Streaming DOSIMETER on Twitch today.

Rendering

Problem: I think the current rendering technique for DOSIMETER looks bad. I talked to Stayd about it, and we agreed that it's probably a skill issue. Today, my task is to do a small shader example so I can send it to Stayd and they can tell me what I did wrong.

The reason I have to do this now is because every time I open DOSIMETER and see that it looks like poop, I am less motivated to work on the project. I want to feel better whenever I open the project.

One of the major inspirations for aesthetic is Alter Ego music video and the games Journey and Manifold Garden.

• Ramp Texture
  • Also added a noise texture to reduce color banding.
  • This approach works with multiple sources of light, as Stayd suggested, which is good
• Outline
  • I didn't actually like the Sobel outline effect that much, I don't think I should use it.
  • The Alter Ego music video doesn't have an outline effect
• Lighting
  • Two lights, one directional, one omnidirectional
  • Turned on a bunch of screen effects (Tonemap, SSR, SSAO, SSIL, Glow, Volumetric Fog)
• Near/Far DOF Blur
  • This works really well! Easy to set up too, though it will need some automation during gameplay.
• Light volumes
  • Not sure how Volumetric Fog screen effect works. Might require some research?
  • Maybe we actually want shadow volumes?
  • Increasing Volumetric Fog density seems to help create a sense of air/light volume, but then it washes out the image.
  • Was not able to figure this out in a satisfying way. Maybe this is something Stayd can help out with?

Money

Problem: I don't make enough money to do this full time.

I would like to be doing indie game development full time. Thankfully, due to seasonal work, I've managed to increase my income enough so that I'm only running $500 short of breaking even every month. in the foreseeable short term.

Things I can do:

• Trying to find more work for upfront fee.
  • This is entirely up to circumstance.
  • Potentially getting more work of this kind soon, maybe.
• Working on other people's games for a split of profits.
  • Also up to circumstance.
  • Typically, other indie projects don't have money as well, so this doesn't produce much money.
• Trying to get more Patrons
  • Would be nice, but unsure how to increase conversion
    • Maybe release smaller yuri games that attract an audience who want to see me do it more.
      • Maybe I actually make the aquarium dating game (working title Fish Factsination).
        • Worked on this game literally yesterday, I will try to do this.
        • Will work on it once a week on Tuesdays.
  • However, plenty of ideas for increasing the funnel
    • Three streams every week, consistently
    • One video every month, consistently
    • More shorts, unsure how many of these I can do
    • Newsletter, to reach people without the influence of The Algorithm.