It’s been a while since I posted here, so this is big update post on my visual novel ‘interfaction!’. If you’re new here, there’s enough context to not be confused about it, so welcome :)
So, dev blog #1..?
In broad strokes, the plot/routes of the game are mapped out, and I’ve made two major changes to it. One, the self-shipping is taking a massive backseat and might be scrapped altogether as I focus on the ships between the established characters (for those new, interfaction! is a game where you play a ghost ‘Shapeless’ who feeds on others’ emotions, and throughout the game, your actions bring different characters together). So you as the ghost are not really getting together with the cast, which is kind of a shame, but it just isn’t feasible for me to add all those routes within the plot.
Two, and this is a weird one, I’m making a combat system! It’s turn-based and very Omori-inspired. Because the game is centred around major conflict and some of the characters are already fighters, I thought, why not? There will be around 5-10 major fights with different variants depending on which characters you’re allied with and which ones are together. It’ll be very fun to design
The art for the game is really coming along, too. Here’s some stuff:
Obv third one I’m still working on, haven’t gotten to the background yet. I also want to experiment with creating some background assets and just scattering them across my scenes to add layers and detail, basically treating my canvas like I’m putting together a video game level like Hollow Knight/Silksong. I also keep fine tuning details in all the art and character designs, so these will probably still go through changes.
I’m creating music for the game! Right now, I got one track finished and I’m working on a tense/moody second one. I have no prior experience, no musical knowledge, but I persevere. I’m using BeepBox by the way. There’s a really good tutorial for it on youtube.
The least interesting bit is the coding. What I did create is a film grain overlay for the whole game, which you can see in the first illustration above^^ (but it’s animated in-game). I got a video of how I made it on my TikTok! I really like how it looks, and it just adds a bit of moodiness and character. Was a bit of a coding adventure…
I really should post more updates here, so follow me if you want to see! Next I’m going to work on the combat system and hopefully finish more of the writing. I didn’t really talk about that part here, but that’s also going on behind the scenes!
👋☘️
