General update!

This week has been productive in deciding the future of ImpQueen games.

I've been having a lot of dilemma over the last couple of months about Visual Novels and Otome games.

On one hand, I thought Visual Novel medium could be used to create so many hybrid games. Including rpgs, crafting and point-and-click adventures. It's a very good tool to use for interactive storytelling. Be it role playing games or any other kind.

On the other hand, I desperately looked for a way out of the genre because of its reputation and its limitations on me.

I wanted to get out of the whole "dating sim" reputation of the medium without losing touch of what I really wanted to do. (Interactive fiction)

At some point, I was %100 ready to leave the Visual Novel Genre and start working on Unity with adventure creator, to make a point-and-click adventure game instead.

I learned how to use the engine Adventure Creator, which was clear and easy enough with incredibly well-made tutorials.

I tried 3D at first because it's easier imo, but it has this low-quality aspect to 3D that I reaaaally dislike. Even with the filters and fancy effects, it still looks... sort of lifeless to me.

It feels like the latest 3D Disney movies against the Classics, and I'd choose the Classics anytime.

So, I decided to go for 2D.

We worked with Moonarc for a while (The side character artist of Cardinal Cross) and created an 8-direction character for me to animate on a program called Spine2D.

Which was a pretty simple but powerful tool.  I animated the character a little. Idle/walk etc. 

With enough time and effort I thought I could do this on my own. 

Then, I did a little math for the budget/funding and it was going to cost a little over Cardinal Cross' final budget. I thought maybe I could use a crowd-funding source like Kickstarter for the amount I couldn't spend.

It made sense, but it was a risk because there were so many unknowns in this project for me.

Be it from animations to using Unity. From voice acting to using crowd-funding. All of it is unknown to me. 

I'm not familiar with the engine, I'm not familiar with the animation program, and I certainly am not familiar with voice acting.

And it was simply going to cost too much to take a risk with all the unknown.

Even for someone as crazy impulsive as me :P.

So, in the end I decided it was too soon for me to get into something like this. #adultingright

I need more experience with Unity. I need more experience with Voice Acting and even Kickstarter.

I have to solve my unknowns before I get in over my head again with a HUGE project like this.

So, I decided it was best to stick with Renp'y/Visual Novel genre for a little bit longer.

(Though I can't stop myself from trying to improve, so it won't be a full VN.)

Here are some small info about the next ImpQueen story game;

1- There will be a SUPER simple character creation at the start. Basically only a skin color/Facial morphology choice.

2- Female only MC, because the theme requires it. =P

3- You will play with 2 different people through the game. Although the main character will be your initial choice.

4- It will be a rpg/point-and-click adventure/visual novel hybrid. Expect some puzzles and magical mystery!

5- Genre will be dark fantasy, taking inspiration from late middle ages to 17th. century Eastern European and Southeast Asian culture.

6- The main artist will be Moonarc.

7- Full voice acting! This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time! =)

8- My primary inspiration to the game is the book "Women Who Run With the Wolves", which I STRONGLY recommend to anyone and everyone!

9- I have no idea what the name is going to be! (Let's find a ridiculous code name for it.)

10- Content age is very similar to Cardinal Cross. Nothing too naked-y, nothing too violent but nothing too simple and happy either. You know the drill. :P

Right now, I'm in the middle of writing the prologue of this game. In two or three months the artists and I will start working on it.

I think around March, I'll be able to give you a solid announcement.

Hopefully.

So, this is what I've been up to for the past couple of weeks.

Along with rinmarugames and LinenTale work, of course.

We will talk about alpha gameplays for both soon.

See you and love you lots!