped up by this Sunday.

The framework code took 3 times longer than I expected it and it's made things a little tough now.

Also, I've had to alter my original plans since I goofed off way too much in the beginning (Like, I should have been programming a while ago). Episode 1 remake will have to be saved for later down the road.

Well, see you guys later.

Redone Episode 1 for "A Long Journey VN"

Sorry, it's been so long since I've even thought about doing a blog update, I don't remember how I did them before. Hopefully the gif helps explain the situation in continuing this Visual Novel Series.


//// DEVELOPMENT STORIES
Official date for the release of episode 4 and redone episode 1 (which will have double the content) will be December 14. Why? Cause I figured after how long episode 3 took, (and the fact I'm not redoing any character artwork), it should take about 2 months to finish both. My composer for this series, Elias Luukanen, is slated to create some more custom music for the soundtrack.

This time around, I've decided to really play up the power of choices for the visual novels. When you're a developer running out of time, it's easy to cut corners, but as a designer, you have to think: is this worth it? That's part of the reason I didn't want to say a release date until the writing and choice structure was better than what was previously done, and what's out there. I aim to have the best visual novel out there one day.


//// FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
There will be some major characters introduced in episodes 4 -6, and why is it so hard to draw what's in your head? I need to practice a lot. They are all fighters and I'm planning on having like an anime tournament in it... it's under work.

I think the art thing, where I release a new concept thing each day, will start in December. But then again, I release things sporadically on the official website's blog.

//// OTHER NEWS
Speaking of which, I spent the later part of last month remodeling the site, especially the flash pages (*sigh* I was just learning how to get it to work, too).

Hey, I've got a character popularity poll up now here: http://www.thelegendofauferre.com/ (you'll have to scroll down a bit) and cast your vote! Let's see what the internet thinks. And if you've got a poll idea, I'm all ears.

~That's all, folks!

Rox

Hello Wonderful people of the internet! I finally have some serious development news to share today!


//// DEVELOPMENT STORIES

You saw the title! Just had a manic desire to finish the dern episode 6. Therefore, the writing for episodes 4, 5, and 6 are completed. Episode 1 is getting a major reboot, becoming at least twice as long as it was originally. Episode 2 gets a bit more meat that adds to the world.

Wow, if I knew just how hard it would be to actually create a text adventure game, I would have rethought it in the beginning of this plan. But, it's hard to grow when you don't have anyone telling you their opinions. I truly felt bad that I wasn't able to deliver on my vision that I declared a year and a half ago, but I suppose this was the only way I could get this much better. Thanks for everyone who's stuck around still, and for the new people joining.

//// FUTURE PLANS

Now that all the scripts have been written, I'm gonna spend the rest of this month and October typing and revising the scripts. I really want to release an episode in November, but I'm pretty certain I'll be able to release episode 4 and redone episode 1 in December.

I will do a #30dayArtJam where I post a new piece of concept art or a cutscene each day for 30 days on this blog here. It'll start once I've gotten into a comfortable position. It'll be soon though.

Things are finally picking up y'all!

~Rox
Game Creator