I left off my last journal entry with the goal of finishing up the dialogue system. I've already got a basic player controller and some basic animations going. I chose some dog sprites as placeholders, because...dogs?
I started off trying to use a solution for the system using scriptable objects but there were too many steps involved in using it for me to use it effectively as a tool for the games development. I chose to then go with a premade node data system called "VIDE".
See the link here for the asset store page: VIDE Dialogues | AI | Unity Asset Store
Its a very powerful tool for free on the unity asset store. it organises dialogue and character data into nodes which can be used to manage and visually represent branching dialogue trees. It leaves a lot of room for home made functionality, meaning you'd have to program some home brew stuff which is what I've done. I try to strive for reusability/utility. Kind of like a toolbox. That way it'll be easier for me down the line when I'm in the thick of designing the in game content.
Here's some screenshots of what the game is looking like right now. It took me AGES to the the environment painting sprites to work the way I wanted. I'm using a grid painting method with a 16x16 pixel selection range, using unity's own pixel painting tools. I'm also still wanting to write about how I constructed the game worlds cosmology and the metaphysics behind it. Although It's honestly it's looking like an academic paper at this point. I've only written one before which was my masters thesis. It would be a good to keep my academic writing muscles from wasting away.
As a prototype the dialogue system is now done. Next is the combat system. I'm still deciding what type of combat for now. While I didn't intend it this way, the game is looking like it was heavily inspired by JRPGs, final fantasy 4 comes to mind. While I honestly didn't intend it this way I might lean into it and go with a turn based system. As a side note I was intending some eastern aesthetics for the primary race in the land where the game is set. But with some changes to suit their unique culture. The aesthetics would likely come into play when concerning their architecture and designs. For a better idea here's my current moodboard: (47) Pinterest
Thanks again for taking time to read my next update. If you have any suggestions for improvement, comments, want to talk shop or just shoot the shit just message me on whatever platform you found this on. Talking to fellow devs really excites me about project work. Stay hydrated!
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