Can't stop, won't stop! Ale Abbey's development is going swimmingly with progress happening on quite a few fronts this week. Meaning, this Something's Brewing is yet another juicy one.
We'll share with you a bit of the fun we had animating multilayered interactions between characters and the environment, new character design and animation, and some more additions to interior design, this time beautifying up the cellars.
And onwards we go!
-- Cellars extras
Having worked in the Cellars quite a bit these past couple of weeks, we have gone past the point of dealing with necessary changes (like the lighting and structure discussed earlier) to the more luxurious additions of extras.
Like other types of extra furniture found in other rooms will have a positive psychological effect on the brewers working in them (predominantly buffing their happiness score), furniture that adds an aesthetic touch to the Cellars will look fitting and contribute the same way.
A tapas-ready dinner table and demijohn are not the only ones, of course. We'll show the Cellars' furniture more love in the future!
-- New Laywoman design
And a new Laywoman design just dropped. Adding once again a lot more character to the Abbey not only with the design decisions around her model but also with her animations. Reminder here that all characters that undertake similar activities in the Abbey, will still be animated slightly differently - by design - to accentuate their unique personalities (i.e. not two Laymen/women will carry barrels the same way).
And - as expected - Raimo is already nailing it with her first animations...
-- (Some) Interactions happening!
A new and still very experimental step we're taking is animating interactions between i) a character and the environment or ii) between two characters. Such reciprocal actions are unavoidable in a tycoon game. Characters interact with each other to portray an incident involving them or interact with their environment to alter it or showcase an activity taking place. You have seen some simple examples of this with animations of Monks and Nuns Brewing an ale.
We are now taking this a step further. In the case of the environment, certain characters are expected to take actions that alter the environment almost significantly, not just stirring a pot. Adding to that, this is also the first time we tried animating characters that work with each other in a shared activity!
When it comes to interacting with the environment, the best example would be the Laymen/women of the Abbey:
Not a small task... still a very necessary one in the Abbey. And when it comes to interactions between characters, very rudimentary but still visible, nothing beats bartering, a very frequent occurrence between the Abbey's brewers and the Merchant!
These are WIP because of the complex demands that come from making art and coding work seamlessly. Still, something we look forward to exploring and sharing more of!
-- HOT BEER?!
A promise is a promise and we did mention we were gonna share some beers that could, probably... potentially even, be enjoyable if you decided to warm them up... just a bit. Or maybe a lot? It's weird... we know, but they are traditionally served like that so at the very least you "honor tradition" :p
- Mulled Beers: Some breweries produce spiced or mulled beers that are designed to be heated before consumption. These beers may contain added spices such as cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg, and are often enjoyed during the colder months.
- Gluhwein Beers: Inspired by German mulled wine (Gluhwein), some breweries create beer versions with similar spices and warming qualities. These beers are heated before serving.
- Hot Toddy-inspired Beers: Some craft breweries experiment with creating beers that mimic the flavors of a Hot Toddy, a traditional warm cocktail. These beers might incorporate ingredients like honey, citrus, and spices.
- Russian Imperial Stout: Some people experiment with heating Russian Imperial Stouts, a style known for its robust and complex flavors. When warmed, these beers can take on characteristics similar to a warm beverage.
If you ask us, it's still beer!
Enjoy your weekend responsibly, and join us next week for some more Ale Abbey news!
-- Hammer & Ravens
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