Status update Episode 9
Added 2022-08-26 11:23:58 +0000 UTC
I want to start this update by thanking everyone for your comments, DMs, and overall support this last week. It means a lot to me, and I can see how many of you care as much as I do about the game, and it is heartwarming. It truly felt like the entire community came together, mourned the changes, and supported the game. Thank you!
I started this week by finishing the main menu's artwork. 20 new art pieces for Season 3 have been added to the main menu, and as promised, I'd like to show you a teaser of it today.
While working on the main menu, I couldn't stop thinking about the title music and the future of the main menu. One thing that has been in the back of my mind for quite some time now is the Music section of the main menu. You know, that button that says Music at the bottom that you probably pressed once and then never used again.
I've never been truly happy with how it looks or functions. Its purpose has more or less been to show and give credit to the CC0 music in the game.
I've wanted to add a proper music player to the main menu for a while, so I spent a day developing one from scratch, and I'd love to show you some of what you can expect from it today.
You no longer have to load a free roam event to listen to the music. You can now access and play the entire music library, barring a few sound files, from the main menu. It is synchronized with your favorite list on the music app of your in-game phone too, and you can manage your favorites from this menu.
To not remove the original functionality of this menu, I've kept a CC0 section with credits and a link to the license.
So, what does the title music have to do with this? Well, from now on, you can set any song of your choice as the startup song for the game. Listen to any song in this music menu and click a button to set the song as the startup/main menu song.
I feel this is the best way to do this since we're at a status quo with the title song, and everyone has a better idea of the replacement title song than the one before them. There will still be a default title song playing from the start, and I won't stop looking for a replacement, but if you wish, you can change it.
While listening to your music, you can also hide the music menu and watch the main menu art without any GUI. I have also added a tips section to the music menu, where you can browse through some of the many useful tips you might have missed.
I hope you will come to like this idea as much as I do.
These changes will come into effect with Season 3, for starters. There are some additional difficulties to deal with if I want this added to Season 1/2, but I haven't ruled out adding this to that main menu.
Aside from this work, I posed Jill's special render set this week. She will get a set consisting of 20 static renders, just like Josy will, for this episode. The theme I've chosen for her set this time is "Surprise gift". I'll show you a preview of this series soon.
I've added code for the special renders in the Rewards app and started placing magazines in the game as unlockables. There is still some work left in this area, but it's just a matter of deciding how to unlock the special renders and testing that it works. Everything else in this area is done, including 2D art, 2D animations, and Pack Quest renders.
Two of my workstations have been rendering that long cutscene-like animation I mentioned a couple of weeks back, and it's about 50% done. I'm very pleased with the rendering speed of this animation; it's been better than I could have hoped. My other PCs have been working on static renders and other animations.
I also continued my work on both writing, posing animations, and static renders this week. I've been feeling very motivated lately, and this only gets reinforced by seeing the to-do list get shorter.
Another week of static render work is coming up. I'll have some updated numbers on the progress for you next week.
Have a nice weekend
Love ya
Dr PinkCake
Comments
Love it, I can't wait for episode 9! Best AVN out there, such a big loyal fan base! Love the characters, love the story and found some great songs because of this game! :D Been replaying it again lately and just fall in love with the characters! DPC we love your work!
Thomas J
2022-09-01 14:08:50 +0000 UTCJust joined this Patreon, but damn - this is a masterclass in how to do a status update. The care taken really shows, and the honest assessments of progress made are appreciated.
SinSurroundsIt
2022-09-01 11:56:48 +0000 UTCReally appreciate all the work and passion you put into the story and characters we all love
2022-08-31 19:13:13 +0000 UTCMan it's crazy about the Friday Prophets, I actually have them on my spotify because of this game. But I get it I guess.
Robert Wolfe
2022-08-30 07:52:07 +0000 UTCWas also wondering if sally will have more of a story later on.
Parker Fiscus
2022-08-30 04:13:13 +0000 UTCI mourn the loss of the Friday Prophets too! Still, because you did sucn a great job with the music selection, there is still a lot of fantanstic punk rock tracks in the game to choose from, so the new music menu will allow me to set something appropriate. Thanks!
Carl Hilsdon
2022-08-28 19:38:45 +0000 UTCDude, you have the best Renders and the best animations without losing the quality of said renders, the smoothest and most flattering camera angle options, as well as more offered than most. These are just the cosmetics which is a huge part for me, i won't lie, but then you add a storyline in which you have many options on which path you take, determining your journey but also tying back into the main storyline, so many moving parts and not just a redundant rewrite of the character on the other pathline's story with a few key words changed trying to pass it off as two individual characters instead of the same character only with a different body or face, as most of these games unfortunately employ. The surprisingly good mini-games and their mechanics you don't usually find in an outlet such as this. The biggest thing I appreciate is the time spent developing each character with its own identity. The level of proficiency you show in all the things I've already mentioned, this one takes the cake. I mean I was blown away that you could achieve the such top-tier status of the game/VN in the other aspects I have mentioned now that I know you are doing all of this on your own, especially since some of your rivals have literal teams of developers/engineers and still come in second to you. All of that, but now i realize you are the sole architect of the storyline on top of everything else.... that my friend, is impressive because I come from a family of writers, novels, and such, and I'm familiar with the focus and drive needed to progress a story with so many different characters, developing each of their own personal stories including many parallel sub-story plots that either tie back into the main story or are captivating enough to make going off on a short to moderate detour out of the main road, usually to develop further the individuality of each character, which will directly affect the reader's perception of the character and their role in the main story. I mean, I'm just noticing the mention of you working alone, but it's the first time I've actually paid attention long enough to absorb that information. Truly incredible. I am so impatient, especially with this game, because, in my opinion, and it seems a large consensus does agree, this game is in the number 1 spot, the next 5 spots are voided out to illustrate the level of superiority, and then the developer's games compete with themselves for the top spot which in their case if we include Being a Dik, would be 6th place. Anyway, I've always been so disappointed when I check in for my monthly check to see which of my favorites have updated, being a dik, although always making up for the long periods in between versions due to its continued consistency of Primo content in both story and mechanics, graphics, etc... the long waits almost made me stop spending the money for a membership to get the best and most recent update because i was under the impression you had a full team, now although im very eager for the next installment, ill know im lucky to get it as fast as you put it out, and i can control my impatience much better!!! Anyway thanks for all you do man
Art Vandelay
2022-08-28 13:00:05 +0000 UTCSo sorry to hear about the situation with the use of The Friday day Prophets :/ since the main menu music kinda is what represents the game D: But i think the new design of the music player that you've made and plan to put to use with the release of episoder 9 is both a great design choice for people to use what music they prefer the best while also waiting for your music of choice to replace the Friday day Prophets :) Really looking forward for Episode 9 i haven't even played episode 8.5 just to have more to enjoy for at the same time as episode 9 releases xD being all new to it since it kinda introduces new people it's well worth the wait :) just so damn excited i keep popping in everday for updates lol and while waiting to play 8.5 might be worth it overall it means i've been lacking my Being a Dik i can feel the withdrawal so bad now haha P.S Keep up the good work doc, Can't wait to check it out :)
PathFinderReaper
2022-08-27 20:58:27 +0000 UTCWell done :) Hope we will play it ASAIP
2022-08-27 09:33:42 +0000 UTCGreat Job!! Keep up the good work!
Trevor Green
2022-08-27 05:20:40 +0000 UTC
