On a Changing Engine and Hating Drawing

There was a very scary couple of weeks recently in which the newest version of Ren'Py, the game's engine, temporarily failed to even compile older games, including Anamnesis. Fortunately the newest version recently fixed the issue and my heart finally started beating again.

For some years now, upgrading to each new version of the engine has been like playing Russian roulette, with random outdated parts needing changes or outright stopping to work. I think I never told you about this but in one particular case a few years ago things got so bad the thought even crossed my mind to drop the game for the first time.

Still, the benefits of using a popular, actively developed game engine far outweigh the anxieties. Assuming I would have been able to put anything together on my own to begin with, I doubt it would have had linux and mac compatibility or perhaps even run at all on newer windows machines. The engine's newest version for example allows python 3 compatibility. I have no idea what's that about, but they make a big deal out of it so it's probably important. It also allows 64-bit architecture in games, and that at least I have a vague idea what it means. Something about allowing files larger than 4gb or something?

The point is, I'll always be very grateful at Ren'Py and the people developing and improving it for giving me the chance to focus on the creative stuff while they take care of all the brainy technical parts, freely and for everyone to boot, but a time might eventually come in which the old code of my game won't be compatible anymore. If that happens I'll have to make a choice between continuing using the final compatible engine version while seeing the game become less compatible with contemporary systems, rebuild the whole thing, or just drop it.

 

Also, I hate drawing.

I got a little carried away with the new tittle screen so it's going to take considerably longer than expected. I decided to get it out of the way now that half the new renascents are done and I've been harshly scolding myself for choosing to do so every day ever since. Some days you might not see the "Working on" counter moving but that will probably mean I'm still wrestling with the drawing rather than not doing anything. I should just add more numbers to the resolution switch thingy but then I'd feel like I'm cheating.

I've already poured over 30 hours on it, created 43 layers, and it's still probably not even halfway done, all for a part of the game that will entertain you 10 seconds tops. And that's assuming it doesn't end up being too depressing for you or something and actually ends up detracting from the whole experience.

I'm committed to it now at any rate so it's happening anyway.