Visual Novel Art Previews (part 5)

I'm happy that I was able to share some of the artwork from the Solar Echoes visual novel this week, and I hope that it has you intrigued! I'll be sharing more peeks at the game in the near future, especially when the Kickstarter is put together, but I'm still waiting on some artwork to be completed so I can show you the full cast of characters. To finish off this week, I'm including a screenshot of the game where the characters are talking on the bridge of their starship. The starship interior was done by Alexis Rill, and the character sprites are by John Fell. Please let me know what you've thought of the art shared this week. Thanks for your interest and support!

Visual Novel Art Previews (part 4)

If you're unfamiliar with visual novel games, another aspect of this style of game is the CG, which stands for Computer Graphic. It is a still scene, usually of a memorable moment in the game or an action scene, that is given special artistic treatment because of the impact of that moment. I've had the pleasure of working with the fantastic CG artist known as Aeghite. Her sense of framing, angles, lighting, and color have really impressed me, and her work captures some of the best moments in the visual novel. Typically in a game like this, CG's are “unlocked” as you go through the story, added to an art gallery that you can enjoy later. Depending on your choices throughout the game, there are some CG's you might miss, so it's always a good idea to save your game and consider replaying the game again once you've been through it, just so you can experience some of the alternate story paths and unlock all the CG's. Most of the CG's are story spoilers, so I won't be showing much, but here is a sample showing the progression of Aeghite's line-work into full color for a scene that involves some very dangerous-looking Krissethi!

Visual Novel Art Previews (part 3)

What's a science-fiction, space opera game without spaceships? I have been excited to work with artist Lee Madison in designing the starships you'll be seeing in this visual novel. The exterior of the main characters' starship is based on a Reln starship design, and Lee has done a fantastic job at making the formidable starship of the mysterious Reln. I was also very impressed at how Lee was able to maintain the character of the other alien starships, giving each design a unique flavor that reflected its alien culture and style. Behind each starship, Lee has also placed colorful space-scape backdrops. I'm hoping to commission more from him in the future to further embellish the visuals and the number of beautiful locations the charactes will be visiting in their travels. Here is a sample of some of Lee's starship and space art...

Visual Novel Art Previews (part 2)

The art backgrounds for a visual novel game are very important to the mood and setting. Often, the scope of a story in a visual novel is limited by the backgrounds, because the places the characters travel to need to be represented visually and background art is expensive. A sizable portion of the Solar Echoes visual novel occurs inside a starship, as the characters journey across the universe to different alien territories. I have worked closely with my background artist on getting the starship interior designs just like I've envisioned them, and she has done an incredibly impressive job at bringing my vision to life. There aren't many different rooms in the starship, so the crew will often be interacting with each other in the starship bridge, the crew quarters, and the cargo bay. Alexis Rill is the artist behind most of the backgrounds in the visual novel, and she brings a very realistic edge to her art style. I think it blends perfectly with the anime+realism blend I have in the characters and starships, and I'm excited to share it with you. Today, I'll share a tiny preview of the crew quarters, where the protagonist will be having a number of private conversations.

Visual Novel Art Previews (part 1)

I've kept the art for the visual novel under some amount of secrecy so far because of a number of reasons. I've been working with four different artists to create a cohesive vision for the game, and they have all been producing some really amazing work. I'm extremely excited to share everything with you, but I'll be reserving a lot of the art reveals for the Kickstarter when it launches. There will still be a lot that I don't share because I want you to discover it in the game—some of the art pieces are spoilers! However, this week I'll be sharing a few small glimpses of the art being used in the game. Today, I'll start with John Fell, the character artist behind the colorful alien art for Solar Echoes that you've been seeing for years. Last year's video comic featured a lot of the same character art you'll be seeing in the visual novel game, but there are some new human faces this time, in addition to a few new expressions for the other characters from the video comic. Here is a glimpse of two of the human characters in the game—the male protagonist and a female xeno-biologist.

Planning a Kickstarter: need your feedback! (Part 5)

Aside from some of the rewards you'll be able to earn in the Kickstarter, there will also be stretch goals. If I receive enough investment to meet some of these stretch goals, then you'll benefit by having an even better game, with possible full voice-acting, or even availability on game consoles. It would help me to have an idea about how many of you are going to be interested in supporting this when it's ready. Do you have friends who might also be interested? If you want to let me know you'll be interested in supporting the Kickstarter when it's ready, please send me a message and let me know. If you're interested in joining the mailing list, send me a message with your email, indicating you'd like me to put you on the list. If you join the mailing list, you'll be the first to know when the Kickstarter goes live, in case you want to snatch up some of the limited backer awards before they fill up. I look forward to hearing from you, and stay tuned, there will be lots of sneak peeks of the game coming up soon, especially in the Kickstarter!

Planning a Kickstarter: need your feedback! (Part 4)

Again, please message or post to share your feedback and ideas for backer awards! Here are some of the mid-tier awards I'm considering for Kickstarter backers of the Solar Echoes visual novel game: 

*Digital copies of core rulebooks for Solar Echoes RPG

*Digital artbook showing some of the art development process with final designs

*Digital copy of all OST's in the game.

For limited, higher tier backer awards, I was thinking of the following:

*Original, limited-edition signed physical copy of Solar Echoes rulebook(s)

*CD of me performing my original music compositions on solo guitar, some which are featured in the game (in-game versions are synthesized)

*3D-printed miniatures of the game's starship, or of your favorite alien character

*Play a tabletop game of Solar Echoes with me over the internet (streamed)

*Have a 1 hour conversation with me about game design tips—even pitch your game to me for feedback

Planning a Kickstarter: need your feedback! (Part 3)

Backers of Kickstarter campaigns can invest different amounts of money for different awards. Often, the lowest investment tiers (usually something like $5 or less) usually receive access to behind-the-scenes private insider updates, including details on project progress and development details. Other lower tier awards usually include getting your name into the game credits, and often a copy of the game when it releases. I will include these kinds of awards, but I have others planned, as well. Please message me or post your feedback on some of the ideas I'm proposing, and definitely share your own ideas, too. I'd like to know what you're interested in! Some of my lower tier backer rewards ideas:

*Digital copies of supplementary Solar Echoes RPG game books (missions, character packs, etc.)

*Digital copies of one or more OST's from the game

*Digital copies of game artwork

Planning a Kickstarter: need your feedback! (Part 2)

Kickstarter campaigns are for raising enough money to complete a project, and the project I'm looking to fund is a visual novel video game based on Solar Echoes. I've already written 80% of the story dialogue for the game, and I have about 55% of the artwork I'll need. I've also composed some of the music for the game already, and will be recording the library of sound effects I'll need, soon. The Kickstarter is to help pay for all of that, and to cover the programming time it will take to put this all together into a finished game. But Kickstarter is for more than providing the financial means to finish a project. In my opinion, it's a partnership with fans and supporters, which are called "backers " on Kickstarter. In addition to an awesome finished product, I really want to make investing in this worth it for you, so I have a lot of backer ewards in mind...

Planning a Kickstarter: need your feedback! (Part 1)

In the next month or two, I'm going to start putting together a Kickstarter campaign for the visual novel I'm writing. As I've been gathering information, I realize more and more how I need to hear from you to know what you'd be interested in. If you're reading this, you are most likely interested in Solar Echoes, sci-fi, RPG's, video games, visual novels, art, stories, space operas, space, technology, or some combination of the above. If that's you, then I think you'll really enjoy what I've been working on, and I'm very excited to complete it for you! This week, I'd like to hear from you with your suggestions and ideas for how I can make my Kickstarter campaign something you'd like to support...

The Face of Robots (part 5)

It's clear that robots are increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives in society, but the question remains: How readily will we accept them? Robot abuse is not an uncommon reaction, and though robot designers are taking this into consideration by creating more resistant robots, the day may come when laws are written to protect robots. Currently, robot vandalism and abuse falls under destruction of property, but as robots become more advanced and intelligent, it is likely that we will soon see robot rights advocacies. Organizations like PETA exist for the protection of animals, so it's a natural step for similar organizations to arise for the Protection and Ethical Treatment of Robots. Will such protections change our attitudes towards robots, or will resentment towards the automatons fester at a deeper level, as robots continue to replace us and eliminate our jobs?

The Face of Robots (part 4)

Human attacks on robots have been increasing, and this phenomenon has been labeled “Frankenstein Syndrome.” Residents in Arizona attacked self-driving Waymo cars, throwing rocks at them and slashing their tires. In Philadelphia a hitch-hiking robot was beheaded, and in Moscow, a teaching robot was repeatedly smashed by a baseball bat as it pleaded for help. Psychologists have theorized that, because robots are “out-group members,” they will face social ostracism from humans who are not ready to accept them. Some theorize that it is a “kill or be killed” reaction catalyzed by years of science-fiction movies depicting robots conquering humans, but others think that robot abuse could stem from the “uncanny valley” effect—it's just downright creepy to some people that robots look human but aren't quite human.

The Face of Robots (part 3)

Japan has been employing robots in unusual areas, such as in hotel lobbies as receptionists. The robots fully perform the roles of the humans they've replaced, providing information, carrying luggage, and other tasks normally assigned to human receptionists. But hotel lobbies aren't the only places seeing robots at work: robots have been appearing in the classrooms as teachers, and are even serving as babysitters! What are the reactions of the public? In Japan, so far, the reactions have been “mostly positive,” but Japan is a society that has always been enamored with robots. Will western society so quickly accept robots in these positions? Some would opt for undergoing surgery by a robot before allowing their infants and childern to be cared for by a robot!

The Face of Robots (part 2)

At Walmart, robotic co-workers are assisting staff by performing various tasks, such as identifying items on the shelves that need re-stocking or detecing incorrect labeling on items. Surprisingly, Walmart staff members really like these robots because they are covering a very boring and repetitive task. However, customers have had some interesting responses to the presence of the robots. Over half of the customers completely ignored the robots. Interestingly, adults and children have been respectful of the automatons and have allowed them to do their jobs, sometimes curiously asking the robots questions. Teenagers, however, have been problematic, kicking the robots or putting shopping bags over them. The robots are now being built to sustain the impact of soup cans being thrown at them by mischevious teens.

The Face of Robots (part 1)

I heard an interesting piece this morning on the radio about a robot being used at a hospital. A family in a California hospital was huddled around the bed of their 78 year old grandfather, who had a failing lung condition. While they waited anxiously for the doctor's diagnosis, they hoped desperately that there could be good news. Unexpectedly, a robot wheeled in to the room, with a video screen for a face, which displayed a live video feed of their doctor—somewhere else in the hospital. The doctor delivered the bad news through the robot that the hospital had run out of effective treatments, and the grandfather was going to die. He would not be able to return home for hospice care, and would have to spend his last days in the hospital using morphine to ease his suffering. The audio through the robot was not entirely clear, and the grandaughter that was present had to restate and convey the sad information to her grandfather herself, because he could not understand what the robot had said. How much of the human element is going to be replaced by robots in our future?

Solar Echoes Visual Novel Setting (part 5)

The Solar Echoes visual novel will take place during pre-ISU times, when some of the races have a tenuous trade relationship and others are locked in bitter wars. The need for the Interstellar Union is realized by the Humans and Reln, and it is decided that representatives will be sought from each race to help form the ISU. The visual novel is about the brave individuals who ventured across space into alien and sometimes hostile territories to gather support and representatives for the beginnings of the ISU. You, the player of the Human protagonist, will need to make many crucial decisions during this sensitive mission. Success will result in the birth of the Instellar Union, an alliance among all seven known races. Failure could mean death, or a massive interstellar war. Consider your decisions, and choose your words very carefully. The Solar Echoes universe is waiting.

Solar Echoes Visual Novel Setting (part 4)

I like imagining what a newcomer to the Solar Echoes game might wonder about, and after running countless game demos at conventions, I think I have a fair idea. Gamers often like to know the setting of the game they're playing, and I've found myself explaining in a few quick sentences the following details: The Solar Echoes races each discovered faster-than-light (FTL) speed technology around the same time, began exploring beyond their home planets, and eventually discovered each other. Some had peaceful exchanges and engaged in limited trade, while others responded with hostility and engaged in war. Eventually, the Interstellar Union was formed, and the ISU brought peace and unity among the races, though the Union Guard was established to keep that peace. Regarding the visual novel, I felt that the early portion of this time period was the perfect place to begin...

Solar Echoes Visual Novel Setting (part 3)

If you own the Solar Echoes Player's Guide, the very first chapter of the book is called “History,” and it focuses on the setting and what led up to it. As I was thinking about stories that might be interesting to tell through a visual novel, I wanted to introduce things more gradually to people that might be unfamiliar with the Solar Echoes universe. For those of you that are familiar with it, this will serve as a “backstory” to everything you already know, and will flesh out the historical details included in the first chapter of the Player's Guide. Sometimes the best way to tell a story is to simply start at the beginning, and I'm essentially doing that with the visual novel, starting at a point that is a relevant and interesting aspect of the established Solar Echoes lore.

Solar Echoes Visual Novel Setting (part 2)

If you haven't seen the “Solar Echoes RPG Video Comic,” look it up on YouTube. The voice-acted video illustrates what the present-day Solar Echoes universe is like for players, and it shows what a mission is like for a team of special-ops Union Guard agents. The video is done in a similar style to a visual novel which, coincidentally, gave me the idea to make a visual novel video game. I have also written a full-length novel based on Solar Echoes, which will likely be published and released this year on Amazon. The literary novel also focuses on a team of agents going on missions in the Solar Echoes universe, and how they uncover a larger plot that could affect all of the allied races. However, for the visual novel video game, I have decided to base the story on a slightly different aspect of the Solar Echoes universe...

Solar Echoes Visual Novel Setting (part 1)

When I decided to make a visual novel video game based on the Solar Echoes universe, there were a lot of options. The Solar Echoes setting is vast, and it was intentionally designed this way to allow players to use their imaginations to expand the universe in their own way, while having some distinct guidelines and a framework to operate within. “Present-day” Solar Echoes involves an alliance between seven alien races, and this alliance is called the Interstellar Union, or ISU. Trade and cultural exchanges exist between the races, and they all enjoy a relatively peaceful existence with each other. However, pirates, smugglers, and sophisticated criminal organizations seek to advance their own agendas, so the universe is not entirely safe. As a result, the ISU decided to form the Union Guard to investigate threats and maintain law. When playing the table-top RPG, players will serve as Union Guard agents in the game, going on missions to stop threats to the ISU and the allied races. But is this the same setting for the visual novel?

New VR Developments (Part 5)

Sensory feedback is also an advancing area in VR technology. Haptic feedback (vibration) has long been used in game controllers, but research is being done to develop micro-pneumatic technology. New fabrics have been developed for gloves that are thin and bendable, with tiny air pipes in imbedded in the surface. These air pipes terminate in small, inflatable circles which are essentially tiny, “haptic pixels” that are just a few millimeters across. Programs determine which pixels activate, creating convincing sensations of movement and pressure. The gloves are also capable of force feedback, able to restrict the movement of your fingers to simulate holding objects. This occurs when stoppers are inflated along the joints of your fingers to restrict further movement, so reaching out and grabbing an object feels real when your fingers stop where they should (in reality) when coming into contact with a virtual object.