Hi there! Hello! Welcome!
My name is Richard, I am predominantly a visual artist.
This is the first, actual entry in this new blog, an exhaustive post about fun stuff, about what I am doing publicly:
What I do:1, Among other things, I paint and draw via traditional methods and via a (non-display) digital drawing tablet.
see some of my work here: https://richardkramen.com/artwork/2, I make music again via analogue methods. I "released" my first "new" song.
see here: https://richardkramen.com/music/3, I also have an illustrated novel / comic / video game project (mainly in the freezer). This is, apart from life events, supposed to be my "main project".
see here: https://richardkramen.com/devblog/
I have relocated to my home country for a while as I was facing depression and paranoia. I am okay and in a few weeks, and when I can squeeze time until, I will start posting again. +++
2024-March-07
entry 027.
I redo the whole thing in 3D cause this template I started to build upon, the "25d demo template" is a !"#@**(^&*). Or at least a whole lot of extra work and confusing me altogether.
[Edit: AAAAaaand looking into how tedious is it to rig and animate low-poly characters.]
[Edit edit: It don't seem to be so scary but I first try a whole work-out in 2D with one character.]
#godoting #gotgodot #gogodottodogood #godotingitoutgood
A little background for this, a little bit of "about me", sorry, steering back towards the game in a second.
Here is an "about me" / "what do I do" post from my personal blog which I retired. It opens in a modal over this blog.
I come from a working class background with close to nothing to rely on but myself.
Yet, at one point of my life I had the choice to start the process for applying to an arts university (in London, UK) but seeing graduated students work and "what they gained", I in the end chose not to go that route, to "just mess around and figure life as I go".
Life went on, I have made some good decisions and some smaller bad ones and, particularly, one huge mistake which stands out sharp:
it turned out, not properly applying for settlement in the UK really messed and is still messing my life a lot. A way too much of a lotso lotta lot. Being a semi-rootless immigrant is not a fun life.
Anyhow.
I consider myself a craftsperson, not a real artist cause I have real interest in all forms of visual and physical art, including writing and dancing too but not a very defined direction among them. I indeed dance around and among. I make it as I go.
So.
Not much to stand on and a troublesome mind and background still has me in a curios uhm setup in life.
And I am at a point where I can not lose more. Rather, I hold on to anything I have to stop myself from falling down.
Like this little project.
So what?
So I do this and almost everything in life alone-alone by myself in short.
Nevertheless, if you'd be interested in working with me, here is a page to look at: https://richardkramen.com/form/
That's all. Thank you for reading. Respect and love one another.
Back to sword-fighting robots and games and such!
2024-March-01
entry 025.
Hello again!
To get back on track with programming in GodotEngine properly, I went through a few things:
So, it all based on the 2.5 Godot (3.6.3beta) template, mixed 2d and 3d elements, as it allows to use "simple" animation, show a lot and have the capability to utilize engine physics, gravity and overall "3d capabilities".
I would of course loved to model and animate the whole thing with rigged bodies and so on but keeping it "flat" is what I have time for if I do not want this to take forever-forever.
Hopefully in the future there will be a hospitable planet to live on... and I will be able to continue to create more, maybe a 3d sequel. Anyhow.
Before I get to the actual fun part of it all, drawing characters properly, animating them, drawing backgrounds, making props and interactions, I must get through with the "boring" coding part. Fortunately, thanks to the vast busy-busy community this game engine attracted, the resources are plenty and I do not have to figure out everything on my own, amazing people share their work and discuss their troubles on forums and all in all, this is a superior software to work with. Yay. Here is a list of most things I've done apart from the "old code". Will upload a video soon and then some silly pre-alpha to mess with.
I decided to disclose my actual roadmap [it is still heavily cropped for brevity], see it at the bottom, after the posts: Roadmap
⌁ Created off-screen point-of-interest indicators by merging two different sources and then managed to fix and trim it down to about 50 lines. Now it all works as expected.
⌁ Got a placeholder parallax background for clouds/depth.
⌁ Drew the rough animations for the first own character, walks, falls and jumps in 8 directions.
⌁ Fixed unwanted sliding of the player again: after about three hours of coding i realized i just need to adjust a slider.
⌁ Experimented with a logo idea, worked it out it in Inkscape.
⌁ Created a transparent boot splash, when the game loads, there is a neat semi-transparent logo popping up, and did some icons for files and folders.
⌁ Discovered this spatial/panning audio function: the sound pans left or right depending on where the source is on the screen.
⌁ Added a screenshot function
I am at a dilemma, a problem where I have to decide to go with just a single-player mode or introduce and take on building a multiplayer option as it would make great sense according to my "story" and beyond. There will be party/team-based gameplay either way. Keeping simple but not too simple.
Thank you for reading.
2024-February-28
entry 024.
Just a few more images.
Photo from 2020:
Figuring how the character avatar/hud should look. This is too distracting but looks cool, would take a few shaders:
I think I go with small eyes for this character:
2024-February-28
entry 023.
Sword fighting.
I will have to revise what are the early posts about cause I honestly have no idea, this thing changes so much and for a while is only shrinking (finally!) so I take no responsibility about previous information. I have the absolute pleasure of nobody caring about this at all so... yeah, just for the record.
Sword fighting in the future.
There are other games doing the "far-future but medieval weapons" but I don't like those, they are rubbish nonsense. Except Kenshi. In Kenshi it is the bronze again, so it makes sense and it is very well done, the whole situation is pleasing.
That said I want only a few characters to do that, but even fewer with projectile weapons.
Will keep uploading stuff though, I really-really detest photo editing, i think I will just make a video of all the sketches I have only for this project. Way too much already.
Had to reconsider everything from the ground up and I have a physical and digital Game Design Document which may be overkill now but will come real handy later and especially if I get somebody else on board (if).
Anyway, I understand now how the main thing in games is the "state-machine" (what the character does and in what order and does it et interrupted or not), the animations and the camera movement tied to it. All the rest is filler.
I am testing different modules and ways of doing this.
I added parallax background and a screenshot feature cause it took ten seconds.
What takes time is indeed, the search for the best practice. I may be taking this too seriously but I am a kind of perfectionist, I guess, anyway, pictures to look at:
Mad proportions, huh? It will make more sense in pixelart. More on this later.
A more realistic design of Rosh from 2021, wildly in the footsteps of a great artist i love, see image footnotes:
I did this one for something else and there are billions of similar designs already in games but THIS IS MINE, this one comes with us too:
<- keep an eye on the itch page
2024-February-21
entry 022.
Hello people!
How am i still alive is a real mystery.
Guess what. I ended up messing with this project. It is 3D now... Well 2D in 3D. It seems "Godotengine" and the community did not halt, resources are plenty.
Will upload a few hand-drawn pages and then some.
Please buy me a coffee/support me via this page if you can: RKAWX at Ko-fi
Thank you for reading.
edit [added images]:
2023-April-05
entry 021.
It would be a mistake to let this fade.
I have moved back to London, UK about one and half a year ago and worked myself wrinkled in a kitchen/bar/restaurant and then collapsed into depression. I have started taking medication and working my way back to every project and plans of mine.
This project demands time and money and when I will do get back to working soon, I probably will have close to no time and little energy left for the project. Ummm, So that is something to be sorted out. ...Patreon, Ko-fi + carving out time...
I kept writing the story in drips and by pieces of ideas, inching it further. Thankfully did draw more (but on paper) and re- and re-thought many parts. Hopefully it is a more ripe and settled mass now... I'm being told it is interesting. We'll see.
My idea was to drop the video game aspect and just sketch out the storyboard and make my way toward a proper comic book/visual novel. But I believe this all could come alive well in an interactive format - call it childish creativity or label me, fun is fun. My intention is to share my ideas and vision and as video games dominate still they can well be used to convey. These times ...truly a mad world isn't it? Every day I read about some large-scale inane f*ckery, some harmful action being done to the many by an obnoxious few... and so we all look to escape into imagination, vices, books and yes, games. Hmmm. Let's see what we see.
Technicalities: Godot Game Engine number Four (4) wooooooooo! Now that at least is good news. Thank you, amazing people behind a fantastic piece of computer program!
Yes, this project will be done entirely via free free libre free software, I won't even get into a conversation with anybody who isn't running Unix or BSD.
That's it for now. Thank you for reading, I hope I can add something exciting and worthwhile to this world.
2021-November-07
entry 020.
Exhaustion holding the project back.
Drew a lot though. Fixed a final logo and designed some clothes. Used. Tired.
2021-October-20
entry 019.
2021-October-14
entry 018.
Started working on jumps.
...
May just stick with dashing.
Drawing/painting out the map's background and foreground and played around with logo variations.
2021-September-21
entry 016.
Many things going on in my life. Must attend a daily grinder and there are things lacking but let's see about this game:
I've corrected parts of the code, merged multiple shaders into one, set up a basic save system, the storyboard has been evened out to reflect more the way I want to see this first part go down. Re-drawing/styling again one of the first playable characters as I have it clear how it should look.
And I believe I should get done some proper animations now, as it defines a game like this a lot.
2021-August-12
entry 015.
If I keep up my tempo, there'll soon be something on itch.io.
Hi! I've added fading splash logos, a main menu, modifier key triggered running, zoom in an out, some more animations and something of a night-vision. Working on a character shadows and a silhouette shader to show the shape of player when behind objects.
I have also started working as a chef again. Apparently I won't become homeless.
Looking for artist friends with similar vision for partnership in the future. Animators, programmers and game-mechanics intersteders mostly.
2021-August-01
entry 014.
Hey! How are you doing?
While my personal life is still "not OK" to put it brief, I did make progress with all of these doings here.
(Previously, I implemented "conditionally loading" and "fallback images" to this blog, all pictures should now display on every device.)
Here are a few images: a mixed-up image of the main parts of the first environment, a rework progress of the character "N:0" (and the beginning of a "soldier" or "police officer", a shot of the animation process of the four-legged things and an "airplane".:
2021-July-30
entry 013.
I have laid out the map of the first stage/"level" and began developing these four-legged robots. Somewhat of a spoiler but uh, sure.
Screenshots:
2021-July-22
entry 012.
After a difficult month in Hungary, I have relocated to Stockholm, Sweden.
I am on the hunt for hospitality jobs and rather on the edge.
Yet I pushed on some with my art and organized my works a bit more.
Here's a dump of hand-drawn concepts for this story:
N:0 a.k.a. Arneb:
old ones:
Roshanak Khur-Zadeh:
Thanks for reading!
2021-June-15
entry 011.
This goes on hold as my whole life been turned upside down and is being walked on. I am on the go, between countries, stuck in a real shitty one at the moment and have a lot of trouble on my back.
I suppose I manage and come back to this soon. Fuck domestic violence. Fuck forced family values. Fuck fanaticism. Fuck manipulation. Fuck acceptance. Fuck oppression.
Yall stay strong, I will too.
Thanks for reading!
2021-May-28
entry 010.
I have trouble with (keeping on) sleeping again, so I feel unable to properly work now. BUT I can describe it in a bit more detail!
The story consists of four Parts or four "Books" and many little chapters within.
I am also sketching out the storyboard which is the spine of the comic book version as well.
The first part takes places in a hostile environment and introduces the protagonists rushing into a quest. This is what I am focused on and this is what the game, as far as I can see now, will be about.
Not planning to give away any of the happenings or spoiler in any way but here's another list:
Story/Game:
* In the first part: six main areas, each of them rather unlikely and unique.
* Every protagonist with their own fighting styles and abilities. A few unusual vehicles (not yet planned to be properly drivable).
* Story-driven, the real drama and action come together with the scenes building on each other, how they reveal more meaning. I love mystery and discovery.
* No points or anything to collect - plenty of items to pick up, equip, mess with (yes! fun! clutter!), though. Expect somekind of levelling system but not the best one. :-)
* I also have no interest in game mechanics at all. :-)))
* There are no supernatural elements - there are odd pieces and questionable bits, however, despite anything, it is humans struggling with other humans.
* Sad, tragic, disastrous, satirical, comical. Kicks you in the stomach and slaps you hard. ...So it includes virtually unsolvable parts which I hope will/would connect the players naturally (...).
* I am a rather non-conforming person so don't expect many boundaries in the sense of what can or can not happen or what will or will not be included.
* Certain flaws of humanity under the magnifying glass.
* Tons of references to artworks and not-so-popular songs. Apart from the obvious inspirations and influences. Hopefully ones which "gaming culture" does not intersect with.
Thank you for reading!
2021-May-28
entry 009.
Started working on the layout of a main in-game character screen. Digging that one in that famous game so I started with something similar. Not sure yet how I want this detail.
2021-May-27
entry 008.
'Ev been pretty busy with other stuff in my personal life to be honest. All fine but we are pushing thru difficult times here, again. It sucks not to be born of as a spawn of some rich people. ...
And while we are at honesty, I loved to make it in 3D but that has to wait. No resources, no hardware, nor enough knowledge, yet.
There is so much to look out for if you want to write a good story... I have analysed at least a dozen well-known movies/animes/writings and still studying a few select ones in respectful detail.
Here are some hasty images:
2021-May-11
entry 007.
Title/poster/something test.
Wanted to paint some sky but it got out of hand. Work in progress.
Yes, the weather is really bad in this story.
2021-May-06
entry 006.
This is N:0.
He is getting a face-lift.
2021-May-04
entry 005.
Revised the script again and finalizing details. Also refreshing and organizing my computer for a more efficient workflow.
2021-May-01
entry 004.
First background about done.
2021-May-01
entry 003.
2D Animation is no joke. Painting or drawing a picture is one thing, making them move nicely is hey-hello, a higher level.
Thankfully I already found more than enough reading and tutorials on the matter.
This is Herge, in idle and pacing state (these will get a lot of polishing - I know, she seems to be having some trouble walking...).:
2021-April-30
entry 002.
Made some progress with sprites and started designing dialogue elements and character avatars. Also stitched up this webpage a bit. Nicer design coming soon.
2021-April-28
entry 001.
I have started establishing game basics in Godot Engine 3.2. Now a character is controllable in 8 directions on a 2d plane.
The whole game and all of its parts will be created using only free, libre software.
Here's some rough art I cooked up, blocking out the first area of the story:
CLICK TO REVEAL 24 PREVIOUS ENTRIES
ROADMAP
PHASE 1, Programming:
⬂ port all existing work to the new orthographic setup
⬂ port all existing work to the new 3D setup
⬂ port all existing work to Godot 4.3
⬂ Core:
➨ Advanced Hierarchical State Machine
+ Animation Player with Signals / Modifiers
➨ T.B.S.S. (the boring skill system)
⬂NPCs
hit boxes, basic actions, follow, patrol, chase, abilities...
⬂Inventory System
⬂Save/Load System
⬂Screens and Menus
⬂ implement further character actions
⬂ (inc invisibility, interactions etc.)
⬂ extend animations
⬂ fix animations...
⬂ skill tree
test new shaders
offscreen enemy/poi indicator
parallax background
make own basic anims in 8 directions
fix sliding again
create cool transparent boot splash for no reason
create cool icons for no reason
spatial/panning audio
screenshot function
2020-2021:experiment with pixelart styles
decide on character sizes
decide on resolution and zoom levels
sketch first map/level
decide on color and mood
fix character "sliding"
unify shaders, (move on if taking too long) *it didn't
add shadows (nope, i'll just draw them, 3d shadows look rather off)
pause menu
track that credit list! (tutorials used etc.)
player attack
test movable object
get deeper into Godot by implementing
placeholder animations
modifier keys and animations
basic shaders
sketch first characters
familiarize with Godot
PHASE 2, Art:
⬂ Blocking out
characteristics
colour palettes
⬂ Environment, Levels:
preload and discard when offscreen
two main zoom states, a little zoom in on main action areas
falling ground
moving rocks
rooms
⬂ Character Art:
characters
test quirky cartoon style of mine
draw backgrounds
character anims
add effects
vehicles and buildings
animations
⬂ Sound
⬂ shaders
⬂ animated avatars
⬂ black cinematic bars
⬂ Cinematic Animations
⬂ compass on top - >waypoints
⬂ weather
⬂ icons
⬂ music
⬂ text
⬂ posters
⬂ stickers
⬂ promo
onto PHASE 3...
Questions and Answers
Q: What is this?
A: An adventure video game in the making.
Q: Who is behind it?
A: yours truly: RKAWX
Q: What to expect, what is the rough direction?
A: Art and design-oriented digital "play with dolls" "time-waster". The direction is Another World meets Kenshi. Wild take but there you go. ... I pour all my strange ideas into it for a long time now: there is a story and an "universe" behind it all with many details which I was world-building for many years but refer to the inspirations, zero hand-holding. It will look 2d with fake shadows (it is actually 3d with flat art on top). Oh, Dark Souls, of course.
Q: How is it going so far?
A: Most of the first map is drawn, it needs to be broken down into platform sections etc. It will take forever if my life continues as it did in the last years.
Q: Sounds like a lot. Anything else?
A: It is getting done in Godot Engine 3.6, if necessary in the future, I will transfer it to 4.2. Everything is done exclusively via Free Libre Software on GNU/Linux.
comments
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