DevLog #90: October 2023 (Patreon)

Hello all! Here's the monthly DevLog update 😊 Check out the latest on my progress 🚀

Super Night Riders S1

Added dynamic lighting that changes with the sun's position, adjusting as you advance in the race.

I'm working on supporting multiple suns/moons with customizable scale and color options. Sci-fi enthusiasts are bound to create some fantastic stages with this 😁

A few samples of what you can do with character customization 🙀

An unlisted gameplay video showcasing a prototype of the forest stage:

youtu.be/ApAUQqHgavM

Light Fairytale Episode 3

A few new characters from the Water Elemental Lair - around this episode's midpoint.

Light Fairytale Episode 4

A new playable character in series' last episode.

4K version attached!

Dark Fairytale

Character designs for Rachel and her Doll. And yes, the latter does have a name, only hinted during the game's ending Anime 😉

3rd Fairytale

Work-in-progress 3D model of the lead playable character.

Virtual Reality

Recently acquired a Quest 3 for both personal use, and as a DevKit for stereoscopic 3D, Steam VR, and eventually native support on Meta platforms.

So, I've improved stereoscopic rendering in Super Night Riders S1 with dedicated options.

The game now support both half & full side-by-side 3D. This ensures compatibility with nearly all current 3D devices, such as 3DTVs / monitors / projectors, 3D glasses and VR headsets.

You can also adjust the IPD and set the convergence, which determines the intensity of the 3D effect.

Just a heads up, all of my released games can already be experienced on a virtual 3DTV in VR, thanks to their H-SBS 3D support!

Here's a demonstration on the Quest 3, streamed from a PC using the Virtual Desktop app.

Super Night Riders 2016: x.com/bakanekofr/status/1717192084464042182

Light Fairytale Episode 1: x.com/bakanekofr/status/1716839620355211478

Virtual Desktop can also stream actual VR, effectively turning the Quest 3 into a wireless Steam VR headset 🙀

I've experimented implementing full VR to both series this way.

Light Fairytale Episode 3 looks amazing, and perfectly comfortable due to the fixed position of the camera. The diorama perspective works really well!

Super Night Riders S1 also feels great... until I start driving. Kind of a deal-breaker for a racing game 😅

This is due to motion sickness. Sadly, unless you're used to racing games in VR, you probably won't enjoy the ride too 😢

Still, supporting Steam VR for both doesn't look too complicated, so I'll probably implement that at some point 😁

Also as mentioned, I might support the Quest natively, releasing my games on the Meta store. Well, if the SDK is closer to a Nintendo Switch than generic Android - had a really poor experience porting to Android recently 😅

Here's a demonstration of full VR for both series on the Quest 3, streamed from a PC.

Light Fairytale Episode 3: x.com/bakanekofr/status/1718678254851141937

Super Night Riders S1: x.com/bakanekofr/status/1718694648825213316

Mistakes were made...

Last time, I mentioned planning to release a playable demo of SNR S1 this month - for the Steam Next Fest. Sadly it didn't make the deadline 😭

To be honest, the present prototype wouldn't do justice to the game. A bit more effort is needed to meet the quality standards you'd expect 😅

Bonus

This month's 4K wallpaper is a remake of an illustration I made on DevLog #75. I hope you'll like it 😊

What's Next

Looking back at past DevLogs, I realize I've been working on SNR S1 for a whopping 16 months 🙀

Quite the stretch, especially considering I initially intended it to be a simple remaster.

As of now, I still can't tell how much time is left for the release. Most of the complex features are there, but the game isn't quite public-ready yet.

However, I still believe that SNR S1 is a game worth existing, not just as a fan of arcade racers - a genre abandoned by major publishers for years now, but also because it's built with longevity in mind. The current-gen graphics, ability to create and share stages, and eventual inclusion of multiplayer, ensures its relevance for years to come.

Super Night Riders S1 *should* be launching soon, so please look forward to it 😊

That's 16 months where Light Fairytale Episode 3 hasn't seen as much progress as I'd have liked - it could have been fully launched by now 😢

Again, sorry for the wait, but I'm still committed to delivering the best episode yet 😊

I'd rather not give estimation of release dates at this time, given past missed deadlines. However, once I have a clearer picture, you'll be the first to know 😊

That wraps it up!

Thanks for your understanding and continued support. Catch you all soon 😊