Corporate Development Memo (11/1/2020)

TO: My lovely Patrons

FROM: Grym Gudinna 

SUBJECT: Karlsson's Gambit Development Update (moving on to 0.4!)

Hi all,

This one might be a little long because it's a lot to update so forgive the stream of consciousness writing, I am just going to ramble while I try not to forget anything!

I am finalizing minor tweaks for a 0.3Final, it's not super important to most that have played 0.3A, but it does help me with minor adjustments to make 0.4 easier moving forward.  I should finish that tomorrow, and I have been working a big real work project with helping decorate and plan with another company a big election party taking place the night of Election Day this Tuesday.  I am not super political because just assume I have to make my life my own no matter who is in charge, but I will have to do a lot of legwork for that tomorrow and Tuesday full-time and attend it all night.  I hope at least everyone staying in the United States does vote!  This project is kind of a big deal not so much for the financial gain, but for huge networking with some bigwig types, so I want to do a good job!   Large gatherings still make me nervous with the virus, but I'll be careful!

What is my plan for this week for 0.4:

1.  Outline the scenes and asset hunt for locations for 0.4, write out a skeletal outline of everything.  I may be able to get some renders and writing in, but I'm not sure dependent on how busy I am at work this week.  (catching up!)  I have managed to take a short break after finishing 0.3 a few days last week, but would like to rest 1-2 more days near the end of this week and just creatively brainstorm, etc.

2. Finalize computer purchase:  I have two options being presented to me Wednesday, and I plan to bite the bullet and commit to something.  I am not sure I can use it right away for the art/render software I use for the game, but the public beta of the program (called Daz Studio) is currently supporting the new graphic cards, so I hope so.  Worst case, I will have to wait a month or two to fully utilize the power of this new PC, so I would first work on simpler scenes that my current computer can still use.  This new computer in theory will GREATLY help me with speed and a little better graphics.  If you really notice my game, I sacrifice a lot in quality - especially floors, walls, backgrounds - to make sure the characters fit in my memory.  So I'm really hopeful!  I don't expect to get the actual computer until the earliest mid-November and the lastest mid-December, so we shall see.  I know I will have to take some time to start moving all the files and testing the new computer, so I kind of expect some tech difficulties at first, but I hope to have some help here locally on this...hopefully!

3.  I have talked a few times about challenge of taking away time from my real work to make time for the game.  The reality is that I can't go say 100 hours a week non-stop on both, I have to sometimes pick and choose times and priorities.  I don't want to get super specific with numbers, but it is safe to say that I have turned down well over a year of this game's current income in the last 100 days.  That is a bit too much money to give up too often, and I am ALMOST but not quite ready to discuss how I have addressed this other than to say someone else did about 50 renders of 0.3, and I hope no one noticed a huge difference!  If you are on Discord, you may see another Mistress lurking around!  It's ok :)  More on that as I work on putting it together, which is also on my list this week.  Long-term, this will help me and I think make the game better overall!

4.  For November, I will probably immediately this week start a poll for 2 and 3 person images, plus one more thing where people can directly send me ideas for a what if/fantasy scene and if I get some good ideas, I will create one of them!  I am open to either a vote on it with Patrons or just picking one, so let me know!

5.  A new character of importance will be in 0.4, and I will likely want to do a design vote again to let people think about the character.  She will be a little older, and is one of two remaining Board members (of 7, you have met five so far, the four Karlsson sisters and Elena) not introduced in the game yet.  So she would be # 6 on the Board.  This will probably be late this month as I want to work a lot on the computer/planning, early writing/renders, etc.     

Anyway, a little more this week to come.  I really have to finish this stuff for Tuesday, and feel pretty refreshed to hit the ground running again!

6.  Last thing -- I have been thinking very hard about the long-term direction of the game, and am considering expanding more sub paths for Kane more, and downgrade the dom a little as a sacrifice and narrow it down a bit.  I feel like most on here are enjoying the sub paths more, but appreciate some initial thoughts on that too...

Thank you for everything!  I appreciate the support, and I really do work hard to hope you all enjoy yourselves!