Taxee

I don't post about my personal life all too often, but here's an exception:

I love my labrador dog, and she's reaching her super-senior almost 16 years of age. I came home and learned that her back legs completely gave out and she can't walk, and it really hit me like a ton of bricks.

We will be going to the vet tomorrow, and I really don't know what can happen out of it. I am mentally prepared to handle any possibility, given her very advanced age, but it just all came very suddenly. One day she's acting like a puppy and then this...

However..






I feel that she's had a very fun-filled (albeit spoiled!) life of 16 years, and hopefully we can make the best of the time she has left, however long that may be.


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Whim Independent Studios - Development Log #17

Hey guys, back with the 17th development log!

This development log is mainly about Selatria. Lots of new things incoming!

Voice Acting: 

Matt was cropping out data for the alpha test earlier, and come to find out in three chapters of Selatria development we have over 875 voice acted lines implemented into the game! What a feat for an indie game, don't you think?

We'll be opening up auditions for more roles on Thursday, July 25th! Come back to the blog and check out what is in store! Lots of male and female roles about. I was going to get to posting the audition lines and character backgrounds for this development log, but there was not enough time in the day... :(

New Character Art:

Check out some of the characters in Selatria. The first one is a new character, you may have seen her hinted at the end of the Version 1.3 demo. The second character has also been seen in the demo, they both have new designs to fit the consistent style. Art by Jennifer Gilliland

New Music!

We uploaded some new music onto our SoundCloud page. Check it out! The battle theme in Selatria is going to have a variety of arrangements. Here is an example of two of them you will encounter. All of the battle themes below are composed by Luke Simpson.

Unfortunately, the dynamic battle themes are not in this alpha version, but we're working to get them in by the time the second half is ready for alpha testing.

Selatria Battle Theme (In Cave)



Selatria Battle Theme (Ice Continent)


Chapter 2 Demo!

Our chapter 2 demo is now online! Download it off of our development team webpage!  Some things you should know before playing:

• All party members start off at level 20 and suggested equipment for that section of the game.
• You cannot visit areas in Chapter 1 in this alpha test.
• The game goes until Chapter 2-3. We're basically testing how players handle the difficulties the game gives from an objective standpoint.
• Art is not in a finalized state. Terrain and monster art is in the process of being upgraded to be more consistent with the look and feel of the game. Faces have been updated to the consistent style and Luis's sprite and looks have been tweaked since Version 1.3 Demo.
• Voices are not available in this Alpha Test version. We want to test gameplay mechanics before adding voices. Exceptions to a certain boss battle in-game.

If you find feedback or issues, please report the bugs! We greatly appreciate it!

Here are some screenshots to mark the occasion!

PS: Be sure to write in the journal before taking on the Armadillion! I heard he was pretty tough! There will be a special prize for the first person to send me a screenshot of them taking it down!


That's about it for now. Until next time!





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My Romantic Situations/Ramblings - July 2013

It's been a while since I wrote a personal blog post.

I've been spending my time the last week trying to break some nervous repetitive habits that I have, and getting a little out of my comfort zone. I've been going through drive-thrus, talking on the phone more often, ordering food that I'm not used to, and trying to do things without a mental script. (Yes, that includes talking to women!)

However, it seems that there's really something stopping me from letting go of the past. For the past five years, whenever I see or meet any woman that seems like they show an interest in me or shows any more interest than being friends, I deliberately stand back from getting any further and hold at arm's length.

I'll be nice and play it off as a joke, or if they text message me, I will hold off on responding.

I try and reason it out in my head: People will only risk into going in a relationship with someone they don't really care about so when they leave, not much loss is felt. It's better to be friends with someone so you'll always be cool with them and there never really has to be a goodbye.

Part of me wants to take things further, though it would be nice to be in a relationship again, I really don't think I'm ready yet, and I still need some healing time.


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How to become a successful game designer

I'm going to refer back to this website by Sloperama Productions. Found it at work, might as well make the best of it.

Advice
Work

It has a lot of useful information. I have to study, study, study up on it.

Selatria: Character Website Updated!

Check it out, guys. Selatria character webpage is updated.

Link



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Whim Independent Studios - Development Log #16

Hey guys, back with the 16th development log!

There's lots of special announcements today, so I'll get right down to it!

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Selatria:

-Alpha testing of Chapter 2 begins on Tuesday, July 23rd! We are looking for enthusiastic players to test out some of what is in development.*

***As it is an alpha test version, lots of the content will be subject to change, so there will be an NDA that you will have to agree to in order to play through the content. Voices will not be available in the alpha test version, and the art, music, sound effects, and gameplay provided are subject to change.***

If you're interested in applying for the alpha test for Chapter 2, head on over to our Company webpage "Contact Us" section. Fill out the information:

In the topic put "Selatria - CH2 Alpha Test Application"
In the comments put "BASELINE".

We look forward to having you try out the new chapter!

Here are some screenshots from Chapter 2 and a new video for upcoming Chapter 3 as well!

 Mage and Melanie have a moment.

 Flashback scene to where they first met.

Continuing where Chapter 1 left off.

Some minigames in Chapter 3.

Featured Music: Luke Simpson, Elijah Lucian

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ANTics: 

We don't have any new game-play footage this log, but it is coming soon! Paul Diggs is hard at work on creating candy models so we can show the game off in its entirety. There will probably be some new footage for the game in the next dev log!

For now though, we have some new music! By Christopher Nuño --- This song will play when the boss has a critical level of health.



We've also been working on the behaviors of the different bugs you'll encounter in the game. Take a look!

Some enemies you'll expect to see in ANTics:

Models by: Paul Diggs
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Ant

The basic vermin of ANTics, hence the name! Goes straight for the nearest candy after being called by a scout.

Stats:
HP: 1, DPS: 1

Scout

A special type of ant that looks for food. Once it finds food, it heads off the battlefield in order to call reinforcements. Best to get rid of a scout before it calls more ants. (They also move three times as fast!)

Stats:
HP: 1, DPS: 1

Grasshopper 

The grasshoppers are not as frequent as ants, but as they can also eat candy, they're also harder to destroy and takes two hits instead of one.

 

Stats:
HP: 2, DPS: 1

Bee 

Bees can wander around the field, it is not advisable to touch them at any cost, as they are mostly a distraction. They'll also vibrate your phone and penalize your score while you try to stop other bugs from getting the candy, bad idea!

Stats:
HP: , DPS: 0


There will be more vermin that will be posted in the future, not to mention the mini-bosses and the superboss of the game.

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That's about it for this development log. Until next time!




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Back from Anime Expo 2013!

 I'm back! As always, I did my yearly tradition of getting some pics with attractive cosplayers!

More on my Facebook album     Oh, I also have two videos that I took. Check it out!

Check out some new Selatria Art!

Some of us in the Selatria team is going to be at AX. Come say hi! 

Check out some new character art by Jennifer Gilliland! You can check out some of the finished reels on her blog.

 Number 016

 Luis

 Mage

Melanie

Hat

RE: Upcoming Pokemon Gen V Global Link Changes

If you own Pokémon Black and White or Pokémon Black and White 2- Because X and Y are coming out, certain features in the current gen are going to be discontinued.

You won't be able to put your Pokemon to sleep for Global Link after December 10th, 2013.

GTS tracking, Rating Mode on Random Matchup, WiFi Memory Link, C-Gear, Musical and Pokédex Skin changing via online deactivates on January 14th, 2014.

Waking up your Pokémon to get items and Pokémon also ends January 14th, 2014. You will be able to wake your Pokémon up from the game side at any time, but no longer from the Global Link side.

Talk about making the current games obsolete. Damn, Game Freak!

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Logos for upcoming Whim Independent Studios games!

Check it out! Logo for Selatria and logo for Antics!

Title Logo Designs:
Selatria - Derrick Frainee
ANTics - Jennifer Gilliland
Sprite Designs - Hannah Bottenberg, ArtzBy Gyreck

RE: What kind of game designer are you?

I am a "Gamer" and "Dungeon Master".

Gamer -- I feel like the player should have a lot of fun. Want to play your own way? Sure. I give you all kinds of options on what and how to build your team. Want to go for all the collectibles and extra stuff? By all means! I'm a collector/achievement whore myself. Games I design tend to have a lot of easter eggs.

Dungeon Master -- I love to put in hints in the game, and have little quirky lines that the characters say if the player is doing great or if they got an unfortunate case of either bad luck, bad skill, or both. I don't like leaving the player lost, because I feel that it kills enjoyment of the game. However, I don't like it to be completely obvious either, because it's insulting. The archetype there was spot on!

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