"NO ZERO DAYS"

[Faeryl]

Hello Gatestriders!!
Happy Spring and Happy Easter to those who celebrate!!

Recently Grummz started a "No Zero Days" text channel in Discord.
What is a No Zero Days channel and what is it for you ask?


Here is an explanation from Grummz himself, dated 24-MARCH-2023, in Discord:

Grummz:
The no-zero-days channel will post whatever we do for the game that day. It will have big days, small days, days where we hit a wall. All of it.
Please remember it's a part time team, not every member has a zero day except for me, since I'm full time.
But over time I think you fill find no-zero-days more illuminating than any other method we've used in the past to update you. It's the top visibility into what we do.

Without further ado, what follows below is a copy of the updates from Grummz in the "No Zero Days" channel on Discord. ~ Faeryl

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 20-MARCH-2023

Started review of A-Luna code base in prep for NPC research.
New skin posted, "Rocky Hamster" with new expanded story pop-up functionality on website.

Rodentia x lapis aka: "Rocky Hamster":

Description:

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 21-MARCH-2023

Banged head against setting up env variables using venv and VScode. Decided to switch to miniconda instead. Will set up new env tomorrow with miniconda.
Started work on importing existing Tsi-Hu dictionary into GPT4 to start creating the full Tsi-Hu language.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 22-MARCH-2023

Converted package mgr to for A-Luna from pip to Conda. Moved api keys to .yml file. Tested and works.

Taskboard organized for lore and skin releases. Language research continues.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 23-MARCH-2023

Created grammar rules for Tsi-Hu language (alphabet, pronouns, sentence structure, writing system, prepositions) and more linguistic research.
Set up Move.ai motion capture software and cameras in prep of test.
Added source control repository for A-Luna.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 24-MARCH-2023

Cleared space and setup 3 camera mocap, tripods, and tested software and capture. Needs more work. Phones are disconnecting randomly. Need to get to the bottom of it.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 25-MARCH-2023

Mocap: Fixed camera issue. Phones were auto locking and disconnecting. Turning off auto-lock fixed this.
Learning: Started to learn sculpting in Blender as we move more heavily into the tool for production.
Switched SSH for repo login. All local keys and authentication to repo check out but permissions still borked. Need to wait for support call on Monday.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 26-MARCH-2023

Sunday is the day of rest.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 27-MARCH-2023

Established contact and interviewed/pitched a prospective animation programmer to do contract programming.
Worked with team on skin ideas and reviewed proposed ideas.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 28-MARCH-2023

Fixed a nasty seam bug in male and female heads. Loaded and prepped Tsi-hu, swarmer, male, female models and went over them with a fine tooth comb for errors in mesh.
Found a UV error in swarmer (kneebiter) and sent model and pics to artist to fix.
Gave up on getting SSH git to work on Windows (I never get these problems on Linux or MacOSX) and switching back to SVN tomorrow.

No Normal Maps loaded on M or F as they get looked over for cracks and smoothing errors. The scale comparison is fun though!

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 29-MARCH-2023

Not the most productive day, due to many personal obligations that came up including medical. I thought we would share some of the space truck blockout done back in January. Reviewing them now to see about next steps on the blockouts.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 30-MARCH-2023

Tested mocap a bit today. Room is too dark, bringing in LED panels to help. Also ordered recommended clothing. Bright red shirt, bright blue pants. Clown show time.
Looked into UV errors with Spawner. UVs are not packed right. Will require a rebake.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 31-MARCH-2023

Blender learning day 2. Anim system and more sculpting.
Set up discord call with animation programmer.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 01-APRIL-2023

More test anims in Blender. Experimented with dope sheet and comparing with Maya.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 02-APRIL-2023

Sunday is the day of rest.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 03-APRIL-2023

Animation programmer is on board! We are good to go. Respository set up and first tasks discussed.
Double checked bone hierarchies with animator.
Started up Truck Blockout again.
Reviewed standard dropship concepts.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 04-APRIL-2023

Begun process or replacing discontinued ALS animation system with Lyra based, multi-threaded animation.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 05-APRIL-2023

Lyra Lite: Extraction of animation components to isolate them int the Em-8ER project. This will be used as the basis for the replacement of the now discontinued ALS system (and 2 others we used).

8 second video:
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachme...0/1093168791485169664/2023-04-05_15-39-39.mp4

Blockout of Resource Rover continues. This helps us establish the size and scale of interiors before we proceed to modeling.

This has higher perf, uses multiple cores to let us animate more characters on screen, and has cleaner networking support.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 06-APRIL-2023

Did a code review/dive into Em8ER lyra locomotion. Part 2 tomorrow.

Rover in Unreal scale tests, alongside heavy frames.

 

[Faeryl]

DATE: 07-APRIL-2023

Pushed new skin and sale! Easter Sale 35% off. New Emberfoot Mount skin finished.

Animation Review Part II of the new Lyra system is ongoing.