The next big work-in-progress piece to share is the dialogue system. It’s a bit difficult to place and do appropriately. In a lot of games, dialogue happens in between stage segments, but the story will sometimes need to play out while the action is going. The problem with this is that sometimes there will be UI elements like scoring, collectibles, and other things that also need to be displayed to the user. So there’s still some placement consideration that needs to happen here before it moves onward. There’s also a lot of different ways to communicate who is talking. I like the usage of 3D portraits focused on their facial expressions, but it becomes quite hard when they are trying to run/jump/dash, and you’re trying to realistically show their facial expressions while they are trying to platform.

Otherwise: We’ve got a title for the game! Or at least something better than the working title. From Project Koto to “Koto the Runner”. We’ve got a story now surrounding our main character, Koto, and her cat! Yes, a cat! It should’ve been a crow really, but cats are good too.

~Chaos

In Germany, there’s an annual event where students get to shadow companies to explore potential career paths. It was our inaugural attempt at organizing such an event, so we created a schedule to cover the major disciplines needed to make a game like “Koto the Runner.” Here’s a glimpse of the day’s itinerary:

9:00 Arrival - Drinks, introductions, and company overview.

9:30 Students’ introductions and motivations.

10:00 Online meeting with Shoko, the Character Designer.

10:30 Introduction to Game Development with Chaos.

- Programming basics (C++ and Blueprint).

- Programming source control (GitHub).

- Coding IDE (Unreal).

- Game design concepts (wireframing, planning, and identifying fun elements).

- Art sketching and modeling (Cinema 4D and ZBrush).

- A.I. tools.

- LogicPro Sound tool and Wwise usage.

12:00 Lunch - Currywurst with fries.

12:30 Reviewing other games and analyzing successful strategies.

13:00 Online meeting with Marcel, the Sound Director Consultant.

13:30 - 15:00 Hands-on Game Development session.

We had the pleasure of welcoming Hiroki, to join us for the day. Through this interaction, we gained valuable insights into his interests, favorite games, and passion for game development. One of the most captivating aspects of game development, lies in the creative freedom and personal expression it offers. It’s a harmonious blend of computer science, sound design, and artistic expression, all while demanding a certain level of challenge in puzzles, stories, and/or tactics. We did our best to convey this, emphasizing both the exhilarating nature and the inherent difficulties of the field. “While there are many readers, there are fewer who write. But everyone can write if they want to.” However, what is important here is finding a particular aspect of the writing process (so to speak) that you might enjoy, whether it’s programming, art, sound, or directorial work. This provides flexibility, allowing individuals to explore various fields while pursuing their passion, even if it’s not directly related to the industry they love. This lesson served as a conclusion to the day.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the country of Germany for providing this opportunity to students like Hiroki. We also express our sincere appreciation to Hiroki’s school for granting him the privilege of visiting. Additionally, we acknowledge the efforts of Shoko and Marcel in engaging with Hiroki. For any students, parents, or teachers seeking a company to participate in next year’s program, we’ll be here.

~Chaos

Well, Koto wasn’t selected for the grant funding request that we were aiming for, so the careers page took a hit, and I won’t be hiring anyone anytime soon.

I’ll continue on with the project though. While this whole situation is terribly depressing, it doesn’t change that I want to see this game out in the world, and I believe people will enjoy it. I’ll get some things together shortly to help continue funding the game. Please look forward to that.

In the meantime, what was done this past month? Naming the game… I think we’re nearly there with it. Still need to try it for a while and see if it’s liked. Interviewed some amazing sound artists and started planning out the game a bit more. More screenshots will come as I lick my wounds and find my muse again. Thank you for continuing to read these updates and following “Project Koto”.

Wow, time flies! It’s been what, a week since I wrote that last blog post?

It’s been 5 months? … No, that can’t be right.

Wow, gosh, so much has been done since then. We have the music track from KAIOH! We have a character from the talented Shoko! There's the glorious key art from Rachel! We have an actual alpha tech demo build of the first stage in Unreal. I created an entire remix of the Pulse soundtracks from Square Enix! The website was given a lot of new features, including a Careers Page!

First things first:

Meet Koto-chan. Our plucky music-loving runner who you’ll get to meet in the coming months as the game develops. While she might seem a bit unassuming at first glance, she has her own set of special powers and abilities we look forward to sharing with you.

The KeyArt has also been completed, as you may or may not have seen on the front page. From there, we’ll start sharing screenshots and other pieces of the game as they get developed. For anyone aspiring to join us here, and has some 3D or Sound skills please check out our careers page for new opportunities.

~Chaos

I’m happy to announce that the very talented KAIOH will be assisting with Project Koto, and we’ve got a lovely first track and several sound elements ready to go. To those of you who are unfamiliar, Kaioh has several albums and other amazing tracks within the Super Eurobeat genre, a genre that is very near and dear to my raven heart. One of my personal favorites is his "Moonside" track from "Eurobeat Intensifies", so be sure to check that out.

I'm not going to ruin any surprises on what the first track is, or how it sounds, but please enjoy this small synth track from him that is a part of the first stage.

Music is a great pleasure for me, and I spend a lot of time listening and looking for new albums and artists that strike me. The genres I listen to mostly being metal, rock, classical, EDM, and Eurobeat style. I prefer full albums rather than individual tracks, but if there is a particular track that resonates with me, it'll likely be on repeat for days before I get tired of it. The weather is starting to cool down now with the changing of the seasons to autumn, and things are continuing to ramp up. In an age where it feels like everything is about 'hype' and 'accelerate'. I'm happy to say that things actually are, we're five ravens now, we may have found a steady supply of birdseed, and the work will continue.