Development

Our progress started out with "testing the water." On the right is my first practice code, which is a conversation between the user and Ralph. -->

We tried using our Python knowledge to let the user type in their name. However, since Ren'Py uses a modified version of Python, we got error after error.

We tried using our Python knowledge to let the user type in their name. However, since Ren'Py uses a modified version of Python, we got error after error. <-->

Using the trusty internet, we dug and found a way to make our players type in their own names.

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We also learned how to place and edit images (for later in our development). <-->

Here's the code for the start of the nerd route (up to the first choice). Both Libby and I divided the 4 main routes in half so that 2 of the scripts would fall on each of us. We mapped out the basics of each of the routes and collectively have decided to start going at it! (The starting "route" or intro will come later). -->

I learned how to incorporate if, elif, and else statements into my routes. The text shown on the left shows if you have a text option choice earlier that caused the character Nerd Girl (NG) to have neither a good nor bad opinion of you. Using this, we can keep some dialogue the same for all different routes and change some other lines of code when we need some characters to react a certain way.

We've also started adding in images and backgrounds to our scenes. Below is my route's current master list of all character images and backgrounds and an example from each. Each character has 24 different emotions and each character has the same emotion labels.

We then started putting these in the scenes. Here's a before and after picture of Nerd Girl in-game.

This is from when the game had 601 lines of code (save for a space or comment here and there). Here's what a few lines of code looked like:

The game has over 5,000 lines of code at the moment (over 3,500 of which are for the Nerd Route). Ralph's Route is almost into its final stretch, but there's a lot do before it's done.

Currently, I am working on a scene where you hang out at Ralph's house. There are 3 different activities that you might be doing with Ralph depending on previous choices in the game: playing video games, playing music, or having a lightsaber duel. I completed the video game scene and the music scene and am currently in the middle of the lightsaber duel. I'm more focused with finishing the game at the moment than working with CGs, but I hope to have CGs for each of these events by the end of the game's development!

During spring break, I worked on making HD Ralph sprites. He currently has 6 outfits with 44 emotions each! Here are some of the new Ralphs:

I made a short, simple intro to the game that we could use during WMU's innovation day. It has a more game-like feel than our previous intro (as well as accounting for all three routes that now exist), however, it won't be the final intro used in the finished game.

I've started messing around with GarageBand to create background music for our game. While I've already got the main melody for a theme song, I haven't recorded it yet (or at least I haven't recorded a version I want to put in the game yet). So, here's a WIP of Ralph's theme:

Development Update Videos:

Here are videos where I talk about my work and progress with the game. The top one explains my earlier development during the trimester while the second acts as a quick Ren'Py tutorial as well as a progress update. The third and fourth have a summary of Ren'Py as well as an update on Ralph's hangout scene:

10-27-17

11-30-17

5-8-18

5-29-18

This is a tutorial about how to use Ren'Py! It covers basic commands and image folders, along with a few other details.

Ren'Py Tutorial (By Me)

T.R.A.S.H. Visual Novel

Research and Development

Development