Animefest News
Added 2019-08-18 22:30:11 +0000 UTCSo, I'm back from my Animefest panel, and I thought I would share some of the new features I demoed there with my sponsors. Some of the things that will be added over the next few feature releases:
* Ren'Py is moving from using 2D rectangles to 3D models, internally. While Ren'Py is still intended to make visual novels with 2D art, changing how this art is represented will lead to a number of advantages - like moving the calculations required for a 3D camera to the GPU.
* We're going to be supporting the use of 3D models in Ren'Py. The example I showed was 2D characters positioned in 3D over a 3D background.
* I demonstrated how shaders let us recolor and apply effects to every pixel on the screen.
* And finally I showed a Live2D sprite being animated on the screen.
This isn't going to be released for a long time - months, probably. (There will likely be a patch release in the next week or two, before I get back to it.) There should be a video of my talk coming out soon, so I'll link to it when I can.
As always, thank you for your support.
Comments
Is there a link for the video?
MrThick
2019-09-15 01:52:46 +0000 UTCForgot to comment on this before, but oh my gosh this is SUCH a game-changer. I'm super psyched to see what kind of possibilities the 3D development opens up!
NeonF1sh
2019-09-03 00:22:07 +0000 UTCI'm also excited. I teach Ren'py to students (hey, it only takes an hour to know enough to get started). If we get 3d, I can ask if they have a 3d modelling class and integrate Ren'py to that class. Any chance I can help with development?
MrValdez
2019-08-20 03:00:10 +0000 UTCI'm sorry for your recent experience with Google Play. I saw your twitter em forum posts. And I have been there. Google suspended my game because of silly things like too much cleveage. Since that day, I'm lot more conservative with breasts. On other hand, on desktop you will compete with AAA games and you know we really cant go against AAA, VN or not. On mobile, the market is satured with bs games and good developers can really make something good for that kind of players. I understand what you are saying and I agree with it 100%. Google and "family friendly policy" are ruining a lot of good games and videos (youtube) and I can be banned too. That is the risk and PC/consle has its risks and problems too. You cant let it pusj you away. BUT, Renpy devs need to learn how to make mobile games first. You need to learn ALL devil monetization strategis so you can create your own model and use only what you think is etical and good to your players. Mobile games should be aways free, and if you have paid content, it should be open to be acquired through gameplay loops (daily logins, simples tasks etc) so you can keep bringing back ppl daily, showing ads and selling things that will give you money. Thats why, IMHO, renpy devs are missing a lot of opportunities not using server side mechanics like daily bonus and premium currency, timers etc to make mobile VNs.
Glenn
2019-08-19 20:47:13 +0000 UTCSounds awesome! Is there a vid of the presentation somewhere?
Eldon Freeman
2019-08-19 19:22:12 +0000 UTCGreat news, indeed!
Messè
2019-08-19 15:36:17 +0000 UTCI disagree - Ren'Py should focus on desktop more. VNs on mobile for small indies are no longer viable anyway. This comes from someone who was very successful and then on a whim got banned from Google Play for silly reasons. A platform like that can't be trusted by anyone serious to run a business. Beside now there's so much competition that you need to pay to acquire users and revenues were already on a free-fall.
Winter Wolves Games
2019-08-19 06:07:22 +0000 UTCGreat job, 3d backgrounds in particular will be vey useful :)
Winter Wolves Games
2019-08-19 06:05:12 +0000 UTCSHADERS! Yes! I was researching this weekend how to make a CRT filter for the screen in Renpy. Sounds like the tech that will enable that sort of thing is coming.
Stefan Gagne
2019-08-19 00:53:07 +0000 UTCi literally clamped my hand over my mouth in shock when i read the second bullet point. 3D MODELS!!! 3D BACKGROUNDS!!! It's a game changer!!!! This is so exciting! I can't wait to see how people use these new tools when they come out!
Joanna B
2019-08-19 00:35:51 +0000 UTCThx for the news. Just wanted you to know that renpy changed my life. I know its cheese, but thx to Renpy i'm a full time indie developer now, looking forward to open my small game company in the next weeks. So your work is really helping me and a lot of ppl. Another thing, after some years studing and working on the game industry, I really think Renpy should focus on the mobile platform a bit more. Today, you can publish a renpy game on mobile, but its almost like a pc game on mobile, not a 'mobile game'. The mobile platform changed the gaming landscape in a way that even AAA games are looking what mobile is doing (I know they are using almost the bad things xD). But good visual novel developers can do great on mobile without aggresive monetization. Mobile is great for VN. Look how games like Linda Brown and Choices, for example, are doing great and I have seen a lot of better games from renpy developers that are having problems to get the return from itchio and steam. Even after learning Unity, I keep getting back to Renpy because its so great for VNs. Its so easy to use after you learn the basics and you can do literally everything (my second game is a full RPG made with renpy). But it really could use some new resources, like ads, consumable purchases, firebase integration for server comunication and some other things that would help A LOT to make trully mobile games. In my case, I learned how to do it with Java and Android Studio, but I can see how its difficult to some developers who wants to focus on the writing and art of their games. Sorry for the big comment, and thank you again for all your hard work!
Glenn
2019-08-18 22:50:31 +0000 UTC
