AGI Workshop D5: Making and Testing Out Even More VN Building Blocks

Rationale: While yesterday's experiments with AGS proved useful in determining some of the things I could do with AGS from a visual standpoint, the prototype I produced still felt a little bit... flat. So! I figured it would be best to keep experimenting. Find new ways to move things around, so over time I can layer them up into something visually quite fun.

Method: Today I drew on my moodboard, previous sketches, and my classmates' advice as inspiration of where to start coding. Then, when things were functional, I quickly cleaned up my storyboards from D3 (and old, pre-March art) and turned them into some prototype sequences.

Outcome:

• Added in an inventory system; the player can use things they've collected to visually change certain cutscenes. In this test it changes both the player character's portrait and the background.
• Added in the ability to drag-and-drop things between panels. This demo uses it to put things in baskets, but it could be used for any number of things; pulling doors open, scrolling scenery, stacking boxes...
• Did some test dialog trees with the cashier, as suggested by a classmate. (Some of her dialog changes depending on how many items you've picked up, too!)
• It's also been suggested that I try a bit of frame-by-frame animation for some panels, so I added the capacity for panels to play short animation loops! ...Just take my word for it, ok, I haven't had time to actually draw that sort of thing yet.