Dev Log #119 - A timely software update!

Hi all! This week's dev log will be a little technical but will also include the usual development updates, so let's get into it!

A backstory on doing due diligence!
Over the last month or so, I managed to snag an RTX 5090 of my own and was eager to put it to good use, but was supremely disappointed to know that DAZ3D (i.e. the software that I use to pump out the renders) did not support the new architecture provided by the graphics card. As a result, my purchase was essentially a huge dud and it was only when I realized my processor was doing the rendering that I quite literally had a huge pit in my stomach that I sunk a good chunk of money for a brick, as my renders would essentially be black images and physics simulation relied heavily on my processor.

That said, I'm eager to find out that just this week, DAZ updated its software to support the new 50-series! And honestly, I couldn't be more relieved. I've been scouring the market for a used RTX 4090, but I just didn't feel right about spending more money when I had a top-of-the-line graphics card sitting inside my newly built workstation.

There will be some caveats I will be working out over the weekend, as this new version seems to use a new scripting engine, meaning it might invalidate a few scripts I have been using to keep production churning along. I will also be observing how this new version interacts with their older version (on my RTX 4090 workstation) and seeing if there's a difference in the quality of renders!


Testing a few things out, but overall it's looking good!

Why make the update now when it's in the middle of development?
Simply put, I'd much rather get the value out of my new graphics card, which has basically been idle when it came to renders and physics simulation for the last month. In this case, the best outcome is that my workflows become much faster and would allow me to breeze through the posing and renders, and the worst outcome (i.e., the software turns out to be funky/buggy) is me simply reverting to my currently used version!

Development update proper!
I finished one large lewd scene branch over the week, and also continued my work on the zoo free-roam, as I revisited each of the locales and decided to have all the enclosures appear more unique instead of them all being in the same type of enclosure (i.e., similar to the hippo enclosure in the twins' side story). Aside from the winners of previous vore contests (giraffe and deer), there will be a few enclosures that house other unique species of creatures... just in case.

The good news above has also lifted my spirits, as admittedly, I haven't really felt my best when I found out about my graphics card being a brick, and now that I'm doing some initial testing in the new update, everything just feels... right. Always do your due diligence, folks!

----------------------------- EPISODE 3 WEEKLY BREAKDOWN --------------------
Story: 100% done. No change from last week.

Renders: 62.5% done. The total render count is 3,813, which is 257 more renders than last week. Up 5% from last week.

Dialogue: 60% done. No change.

Game Playability: 55% done. No change.

---------------------------------- END OF BREAKDOWN ---------------------------------

That's all for this week! I apologize for the slightly ranty and trauma(-ish)-dumpy block of words above, but I figured it was a good change of pace from the usual "quick-update" style of dev log!

I'll be getting back to work now, and I hope everyone stays safe and healthy!