31/01/2021
PROGRESS REPORTS BOTH 8 & 9
Monday January 17th 2021
Day 68
Dialogue is already hard enough, but what about when you literally spend the day making an entire online chatbox? (probably doesn’t make any sense now that I type it out loud) But anyways…that’s pretty much what I did today. Marci is having a conversation with some online strangers sharing some Amyplier hate, and of course they all turn on her, being the good fans that they are. But I didn’t want it to just be a normal dialogue box. So I made an entire picture-like chat-box from scratch. It doesn’t even look that great. I’m kinda hoping my animator can save my butt on this one I’m afraid I just wasted the day on something that looks like crap. XP
Tuesday January 18th 2021
Day 69
More work on Marci’s animosity towards Amy, honestly it feels pretty wrong playing the role of an Amyplier Hater. I’m afraid of saying something too nasty that would make Mark not want to play the game. So in a way I’m playing it safe. But at the same time I don’t want to go too safe because that would be untrue to the character. It’s a delicate balance. And I love Amy, I think she’s one of the coolest people, so it feels pretty gross to be mean to her through this character. But to cover myself I did put a warning at the beginning of the game assuring that it was all fictional and this character doesn’t really exist, and as a bonus I know what’s going to happen to her in the end ^_^
Wednesday January 19th 2021
Day 70
Okay first off, three cheers for Day 70, but also three cheers for my animator David! In the middle of all of the other crazy work I throw at him he took the time out of his day to put together a quick 30-second Amyplier slideshow I needed to move the scene along. I know I throw a LOT of crazy stuff his way and it’s so tiring to animate and we’ve been at this project for such a long time, but with everything he comes up with, he’s never ceased to impress and amaze me. We both may be behind schedule at the moment but the two of us put our hearts and souls into our work and that’s so hard to find in a partner and I’ lucky to have found him, and I hope to God that Mark sees all of the potential in him that I do because without him, this project wouldn’t even look HALF as good as it does now.
Thursday January 20th 2021
Day 71
Moving along past the Amyplier stuff at last, we’re getting to the final scene of Marci’s past where she has her big breakdown. It’s a dramatic scene where she dies her hair for the final time and it’s so completely and permanently wrecked that she shatters the mirror in front of her. I was looking for a good drawing reference online, but I literally could find nothing to match the image in my mind! What the hell, google? I considered buying a mirror just to break it but in all honesty, I don’t think I can handle anymore bad luck.
Friday January 21st 2021
Day 72
Breakdown scene is coming along nicely, I’m nearly finished with the Past. FINALLY! The past took for-freaking-ever. The present is exciting because there’s going to be a LOT of dramatic scenes and reveals and David’s Darkiplier scene as well.
Saturday January 22nd 2021
Day 73
Got a good deal done today. A really good chunk of the beginning of the Present Path. A lot of information to swallow. Including the Legend of the Blacksmith, Gems and what their good for, the type of Mystical Fires that Exist, How to Summon an Inner Demon, and absorb half of his powers. I really hope I made this exciting enough to learn. Because there’s quite a bit of reading at the beginning of the present.
Sunday January 23rd 2021
Day 74
Another Day, another chatbox But beyond that I had to go through almost all of Mark’s out-in-the-real-world videos today. You’ll see why in the game. I created the Raspy Hill scene, that was pretty fun and we made it all the way to the Darkiplier Summoning Ritual. God I can’t wait until everyone sees David’s incredible animation! It’s too cool for words!
Monday January 24th 2021
Day 75
Mostly just did the dialogue between Mark and the Guardian today. A lot of connecting the dots, it’s a very mysterious story-driven game much like Amnesia or To The Moon. Any little story idea that seems mysterious or strange in the beginning of the game will connect or make sense WAY further down the road once the player uncovers the clues and the true story. Couldn’t do a whole lot tonight, came home and immediately took a nap. My doctor says I’m suffering from Seasonal Affect. For those who are curious as to what that means. It basically means my energy is more sensitive to light. So during winter time when the sun isn’t out as much I grow more tired and basically feel like I need sleep all the time. It’s a pain.
Tuesday January 25th 2021
Day 76
Cursed Poisonous Butterflies. Got that image in your head? Good. Keep it for a while. But these butterflies will tell you secrets if you do something for them. Not gonna tell you what though because that would be spoilers. Took my notebook to work this morning to I could actually write down their dialogue for when they do spill their secrets. But really I could only focus on the first butterfly. I’m so exhausted. Curse you, Seasonal Affect! Thankfully as soon as I got home and got on my computer and had a little quiet, the words just came to me.
Wednesday January 26th 2021
Day 77
Put in the dialogue for the Butterflies and the special effects for when you get them to spill their secrets. So far so good. Fun fact, the Butterflies to have a sound effect when the speak. They sing two little notes and that’s actually my voice slightly pitched and with an echo effect. My voice appears a few times in the game, you just gotta listen for it. Next I’ll be working on the entrance to the Blacksmith’s cage. After my nap that is…it’s so weird. I have all this energy throughout the day and I think I’m gonna be alright and then the second I sit down to work when I get home this exhaustion just rushes over me and I can’t ignore it.
Thursday January 27th 2021
Day 78
Did some great work with the Blacksmith today, made his scene nice and intense. The players will need a password to open his cage and I really really hope that I didn’t make that too difficult for them. Honestly the whole coming up with the password thing pretty much through me for a loop when I was designing it, but after a few takes I got the hang of it. It’s gonna take some strong minds, but I have faith in the Markiplier Community.
Friday January 28th 2021
Day 79
Yes! Didn’t have to take a nap today! And I think I know why. We celebrated my birthday at work today…even though my birthday is on Sunday But my boss definitely wants to be a part of everyone’s little celebrations. Anyway there were cookies and candy at work today and even though I’m on a diet, I allowed myself to splurge since it was Friday Funday. I think that’s why I’m so awake this time. I’m on some kind of sugar high. Anyways. Tonight I’m working on the inside of the Blacksmith’s cage where Mark has to find something important. There’s a LOT of gory detail invested in this scene. Gruesome weapons, blood splatters, bones, so I’m mostly spending the night outlining icons.
Saturday January 30, 2021
Day 80
Finally finished up everything for this level, I just have to go back and clean. Not exactly the way I wanted to spend day 80 though. Got into a fight with somebody I love, and that can really mess with your peace of mind and mental clarity. I know it’s only 6, and I’m behind schedule. But I’m thinking I might take the rest of the night to emotionally recover. Maybe play a video game I’ve neglected for 100+ days or watch Mark play something. It’s important when you’re committed to this kind of project to be as “all there” as you can possibly be. Because your mood can effect the quality of the game. And I want Mark and the community to see my very best efforts I can put out there. So I think tonight would be a good night to rest and recover.
