Game Progress

Game Development Progress

 

A Labor of Love

This game is a passion project that I work on in my free time—an RPG that I, myself, would love to play. With a full-time job, progress can sometimes be slow, but I’m in no rush to complete it. I aim to develop the game at a steady pace, ensuring every system and detail is refined to create a living, immersive world. A realistic timeline for completion is around 4–5 years, but the journey itself is just as important as the end result.  

Tools & Software

To bring this vision to life, I use a variety of tools:

• Game Development: GameMaker Studio 2

• Dialogue & Narrative Design: Articy:draft X

• Game Asset Editing: Aseprite

• Map Design: Wonderdraft

• And of course World Anvil for worldbuilding

 

Development History

• March 2023 – The journey began, focusing on world history and background lore. At the same time, I researched game engines to find the best fit for my project.

• Late 2023 – After thorough evaluation, I decided on GameMaker Studio 2 as my development platform.

• 2024 – Shifted focus to coding the game and laying the foundation for core systems.

• 2025 – Continued coding the game engine while updating World Anvil articles to align with in-game realities.

 

Current State of the Game

The first location, a small human settlement, is fully developed with all props and NPCs. This serves as a testing ground for game mechanics, ensuring systems are both scalable and immersive. Some of the core systems already implemented include:  

NPC Mechanics

• NPC Scheduling: Every NPC has an individual daily schedule with work animations.

• NPC Pathing: A pathing system allows NPCs to navigate the world along realistic routes.

• NPC Background Chatter: NPCs engage in context-aware conversations based on time-of-day and occupation.

 

World Systems

• Location State Saving: Items, chests, and NPC attributes persist when moving between locations.

• Multiple Language Support: Articy:draft X enables multi-language dialogue, currently supporting:
  • Modern English
  • Elizabethan English

 

Scalability & Long-Term Vision

All core mechanics are built using a template-based system, designed for reuse and scalability. While progress may seem slow now, this groundwork will allow for rapid expansion once additional locations are introduced. The ultimate goal is to create a world that feels alive, where NPCs go about their daily lives even without player interaction.  

Current Focus

I am currently working on UI design for system screens, including:

• Load/Save

• Quest Log

• Inventory

And more...   To ensure the UI is well-designed and intuitive, I’ve hired a professional UI/UX designer to help create a polished experience. I’ll be sharing updates on this as progress continues.   This page will be regularly updated to track development progress. If you're interested in following along, stay tuned for future updates!