AIdol - Out Now!

[Morhighan]

I just wanna drop by this thread and say that what you're doing is really inspiring for beginner Visual Novelists (such as myself!). The level of work and detail you put into this project is truly awesome. Already, I have found a goldmine of tips on how to produce a budgeted game. Thanks so much for that. I am amazed! I wish we can work on something in the future! More power to your project! ^^,

I'm glad to have been some help! I'm still learning as well, so I figured I better document everything because I'm forgetful. I left a message for you on your thread, too, since it caught my interest. ^^

[Sopheria]

Your game looks very interesting. The art is beautiful as well, looking forward to playing it in the future.~ ^_^ The Yworks program you recommended looks like it'll be useful and great to keep plot outlines together neatly, already downloading it.

[Morhighan]

AIdol is once more being combed through by a test reader. I'll be looking over their notes soon and getting back to work on the script.

On a more somber note, however, my Great-Grandfather, Tom, passed away this morning around 5 o'clock. We knew it was coming, but it is still a hard thing to accept and deal with. Right now I am numb. Two days ago I was crying. I do not know what the coming days will bring, however I do know that this loss will be causing a small hiatus, as I have to be without internet while dealing with family, death, and the holidays.

I am determined now more than ever to see this project through. I will be dedicating the game to his memory once it is finished. I plan to dedicate myself to the game more once my sadness and chronic depression alleviate a bit more.

Thank you for your understanding and supporting this project. You guys keep me going.

[ColaCat]

My thoughts are with you. I hope you, and your family, feel better soon.

Take as much time on hiatus as you need - I'll always be here for when you are online again, and if you want someone to talk to.

[Morhighan]

My thoughts are with you. I hope you, and your family, feel better soon.

Take as much time on hiatus as you need - I'll always be here for when you are online again, and if you want someone to talk to.

Thank you kindly. :')


More bad news. Today we mourn another.

This morning, four days after the passing of my great-grandfather, my beloved pet bird Zephyr passed away after a dog opened his cage and attempted to eat him.

I'm now officially in mourning and cannot get the will up to work on the game. I hope it will be a distraction for me again soon, but for now the wounds are too fresh for me to do anything.

Thank you for your understanding.

[ColaCat]

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you feel well enough to carry on your good work soon. And just feel more happy in general.

[Morhighan]

And I'm back with another sad announcement: my uncle just died yesterday.
What a rough week.

[ColaCat]

Oh my goodness, the fates have really been at you. I hope you manage to pull through this.

[Karamelow]

[ColaCat]

Happy New Year to you too! I hope Morhighan feels better, and you make great progress with this game!

[Morhighan]

I'm feeling better! Well, emotionally. I just got a really bad flu while working at a convention.
Anyway, if you like AIdol, please take this survey!

[ColaCat]

Glad you're feeling better.

That was a very well-done survey.

[Morhighan]

Glad you're feeling better.

That was a very well-done survey.

Thank you on both counts.

I recently posted this in a couple places, but I wanted to make sure anyone following the game wouldn't miss it:
It’s never Lupus, until it is.
Just a health update. I don't want to scare anyone, but I do want to be upfront about it.

So anyway, while I'm waiting to pounce on web hosting for a formal website, I wanted to make sure everyone had links to our social pages, since there are some new ones. These will go on the main post as well.

Blog
Twitter @AIdolVN
Tumblr
Facebook
Gamejolt


Another issue I'm dealing is potentially selling my game. I want to make sure that people can play the game without forcing them to buy it--that's just how I believe things should work. However, I suspect that I'm going to have a lot of medical bills soon, and I need the money.
I plan on releasing AIdol under a "Pay What you Want" model--likely by hosting it on sites like itch.io. It'll be available for free on Gamejolt as well, since I will get ad revenue from it. My concern is that no one will put money towards the game. Which isn't necessarily bad, but I need to support myself somehow. On the other hand, if I sell if for say... $15-20, I'm pretty sure it will be even less successful.
Thoughts?

[ColaCat]

Wow. I read your health update. Can I just say, the first thing that crossed my mind was how brave you are. If I had been diagnosed with lupus I don't think I'd handle it as well as you seem to be doing. I greatly admire your strength and courage to keep going (after all the awful things that have happened to you recently), not just on the VN - but in life in general. I know there is no cure, so saying get well soon is futile, but I'm going to say it anyway just because I want you to know how much I hope this doesn't beat you. So, get well soon!

And I think I can safely say, on behalf of the entire lemma community, that I hope you keep going strong (in life and on the VN).


If I were you, I'd put it as a "Pay-What-You-Want".
I'm sure people will be willing to pay money, especially if they know how much it will be appreciated (and how it will help pay you medical bills).

[Morhighan]

Thank you so much for your input, ColaCat! PWYW seems to be the way to go!

Update as of January 17 2015:
I've been working the blog a lot. I think I'm going to try to get enough work done so I can post updates or creative process articles once a week. We'll see how long I can keep it up.
So far I have two blogs already written and scheduled:

1/19/2015- Soundtrack Research #1
1/26/2016- January Progress

Looks like we'll be posting on Mondays, generally. I'll definitely include links on my social pages as well as here.

Smaller updates and thoughts:
*I've been reading Amanda Palmer's The Art of Asking book lately, and it's really helping me with some creative walls. Suggested reading for all of you!
*I'm looking for help with the logo. Right now it doesn't seem to "pop" for me.
*Debating what the game's subtitle should be. Just "Artificial Intelligence Idol" doesn't seem to be cutting it for me. And since I think I'm going to have a second game, I'd like a smaller title to differentiate the games from each other. I'm debating something about "convention adventure/heist/something." We'll see.
*Finally figured out how I'm going to do unlockable content. Woot! It was puzzling me for months.
*I'm planning the demo to have completely new content. (Think like the Stanley Parable Demo compared to the full game.) It'll be under the name "Chapter 0" for now, since the word "demo" isn't my favorite.
* I think I'll be having a poll for in-game usernames for the characters soon.

Thanks for reading!