This update was a breeze compared to the last update. I was actually expecting it to take much longer, which is why this update was only focused on lighting, but I got the code implemented fairly quick. I added a torch tool for the player, and standing torches around the camp. Any future lights added to the game will be added when needed, so they will not need their own update.
So why did this update take so long? Well, it wasn't programming related, it was the heat wave. My office got so hot that I shelved work on Project Cheddar (and most computer stuff) for a few weeks. There is no AC in this part of the house and the heat just wasn't worth developing in. Ah well, it gave me a chance to bust out the old Wii U which still has some games I need to play. I really don't play console games very much as you can tell by current year and the Wii U.
So, what's next? Version 10 will be the GUI and Menu update. I need to clean up Project Cheddar and make it presentable, and also give this game a name. It will still be codename Project Cheddar, but a more fitting name is required.
Version 11 will be the upgrade to the high render pipeline. I hit another snag with this update where I was going to bring in new character designs from another graphic program, but it too required a unity pipeline like the shaders did last update. It's not going to be easy, but I need to get this update done and soon. This graphic pipeline issue continues to be a feature obstacle.
Alright, on to studying Menu designs. Version 10 is going to take awhile, be warned, and this time I'm sure it will take awhile. Making games more presentable can be surprisingly time consuming, and it's not one of my strongest skills, so a lot of research will be required.
Project Cheddar is the code name for a game I'm developing in Unity. It's in the very early prototyping stages, so there isn't much to show at this time. I won't bother with any promoting until the basic "game play loops" are finished and the menus/opening are a little more polished, but the game is still available on my website for those that are interested.
I've set up this Locals community to be the hub for updates and community feedback as I won't have time to maintain a forum on my website. Alongside a Telegram channel and of course the Project Cheddar website itself, this will serve as the core means of communication for me. I have no interest in maintaining a social media presence on twitter, facebook etc. Besides wasting time I could devote to developing, I'm not a fan of the larger tech platforms.
That's all. I will post news on game updates here. Otherwise I will keep my social media content to a minimum until there is more of a game to ...
This update took way longer than I had planned due to unforeseen issues with the Unity engine. I originally set out to implement water, and for that I wanted the water to look like water (ie waves, splashes, etc). In order to do that, I needed to use something know as shaders. Such shaders are only available for the unity render pipelines, so I figured I’d upgrade the whole game to implement the pipeline. Unfortunately, my current assets (trees, rocks) don’t like the new system so I was forced to import new assets to compensate. Those new assets did not work well with the new system...
Long story short and 2 do-overs of version 8 later I had to throw in the towel with the render pipelines. I settled with water that was just blue and slightly transparent. It works for what it is for now. One day I will acquire environmental assets that work better under unity’s high def render pipelines and when that happens, I can make the water look WAY better. At least I learned a lot of ...
This version brings a lot of improvements across the board. So many I can't label this update with one specific purpose/upgrade. A day/night cycle has been added, with time controlled through the tent (home) interface. I don't want time to just advance, as I feel a timer like that puts pressure on the player. The one thing I always hated about Stardew Valley was the constant push of time. There are better ways to handle time progression and still prevent the player from "doing everything" in one day.
Speaking of the tent. There are now structures in the game. There are only 3 structures as of now. The tent, the chest, and the plowed fields. Yes, plowed fields are considered structures because they are manmade, even if they are part of the terrain. The chest now acts a storage with the inventory system hooked up to it.
There are more features hidden here and there. Some I've already forgotten that I've added, but they are in there. Going forward I have a plan for the next 3 ...
