For code, all we need for the mouth animation is a function to set the Talking state machine variable to True or False as needed.

From there, I just hooked the function up to the Speaking events Naninovel has.

OnStartedSpeaking sets Talking to True.
OnFinishedSpeaking sets Talking to False.

The animations for the Silent and Talking states are about as simple as it was for the eyes.

Maybe even simpler since the Talking state ends on the silent mouth sprite. As a result, the Silent state actually has no associated animation.

The mouth had a bit more coding involved, but its state machine essentially looks the same.

For the transition from Silent to Talking, we set a condition for the Talking state machine variable to be True.

From Talking to Silent, we set a condition for the Talking state variable to be False.

After that, I put a script at the top of my prefab of Aracelia with a custom Behavior class to manipulate the state machine and its variables as needed.

For the eyes, every call of the update function, we generate a random value and set it to the BlinkValue state machine variable.

The eye animation was actually the easiest to set up.

You create a default Looking state that always sets Aracelia's eyes to open. From there, create a Blinking state that plays the blinking animation.

Then you create a transition to and from the Blinking and Looking states.

For those who need the refresher, this is Aracelia. She's the main character of A King's Genocide!

This is how she'll look in-game. Her eyes and even other character's eyes will blink at random intervals and her mouth moves when she speaks.

I'll explain how I did it later!

#gamedev #indiedev

In A King's Genocide, Aracelia's closest friend will be right there by her side as things take a turn for the worst in Eridu.

This is what James will look like in the final game.

#gamedev #indiegamedev #vndev

If you’re a reader and into dark fantasy, I recommend reading Paige N. Regan’s “Sin & Bones”.

I find the characters compelling, the plot never dull, and I was hooked from page 1 wondering how deep a hole the protagonist Eve just dug for herself.

I think this is a wonderful book 1! Sequel when?

When you play the finished version of A King's Genocide, this is what Aracelia will look like.

@myssdark.bsky.social absolutely nailed the design as far as I'm concerned!

Still got to finish making unit tests before I can start implementing her sprite though...

#gamedev #indiegamedev #vndev

For every system you develop for your video game, visual novel or not, write unit tests for it.

You will catch so many bugs doing this. The test itself may not even reveal bugs in your game, but the act of writing the test WILL end up making bugs surface.

#gamedev #indiegamedev #vndev

Pedahzur enters, stage left.

When Aracelia's destiny begins to move towards a crescendo in A King's Genocide, this mysterious angel will appear before her. ✝️

#gamedev #vndev #indiegamedev

This is Lumia. She's a total flirt and enjoys teasing Aracelia when she stops by the grocery store.

She has a bit of a thing for Aracelia.

This is James. He is Aracelia's closest friend.

He tends to be blunt or hard-headed you could say, but his heart is in the right place. He wants to do right by Aracelia.

This is the main protagonist of A King's Genocide, Aracelia!

She tends to be a quiet person unless she's around people she knows.