Important vote...
Added 2025-01-31 19:09:17 +0000 UTCHello. I have a small dilemma regarding my work and I want to know your opinion, since only it will help me to build further actions.
I'll start from the beginning. Everyone who has been following the My Pretty Toy project since its inception, as well as people who have recently joined - could not help but notice a small detail. The main character model looks like a character from Sims, which is fundamentally true, since that is what it is. This model has been used in the project as a placeholder, it seems, since the very beginning of development and had to be replaced in post production due to the fact that I cannot use it in the final product, which will be displayed on the showcase of gaming platforms.
Not long ago, I received a complaint in Discord that I allegedly stole this model and am now profiting from the fruits of other people's labors, with subsequent threats to inform the target publisher of the project about this blatant impudence. Well, I don't know how this applies to a small indie project that has no commercial basis, but still...
Don't worry, I'm not in any danger, in the sense that I don't lose anything financially and there are no legal grounds for creating problems for me, but since the final publisher has the rights to the content that is used in my project - he has the right to report where necessary so that my Patreon page can simply be deleted or banned, which will ultimately lead to me losing the community (But not the content). I don't want to make a drama or tragedy out of this, I just want to insure against such cases in the future, since there are bad people who can be hindered by a small person like me. So what I'm getting at...
I have a certain roadmap that is aimed at replacing the main character model with the one I wanted to use at the end of development. This is the basic MetaHuman model with four types of faces, as well as everything else that is included in this toolkit. Metahuman is much better developed, very flexible in use and most importantly - completely free for projects using the Unreal Engine. And now regarding the main problem.
At the moment, the game has a huge layer of content that to one degree or another depends on the current character model, namely animations, animation machines, base clothing, custom clothing (made in Cloth Palette), bondage items that can be put on the character, accessories, additional models of the character's race and a huge pile of everything that lies behind the scenes. The point is that I can't just pull the skin of one character onto the skeleton of another and everything will work by magic, it is necessary to do a lot of work that falls outside the public roadmap, for which it is necessary to postpone a lot of new content that I could have made during this time.
Since at the moment the development of the project entirely depends on the community that supports me financially, I want YOU to decide what will happen next.
1. Replacement:
I will adapt new models to existing systems, completely replace all current assets with new ones. According to my calculations, this will take about three months of continuous work, but I am ready for such crunches. But in connection with this, I will have to partially suspend work on updates, namely, release updates at the same time, but they will only have fixes, minor improvements and items that patrons vote for.
2. Leave everything as is:
I continue to work according to the roadmap, release fairly large updates with new content and items from the vote. But there is some probability that this can stop at any time and, in the worst case, lead to the loss of two years of work on the project, which can be a rather painful experience.
With all this, I wanted to say that at the moment I am developing the project on an ongoing basis, this means that I am literally working for your reward. I am least concerned about material problems, just questions regarding a change in the platform for distributing the project or long breaks in development will affect only the project, but not me. I will find a way out in any case if something goes wrong. This project exists thanks to you - you decide what to do...
Comments
So will the meta humans have similar proportions to the og models, and will there be more customization just wondering?
Jared Pugh
2025-02-01 17:17:26 +0000 UTCMight as well replace it now, since you were going to have to do all that work eventually anyway. Replacing it later might even be more work due to more content.
Marvin
2025-02-01 10:04:57 +0000 UTCReplace because i like the game and dont want to see it come to an end :)
Bundy2490
2025-02-01 01:04:17 +0000 UTCYou were going to modify/replace the model anyways, so, might as well get it over with! We love your work, and are looking out for you for the long term! :)
Alex Rickel
2025-02-01 00:59:33 +0000 UTCI dont like the idea of this individual getting their way by forcing you to change your schedule. Personally I am not a fan of the current girl model but I love the idea of the game. For the safety of the game I don't mind waiting 3 to 6 months for new models. Shit even if it takes you longer I am happy with the end product. Personally I hope that person is banned from your development procedure in the future. I will also admit that the game model is the most disappointing part of this game and I would have voted for this change before any other content added to the game!
Kemp019
2025-01-31 23:44:50 +0000 UTCAs othes have said; replacing it won't just safe-guard against bad actors, but also save you tons of work down the road (having to make the animations for one skeleton, then remake them for another). It's just better to replace it now and be done with it. Plus, it helps with bugfixing later, too. Instead of bugfixing for the Sims model, then replacing it and having to bugfix for everything *again,* you'll only have to bugfix for the one model, saving a lot of time down the road.
Krystle Taylor
2025-01-31 22:14:40 +0000 UTCI have been following you since this first came out. From your first pretty basic game to what it is now. I will say you have made leaps and bounds. What has been created in short order has been unbelievable. I think to prevent it from grinding to a halt because of someone (I use civial words) is not worth what you have achieved so far. I am confident, you will implement the new models and be back at improving the game in no time even if that takes a few months to make that happen. It seems to be the smart thing to do. Then you will move forward just like you have been doing making the game even better. Keep doing you excellent work.
MWolf
2025-01-31 20:50:26 +0000 UTCI'm going for "replacement", but I'm going to say why. While I only found out about this game last year, it clear to me that the binding methods have far surpass the models and animations that go with them. When you bind of the girls to a wooden horse, cage, or chair, some of their bindings have to be removed as they don't work with the animations. This means right now as it stands, you need this item or that to bind them to one of the bondage furniture, mostly plain rope. New players like me get confused when we can't use an armbinder on a girl on a wooden horse. Updating them now would mean that you would have to make a new road map for this year, but I think it would help you in the long run. First new players can see better looking models and game play when people post them to adult site. This would help to bring in more people to your game. Second the number of new questions will go down as it will be clearer to new players what you can and can't do in this game.
Andrew Nelson
2025-01-31 20:26:12 +0000 UTCGuys, let's not have a competition, that's the last thing I want. Whatever the decision, I will accept it.
Nanney Teasford
2025-01-31 20:08:14 +0000 UTCDon't worry, crunches are the least of my problems.
Nanney Teasford
2025-01-31 20:02:23 +0000 UTCYou can familiarize yourself with the technology on Youtube to understand what will come out in the end (And yes, there will be detailed legs...)
Nanney Teasford
2025-01-31 20:01:03 +0000 UTCYou're damn right, it's just that initially I wanted to leave this work for last, it wouldn't have been a problem, if only because the main work had already been done...
Nanney Teasford
2025-01-31 19:58:49 +0000 UTCDo we get better model for feets? If so, then full steam ahead on the model build.
Guyver
2025-01-31 19:56:58 +0000 UTCMore likely they're just short-sighted. They don't want content updates to stop, but fail to consider the drawbacks it causes further down the line, I have seen that in other projects as well.
Arkus86
2025-01-31 19:55:06 +0000 UTCI really urge you, to take your time with those changes. You are saying, you're ready for crunch - as most people know by now, crunch is a very big threat to the videogame industry, as it leads to many people quitting. I optivously can't speak for anyone but me here, but u i will happily keep my patreon-subscription up, as long as it takes. Your report at the end of the year shows your view on the whole project, what it's really strong USPs are and the potential it has. I dont want anyone to force themselves into such a bad position, because of self-imposed goals, which have to be postponed.
Nido
2025-01-31 19:54:33 +0000 UTCBetter to bite the bullet and replace it now than to re-rig dozens (hundreds) of additional assets later.
Mark Simpson
2025-01-31 19:38:17 +0000 UTCIf I read your message correctly wouldn't replacing the model later lead to even more work down the line? As in the more animations, restrictions ect you add the longer the transmission would take. So waiting just creates a bigger headache further down the line
Michael
2025-01-31 19:36:27 +0000 UTCSo basically everyone who votes for "leaving everything as it is", wants to end your project. Even if it takes more than three Months, everyone who is currently enjoying this game, would be happy to know that this Game is safed and will not be ruined by a big company. So definitely take your time and bring us some Hope.
BruderMussLos
2025-01-31 19:24:24 +0000 UTC
