Darling Duality
Progress Report!
Well, now that June and July are over for the year, it's about time I posted an update on here! I'll try to split it under different headings to make all my rambling a bit easier to read x3
Back In The Game
I'm pleased to say that after taking a month away from my projects to participate in 30 Days Wild throughout June, and then being very busy with general life stuff and family occasions (my cousin got married and some of our relatives came over from abroad to stay awhile and make a holiday of it) for most of July, I'm finally back and actively working on DD again! I don't have much to show for it yet, but for now, I can at least reveal the sprites for one of the new characters that will be turning up in the update: Cana :3 I put these on Patreon & Kofi a while ago, and we had a poll to see if Cana should keep or ditch their glasses in their alternate outfit, wearing contact lenses instead. The consensus was that Cana will keep the glasses in both outfits :3 I'm currently working on adding them to the game along with Castor/ia's new content.
A New Discord Server
Thanks to the awesomeness of SandStorm, we now have a Discord server for my projects that you're welcome to join if you want to :3 https://discord.gg/KQKc5wR689
Now, I'm like a grandma when it comes to social media stuff, so, of course, I had literally no idea how to set up something like this x3 It only exists because SandStorm was kind enough to take the time to make it. I will try to post bits and bobs there when it's just little things that aren't worth making a full post update for, and you're welcome to just chat about stuff in general in the suitable channels (please don't post any game spoilers out in the open x3) I already dropped some random pictures of moths in there xD So I guess I will probably also use it for stuff like that which isn't necessarily related to my projects!
Just know that if you happen to message me or anything on there, it might take me a while to get back to you because my brain doesn't handle instant messaging/interaction very well xD I tend to respond to everything as though it's an email, haha. I'm just not very good at replying to things if I haven't had the time to think it over first. So if I drop in there and say something, please don't think I'm ignoring you if you say something back and then it takes me a few days (or longer) to appear again cos that's absolutely not the case x3 It's just me being my derpy self!
A Spanner In The Works/AKA - I'm Basically Screwed For Life >.<
So, if you've been reading any of my previous rambling, you probably already know that I have struggled with mental health problems all my life, and have been largely unemployed as a result >.< Well, the only reason I can survive is because I have the world's best dad who doesn't mind his crazy autistic daughter still living with him in her thirties + government aid in the form of a very small amount of money each month to go towards bills and feeding myself.
Over the years, various people have told me I should try and make a living from my hobby of making VNs, and I genuinely began to believe that I might be able to start having commercial releases, with the possibility of earning enough to support myself at some point. Surely there had to be a way for me to try and get started without losing my safety net because surely any government would want to help unemployed people with disabilities do some form of work... To try and find out, I decided to ask an expert from Citizens Advice! Here's what happened:
The TLDR version is - it seems as though it's not to be.
He told me that it's far too risky because the moment I release a project commercially, any money gained from it, no matter how little, will be seen as profit, and I will lose my aid immediately. For that reason, he said I should only consider making something commercial if I have high confidence that I'll get enough consistent income from it to be able to live, because once the aid is taken away, he said it's near impossible to get it back. I certainly don't know many indie devs who manage to earn a living from making VNs alone, so it's highly likely I'd be screwed.
On the bright side, he said there is no issue with continuing to make VNs as a hobby and accept donations here and there towards funding them, but to stay away from things like Kickstarter (because, if successful, the lump sum of money would be seen as income rather than funding for a hobby, so would create big problems) and commercial releases.
It also means I had to decline an offer I received from a Korean games company for a profit share. Basically, they wanted to buy the exclusive rights to a mobile version of DD. They would edit the game and make it fit their model (less choices, no VA, users have to buy tickets/gems to unlock extra choices), and I would get 10% of sales related to the title. I discussed this with the advice guy also, and he told me to stay well away from it. He said that again, it would be considered income, no matter how small, and so it wouldn't be worth the cost of potentially losing my aid money over something where I may get very little in return. He also told me that 10% is a pretty awful cut anyhow, and a perfect example of how big companies take advantage of indie devs. He also told me to look out for a copycat version on their platform, as he said he's encountered cases of theft of gaming-related property when foreign companies don't get what they want >.< I highly doubt they'd want to steal my idea for DD, but even if they did, they have no clue where I'm planning to take things, and their model wouldn't allow them to make the game the way I plan to make it anyhow!
In an ideal world, everyone who creates things that others consume would be paid for that work, but in reality, that's just not how things work, and I'm stuck in the situation I am because of the way the government works here. All I can do is try to make the best of things! At the end of the day, making games is a hobby I enjoy, and while I continue to get enjoyment from it, I'll keep sharing what I've made :3
I'll be updating the following old post to reflect the above anyways: https://melancholy-marionette.itch.io/darling-duality-winter-wish/devlog/271784/...
30 Days Wild Fundraiser - The Result
Aside from the daily drawings for the challenge, I was super immersed in nature, which definitely helped me feel a little better :3 I may never be cured of my depression, but spending time in nature sure does help make it easier to cope with life!
Anyways, thanks to the generous folks who supported me for the fundraiser, I'm pleased to say the £100 target goal was met (and slightly exceeded at £108!) to go towards my local Wildlife Trust + an amazing additional donation to the equally incredible WWT \^0^/ So thanks so much for supporting me with that :3 The DD x 30DaysWild wallpaper reward is still being worked on by the awesome LPB!
The End
So that's that for this not-so-little progress report! I'll be continuing to work on DD throughout August (in a healthier way than before, haha) and I might end up participating in Spooktober VN Jam again this year. But don't worry, if I do, I'll try to make something related to DD like a spinoff or prequel story, so that even if the main DD project is paused for September, something DD-related will still be going on :3 For now though, I'm just gonna keep doing what I can towards the main project and see how I feel when September comes!
Hope you're all having a happy August so far ^-^ I'm just trying not to melt in the multiple heatwaves >.<"
Comments
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.
looking at the character design, their art style doesn't really match the Castor/Castoria model.
will they be changed later in the future to match the similar artstyle of that of Castor/Castoria's in game? just wondering because it would look weird if the models were both together in the same frame.
Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot I can do about that >.< The base models for both Castor/ia and Cana are by the same artist. Every single sprite I plan to use in DD is by the same artist. But I do know what you mean because I've had them side by side and something does look a little off! I suppose that's going to happen with an artist that's been releasing sprite assets over the course of a few years cos it must be difficult to stay consistent as your style slightly changes over time.
Admittedly, some sprites do look closer in style than others, but I had to use the ones I did for Cana because they're one of only 2 in the entire set that actually have proper casual clothes. And since Cana is supposed to be a regular human, unlike several other characters that will eventually be in the game, I was a bit stuck with which base model to use.
The artist has been gradually releasing more casual clothes here and there, so it may get to a point where I can use a different base model that matches a bit better, but for now, it's the best I can do. I'm no artist myself, so I just edit the colours and alter hairstyles and stuff. Sometimes I can manage to steal an outfit from one base model and put it on a different one, but for me to do that, their poses have to be really similar so that the positioning of arms and their head doesn't look odd x3
Back when I first made Castor/ia's edits, the two outfits they use in the game were all that was available for that model. Now they have a huuuuge amount of much more casual outfit options, and there's even a wedding dress for Castoria now! So the artist is adding stuff all the time.
The fact that Castoria now has a wedding dress is awesome, I'd love to see it! And may I also ask who the artist is to see their other works?
Sorry my reply is quite slow >.< I'm currently working like crazy on trying to make some stuff for Spooktober VN Jam this year, haha. I've gone a bit insane and am aiming to make 2 games instead of 1 this time x3 1 will be related to DD but playable without knowledge of DD, and the other will be its own thing.
The artist is someone from Japan called SasaIchi. I can't read Japanese, so I can only go on what Google translate says from their page, but it seems they mainly keep creating art for asset packs. This is their blog thingy anyways where they post their progress and stuff! Seems like they're working on a new set of characters soon that looks really cool, so I'll probably be buying that new pack whenever it drops :3
it's terrible that you have to go through such hoops just to be able to make games for the profit you deserve. i'm glad you still make them, at least. your games have helped me through some hard times as an avid horror lover and a sucker for psycho characters.
you're one of my favorite creators and to read about the hardships you go through on a daily basis is just,,, awful. i wish you the best of luck. (as a side note, Cana is adorable, and all the character designs i've seen in your games are incredible)
It's kind of funny because generally, I feel like people from around the world think that the UK is a decent country, and don't get me wrong, it's certainly not awful, but it's far from great if you have a physical or mental 'disability' >.< Sure, a lot of people do make an effort to be respectful and try to adapt, but in many instances, you're treated like a second-class citizen, unfortunately.
When I was my grandma's carer, we had no end of trouble with getting her access to buildings that didn't provide ramps for entry, or that only had toilets upstairs and no lift to reach them >.< And when it comes to things like autism, it seems as though many employers have no desire to make small adaptations that would help tremendously in making a workplace seem less overwhelming.
It just kinda feels like you're constantly fighting for the right to do basic stuff that other folks already do/have. It really feels like the government just sees people like me as a burden on society because we can't operate the same way as the majority, rather than seeing the potential in the things we actually can do.
My therapist was pretty blunt with me in the past when discussing my being on the autistic spectrum. She said that with the way employment works in our country, it's pretty unlikely for an autistic person to actually secure long-term employment. She essentially told me to just focus on my hobbies instead.
But then it's like, I can't even try to support myself with my hobby because if I do, I will lose the small amount of money I get each month to feed myself >.< Where is the logic in that? >.<”
Anyways, it is what it is I guess. I don't have the power to change the way our government thinks, so all I can do is try my best to get on with my life x3
I'm really glad my games have been able to help a little :3 That means a lot. *High five for the horror and psycho character love*, hehe.
Aww, thanks, that's so nice of you to say ^-^ The low self-esteem part of me just shouts, how can I possibly be one of anyone's favourite creators?! x3 haha. And then the part of me that's trying to get better at not always putting myself down says, shut up and accept the compliment, ya doughnut!! Haha.
I'll be okay anyhow. I've got my dad, thankfully, and I'm a hell of a lot luckier than a lot of people on the planet, so I really shouldn't complain x3
I'm glad you like the look of Cana! I'm hoping to reveal a couple more future DD characters in a separate side project for Spooktober, which I'm pretty excited about :3
Depression can be super hard to deal with, as can other mental health issues in general. I’m so sorry that you have to struggle with that, I know from experience how difficult it can be… I want to express my appreciation for you and your art, though! I hope things go well for you. <3
Yeah, it's one of those things that I'm not sure you ever truly overcome cos even during periods of time where things are going fairly well, the ol' depression demon's still lurking somewhere in the shadows >.< I'm sorry you have experience of it yourself. I wish it was something no one had to experience! I guess all we can do is keep on going and take extra special notice of the good things when they do happen :3
Thanks for all your kind words :3 I hope things go great for you too!! *digital hugs across the internet*
Cana is the playable character right?🤔
Cana is one of the new characters being added to the game that you can choose to spend time with instead of/as well as Castor/ia :3 So basically a new LI. The update I'm working on will add the start of their route + continuation of Castor/ia's route, among other things :D
I haven't posted much about the character yet cos I'll make a separate post at some point with their profile, but Cana is MC's childhood friend :3
Oooh, no wonder its quite unfamiliar with me. Hihi that alone excites me (≧▽≦)