Battle Gem Ponies DevLog #140 (Revision of the Vision)

     Taking a close look at the design of Battle Gem Ponies this week to make the game flow better. Knowing why every items, ponies, and power ups are acquired the way they are and how they contribute to the player experience. Condensing big story ideas into as little text as possible. Scattering lore in optional bite-sized chunks instead of exposition dumps. Making sure each map has something memorable happen. And making sure I know exactly how to make what I have written down within the Unity engine and my current pipeline.

     I'm making a list and checking it twice. Gonna make sure this is a game worth people's time and money. Gonna make sure it's an experience people will want to share with others.

Battle Gem Ponies DevLog #139 (Make It Well Thought Out)

     Most of the week has been all about planning every small detail to come in the full game. Where each item is placed and why. A believable reason for every character's decision, interaction, and motive. Logical consistency throughout the game world. Something interesting to do in every room, an emotional roller coaster, a varied color palette, and a sense of discovery and fun that'll keep players invested even beyond the credits.

     This week is all about taking a microscope to the game design document and shaping Battle Gem Ponies up to be one of the greatest games the app store has ever seen. Get some details on how below the break.

Battle Gem Ponies DevLog #138 (Waiting Out Hurricane Irma)

     My hurricane setup. Just some light, some paper, some music, and a lot of ideas. Did a lot of map drawing, scenario planning, and running through the entire game vision in my head. At the end of it all, I'm more confident in this project than ever. There's no way people wouldn't want to share this with their friends! It'll sell just fine, all I need to do is make it exist now. I literally have the blueprints to an amazing product sitting in front of me. I... JUST. HAVE. TO. MAKE. IT!

(Get this week in gamedev below the page break)

Battle Gem Ponies DevLog #137 (Sprite Week)

     Once again, drawing these sprites takes forever. But the first frame is always the hardest because I want it to look just right before I take apart all its pieces and animate them. These battle sprites are what the players will be staring at for the longest time and it's through these battle animations and flavor texts that I get folks to fall in love with my characters.

     I have to get this right. I have to convey personality out of each of these ponies. I want players to say "Wow!" or "Ooo..." or "Aww!" or "Holy CRAP!!" when they see these things for the first time.