Very Humid July

Watching someone play Fallout Tactics while I test a few export versions (changing icons for Windows is something else...).  Thanks to other peoples hard work I have the ability now to export to Windows and Linux for both normal and Steam distribution.  I have many more miles to go but it's rolling.  Not much else I can do until results and treatment are complete. 

 

A Deadly Hot June, 2023

Testing naval units.  Which somehow broke my game and won't let me be able to screenshot in full-screen mode.... I also need to invest in a laptop so I can continue working when forced away from my computer.

May 2023, bug crushing

 

Bugs and more bugs.  Need to be stomped out completely before moving to the next stage of assembly.  ChatGPT 4 used to be great until the recent update which basically lobotomized it.  Big difference is actually telling you about potential programming traps instead of just agreeing with you and writing really bad software.  At least 2 months got some good progress on debugging and on tools development.

April 2023, just workin' away

 

Working on some better tests maps (now with a destruction tile set for each tile!).  Watching someone play Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour.  From time to time I play Neocron Classic (an MMO with 0 players) between work sessions slowly leveling a level 10 GenTank.

Spring Cleaning and Reflection

 

Spring cleaning, compressing out the computers, etc.  I need to start to cut more things out of the game to make a reasonable launch which I can build upon.  I think multiplayer will have to come much later as the AI systems alone are taking a significant amount of time.  I tried Godot 4 and found it's tilemap to be wanting (has trouble making authentic oblique projections).  So I can't take advantage of the network code of the newer engine and will have to muddle with v3.5.x.  There is an upside, I won't have to rework my entire project.

-25C Winter February

 

Working on systems to allow for rapid balance patching (ie data files that hold unit stats).  Also trying to figure out a system for multiplayer to check version numbers and some rudimentary anti-cheating.  AI scripts have grown so large I need to make a system to manage them.  Thank god for ChatGPT and it's explanations.

January Peeking Moon

 

If I had another person working with me I'd probably be done but I guess all I can do is keep on grinding.  One man doing sound, music, programming, scripting, art, animation, and design (on top of testing, debugging and soon publishing/marketing).  Add to it day-to-day errands of life and it can be daunting at times.

Christmas Eve 2022

 

Three factions 100% complete.  One faction must be redone visually (too ugly) and another heavily modified (to fit a more modern less fantasy look).  Three more factions to go....

November Screenshot

 

Testing out two factions and various game play mechanics (fog of war, line-of-sight targeting, action-point system, etc.).  First in-game screenshot.  Note to self, add outline shaders to units.  Keep black outlines for tiles to distinguish objects and flat floors.  Internal lines should be an off-black brown or other darker (non-black) colour (with flat tiles always bright such as asphalt, grass, dirt, snow, rivers, etc.)

Early Fall October 2022

Finishing up all the surrounding menus that go around the main tactical map.  With my health issues causing delays I'll be lucky to get a January 2023 launch.  Though I'm hoping the drastic measures I've committed to over the last month will start to show results.  I guess this will give me time to actually flush out the strategic, operational, and tactical AI for Computer matches.

 

September 2022

 

Perfect lighting.  Overcast grey sky in September.  I need to make a Steam account and figure out the whole 'green lit' and Early Access features.  Integrating the Steam API to Godot.  I've been disconnected from the internet for so long.... at least my old programming skills still apply to a certain extent.  Though I have to admit abusing the near limitless ram most computers have (for 2D games) is something I still can't get used to.

Entering August 2022

 

Solo GameDev will give you high blood pressure.  Believe it! Hospital visit blood pressure = 248/158!

July 1st 2022: Crimson Sky on Canada Day!

Reading the news, animating tiles, watching some dude walk around Tokyo in 4K.  Polish and test.  Polish and test.  Trying to aim for a 2022 release at maximum CRUNCH!

 

Nice cool June evening

 

Testing some initial menus and introductions (along with SFX and music).  Inputting 'Unit Data' for all factions.  Oblivion longplay (no commentary) playing in the background

Early Hot May Summer 2022

 

Over hundreds of units across 6 unique factions with individual base paradigms.  Currently setting up "Squad" unit types as infantry to function as a single unit while allowing complexity in combat.  Watching Better Call Saul.

2022 April

 

Over 600 tiles for the tactical map alone.  Campaign map will be for future releases depending on popularity (if any).  Attempting to abstract artillery ranges (grenades, mortars, tube cannons, rockets, missiles, etc.) to tiles while keeping game play speed intact.  While Robert McNamara talks down to me about game theory and decision making in an imperfect information environment (paraphrasing).

Spring Cleaning 2022

 

Melting snows.  Fresh air.  Vacuumed carpet.

Reading Up Foggy Spring Morning

 

Fog white out.  Trying to read but actually watching Twin Peaks like a lazy POS.  Thank PhD students and their well-written papers on turn-based strategy game architecture, game theory (especially decision making on the game tree; useful for future AI), and algorithm solutions (like super-cover lines used for a 2D tile grid system).  Truly a wealth of information.

New Years 2022

 

Even MORE bugs to fix.  Oh yay!

Dec 20 2021 Winter

 

Another cold winter morning... Must finish 1001 items (GUI art polish, GUI code polish, integrating a less basic AI, adding minor transition graphics, interactive loader, etc. etc. etc.). Awkward chest pressure.

Winter 2021

Play testing first build

Fall, 2021

Fine-tuning multiple features.

Summer-Fall 2021

Creating art, sprites, units, animations.....

 

Summer, 2021

 

Building the prototype/pre-alpha

Spring, 2021

 

Thinking about what to make