I'm not dead, just doing not very visually interesting stuff so far

Like, fixing some UI flickering problems, or assembling levels, or writing and all that stuff

Technically, like 1/3 of the game is ready at this point

Well, doing more stuff

Some more sprites, a new handmade font and ruined city tileset (including ominous obelisk and legally distinct gates of Ishtar)

Also the opening scene will probably look something like this

(And touched up some old ones)

Also had a major epiphany in which direction I want gameplay to develop, so some progress here too

POKE

Soooo it begins to vaguely resemble something actually functioning now. Spells and proper enemy behaviors are still WIP, but overall it works. Damage calculations, temporary stat changes are already implemented. Also, encounters are winnable and eacapeable (with the togglable escapability).

Ironically, it only took like two weeks to get it into more functioning condition that any of Aspect/Overstay iterations. I feel there must be some sort of lesson here (probably something about picking a scale that you can actually manage or not trying to invent an engine when ready solutions already exist, idk)

Encounters are not simply text messages now, yep

Scripted switching to combat screen, setting up encounter data and changing graphics depending on enemy encountered

Now to actually implementing combat system

Status screen menu thing done and works

Totally not wasted emparassing amount of time because I missed the most obvious way to display text on the scene, yep

I do stuff again

Desire to make a jrpg still haunts me after all these years, so may as well do something about it

So, here's some overworld assets (and script to check for Annoying Random Encounter™)

Yes, I'm going to use GBStudio again, desite it being less-than-optimal engine for the task at hand. Will probably heavily reference the very first dragon quest, with singular character, 1v1 combat and all this stuff.

Don't worry, I won't repeat my previous mistakes and go all aboard with branching subplots, non-linearity etc

Long story short, let's assume that now I have a vague understanding how GBstudio works. Guess I can do something proper now

Finished (more or less) a proof-of concept level, pretty happy with the game feel so far. Already learned a couple of new things (little unnecessary stuff like prefabs, sounds or saving/loading, yea).

Going for more action/adventure angle, without rpg elements and with faster gameplay this time

Calling it done, yea

>> go and play it

So, technically, gameplay part is finished, and even somehow tested (it is possible to beat, at least, I checked)

Currently working on intro/finale screens and cleaning up typos