dateariane

Pic 193: Pre-Dinner Pictures

I've be working on Date Ariane 2 pre-dinner pictures this month, trying to render all the pictures representing activities you can do before dinner.

My goal is to get them all plus two of the dinners (pizza and steak) then release the updated game at that point or at the end of the month whichever comes first. If it's not too big I may release a "patch" from last months which should be easier to download. (ETA: It is too big.)

Above is the scene where Ariane picks a play list of m...

Questions about using Epidemic Sound for game music

Just found out today that Epidemic Sound may not license music for adult games. Other AVNs have been using them too, and one of the biggest ones (Eternum) got officially informed. I found the clause in the terms of service preventing it, so I'm not sure what to do.

The most immediate issue is with Hopepunk City since it's scheduled for release on Steam on March 3. I origi...

Pics 192: Early Date Ariane 2 renders

Been working on the "pre-dinner" beginning of the game, trying out new ideas instead of copying Remaster.

In remaster you talked to Ariane from a chair that wasn't actually in the room, so this time I decided to start the date with you sitting on the second couch to talk and get to know each other.

As you get comfortable, you move to the same couch and give her a nice hug. For the last 20 year...

Hopepunk City just got Approved for Steam

My fourth game is coming to Steam on March 3rd. I could make it sooner, but March 3rd coincides with the Visual Novel Fest on Steam, though oddly only "Something's In The Air Redux" is the only other game of mine that qualified, and will be on sale that week. The others will have their own sales during the Steam Spring Sale in the future.

So March 3rd...

Pics 191: In the Mood to Render

I posted this picture already online. It's a render I made this week for Date Ariane 2. With the Remastered version, I created a lot of foreground pictures of Ariane with blank backgrounds to use throughout the game. A lot of these are color corrected by the game, lowering brightness and contrast when you move from indoors to out. I managed to make new versions of around 136 of these foregrounds.

The above is the new "stop there" pose that Ariane does when you ask or do things she does...

Pics 190: Testing old and new sets

I went set shopping, and found some that work and some that don't. Also tried getting some complex sets and props retextured.

 This is a "new" set, and as beautiful as it is you can't not see how pixelated it looks, and this is after half an hour of rendering without background people and it's only at 1% done. Not sure spending a day on one picture is worth it.

That's why I loaded the old ...

Hopepunk City updated for upcoming Steam Release

Hopepunk City has been updated to version 1.6 on itch.io to bring it in line with an upcoming steam release.  The game play itself has not changed. what has changed is some of the music. I was double checking that I still had rights to the music I was using, as that's a requirement of Steam, and the company I used Wow Sound has erased my account some time in the last 4 years. 

Luckily, ...

Date Ariane 2 test version 0.1

Here's the first alpha test of Date Ariane 2. You can download it from: https://arianeb.itch.io/date-ariane-2/patreon-access

Except for the opening screen, it looks and feels like Date Ariane Remastered except:

1. The default game resolution is 2560 x 1440. Actually all the old pictures are just upscaled from 1920 x 1080 originals so you won't be able to tell the difference ...

Pics 189: Test Pics before I start...

Time to start working on new models. Sometimes this is the most fun and also most nerve wracking part of a new project. Foul up here and you could set yourself up for lots of extra work.

What I've been doing is making test pictures. First one above is Ariane in her new basic black dress. It's shorter, but still has slits up the side, so accidental flashes are likely to be common.

On the right is my test for Rebecca. Skinny, check. Blonde pixie styled haired and blue eyed, check. ...

Classic or Contemporary?

One of the things about making updates to Date Ariane is the constant changes to technology that happens over the ages. 15 years ago Ariane bought a disposable camera for an impromptu photoshoot, now she uses a camera phone.

Ariane has been driving around a doorless SUV with rail bars since I started making the game. While Jeeps are still being built to this day, the 1987 Wrangler that she drives is almost 38 years old. Meanwhile, the pickup truck on the right feels more modern. Any pre...

Pic 188: Pick a New Avatar

This week I'm introducing the new Date Ariane 2 Avatars, because they are the easiest to change for this project. There is also some weirdness you might want to know.

"Wait does it have to do with Ariane having bangs now?", well that's a different issue I'll address at the end.

First bit of weirdness: They are practically the same character. Daz currently has two popular figures Genesis 8.1 whic...

Should Ariane get bangs?

Seriously thinking about a change of look. Opinions?

 When in doubt split the difference. A little part in the bangs looks natural, also I agree that the cheek bones are a little too wide so I brought them in a little. I actually like this better!

 Part of the reason for wanting to do the change is t...

Pic 187: Meeting the Warehouse Crew

This week I'm posting some new pics from the final scene of the latest release Dating in a World on Fire 0.55. This is the first meeting of Gemma and Alex, two major characters for the rest of the game.

 Alex is someone I made up over a year ago, but wasn't ready to add them to the game during the Date with Relay part, but this new section has a visit to the warehouse to see Relay, and you get t...

Dating in a World on Fire 0.55

Here's the latest update of Dating in a World on Fire with new material that introduces a new character Alex, and answers a fair amount of mysteries while introducing new ones. I'll avoid spoilers and let you play it and find out.

The download can be found at https://arianeb.itch.io/dating-in-a-world-on-fire/patreon-access

Some changes to the early game:

• ...

  2024-12-27 08:59:11 +0000 UTC View Post

My Holiday 2024 Picture

Christmas 2024 featuring characters from Ariane in Paradise and Dating in a World on Fire

I’ve been posting an annual picture every year for the last 3 years. Last years was done in Poser with the characters in Victoria 4 and Michael 4.

This one is done in Daz Studio with Victoria 8 characters. Ariane on the left is mostly the character model from Ariane in Paradise 2.0, but I gave her a non-ponytail hair style.

I’m planning on start...

Pic 186: Unwrapping Presents

This may be the last picture post of the year, as I want to focus on finishing up a couple of scenes for DiaWoF Chapter 2. Anyways, this is a follow up to the Christmas post from a couple of weeks ago.

The post cover image also has a nude image attached below. And I made a second of the four characters I worked with the most this past year:

 Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year

Pic 185: Next DiaWoF Update Preview

Been working on lots of game stuff, and also some RL holiday stuff. The game stuff is working on updates for two other games, and none of it involved pictures. Bottom Line I don't have a lot to share this week. Here's some news of what I've been working on.

New Patreon Exclusive Collection

If you click on the collection tab at the top of my Patreon main page, I added a new collection called "Patreon Exclusives" which are picture posts that contain pictures that ar...

Raising everything $1 starting 2025

Sorry to have to announce this, but inflation next year is not looking promising. So games on all platforms are going up $1 starting 2025. This includes Patreon, as the "Dater" tier will go up to $6 for NEW daters in 2025. Current Dater levels will remain as is. $1 will remain the same.

I'm announcing it now, because games and Patreon at the current price is available to the end of the year. Prices are still a little less cheaper than market average, and this may allow me to increase ...

Year In Review on Bluesky

I'm posting daily best of 2024 pictures on my Bluesky page. Available for anyone.
https://bsky.app/profile/arianeb.com

Pic 184: Christmas 2024 Pics

 Like I did in October, I'm offering some holiday pictures to Patreon first and to the rest of social media later. As seem last year this is the "Date Ariane 2.0" living room, which looks a lot like the Date Ariane Remastered living room except it's rendered in Daz instead of Poser.

Featured here left to right are Ariane, Rachel in her "pink" outfit, Relay's best friend Alex who I promised all year, but hasn't appeared in the game yet, Relay herself, and Samantha.

Every year ...

Pic 183: Test pictures of Future Projects

 This week is the 5th Friday and also Black Friday, and ran out of pics from Dating in a World on Fire. So here are some "test pics" for future projects just for fun.

One that's on the very back burner and just playing for now is a future Date Ariane 2.0 which would work like Ariane in Paradise (1440p, all DAZ renders) but I'm tinkering with other changes .

Here's the first test pic, more ...

Pics 182: Taking an art lesson

 This final branch of "chapter 1" is set in an at studio. The purpose is to spell out my "New Humanism" philosophy explicitly in the game. Think of it as a bit of game lore. It's not vital to the game, but I imagine it is a popular philosophy in Haven, and thought a branch explaining it would help.

The simple...

Dating in a World on Fire 0.5 "Chapter 1"

 I've been using a tool called Milanote to help me plan and write the game, and thought you'd like the first page.

Just posted 0.5 or "Chapter 1" at https://arianeb.itch.io/dating-in-a-world-on-fire/patreon-access where yo...

I'm now on Blue Sky

 I've written several posts about how much social media sucks these days, they are turning into propaganda sites, especially X but all the Meta based ones too, and the Meta sites (facebook, Instagram, Threads) are never in chronological order and filled with "suggestions" you didn't ask for in order to improve "engagement", and purposely suppress posts with external links or videos, so they can sell ho...

Pics 181: A Visit to "River Walk"

 This is "River Walk". It's a good generic name for a retail and entertainment district. I lived in two cities that both had a river walk so I'm putting one in Haven.

This is an incredible set by Stonemason called "Wonderland" that I'm using. I posted a test picture a couple of weeks ago, this version has a hazy daytime vibe and a lot more people. Low resolution people because more than 6 ful...

Pic 180: Going back to Relay's Place

Working on the next section of the game, basically three endings to the first date. If the dates stats are perfect, you might get invited back to Relay's home for some mostly naked fun.

The game is not over if you don't get invited, there will be more opportunities later, but for this date this is the hottest it will get. I keep the hotness to a minimum since this is your first date, but tradit...

Hopepunk City is going to Steam

Hopepunk City was kind of a personal project when I made it during the 2020-2021 pandemic. Part of me never wanted to release , but did anyways. And now part of me wants to leave it just on itch.io.  

But in light of last nights happenings, a game about the breakup of the US along political lines needs to be available for a wi...

Pic 179: Dating in a World on Fire Origin Stories

 This weeks pictures are mostly already in the 0.40 that I released in October. They represent the three "origin" stories I wrote for the player character.

I decided I wanted to have a "caper" adventure of some sort later in the game. The problem I was having is why would Relay bring the player with them besides the lame "relay likes you" excuse?

Making up a quality for the player out of ...

Something's In The Air 1.5 Update

 This was a surprise update and not many people saw my website post, so I'm reposting it here.

I just released a minor update to Something’s In The Air Redux to go from 1.1 to 1.5. The main purpose of this update is to fill in all the missing lines that were not voiced before, about 150 of them total.

Let’s just say the election is next week, I already voted, and I need to stay off soc...

Game Links for November Daters

Here are all the links to games available to Dater level patrons via itch.io. You will need an itch.io account that is linked to Patreon to get these. Any of these links will show you how. Once these games are in your itch.io accoun...