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Game Update #29
🕑 Added 2023-04-03 01:40:46 +0000 UTCHey there, everyone. It's time for April's first game status update—plus info on the images attached to this post. Let's begin there!
The New Connor
If you're a Junior, Senior, or Graduate, you may have already seen the post from a week ago about a revised model for Connor that's coming soon. Or you may have seen it hinted at on Twitter.
To sum up what was discussed in that post—I have been planning a new Connor for a little while, for a few reasons. First is because of the general comments I've seen about Connor not being as hot/cute as the other characters in game, or that he looks unintentionally awkward.
The more important reason for me is that the original Connor model was the first I made, and its rough edges are super apparent now. He's very difficult to pose/light to look good, which leads to me taking a long time on each game CG; often I have to settle for "good enough" after hours and hours of tweaking. Obviously, that's not a great trait for someone who'll be in virtually every CG in the game, and creating those CGs is often a big factor in delays I face.
So the goal is to create a new model that's higher def to be visually more in line with newer characters while maintaining the essence of who Connor is. I'm aiming for a good middle ground between cute and hot, wide-eyed and savvy, to fit whatever role he's playing at that point in the story.
The figure I shared a week ago received a lot of nice comments, and also received some comments with very valid criticisms, namely that his body was too lean/muscular and that he just looked older overall. These were fantastic notes and really helped me revise him to look more like himself—basically, I went too far in the "hot" direction and needed to pull him back towards cute and fresh-faced.
My test for if the model is working is this—does he evoke the same feeling as original Connor did in the very first CG in the game? Does he show a youthful trepidation and excitement as he enters 21CA to begin college life?
Here's how the current version of the model looks next to his original self:
I'm really happy with how it's turning out—he's more HD overall, and to me, he's now giving off the same Connor energy.
You'll also notice the CG itself is different beyond just the new model. When updating the game, I'm mostly going to be inserting the new model into a scene, make whatever minor adjustments are needed, and queue the image up to render.
But for the earliest CGs I created, like this one, I'm going to revise them a little using all I've learned about lighting, posing, composition, camera settings, etc. in the year and a half since I first made the images.
Here's the full scene to compare to the one in-game. This image isn't final—I have some changes still to make to Connor, and there are details that are off, like Parker in the background having no hair. But I hope it gives a better sense of what I'm going for and why I'm choosing to do this.
So what's the plan with the new model? He's not going into the game until after the Club Update. It's delayed enough as it is. But I would like to use the new model in the first Grind'm scene, so I'm looking to do this full-game image update in the same release.
For the time being I'm letting the model "rest," as it were, and will do some more revisions after I've finished work on the Club Update. I'll be sure to share new images in a Sneak Peek before he's finalized—truly, the comments I received about the first version were so, so helpful.
I had a vision for Connor when I started this game that I didn't have the skills to fully realize, so I'm very excited for this refresh. I hope you are, too!
The Club Update
Alright, back to the regularly scheduled business! There's really not much to add to what I wrote in Game Update #28, so I'm not gonna make you read through a bunch of minutiae this time. Basically, I'm still working at it to get it playable as soon as I can.
I've reached a point where I've decided that the next dev build will focus on the Isaiah and Solo storylines. The Asher/Skinema stuff is taking too long to get keyed in, and I want you to have something to play!
The aim is to get the next dev build out sometime in the next week. I will keep everyone posted on when it comes out—each dev build is a big milestone and means the final release is getting closer by the day.
That's all I've got for today! I've got a lot of work to do, and I'd best get back to it. In the meantime, if you have any thoughts on the new Connor, I'd love to hear them!
Comments
pulchritude
That's great to hear, I agree with Maple, I'm emotionally invested in this game, and I love how open you are about the game development process!
Danny Nym
I won't be able to make it a selection, unfortunately, *but* the Connor model in the image attached to this post isn't the final one. I'm going to share some new images showing the changes in the mid-month update and then in a full sneak peek post. I think the changes I made since I wrote this post brought back the youthful approachability that was missing earlier - and we've also still got time to make further adjustments before the model needs to be finalized. Feedback during this revision process is very welcome - feedback like your comment has definitely led to very positive changes!
Maple
I have to be honest, I'm kinda mixed about the new Connor. While the new model is definitely aesthetically good, I feel like it's a big departure from the more reserved and inexperienced character we're introduced to. I feel like the old Connor wasn't really a perfect sex symbol, he was a character I felt like I could relate to: he's a little nervous, loveable goof in a new environment. Making the model more HD is for sure a good move but I really honestly enjoy how friendly and approachable he looks! I love the game so far and I only criticize because I want this game to be the best it can! Maybe there is an option to select the character model between the two?
JS031986
Partial to the new look could be my doppelganger
Kaiden Cearley
I'm super happy with how the new Connor turned out! His face is so beautiful! I can't wait until we get to play him in-game!
Danny Nym
You know, the new Connor is actually pretty tan, it's really just a lighting difference between the original image and the revised one. In the original there was very warm lighting directly on him, and in the revised I used cooler light sources and then did post-processing to saturate the blues a bit. One thing I do miss about his original complexion are his freckles/moles, so I'll be adding something similar. But tan-wise, once you see him next to Matt or Owen, you'll definitely see he's still very tan 🙂
Danny Nym
I doubt you're in the minority 🙂 There's a reason this isn't the final version of the new model, and it's because I like my characters to have "imperfections" that humanize them. So if he looks too blandly "perfect" to some, it's not going to stay there. You can't really tell here, but he has a crooked nose, for instance, as well as dark bags under his eyes. There have been some other changes since this image was made that I think bring him even further down to earth. I'm trying to find that right balance so it makes sense that every guy he meets is immediately in lust with him, but not so much that he seems like he's some Instagram-filtered model. But ultimately not everyone is going to care for his final revised look, just like not everyone cares for his current look. If that ends up the case, I hope that the other guys can pick up any slack left behind by the change!
Seaton
I'm liking the progression of the new Connor. One thing I also liked about OG Connor that may transfer well to the new Connor is complexion. I liked how OG Connor looked like he wasn't afraid of the tanning bed or a nice spray tan. :-)
Briannon-Faie
I have to admit, I'm in the minority here. I personally find the new Connor very bland and vacuous in comparison. Original Connor was the perfect blend of a mild dosage of hottness combined with brains and character. Yet he still appeared approachable and down to earth much like the MC of COOT. Time will tell how things turn...
Norman Gugliotta
Connor looks more Hollywood leading man now, and will be approached by the Acting School!
byron marshall
the new Connor looks hot. I'm loving this change he kinda looks like Connor from Detroit: Becoming Human a little bit
