Dev Diary, April 15th, 2022

I've been spending most of the week working with Renpy, as I always do when I'm getting closer to the 1000 render mark for each chapter.

With this being the last chapter, it needs a bit of extra attention in setting up the layout, scripting different events, and the more 'cinematic' effects or multi-layered images I use to visually enhance the story. It doesn't boast huge numbers, but it simplifies everything for later when I dive in and do the dialogues. The script has grown by about 2,500 lines and includes events I still haven't rendered the visuals for.

For renders, I've mostly kept my computer idling so I could pose and render images on the fly where needed or to add new smaller scenes that would help transition between locations - and there is a heck of a lot of locations in this chapter.

Render totals for now count 910 story renders and 12,544 animated frames. The update measures 1,8GB (lossless) for now, and there's still a lot to do.

I've been targeting a summer release since I started working on the chapter, but until I start working on the main event of the chapter I honestly don't know. If calculations is correct, I need 3 months of 24/7 rendering for that event alone, but with two computers rendering at the same time, luckily that'll be cut in half. I don't want to give any definitive promises, but now you know the plan. Still, it doesn't take many hiccups before we're talking early autumn instead.

I haven't released the usual sneak peek video, because it needs renders from that main event, and I render the story as you would read it - start to finish. So this time around I might hold off on it until I have a release date ready.

Last week, someone asked if I could include the render from that dev diary in 4k, so here are all three versions - HD, 4k and ultrawide. And enjoy the preview at the top. ps: It's actually a flawed render, where I forgot to add the wet skin effect. But don't tell anyone. :)

Oh, and if you haven't already, drop by the Chasing Sunsets Discord and give Kentyrr a well-deserved birthday greeting today.

Have a nice Easter if you celebrate it, and stay safe out there.

// Drifty