Everything is going fine! Still a bit slow...

This update is to let you know how everything is going, and also what I want for the future of this project.

For new people reading this, on my twitter, you can see almost daily updates on what I'm working on any given time.

Also, you should skip to the Goals section, so you know what the project is about.

I hope is reassuring for you to read my tweets, so you know I'm always working on a different system of the game. 

Updates!

There's a game now!

The biggest update will be: there is finally a game in Theanthria!

Sort of...

The project was experimental from the beginning... that is the nature of a first time developer. So, for a while the project has been a disjointed set of systems within the same place.

Now you have a goal!

Make deliveries to earn money, decorate your house, and give gifts to the anthro girls to make them like you and build a relationship with them!

The game is way, way far from getting close to the original vision I had for it, but is very slowly getting to it.

Random Anthro Generator!

This is a system I'm very proud of, but still needs lots of polish!

Each one of the girls is unique and one of thousands of different possible combinations! At start, the script takes a selection of body types (hooved, pawed, clawed), and selects a random model within that type (fox, cat, rat for paws... lizard, bird for claws...), then selects 2 random pieces of clothes, top and bottom. After that, random colors are selected to the clothes, and a texture is selected to the body and head of the girl!  Finally, a front and back section of their haircut is selected randomly, same with the color. The result is thousands of unique combinations!

Also, a random name from a list is given to them, so each individual girl has her own name.

For people who read the last update, you will be happy to know that I solved the clothes issue! I'm very happy with that. The issue was that I had no viable way to add clothes to the characters and incorporate their animations. I've finally found a good way to do it! Though, compromising my "body slider randomizer", but I figured more diversity in clothes is more notorious than variations of a body but with no clothes. Ideally I'd like to have both, but currently is not practical to go to every cloth models and adjust individually for every body type. So for now, it's alright.

Wall of Heroes!

Is a monument within the world of Theanthria that serves the dual purpose of honoring humans, their guidance, wisdom, and sacrifice for all other creatures, as well as a thank you to all the people who have supported the project by having their names engraved on the wall permanently.

Hope to fill that wall with some names huh! *winkwink* see the Support section *winkwink*.

Conversations!

Finally you can interact with other people in the world. Although the conversations are still bland and generic, I really hope to expand it as the project goes. The important thing is that I finally have a way to implement a conversation system.

I realize how basic it sounds, but really was quite a challenge to decide on how to tackle this issue. 

Currently there's just a dummy conversation using 2 of the main ways of interacting: asking if they need help, and asking for favors.

The "favor" is giving them a randomly selected item from a list that you can buy.

The "hug" is currently a wonky hug sequence that they can "decide" on based on a random number generator,  added to the "love" they have towards the human. The more they like you, the more likely they are to hug you!

Also, should go without saying, but I don't want just hugs. I'm working on implementing other.... stuff to ask (bjs, handjobs, thighjobs, and of course sex [and which position]).

I really want to connect the decoration system with the conversation system. This is just theoretical, but I want the player to invite the anthros, and get naughty in the proffered player preferred chair or bed. That would be so fun!

Misc!

There's also a new cute title screen that I'm irrationally proud of. It's just a short compressed video that plays on the title screen. And I'm very happy with how it looks!

Your stuff in the game!

I had the idea of player participation from the start, but wasn't sure of how to implement it. But now I have something I'd like you to participate in!

So, currently, there's very few items to decorate your home. I'd like to have players send their own models of: 

1. Furniture: wardrobes, beds, chairs...
2. Throwables: balls, plushies, action figures...
3. Helmets: Wearable helmets for the human (see below).

You can send your model as an .fbx, .obj, or blend file on the Discord Server, I'll do my best to use it as a game item, but keep in mind this is still experimental and some objects may be too difficult to implement. So I'll choose what should and shouldn't be included.

If this works, I'll make it available as a Patreon reward, so any patron's item will be included in the game. Conditions such as 1 item per patron will probably will be applied, and may extend other privileges for other tiers, such as items with game effects, naming characters, deciding pieces of dialogue, etc. 

Please don't upload disrespectful or harmful items!

GOALS

The best way I can describe the original vision that I had and have of Theanthria is: A sexy Animal Crossing with Titanfall movements.

You build relationships with the residents, earning money making deliveries using your jetpack (jump pack?), and parkour your way around the city!

The idea is to rely on the character interaction aspect, making relationships, and eventually getting naughty with the characters.

I originally described this as a 3D Visual novel, but the game play mechanics that are more complex than that. Mainly, the Delivery System. This is your way of making money in Theanthria.

You are a delivery person earning their living with each delivery. The faster you complete it, the more you get paid. Then you can choose to spend your money buying some furniture for your home, or buying some presents for one of the girls.

All of this is in some form present in the game, but not nearly as polished nor functional, nor varied, nor as visually appealing as I want it to be.

There is still a lot of base stuff tweaking I want to do. Improve controls, improve camera, the collision detection... I'm still trying to solve the annoying sinking issue of the player character. 

Player customization is still one of the main mechanics I want to implement, but haven't done so already because at the time, I wasn't as good making models, nor I had an efficient way to add clothes to the model.  

I want more interesting behaviors for the npcs. I want to make them interact with the environment. I also want more models for the anthro heads, more textures, accessories... better animations, facial expressions, more haircuts, better hair textures... as well as making a new world, one more visually appealing, more thematically consistent, and with better level design with movement in mind.

And of course: fixing the many, many bugs.

There is a lot to do, and I'll honestly be very happy not doing anything other than working on the project, that is why I'm trying to make this my full time job.

Which is why I need your support.

Support!

Currently you can support the project by joining the Patreon. The available rewards offered there are:

1. Game assets you can use in your projects
2. Joining the community there and Discord to make suggestions and discuss other game related topics.
3. Having your name included in the game on the Wall of Heroes.

As I said in the previous point, if everything goes alright, I'll make it reward to have your stuff in the game. I'll let all patrons know how everything goes when a decision is made. 

You can also support Theanthria by buying some merch on my RedBubble page.

Personal stuff

There's no need for you to read this section. I don't want to burden people with my problems. This section is mostly just to talk out some personal things that are still relevant to the development.

On one side you have people calling you the r word constantly because of your incompetence, and on the other you have people who comment on how excited they are for the potential of the game. I know, and knew back when I started, how things were going to be. When you exposer yourself to the internet, you are going to face an enormous amount of feedback, positive and negative. Is the negative that gets you.

Part of the job, of course. I'm neither complaining nor saying that those criticisms are unjustified. As harsh as they are, very seldom those people are as harsh as one is with oneself.

I'm not expecting things to get easier; I'm expecting myself to be stronger. Because if you want your projects to be successful and recognized, you need to be strong to deal with the potential backlash. I know I'm not strong enough. But that is what you need to do as a programmer, gamer, musician, artist... Improve every day until you get good.

For your time, attention, and support: thank you so much.

-The Hecto