Save Ponyville! [Visual Novel]

[Wizard 1,240]

I'm working on a visual novel that takes place during G4. I've always wanted to make my own, especially after playing so many fantastic games in the past! I don't know how far I will take this, it may be a short game, or maybe I'll stay in high spirits and keep going. I have coded in 13 characters so far (player included) but not all have been implemented yet. There are 4 main characters with speaking roles: The Player, Princess Luna, Fluttershy and Rarity. Right now I am sitting on exactly 2,473 words. Which is honestly very little when it comes to visual novels. I'd generously put it down as 2 chapters.

I've been working on the coding mostly over the last few days, but I've started work on the art for it as well.

I plan on having at least each of the mane 6 written and designed. I will focus on one character at a time so I can make sure each of their paths are fun and engaging.

I will include a few screenshots of what I have so far, as well as the art I have for Princess Luna, who is the first pony you encounter in the game.

 

 

Spoiler

The game is heavily inspired by Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. You are a human who is contacted by Princess Luna in a dream, then awaken within the pony world, and must find out why you are there, and eventually, save it from an unknown threat.

I'm currently looking into coding RPG elements, such as performing tasks to increase your stats and having a sort of "relationship meter" for each pony, showing how close you are.

 

Spoiler

 

Here, some music I've made for the game as well:

"Main Menu"

 "Cupcake Jiggle"

 "Wiggle Wiggle"

 "Womp Womp"

I am not a musician. But I don't know anyone else who is, and I know how to use music software lol

I don't currently have a playable demo, but if all goes well, I should have one ready within a week. I need to lock myself in my room with a litre of coffee and just code code code!

I gotta use my gaming degree somehow, lol.

 

UPDATE V0.02

Fluttershy has art! She finds you lying on the grass and is the first to come see if you're ok. Ain't she a cutie?

 

Spoiler

 

UPDATE V0.03

Fluttershy has reaction images. Some rudementary background art is in place for certain scenes, these will be replaced. I am currently coding the map screen which will act as a sort of level select. You will be able to click on a location, go to that location, then click on an activity if it is available. This will be for stat raising, and to meet specific ponies. You could spend every day with 1 pony if you'd like, but that may go against your mission...

 

Spoiler

 

Edited November 15 by Wizard

[Nitobit 1,761]

I didn't know you can make games.  You're so talented! 

[Wizard 1,240]

2 minutes ago, Nitobit said:

I didn't know you can make games.  You're so talented! 

Aww thank you! Yeah I'm a mare of many talents lol, if only I stuck with one, I'm basically a jack-of-all-trades but master of none. 

[Felis Amafeles 805]

The ponies you drew are really cute !
Every one of them is cute 
I love them!

[Wizard 1,240]

Moments ago, Felis Amafeles said:

The ponies you drew are really cute !
Every one of them is cute 
I love them!

Aww thank you! I'd spent 2 days on Luna to make sure she looked good enough for the game lol

[YGSilverstream 31]

I love the main menu track, sounds nice.

[CiBP 351]

I'm really digging Cupcake Jiggle. Good luck with the project, I'll be looking forward to any updates!

[Wizard 1,240]

12 hours ago, YGSilverstream said:

I love the main menu track, sounds nice.

Thanks! That's probably my favourite one so far!

10 hours ago, CiBP said:

I'm really digging Cupcake Jiggle. Good luck with the project, I'll be looking forward to any updates!

Hehe thank you! I admit, I found a sound effect that just screamed "Pinkie" to me, so I made the track long before even writing any words for her lol... Oh and speaking of update...

 

UPDATE!!

Fluttershy now has art and has her introduction scene finalised! I still need to make music for her, but here's how she looks in-game!

 

Other art of her:

Spoiler

 

[Igloostellar Snow 1,317]

I like the soundtrack already, and you're art looks amazing! I'm sure this game will come out great.

[Wizard 1,240]

1 minute ago, Igloostellar Snow said:

I like the soundtrack already, and you're art looks amazing! I'm sure this game will come out great.

Thank you! I really appreciate it!

[Espy Vibe 4,251]

3 hours ago, Wizard said:

 

UPDATE!!

Fluttershy now has art and has her introduction scene finalised! I still need to make music for her, but here's how she looks in-game!

 

Other art of her:

  Hide contents

 

She looks so tiny here  great work!

[Wizard 1,240]

1 hour ago, A mysterious air dancer said:

She looks so tiny here  great work!

I drew Luna with borderline normal proportions, now I've backed myself into a corner and have to make the others look smaller in comparisson

[Wizard 1,240]

I haven't posted much on here, development is slow, as it always is lol

I figured maybe I should use this thread to store notes and plans for safe keeping, as well as keep everyone involved.

 

Here's one for you: How many locations should there be?
I ask because a game like this needs to have multiple locations, but if I add too many, it will drag out development and could be overwhelming for both me as a developer, and the player. Imagine opening the map and seeing 10 locations, nobody would know where to start!

But I could also have too few, at which point having a map would be borderline pointless, and would make the game look unfinished.

 

So this is my plan: I want to know your opinions on what locations should be top priority. I know I want to use the Market as a shop, and a place to meet ponies. Locations can have multiple uses!
So what would you like to see? Applejacks farm? Everfree forest? Town Hall? Give your vote, and your reasonings, below!

[Iforgotmybrain 5,496]

Sweet Apple Acres is definitely a must, that's a classic location. Outside of there, Everfree might be a good choice as well if you have some good story ideas that could work well there. Depending on when the story is set you could also have the Golden Oak Library as well, I've always really liked that place. Canterlot might be a good choice too if going outside of Ponyville, then you could have places like Rarity's Canterlot Boutique or Saffron's restaurant. But that also might be going a bit too far, would definitely be more complicated than just staying in Ponyville.

As for how many locations, I would lean more on the smaller side. Having worked on and made my own sort of VN/Interactive Fiction game a long while ago, I think my biggest mistake was allowing myself to expand and expand the idea I had until it was simply too big and too ambitious to complete within a decent time frame. Feature/scope creep is real and can 100% bite you if left unchecked. I'd start with maybe 3-4 locations. That seems reasonable. You can always expand on content/locations later once you've fully fleshed out those 3-4.

[Wizard 1,240]

27 minutes ago, Iforgotmybrain said:

Sweet Apple Acres is definitely a must, that's a classic location. Outside of there, Everfree might be a good choice as well if you have some good story ideas that could work well there. Depending on when the story is set you could also have the Golden Oak Library as well, I've always really liked that place. Canterlot might be a good choice too if going outside of Ponyville, then you could have places like Rarity's Canterlot Boutique or Saffron's restaurant. But that also might be going a bit too far, would definitely be more complicated than just staying in Ponyville.

As for how many locations, I would lean more on the smaller side. Having worked on and made my own sort of VN/Interactive Fiction game a long while ago, I think my biggest mistake was allowing myself to expand and expand the idea I had until it was simply too big and too ambitious to complete within a decent time frame. Feature/scope creep is real and can 100% bite you if left unchecked. I'd start with maybe 3-4 locations. That seems reasonable. You can always expand on content/locations later once you've fully fleshed out those 3-4.

Ah a fellow game dev! Your words are wise indeed, and I will take them on board!
I was wondering about Canterlot, but that is probably for future spec, once I have ponyville designed with all of it's locations, then I can look towards expanding to other locations! If I don't get burned out, I could have a couple locations for canterlot, appleoosa, manehatten, etc. (Quite literally 1 or 2 screens within those locations) But that is way, way, wayyyy down the line!

[Wizard 1,240]

UPDATE V0.03

Fluttershy has reaction images. Some rudementary background art is in place for certain scenes, these will be replaced. I am currently coding the map screen which will act as a sort of level select. You will be able to click on a location, go to that location, then click on an activity if it is available. This will be for stat raising, and to meet specific ponies. You could spend every day with 1 pony if you'd like, but that may go against your mission...

 

Spoiler

 

[CiBP 351]

On 2024-11-14 at 11:54 PM, Wizard said:

I haven't posted much on here, development is slow, as it always is lol

I figured maybe I should use this thread to store notes and plans for safe keeping, as well as keep everyone involved.

 

Here's one for you: How many locations should there be?
I ask because a game like this needs to have multiple locations, but if I add too many, it will drag out development and could be overwhelming for both me as a developer, and the player. Imagine opening the map and seeing 10 locations, nobody would know where to start!

But I could also have too few, at which point having a map would be borderline pointless, and would make the game look unfinished.

 

So this is my plan: I want to know your opinions on what locations should be top priority. I know I want to use the Market as a shop, and a place to meet ponies. Locations can have multiple uses!
So what would you like to see? Applejacks farm? Everfree forest? Town Hall? Give your vote, and your reasonings, below!

If you're wanting some easy 1 screen locations then I think that the Town Hall, Ponyville Schoolhouse, and Train Station could be good for that if you can find a purpose for them. You could also have them in the background of other screens if they're not accessible to show that they exist. Small locations like that could really help flesh out the town.

On 2024-11-15 at 4:31 AM, Wizard said:

UPDATE V0.03

Fluttershy has reaction images. Some rudementary background art is in place for certain scenes, these will be replaced. I am currently coding the map screen which will act as a sort of level select. You will be able to click on a location, go to that location, then click on an activity if it is available. This will be for stat raising, and to meet specific ponies. You could spend every day with 1 pony if you'd like, but that may go against your mission...

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Nice houses, looking good!