2019: A New Path

2018 is in the past now, and 2019 is here. This new year will bring new challenges, but also new opportunities. However, now’s not the time to take a break; things started in 2018 must be seen through to completion.

There is one major goal and one minor goal for the year. The major goal is the publication of Shining Tomorrow. The minor goal is further progress on a new installment of Sword & Flower, this one called Sword & Flower ~BRILLIANT~.

Shining Tomorrow

Last year, I finished drafting Shining Tomorrow, the first of a four-novel mecha series, along with a companion piece about half as long as the original. I’ve also had cover art done, taking a major load off of my back. The next step is to edit the work and ensure that it’s the best it could be. The projected release date is late April of this year; while I don’t expect work on the book to take that long, I have to account for unforeseen circumstances. I absolutely look forward to sharing the completed product with all of you.

Sword & Flower ~BRILLIANT~

Around Christmas, I got a piece of software called SRPG Studio, which can make strategic games in the vein of Fire Emblem, Shining Force, Final Fantasy Tactics, and other such games. While rough around the edges like most first releases, it is fully customizable using JavaScript. This past couple of weeks, I tinkered around with it to learn what it could do.

Thus, once I learned the engine’s basics, I decided I would make a small game: Sword & Flower ~BRILLIANT~. The plot is a simple one: in a world where firearms and armor are banned by divine fiat, a unit of magical warriors must rescue the ambassador of the Brilliant Union and see her home safely.

I’ve made a minimum viable product consisting of only one level; I intend for there to be six levels total. To prototype everything rapidly, I use the default art and music assets that come with the engine; I will replace them later. Until all levels are complete and the gameplay is polished to my satisfaction, I will not commission any original assets for the game.

Unlike Shining Tomorrow, I do not intend to release this game commercially — it will be free. Also, this game is not a major priority, so there is no timetable. I’ll only work on it from time to time; expect to see new versions every so often throughout the year. You can download a copy right here.

Now let’s get 2019 started right. The momentum from 2018 must continue.