I asked a few friends what to blog about, hey I told you I'm going to rectify myself, and so a development blog it is. While I didn't want to reveal anything about the development until the end, I guess Development Hell is not bad to talk about :D

I learned a few things during the 'hidden' development of PorcuP and trying to work behind the scenes. Here are some interesting things I actually -knew- but I didn't follow.

PLAN PLAN PLAN. But make it flexible
- Ah yes, planning. When we first started out, I asked rhyme to create a world map and we can plan the scenarios based on them. Except...The map was huge...I had a crazy schedule set up for it alongside with self inflicted hard mode work for my university projects. The game was planned with each other holding hands. Except...



- So when one of us had to go due to...life, I was quickly trying to gather my bearings and thinking what to do. A few more and then we found that the game is too big after all (specially with the constant deadline changing). And the only reason I did so well on quickly shifting the game to Porcupine is because I decided to make it part of my main lore (Division Heaven). Which can -also- mean as a dead sentence for any game I dubbed thee as part of it. Because I'm someone who wants the best when it comes from that lore too. orz

- And because of it too, skillsets and items must change, even the UI (thankfully just a quick color change). And what's the best way to finish database works as fast as possible? Get your closest friends and go to Google Docs. Expect craziness though:



Freedom is evil, stop adding features!
- What made Rm2k3 awesome back then? Limitations and working around those limitations.

- Freedom is great, but it's also very evil in terms of development that -should- have a deadline. I found myself being able to do most of the things I want. What I found is that because I was new to VXAce and how easily some things are replicated (from VX -> VXAce) and BETTER, I got off the rails and overdid it, sort of, with the feature spamming. And friends giving suggestions didn't help with that. Or when the story starts writing itself...

- Point is, I have to be held back because it was too much and/or will take a while. And partly for other reasons... As much as features are great and how you can go all out, working under a deadline isn't good. Finish the game first, make the next one better. Is what they would say.

- Connected to the first point and what I found about planning is that, it is really important for the scripts to be as finalized as possible. If you think it's going to make the game easier to make and is more time efficient. Do it. Just look for people and beg to your knees if you have to, do it. Or else you'll end up with something like this:

From this:


To this:


- Doesn't look like it should matter right? Except imagine redoing 2 hours worth of dialogues and it's going to make you cry. All for the sake of proper line spacing... orz

- While I actually failed on this regard, I'm happy with all the features the game has now. Even when I'm way overdue. Haha.

ORGANIZE YOURSELF
- I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH. REALLY. Just, just look at this:



Let's just say inside those folders there's more New Folders. I curse my laziness u.u);
At least the inside of the game isn't that bad.



But this is also connected to the NUMBER 1 POINT. I should've added more spaces between the characters in case of emergency activation skills. ;_;)

Anyway, it's 2 am and I have work to do.
That's it for now =w=)b