When do you recruit a programmer?

[MapletreePaper]

Hi, I'll cut right to the chase. I've been heavily considering switching my current project from Ren'Py to Unity and bringing on a programmer to do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to coding. Putting money aside, at what stage is the best to do this? Right now the script is about 60% finished and I'm just starting to commission character sprites. I've been thinking it would be best to wait until all the assets are completed and then recruit the programmer, but I'm not sure anymore. Can someone point me in right direction?

[mavyxdawn]

I haven't recruited anyone before but I'm a game developer.
As long as programmers have a placeholder image (a draft or even just a rectangle), we'll be able to code it provided that there is already a layout for the UI.

In short, only the layout is important. The actual image size for the placeholder should be the same as the final so there won't be additional changes. Once the final assets are done, the programmer can just replace the images in the folder (same filename).

[MapletreePaper]

I haven't recruited anyone before but I'm a game developer.
As long as programmers have a placeholder image (a draft or even just a rectangle), we'll be able to code it provided that there is already a layout for the UI.

In short, only the layout is important. The actual image size for the placeholder should be the same as the final so there won't be additional changes. Once the final assets are done, the programmer can just replace the images in the folder (same filename).

Thanks for the insight! In that case, I'll be sure to get the UI finished soon.

[Imperf3kt]

Just something to think about, Unity is apparently notoriously hard to make visual novels with.

[MapletreePaper]

Just something to think about, Unity is apparently notoriously hard to make visual novels with.

Interesting... this is the first I've heard of that. I'm not particularly picky or have my heart set on Unity. All I'm looking for is a reliable multiplatform engine. Unity just seemed like the obvious choice. Maybe MonoGame would be a better fit, though admittedly, I don't know much about it. Full disclaimer: I'm not any sort of coder. I can barely use Python in Ren'Py, hence why I'm looking to offload the work to someone else.

[mavyxdawn]

Yep, I can attest Visual Novel in Unity is harder unless you use a Unity Asset. I have an ongoing project and I'm also a Unity developer so I tried creating one in Unity. There are no built-in functions for it but you can buy the Dialogue System asset which is almost the same as Ren'Py. I've tried it and it's really easy to use. Just expensive lol I bought mine on sale tho~

There is a free asset called Fungus. I haven't tried this one but it's worth the shot. The dev you hire can just add additional features that are missing.

[MapletreePaper]

Yep, I can attest Visual Novel in Unity is harder unless you use a Unity Asset. I have an ongoing project and I'm also a Unity developer so I tried creating one in Unity. There are no built-in functions for it but you can buy the Dialogue System asset which is almost the same as Ren'Py. I've tried it and it's really easy to use. Just expensive lol I bought mine on sale tho~

There is a free asset called Fungus. I haven't tried this one but it's worth the shot. The dev you hire can just add additional features that are missing.

I appreciate you going out of your way to link some assets. I'll take what you said under advisement, though like I said above, I'm not that dead set on using Unity. It might be better for me to choose a different engine all together.

[mavyxdawn]

Glad to help! It's cuz I agree that Unity is best to use if you want to ship to other platforms such as Nintendo Switch, Xbox and Playstation. If you're just staying on mobile and desktop, Ren'Py should be good enough~

[Imperf3kt]

I'd agree with the above overall, however there are companies that can port Ren'py to Playstation 3, 4, Vita and Nintendo Switch

[mavyxdawn]

Ohhhhh :O okay. That I didn't know :O Thanks for the info!