[ARCHIVE][Alpha] Dev Talk

[markus]

Hey!

And looking at the latest posts and also how much people are online it isn't that dead, or is it? As both of you avatarbr and markus are creators, how is it going the last month? Are there only a few who produce and also a few how talk about it?

It could be worse, it could be better.
It's not that dead, but I would wish that more people would participate in some way (whatever: feedback, content, postings).

Ok, not recognize usually known words sounds like a bug. I'll examine that!

I'll send you a PM with some words I have tested today.

So, if you don't want to spoil you but also have a look backstage have a look into the "settings" chapter. There is nothing special to spoil..

I did that just now,... so it has a graphical way to create content, that's good, it reminds me sooo much of SPS-programming (programmable logic controller <PLC>) I once had a course in. (Google for 'siemens sps fup' and search for pictures, you will see the similarity )
Personally I am more into coding straight away with a text-editor or visual studio, but to have such a way seems like a really good way for people who don't have experience in coding.

Best greetings,
Markus

[basim]

I did that just now,... so it has a graphical way to create content, that's good, it reminds me sooo much of SPS-programming (programmable logic controller <PLC>) I once had a course in. (Google for 'siemens sps fup' and search for pictures, you will see the similarity )
Personally I am more into coding straight away with a text-editor or visual studio, but to have such a way seems like a really good way for people who don't have experience in coding.

Best greetings,
Markus

Hello,

oh, ok, so siemens does it too. Yeah, in graphic softwares you'll often find node based programming as well. But even as i am a coder and like to write in VS, for the storytelling part i'm more into the visual design.
The good thing is i could later on easily set a line writing editor on top so that both is possible.

But yes, i did it this way because i hope that it is easier for all of the people how don't have experience in coding..

Greets,
basim

[malaru]

hi basim,

just wanted to drop by and congratulate you on this amazing tool.
From what I have seen by looking through the current implementation of Archive, it looks very easy to understand (although I have a coding background aswell), but quite powerful at the same time.

I also love the way it is capable to layer image to have your character in front of another image. Not only does it look very natural and draws you in some more, it probably also allows for some cool tricks and games, e.g. by having her stand in front of the screen, blocking/censoring specific images or by pointing at specifc parts of an image.

Depending on how this program develops in the future, I could imagine it being a worthy successor to something like Guide-me.

However, looking through the more complex networks like TS-Main, I already found myself missing some kind of "search" feature. I'm not sure how complicated to implement that would be, but for people trying to write a complex tease that relies on variables and Go-Tos (e.g. a Maze or Game), being able to search for where a variable is modified/checked or where a specific entrance is located in the diagram could be a huge step up in usability.

But even with this minor nitpick I really love what you did with this program and am looking forward to see it progress.

[basim]

hi basim,

just wanted to drop by and congratulate you on this amazing tool.
From what I have seen by looking th...

Hello malaru,

thanks for feedback. I was happy to read your lines! You have some interesting ideas for her, like that censoring or pointing.

Also a good idea is that search function. I had some other things in mind for more usability. So yours is a great addition to that. Thanks.

Have good time thou,
basim

[PlayfulGuy]

I stumbled across this the other day and downloaded it, and today I got to sit down and start the introduction.

So far I'm super impressed and can't wait to see what develops from this project. I share your dream of making a living coding naughty tools. If you manage it maybe you could teach the rest of us that too

Anyway, I haven't spent a lot of time with it, but like I said so far I'm super impressed and eager to see where this goes. Over the next few weeks I'll get more into it and try starting a story of my own to get a feel for how that all works.

Thanks for this!

PG

[BoundSquirrel]

This looks pretty cool, but I couldn't get through the intro stuff in the time I had.

Please take a few minutes and update all of the intro and instructional text boxes able to be clocked through? Having to wait 10-15 seconds for each window is very frustrating and time consuming.

[basim]

I stumbled across this the other day and downloaded it, and today I got to sit down and start the introduction.

So far I'm super impr....

Hey,

thanks for your words!

For the introducational parts, I figured out that they are out of date in some special cases. I wrote them at the beginning, while still massivly coding on the otherside. So some things changed or are added and not covered yet. But the chapters are still good to learn most of the basics by now. Also I will update that in the near future. We'll see if it fits into the next updated.

I really do looking forward to what you can do in archive. Please let me know when you have something to try! Feature ideas are welcome, too!

This looks pretty cool, but I couldn't get through the intro stuff in the time I had.

Please take a few minutes and update all of the ..

Hello,

and thank you for your words, too!

I guess you are talking about a "skip" feature. Yeah. That's something mentioned before. And I do understand what you are frustrated about. When testing Archive I read all the lines over and over. That was indeeed a bit annoying. Guess it's time to add this function..

For now, if you haven't noticed yet, you can speed up the textbox interval speed in the gameplay settings.

Have a great day, both of you,
basim

[markus]

Hi basim!

The main concern of this post:
Please don't forget to inform us here in this forum if there is a new version of Archive!
I mean, take all the time you need, no pressure, ... but to be honest, I am really looking forward for the next update.

I also love the way it is capable to layer image to have your character in front of another image. Not only does it look very natural and draws you in some more,

Agreed 100%, ... additional: I have the feeling that it enhance every picture.
What I mean is, I have a lot of pictures, viewing them in a normal slideshow they are just pictures, ... tits after tits after tits after butts after butts and so on.
But the way 'she' watches the pictures with you together (plus those innocent comments from her) makes me look at these pictures a bit differently, just an awesome idea to watch pictures like that!

it probably also allows for some cool tricks and games, e.g. by having her stand in front of the screen, blocking/censoring specific images or by pointing at specifc parts of an image.

Great idea!

Best greetings,
Markus

[basim]

Hi basim!

The main concern of this post:
Please don't forget to inform us here in this forum if there is a new version of Archive!
I mean, take all the time you n...

Hello Markus,

it's the opposite around. I'm thinking of let all of you test the update first before I upload it fully public on itch.io. I get nearly no response there. For example the version where she didn't even start playing was online for some days and nobody mentioned that, although she was downloaded a few times. That's no good. So .. .. dont't worry

And I have a guestion to all of you who did use archive so far. Have you reached the current end? In case you wonder when this is, she will tell you!

Greets,
basim

[Android71]

I have played it till the end (that....of course...comes much too early ).

And again: I really love the way Archive acts (...perhaps too much "going through pictures" in the beginning), but I like the (innocent) way she gets her information from me. When she finally starts to talk about my relationship status - great, that could give her so much power.

I am really excited what kind of girl she will become.

[avatarbr]

I get to the end too, but I think I missed some interactions (like the Edge part).

One question: How did you created the 3D character? It's possible to create variations?

I had an idea I want to try, but would need another character type

[malaru]

Also made it to the end (although only on my second try, on my first I got impatient with the first "watching images" loop, started to browse through her code and probably broke something while figuring stuff out)

I feel like the first image cycle is a little too long right now, mainly if you don't have a lot of variety in your pictures and just reply "butt" or "boobs" all the time.
If it was me, I'd probably just shorten the initial cycles between her dialogue to about 10 image instead of the 25-30 it is currently at. But this might very well be a personal preference, not something that is objectively better or worse if done the one way or the other.

[basim]

Hello again,

i did quite a lot of smaller things and some testing for future content. But more on that further below..

I have played it till the end (that....of course...comes much too early ).

And again: I really love the way Archi...

..aaaannd..

Also made it to the end (although only on my second try, on my first I got impatient with the first "watching images" loop, started to browse through her code and ..

Thanks both of you for your feedback. Thinking about that you are right. When setting this values I was in the middle of testing and story developement. So, that's balancing, which I was not able to do till now. I will go over these values. Thanks again for pointing this out. This "how it feels to play" is something I can hardly figure out by my self. I played the story so often and are nearly blind for such things..

I get to the end too, but I think I missed some interactions (like the Edge part).

One question: How did you created the 3D charac..

No, you did not missed that. At least not the part you mentioned. I will write some more lines to this but put in a spoiler window as i will tell a bit more about what is coming..

Spoiler: show

Ok, you did not missed it. But it will come. Archive will talk about such things. And this is exactly what I'm working on at the moment. But it's not that easy. Several things I have to keep in mind. The most important one might be "What is archive" and how can I develope the story in such direction. I hardly try to not spoil to much right now.. yeah.. so .. She needs more time. Time to develope her character. And I'm talking about the development while interacting with you. I do not want her to stumble into let's say No-Gos. On the other hand I find it unsexy if you simply use let's say checkboxes to define your kinks.

Back from spoiling but with some more lines to be said.
You do test Archive in a very early stage. Also i've spend hundreds of hours in coding, she is not done by far. Not on the coding side and of course not for the story part. Right now, finally, I get all of your nice and worthy feedback. So my main goal for this first weeks of being "online" is to get all that annoying stuff out. Make the small part of story playable and enjoyable, fix programm bugs and add some needed features to progress faster in the future.

I really do enjoy that all of you like Archive so much. And so do I. I absolutly do looking forward to more story my self. Also it will take time. I know thats kinda hard. And do believe me it's so hard for me, too. So hard to not get into rushing by now. But it will pay out.

Test & 3D Software
Talking about some of my tests means talking about the 3D character. So to answer your question. I do use a bunch of software, but the main one in this case is character creator 3. In the beginning I looked at CC3 and DAZ, and decided to go with CC3. Both of them have pros and cons. In the end I found CC3 way more pleasing in posing and expression.

As what you are seeing are images, you can not create variations of her by your self. So, no, At least for now. (ofcourse you can bring in your own images. To Archive's story or in your own). And that brings me to my tests. I do want to change that. I do want a lot of variation. Not at least because every one likes a different type of woman or man. And Archive shall be able to grow into that.
Maybe you allready saw that topic on my patreon page. I have a goal there for converting Archive to realtime 3D. I do want this happen so badly. Sadly this is a very huge task. Believe me, I do know that I'm talking about. I'm working in that industry.
What I have in mind is not only a 3D model with a slider for bigger boobs..
But even if i do not ever reach this patreon goal, i will add this feature. But .. yeah.. you know the problem by your self when you can only do things in your sparetime..

So, the tests went well. I have now a good workflow in creating models, make them adjustable or swapable. Also I have figured out a good solution for importing them into Unity. Furthermore I ran test to see what graphical quality I can achieve. And to anwser this, she is looking awesome!
Sadly this brings me back to not rushing. I have to focus at where I'm at right now. And move the way along till I get to this great feature.

As i'm feeling bad for you and your idea now, maybe i can however make your idea possible before getting Archive to realtime 3D. If you want to, send me a PM with more infos about that.

So, that's it for now. Have a nice weekend,
basim

[PlayfulGuy]

One question: How did you created the 3D charac..

Test & 3D Software
Talking about some of my tests means talking about the 3D character. So to answer your question. I do use a bunch of software, but the main one in this case is character creator 3. In the beginning I looked at CC3 and DAZ, and decided to go with CC3. Both of them have pros and cons. In the end I found CC3 way more pleasing in posing and expression.

As what you are seeing of here are images, you can not create variations of her by your self. So, no, At least for now. (of course you can bring in your own images. To Archive's story or in your own). And that brings me to my tests. I do want to change that.

basim

This is just my opinion, but if you shared your current CC3 files for Archive you might get surprised at what other people create and contribute. Even if it only expands the poses and possibilities for that one character at the moment, it might be worthwhile.

That said, are there any specific requirements for images of our own in terms of file format, transparency etc?

PG

[basim]

This is just my opinion, but if you shared your current CC3 files for Archive you might get surprised at what other people create and contribute. Even if it only expan..

Hello PG,

right now i have no answer to this, as this question / idea surprises me. Pro and cons, i have to think about that..

Regarding the tech specs... Archive does handle jpg, png and tif. Also i strongly do not recommend tif. So, if you want a character on transparent background use png. I did and used the best quallity settings. This will need some time to safe the file, but will also keep it small. Bigger files tend to produce small lags..

Greetings,
basim