Game Journal #122 - SCREW 3D, Clair Obscur Expedition 33

Hey everyone! Welcome back to my game journal series!

It's been about a month since I did anything. But, recently, I got a good idea that I think will help a lot. So keep reading if you want to know!

First of all, epic life update. You remember how I said I was gonna have to get another job? Well, I did, sorta. And it's like 200$/hour. What job? Donating plasma! I was shocked when I discovered this, it feels like a life hack, but it's real. I go 2x a week, and it takes about half an hour to complete. Each time I make $100. When I say this saved my can, I mean it! I paid off all my non-zero interest credit cards with the extra money. Now I can just save money and pay off my other bills without worrying!

Second of all, this new JRPG called Clair Obscur Expedition 33 came out. I say "JRPG" but it really isn't, it's made by a French studio. Nevertheless, it's turn based. And I was so amazed when I saw it, because it's literally Joe Maverick with a budget. Lol. It's so much fun and I definitely recommend it! I also go over it a bit in the video below.

Okay, with that said, what's the new game stuff? Well, I've decided to make another major change. This whole time I've been procrastinating because I really, really, don't want to make human 3D models. I can, but the process SUCKS. Let me draw a picture.

I know it doesn't look that bad on paper. But in practice, it sucks. HARD. Believe it or not, I actually do like 3D modelling. It's everything that comes after it that makes me want to die. Weight painting in particular, yeah, ugh. And then to repeat the process for EVERY SINGLE MODEL THAT MOVES in the game?! Can you see why I was procrastinating?!

Well, I'm glad I was. Because I came up with a solution. This entire time, I was thinking, "If I want my character to move in a 3D space, I need to have a 3D model." And that was a false dilemma. Because in fact, I can have a 2D sprite moving in 3D space!! Once I realized that, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head. In fact, many games use this method already! Whether for the same reason as me, I don't know, but here's some examples.

That's all to say that this is what I'll be doing. I'm going to have 2D drawings for characters instead of 3D models. I already know how to animate, so implementing it will be easy! Additionally, the game will look more cohesive between battle mode and overworld mode now because of it. So yeah.

Joe's probably going to look about the same. I think I'm going to have him be chibi-ish. It's easier to draw, and easier to make multiple outfits for. Amazingly, I drew this image 2 years ago. I always kinda knew the in-game version of himself would be more simplistic.

I think this design is what I'm going to go with, maybe a little smaller than it. When I say it'll be SO much easier and faster for me, I mean it. Now I won't have to look up royalty free animations online for each character, I can just draw everything myself. Thankfully, model-wise I've only made 3 so far: Joe, Dan, and Erika. So starting over isn't that bad. I'm not quite sure if the older versions of the save data will work, though. Well, that's why the game's in early access.

Here's a process of what I think the 2D sprite system will be. Notice how it's much shorter than the 3D one.

Anyway yeah, that was the big announcement. I'm excited to start it. The game's gonna start looking much better since I can just draw everything (except the environments which will stay 3D.) I'll try to have some work on it done for next time.

Here's my bit on Expedition 33, which I think you should definitely take a gander at.